I feel so lucky to have found Damien during the process of applying for, negotiating and accepting my first faculty position. The transition from postdoctoral fellowship to professorship is a challenging and exciting time. Having someone like Damien on my side made all the difference. Damien has worked with scores of young scientists and help them to establish independence. Perhaps most valuable to me, Damien provided me with guidance, wisdom and support in the early phases of setting up my laboratory. He was an invaluable resource in recruiting my first lab members, and helped me get both the wet and the dry aspects of my laboratory set up efficiently and effectively. He remains a trusted resource and a great encouragement. More than anything, I appreciated the fact that Damien’s support and guidance allowed me to focus on the science – he streamline many of the bureaucratic and administrative aspects of establishing an independent research endeavor and has helped me set up a laboratory that has a great culture, fantastic science, and reliable infrastructure. I would hire him again in a heartbeat, and recommend him to everyone I know who is embarking on their first job in academic science!