In 2013, Julie Decker walked through the doors of the Bevill Biomedical Research Building, not as a researcher but as a program manager. She spent more than 20 years honing her skills researching HIV before making a job change beyond her expectation.

After earning her undergraduate degree in molecular biology and mathematics at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, Decker moved to Alabama to do HIV research at Southern Research Institute. In 1993, she moved across the street to UAB and the labs of George Shaw, Ph.D., and Beatrice Hahn, Ph.D., both former professors of medicine.

When Shaw and Hahn moved to Pennsylvania, Decker remained in Alabama, swapping benchwork for deskwork. The microbiology department was searching for an employee who knew the needs of researchers and who could also coordinate the intricate details of building renovation. Decker had the qualifications for both. Not only does she have extensive research experience, she also has a master’s degree in Business Administration, which she received here at UAB.

Frances Lund, chair of the microbiology department, explains Decker’s job. “She coordinates every element of the building renovation, working closely with building employees, the dean’s office, the Animal Resource Program and the contractors who are carrying out the renovations. She set up temporary lab facilities so the faculty and staff can continue their work while their labs are being renovated or when various utilities are temporarily shut down in parts of the building.”

Decker’s colleagues appreciate her exceptional capabilities as program manager for the department. “What I value most is her willingness to take on difficult projects and see them to successful completion. I feel very fortunate to have her as a part of our team,” says Kristina Sinclair, administrator for the department.

Then, Decker has another trait that endears her to everyone she contacts. According to Dr. Michael Saag, Infectious Diseases, “She makes every visitor feel special and pays extraordinary attention to detail.” And microbiology professor Chuck Turnbough says, “She has been one of the most agreeable, pleasant, and cooperative colleagues I have ever worked with.”

Clearly, Decker enjoys her work, although it is different from what she had been doing for 20+ years. “I’m on the other side of the bench as a program manager, and I have a whole lot more appreciation for what goes on this side to make the research happen,” Decker said. “It was quite a switch at first, and I felt like a fish out of water, but everyone was really encouraging and helped show me the ropes. The best part of my job is getting to interact with a variety of people. The people distinguish the department and it is a real pleasure to be a part of the microbiology department.”

Away from UAB, Decker is a busy wife and mother of two teenagers, Trent—a freshman at Thompson High School, and Kristen—who will be attending UAB in the fall. Both children are avid musicians, active in the high school band.