Professor Richard Cogdell, Professor and Hooker Chair of Botany, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

The Society said Richard had made 'seminal contributions to research into the structure and function of bacterial reaction centres and light-harvesting complexes'.

Professor Cogdell said: 'When you start out as a young scientist, being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society is a dream but you never imagine you will achieve it.

'It was always something that happened to important people.

'I am absolutely delighted by this and am really looking forward to giving a seminar as part of my induction in July.

'It will be such an honour.'

Professor Cogdell, who has been at the University since 1975, is from the Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology within the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

Sir Muir Russell, Principal of the University of Glasgow, said: 'I am delighted that Professor Cogdell's work has been recognised by the Royal Society. Glasgow very much welcomes his efforts and those of our other internationally recognised scholars.'

Professor Cogdell was one of 44 new Fellows elected.

Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society, said: 'These new Fellows are at the cutting edge of science in the UK and beyond. Their achievements represent the enormous contribution science makes to society.'

Professor Cogdell has been invited, along with the other new Fellows, to present their work at the Society's annual New Fellows Seminar on 11/12 July.

As a Fellow of the UK's national academy of science, he joins the likes of David Attenborough and Stephen Hawking.

Ray McHugh (r.mchugh@admin.gla.ac.uk)

First published: 18 May 2007