ARTICLE
Auteur(s) : Martin Kolisek, Jürgen Vormann
Our dear colleague, mentor and friend, Professor Rudolf
Schweyen, died after a short illness on February 15th
2009. Rudolf graduated and was habilitated at the University of
Munich where he was also appointed a full professor of Genetics. In
1985, he relocated to Austria where he continued his research and
teaching at the University of Vienna. There, he greatly contributed
to the founding and leading of the Institute of Microbiology and
Genetics and the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, which soon became well
known for their utilization of novel state of the art molecular
approaches in their research projects and also for their close
links to the Biotech industry.
By chance Rudolf and I (J.V.) met a decade ago and I was lucky
to further strengthen his interest in magnesium and to introduce
him to the magnesium research community. After that Rudolf focused
his research on the genetics and molecular biology of magnesium
transport. His pioneering work on the Mrs2 mitochondrial magnesium
channel, significantly improved our knowledge of the regulation of
intracellular magnesium.
Many will remember Rudolf from various magnesium conferences and
meetings as a scientist with an impressively deep voice and a
willingness to discuss all manner of new ideas. It was a pleasure
to visit and to enjoy with him many magnesium conferences and
meetings, which occurred at various locations from Vichy via Cairns
to Kashikojima and Ventura.
I (M.K.) was fortunate to experience the magnificent “human
dimension” of Rudolf’s personality during my graduate studies in
his laboratory. He had the rare talent of creating the perfect
balance between a professional relationship and friendship with
everyone in his research team. He was always a supportive boss,
with a great sense of humor. When experiments went wrong, his face
remained serious but his eyes were smiling and saying… “Oh boy, if
only you knew that dealing with negative results is going to be the
largest part of earning your daily bread!”.
He was a person who considered young scientists and students as
being equal partners, an attitude winning him great popularity and
a group of loyal followers both at the university and within his
research team. Those who attended his lectures will never forget
the energy and passion with which he imparted the wealth of his
knowledge to his listeners. Rudolf was not only an excellent
geneticist, but also a dedicated popularist of working ethics and
the importance of team work in science.
Science was one of the most important things in Rudolf’s life,
but those who got to know him closer also realized that, in
addition to being a first class scientist, he was a wine specialist
and a lover of modern architecture and contemporary art. He often
mentioned that the cultural settings of Vienna surrounded by the
endless vineyards of the Burgenland were like batteries charging
his stamina.
If there is a heaven we hope there is a well-equipped laboratory
located in an elegant architectural setting surrounded by a
picturesque landscape covered with vineyards…
We will never forget him.
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