In memoriam Rudolf Schweyen (1941 – 2009)
2009-02-19 10:15:00
In memoriam Rudolf Schweyen (1941 – 2009)
The Centre for Molecular Biology, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, mourns the passing of Prof.Dr. Rudolf Schweyen, who died after short illness on February 15th, 2009.
Rudolf Schweyen was born on May 8th, 1941 in Prüm, Germany and studied Biology at the Universities of Mainz and Munich. After his Diploma (1968) and his PhD (1971), he habilitated (1976) at University of Munich. Following spells as Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Munich (1976-79) as well as a research stay at the CNRS Gif-sur-Yvette, France (1974/75), he became a full professor of Genetics at the University of Munich.
In 1985, he was appointed a full Professor of Genetics at the University of Vienna, where, besides research and teaching, he became involved in the creation of several institutes, including the Institute for Genetics and Microbiology, and the Max F. Perutz Laboratories. Until last year, he was Head of the Department for Genetics at the University of Vienna. As a member of the University Senate, he was instrumental in the implementation of the UOG (1993) and the subsequent reforms at the University of Vienna.
At the beginning of his research career, he investigated the organisation of mitochondrial genes, followed by a focus on RNA catalysis (Group I and II Introns). Until the end he investigated metal ion transport in yeast and human cells and the influence of core-products on mitochondrial biogenesis. He was a corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and other international and national societies for genetics and biochemistry.
In addition to his research, Rudolf Schweyen was heavily involved in establishing modern molecular genetics in Vienna and was always open to change and diversification. He saw the Vienna Biocenter and the Max F. Perutz Laboratories become a reality as a place for scientific discussion with young scientists from all over the world, an achievement that owed much to his vision and ceaseless efforts. Despite his time-consuming duties, he always took the time for conversation and always looked after the concerns of the people around him. He infected everyone with his enthusiasm and humour.
To his PhD students and members of his research group, but also in his numerous lectures to undergraduate students in the basic studies Biology and fields of Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, he passed on his fascination for science. He talked excitedly about the times when he was a student of Prof. Fritz Kaudewitz in Munich – an excitement which his students felt for themselves later on.
The Max F. Perutz Laboratories and the University of Vienna have lost a brilliant scientist and inspiring teacher, but, even more importantly, an exceptional personality, colleague and friend. He will remain forever in our thoughts.
Our sincerest condolences go to his wife Birgitta Warenberg, his family and friends.
Graham Warren
Dean of the Centre for Molecular Biology
Scientific Director of the Max F. Perutz Laboratories
You may want to express your condolences in the electronic condolence book