Lab technician Troy Locke presented with Support Staff Research Enhancement Award

A lab technician has been presented with an award for his efforts at the Molecular Biology Service Unit (MBSU), the hub of genetics research at the University of Alberta.

Troy Locke, a lab technician with the MBSU in the department of biological sciences, has recently been awarded the U of A Support Staff Research Enhancement Award. This award is given to staff that facilitate successful research in their department by cultivating a positive workplace environment and providing valuable assistance to students and faculty members alike.

Locke predominantly works on ribonucleic acid (RNA) technologies that are fundamental to research in molecular biology. He has been at the U of A since his undergraduate days, and started off working in a research lab in biological sciences in 1998 before moving over to medicine. However, he did not work in the medical field for very long.

“I realized [when I was in medicine] that I truly missed being back in biological sciences… so in 2004 I moved back [to working in biological sciences] and I’ve never left,” Locke explained.

He moved back at the same time that the MBSU was being set up, and has been part of it since its very beginning. Locke discovered that his passion lay in utilizing technology to help people with their research, and was instrumental in bringing a number of significant pieces of equipment to the MBSU, including tools that can be used for quantitative analysis.

“[During my time in medicine] the idea of using technology for understanding different scenarios became my passion… [I realized] I don’t need to have my own research to be fulfilled — I really enjoy being a part of everybody else’s project,” he said.

He has worked with scientists in multiple fields, spanning from agriculture to dentistry. Over his 17 years of experience working with a diverse set of researchers, he credited the people he interacts with as what inspires him to keep working hard. 

“I see the passion [researchers] have for their research… and that fuels me,” Locke said.

Locke also considered early career undergraduate students as a primary motivator for the work he does.

“To build that passion within them and to teach them how to be the best possible researchers they can be — that is what drives me.” 

Outside of work, Locke has also developed a  multifaceted set of interests. He previously was a cheerleader for the Edmonton Elks and currently MCs for cheerleading competitions in Alberta — in doing so, he has gained the moniker ‘the voice of cheerleading in Alberta.’ 

He also performs adult sketch comedy in the Castledowns Variety Show, an annual community fundraiser for the Castledowns region. Additionally he enjoys woodworking, spending time with his wife and twins, and their puppy Piper. 

Locke’s dedicated work has furthered the research of numerous labs at the U of A, and continues to add to the supportive research environment in the department of biological sciences.