The end of an era has passed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Associate Professor Russell Poulter gave his valedictory seminar, marking his retirement from an academic position with Otago Biochemistry that started in the early 1970s.
Perhaps most famous to generations of graduate students as being the scariest part of presenting research to the Department of Biochemistry (and for his consistent uniform of a blue denim jacket), Russell has always been particularly good at pointing out the weak points in experiments.
He has also been a dedicated teacher, and has inspired many students in his undergraduate classes to pursue scientific careers.
Looking back through his research career highlights his interests in the wonderful oddities that the molecular world unexpectedly reveals, including mRNA and protein synthesis by mitochondria, parasexual cycles in Candida albicans, retrotransposons, and inteins.
For his valedictory seminar, Russell chose not to condense his entire scientific career into 45 minutes, instead focusing on an overview of his adventures with the genetics of the kiwifruit pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) over the past eight years.
His research team's genetic analysis of the Psa outbreak formed the basis of the successful claim against the Crown/MPI for $650 million but gave Russell some anxious experiences of questioning in court.
A farewell dinner for Russell and Department staff at the Glenfalloch Gardens Restaurant followed on Tuesday evening, featuring more Russell-themed anecdotes and stories.
The denim-clad figure is not disappearing from the Department just yet, however. Although he is finishing his responsibilities as a lecturer, he will continue for now to explore the wonders of molecular biology up on the third floor.
