Research and Innovation Employee of the Month — November, 2025
John Wilderman, Manager, Analytical Instrumentation Engineer, University Instrumentation Center
John is being honored in recognition of his exceptional dedication and problem-solving skills. During October, John came in during the middle of the night to remove a student’s sample from the X-Ray photoelectron spectrometer only to find a crashed and damaged sample loader which he was able to repair himself. Additionally, he successfully diagnosed and repaired two workstation computers associated with the X-ray microscope operation and data processing. These high-cost workstations were previously deemed non-repairable by Zeiss and John was able to restore both to as-built conditions, saving the team a significant amount of money and associated downtime. His commitment and technical expertise have made a lasting positive impact on the UIC and our research community this month.
Nominations for Research and Innovation employee of the month are ongoing; please view award criteria and nominate at any time, here.
