NAMC – Newsletter of the Asian Mycological Committee

April 2007, party at Dr Hyde’s small Hong Kong apartment, from left to right: Dr Rui-lin Zhao, Dr
Rampai Kodsueb, Dr (Joy) Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon, Dr Damodar Shenoy, Dr Zhang Ying, Dr
Hyde
As stated early Dr Hyde’s passion is to train young mycologists. His counsel to young
researchers is always to persevere in their research, publish as often as they can and let the
world see what research they are capable of, and be patient when trying to get a research
position. Eventually because of their expertise and perseverance, they will be offered the jobs
matching their visions. However he states “remember jobs for mycologists are few and far
between, but so is a molecular mycologist who also understands morphology and thus a
position will eventually materialise”. He always guides his students as follows, “I really want to
see you developing yourselves. “Be a general mycologist and do not specialize on one genus”.
He has said many times, “a Ph.D. trains you to run your own research group - advance science
and train yourself to be a scientist. If you cannot get things done and push yourself what hope
do you have when you leave the nest? So try to learn to push yourselves and achieve. You are
working for yourselves - not me and whatever you achieve will go towards your future - not
mine. You are not doing a PhD just to get the title “Dr” in front of your name. If you are, then
you should not continue, but quit now”.
Dr Hyde’s students are represented by many nationalities from Asia, among them are
Thais, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Laos, Myamarese, Vietnamese, Pilipino, Nepali and Indians. He also
has one Kenyan MS student. Dr Hyde has provided a great deal of opportunities to young
qualified students who were unable to find opportunities in their interest areas, and provide
scholarships through the Mushroom Research Foundation for PhD’s in mycology.
This article is not enough to express and explain the good work Dr Hyde has done to
promote mycology in the Asian region as well as worldwide. He strives to mould each of his
students into renowned mycologists in their own right. In the recent round of IMA Young
Mycologists Awards, two out of the five young awardees (Australasia and Asia) were Dr Hyde’s
previous students.
In Dr Hyde’s laboratory, we are budding mycologists, who have been taught, trained and
mentored by Dr Hyde and would like to wish Dr Hyde all the very best and good luck as his