SCRI’s Director and Chief Executive, Peter Gregory, has paid tribute to Professor David Hopkins who is to leave the Institute to take up the post of Head of the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University.

He will take up his post on 1 March 2011.

Professor Gregory said: “David has played a key role in coordinating the activities across our science programmes and in leading the diversification of our research funding.

“He has done a great job for us and his move to Heriot-Watt will build upon his achievements here and take his career forward. I am very grateful for all he has done for SCRI.”

Professor Hopkins joined SCRI in 2006. He also has a part-time position as Professor of Environmental Biogeochemistry at the University of Stirling, where he was also Head of the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences until 2006.

David is a specialist in soil biology and biochemistry with major interests in nutrient cycling and soil management in agricultural systems, and in the ecology of polar regions including extensive experience in Antarctica. He is a former President of the British Society of Soil Science, Royal Society of Edinburgh Research support fellow, and he has enjoyed enduring research collaborations with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Antarctica New Zealand and the British Antarctic Survey. He studied at Manchester Polytechnic and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne where he also undertook postdoctoral research, and he has also held academic positions in the Universities of Dundee and Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand).

Professor Hopkins said: “Working at SCRI is extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I look forward both to continued collaboration and seeing the successful development of The James Hutton Institute following the merger between SCRI and the Macaulay Institute. For me, the move the Heriot-Watt offers a new and interesting challenge in a research intensive university with a clear focus on the future”.

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA Office: 01382 560044 Mobile: 07810 860 701

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Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 01382 562731 (switchboard)