farewell and thank you, Prof. Melissa Fitzgerald!

My supervisor, Dr Melissa Fitzgerald, is leaving in a few days to take on a professorial assignment at the University of Queensland. As her stay at the International Rice Research Institute draws to a close, I remember Raymond Lauchengco singing Odette Quesada's lyrics (Bagets OST, 1984)...

Now that the end is already here

We reminisce 'bout old yells and cheers

Even if our last hurrahs were never clear.

Yesterday's a treasure, today is here

Tomorrow's on its way, the sky is clear

Thank you for the mem'ries of all the laughters and tears

And not to mention our doubts and fears

The hypertension we gave to our peers

It's really funny to look back after all of these years.

I agree with the lyrics 100%.

Melissa has been a big game changer in my career as a food scientist, beginning with my entry as a Researcher at what was then the Grain Quality and Nutrition Research Center (2004). Through her research collaborations, I was initially admitted into the University of Sydney's (2005) and then into the University of Queensland's (2007) graduate school programs, under her co-supervision with Prof. Robert Gilbert. Then a few months after my graduation, I began my fellowship, still in her department, known in 2010 as the Grain Quality, Nutrition, and Postharvest Center. I had fully expected that she'd be my mentor throughout my post-doctoral fellowship but I was wrong.

I am very grateful to her for being one of the more influential of my mentors. I have definitely learned a lot from her, not only as a scientist, but one who has her own brand of leadership. I am NOT alone in being thankful to her. The rest of the staff of what is now called Grain Quality and Nutrition Center also appreciate all the hard work she's put in managing the different teams within the Center.

And so aside from the bouquet and the "certificate of appreciation for being our coolest boss", her staff blindsided her a second time during her farewell party last week via a video presentation. Most of the GQNC staff contributed towards the making of this video, which was directed, shot, and edited by Dara Daygon, one of the staff next in line for grad school.

Thanks again, Professor. It has been an honor working and growing professionally with you. May you continue to attract more people into the scientific career track at Uni.