A symposium honoring David Puett, retiring professor and former head of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at UGA, will be held April 15 from 1-5:30 p.m. in Masters Hall of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel.
The event is open free to the public and will celebrate and honor Puett for his career and contributions.
Colleagues from UGA and other universities around the U.S. will present scientific papers, and Puett will respond in remarks at 5:15 p.m. Following the event, there will be a reception in his honor.
“Dave Puett is as fine a person as he is a faculty member,” said Garnett S. Stokes, dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “The legions of those who admire him for his research and teaching also found in him, as I did, a kind, generous and thoughtful colleague, always putting others first and working tirelessly for his department. UGA and the Franklin College are far better off for his having been here.”
Puett, Regents Professor emeritus, has been a faculty member at UGA since 1993. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physics from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree, also in physics, from UNC-Chapel Hill, Puett earned his doctorate in biochemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1969.
Beginning that year, he was a faculty member at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for 14 years, rising to the rank of professor of biochemistry. During this time, he served as program director of a reproductive biology training program and associate director of a population center, both funded by the National Institutes of Health.
In 1983, he joined the faculty at the University of Miami School of Medicine as professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology.
He also served as director of the Reproductive Sciences and Endocrinology laboratories, the Reproductive Endocrinology Training Program and was program leader of the Endocrine Cancer Section of the Comprehensive Cancer Center.
In 1993, Puett came to UGA as professor and head of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology. He was named Regents Professor in 2001.
The symposium is being funded by the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the department of biochemistry and molecular biology and donations from colleagues and friends of David and Susan Puett.
