Emeritus Professor
Citation delivered by Professor David Currow Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Sustainable Futures) at the University of Wollongong on the occasion of the admission of Paul Lewis Else as an Emeritus Professor of the University on 13 April 2023.
Deputy Chancellor, I present Professor Paul Lewis Else.
As an alumni and contributor, Professor Else has a connection to the University of Wollongong that spans more than five decades. An esteemed researcher, leader, educator and mentor, Paul’s contribution both to the University and to the broader health sciences has been significant.
Paul’s future began with the completion of his Bachelor of Science (Hons Class 1) at the University of Wollongong in 1979 with this research work editorialised by the American Journal of Physiology as "splendid". He went on to complete his PhD at the University where he served as a Research Associate, before winning a prestigious CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship to work at the University of California and the CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition.
Going on to lecture at the University of Melbourne, Charles Sturt University, and Deakin University, Paul returned to his Alma Mater to UOW in 1994. It has been here that he has spent a large part of his distinguished career which saw him become a driving force in the development of biomedical sciences at UOW, and one of our longest-serving faculty leaders.
With international collaborations including research at Cambridge, Aarhus and Brest universities, Paul’s research is centred on metabolism and the role of cell membranes, with far-reaching applications ranging from postnatal depression to ageing of the brain in humans. Other research has included topics as diverse as dinosaur lactation, and ageing in honeybees. A globally respected expert in his field, he has attracted significant research funding, produced more than 100 highly cited publications, spoken at national and international key conferences, served on review panels for major funding bodies, and collaborated with leading international universities.
Paul excelled in numerous leadership roles across the Faculty of Science, Medicine, and Health, taking over as Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences during a challenging and critical period in the University’s history. He later served as Head of several Schools, Faculty Research Chair, Discipline Leader, Course Coordinator, and more. Today, Paul remains an Honorary Professor at UOW’s School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences still contributing to teaching and publishing research work.
Dedicated to training the next generation of academics, Paul has supervised more than 40 Honours, Master’s, and PhD students, many of whom are now highly successful and influential academics. He is also a committed and collaborative mentor, guiding countless early and mid-career academics in curriculum and governance roles.
Deputy Chancellor, Professor Else has contributed significantly to leadership, teaching, and research at the University. Throughout his enduring and much-valued association, he has brought rich experience, expertise, and collegiality to advancing our culture and standing as a leading institution.
It is a privilege to present Professor Paul Else to be admitted as an Emeritus Professor of the University of Wollongong.