IDReC Paul Rainey elected to European biology organisation

by Simon Verschaffelt

Distinguished Professor Paul Rainey is the first New Zealander to be elected as an associate member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation.

The organisation has more than 1700 of the top life science researchers from Europe and around the world, including 79 nobel laureates. One hundred and forty members are associate members.

Election to the organisation is recognition of research excellence and outstanding achievements made by a life scientist.

Professor Rainey is part of Massey University's New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study. Based at the Auckland campus, it comprises a community of internationally recognised researchers whose expertise spans a broad spectrum of fundamental sciences.

Established in 2007, it has grown rapidly to become New Zealand’s premier place for research excellence. Among the faculty is Distinguished Professor Peter Schwertfedger, last year’s recipient of New Zealand’s most prestigious science prize, the Rutherford Medal.

Institute director Distinguished Professor Gaven Martin says the institute is exceptionally proud of Professor Rainey's achievement and the recognition given to him by the organisation. “Election highlights the importance of investing in fundamental research as a platform to build the world’s knowledge base," Professor Martin says. "Applications of this knowledge have been instrumental in understanding applied problems such as the kiwifruit pathogen PSA.”

Professor Rainey heads The Rainey Lab within the institute that researches evolutionary process using populations of microbes whose evolution is tracked in real time. Research ranges from the evolution of virulence in bacterial pathogens, to the evolution of cooperation and the evolutionary transition from single cells to multicellular life. From this research have come numerous high-profile publications that have significantly advanced fundamental knowledge in the field of biology.

He says he is delighted and honoured to be elected and credits that to the work of his team. "Election is as much an acknowledgement of the commitment and innovation of those members of my team – past and present – who have given so much of their own energy, creativity and vitality to the research programme, as it is a personal achievement.”


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