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Diana Hill (scientist)

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Diana Hill
CNZM FRSNZ
Born
Diana Florence Hill

29 March 1943
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Died9 July 2024(2024-07-09) (aged 81)
Whangārei, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Otago
AwardsNew Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal
Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Otago
Thesis
Doctoral advisorGeorge Petersen

Diana Florence Hill CNZM FRSNZ (29 March 1943 – 9 July 2024) was a New Zealand academic, and a full professor at the University of Otago, specialising in molecular genetics. Hill's team's work on the genetics of animal production was awarded a Silver Medal by the Royal Society in 1996. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in 1997.

Academic career

Hill was born on 29 March 1943 at the Braeburn maternity hospital in Upper Hutt, her parents were Norman Harold and Weva Marguerite Hill (née Bracegirdle).[1][2] She initially trained as a nurse, and was awarded a Florence Nightingale scholarship for further study. Hill then completed a PhD titled Studies of the structure and function of the DNA of the filamentous bacteriophages in 1980 through the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, supervised by Professor George Petersen.[3][4] She followed this with postdoctoral research at Cambridge, UK.[5]

Hill worked on techniques for sequencing of DNA and proteins, before becoming involved in animal breeding through the Invermay Agricultural Centre in Mosgiel. Hill recognised that the elite research flocks held at the centre offered the opportunity to explore the genetics of traits that are important for animal production. Prior to this it was generally held that such traits were quantitative, however Hill and her team were able to develop methods for the identification of single genes responsible for some traits. This work led to New Zealand's first major agri-biotechnology project, the University of Otago and AgResearch joint Molecular Biology Unit, established in 1989.[4] The unit created gene maps for sheep and deer as well as developing sheep as models for human diseases. The Royal Society awarded the work a Silver Medal for team excellence in 1996.[4]

Hill established Global Technologies (NZ) Ltd in 1999, a joint venture with Silver Fern Farms.[4]

Hill was awarded a personal chair at the University of Otago.[4] From 1999 to 2001, she chaired the Marsden Fund committee, and was the second chair of the Marsden Fund Council, taking over from Ian Axford in 2001.[6]

Hill died in Whangārei on 9 July 2024, at the age of 81.[2]

Honours and awards

Hill received a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.[7] She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1997.[4] Hill was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to science, in the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours.[8]

Selected work

  • Thomas E. Broad; Diana F. Hill; Jillian F. Maddox; Grant W. Montgomery; Frank W. Nicholas (1 January 1998). "The Sheep Gene Map". ILAR Journal. 39 (2–3): 160–170. doi:10.1093/ILAR.39.2-3.160. ISSN 1084-2020. PMID 11528074. Wikidata Q74440494.

References

  1. ^ "Births". The Evening Post. Vol. CXXXV, no. 75. 30 March 1943. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Diana Hill obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  3. ^ Hill, Diana Florence (1980). "Studies of the structure and function of the DNA of the filamentous bacteriophages". Otago University Library. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Dr Diana Hill CNZM FRSNZ Year Elected: 1997". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ "An introduction to the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology: Briefing for the incoming Minister" (PDF). Beehive. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Marsden Fund Update: Marsden celebrates 10 years" (PDF). Royal Society Te Apārangi. December 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  7. ^ "The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – Register of recipients". The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – Register of recipients. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. ^ "The Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours List 2002". The Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours List 2002. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
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