Retirement reception Friday for Paula Turpen, Ph.D.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research will host a retirement tea Friday for Paula Turpen, Ph.D., director of research resources, from 2-4 p.m. in the Durham Research Center Commons.

Turpen joined UNMC in 1983 as a post-doc. In 1989, she became an instructor of anatomy and taught human embryology to medical students. She also served as a research associate and, later, a research assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology before becoming the director of research resources for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research in 2004.

Among Dr. Turpen’s accomplishments in that position, from 2004 to 2019:

• she helped grow congressionally directed (earmark) funding from $3.5 million to $16 million;
• she implemented the Science Engineering and Medicine (SEM) program to promote collaboration between UNMC biomedical scientists and UNL engineers;
• she implemented a New Core Facility User Grant Program to promote use of Nebraska Research Institute (NRI)-funded core facilities;
• she leveraged millions of dollars in NRI funding to acquire high-end equipment to keep core labs up to date and UNMC researchers competitive;
• she created a core facility management tool in collaboration with the IT DevOpps team; and
• she established metrics by which to evaluate Core Facility value and performance.

“I can’t think of anyone more familiar with the inner workings of UNMC’s scientific enterprise than Paula,” said Kenneth Bayles, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for basic science research at UNMC. “She has worked tirelessly, behind the scenes, to be sure that the ‘trains’ are running on time and in good working order. She is one of the unsung heroes responsible for the tremendous research growth UNMC has enjoyed in the past two decades.”

William Lawlor, assistant vice chancellor of finance and business services, said he had valued working with Dr. Turpen from the start of his career at UNMC.

“Paula’s professionalism, collaborative spirit, enthusiasm, and love of research has never wavered,” Lawlor said. “I learned a great deal from Paula and will miss working with her. Our core labs are in much better shape as a result of her leadership and hard work. Paula will be missed by all who have worked with her, but I hope her life ‘skates’ on to new adventures with family and friends.”

Vice Chancellor for Research Jennifer Larsen, M.D., noted that Dr. Turpen was the first director of research resources for the vice chancellor’s office.

“By developing institutionally-funded cores, pilot grant mechanisms, and Department of Defense and other non-NIH funded research to assignment and management of research space, she has now defined this position,” Dr. Larsen said. “She has brought core facility management best practices from around the country to UNMC and asked to serve on the leadership of the national professional organization of core directors, as well. With her creativity, energy, and problem-solving skills, she has left us with a wonderful legacy at UNMC.”

Dr. Turpen called it “a pleasure and an honor to work for an organization so dedicated to improving the lives of others.

“Over the past 20 years, research at UNMC has undergone a remarkable transformation. To have been a part of this growth and expansion is extremely rewarding. It is clear that there is more success on the horizon.”