Research Laboratory of Electronics
Unsung Hero
The supervising project technician of the nanostructures lab in the Research Laboratory of Electronics oversees the maintenance of all lab equipment and ensures that no project is hindered by lack of materials or poor machine performance. He is vigilant to safety, and his deep knowledge is a resource plumbed by all who use the lab, namely, 15 faculty members and more than 70 students. His value is greater than his job description, however; his nomination letters came from users who want others to know what their unsung hero has meant to them and their success at MIT.
The caliber of guidance he provides is exceptional. He’s a partner to faculty who rely on him to solidify the foundation they build in the classroom. He provides training and coaching, taking time to know each user personally. Students call him for help at all hours; he converts equipment to fit specific needs; he devises creative solutions to experiments that aren’t going as planned. One student wrote of a time he had to leave town while his experiment was in its final stages…our hero finished the experiment, then emailed the student to say, ‘It worked!’
I am delighted to offer public congratulations to James Daley.