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[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

  Two lab employees were let go last month — Dr. Jim Gill, a zoonotic disease specialist, and Jack Cameron, operations manager.

  Cameron, whose last day with the University of Iowarun lab was Jan. 4, had been on administrative leave since Oct. 3, the same day former lab director Mary Gilchrist was fired, Gilchrist said Thursday.

  Gilchrist, the director for 11 years, has sued the UI, asking for her job back. UI officials have not explained Gilchrist’s firing, saying it was a personnel issue, and UI officials on Thursday also weren’t commenting on Cameron, who did not return a message seeking comment.

  ‘‘He was put on leave the same day I was fired and he hasn’t been back since,’’ Gilchrist said. ‘‘You really have to look at the timing and judge for yourself. When you get multiple turnovers at one time, you lose a substantial bit more collective wisdom.’’ Interim lab Director Christopher Atchison declined comment Thursday about Cameron, saying Cameron already was on administrative leave when Atchison assumed his role. But Atchison said Gill’s position was eliminated because of budget cuts, and the decision was not connected to Gilchrist.

  ‘‘It has to do with my judgment that we needed to look at fiscal reductions in order to maintain a sound financial operation,’’ Atchison said.

  Other scientists in the lab can take on Gill’s area of study — animal-to-human disease transmission, Atchison said. ‘‘We can assure the zoonotic concerns will be addressed,’’ he said.

  Gill said Thursday he was surprised when told on Oct. 25 his job would be eliminated. His last day was Wednesday. Gill said he didn’t know if the elimination of his job was connected to Gilchrist’s situation but wondered about the timing.

  ‘‘She was gone and within three weeks, the decision came that I was gone,’’ he said. ‘‘But I couldn’t tell you exactly what transpired.’’

  Gilchrist brought Gill to the lab in July 2003 to conduct research on diseases such as Avian flu and West Nile.

  Gill, a medical doctor, plans to return to emergency medicine full-time.