The Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) is deeply saddened by the passing of our Director, Professor Roger Wepf.
Our thoughts are with Roger's family, friends, colleagues, students, and all those whose lives he touched.
He will be greatly missed.
A tribute from our Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) Professor Paul Bonnington:
Dear colleagues,
It is with profound sadness that I write to inform you that Professor Roger Wepf, Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM), passed away peacefully last night following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Roger was surrounded by his family and loved ones and faced his illness with extraordinary courage, dignity, and grace. His passing is a tremendous loss to The University of Queensland, to the microscopy community worldwide, and to the many colleagues, collaborators, students, and friends whose lives he touched.
Roger joined UQ in 2016 as Director of CMM, following an internationally distinguished career spanning Switzerland, Germany, and Australia. He held leadership positions at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and served as President of the European Microscopy Society before relocating to Brisbane to lead CMM.
Under Roger's leadership, CMM was transformed into one of the world's leading microscopy and microanalysis facilities, supporting more than 700 researchers across disciplines and enabling research that has advanced science, industry, health, and society. He championed a vision of microscopy as a democratised capability, making world-class technology accessible to researchers from all backgrounds and disciplines.
His contributions extended far beyond facility leadership. Roger was an innovator, entrepreneur, and builder of capability. He established an agile in-house research and development team that created groundbreaking technologies, including novel cryogenic preparation systems, automated electron microscopy workflows, robotics-enabled sample handling, and AI-assisted imaging pipelines. Many of these innovations moved beyond the laboratory into real-world deployment and commercialisation, helping shape the future of scientific instrumentation.
Roger was also a pioneer in research data infrastructure. Working closely with colleagues across UQ, he helped develop FAIR-compliant, AI-ready digital ecosystems that integrated microscopy, high-performance computing, and advanced analytics. Through recent initiatives such as the Natural Resources Innovation and Characterisation Hub (NRICH), he positioned UQ at the forefront of critical minerals, advanced materials, and circular economy research.
His influence was truly global. Roger founded the open-access journal *Methods in Microscopy*, delivered keynote addresses internationally, and most recently chaired the Asia Pacific Microscopy Congress 13 in Brisbane, bringing together more than 1,000 participants from 27 countries. Throughout his career, he remained deeply committed to scientific excellence, methodological innovation, collaboration, and the development of future generations of researchers.
Yet for those who knew him, Roger's greatest legacy was not the technology, infrastructure, or accolades. It was the people. He was a generous mentor, an inspirational leader, and a passionate advocate for his staff, students, and collaborators. He built a community characterised by curiosity, kindness, excellence, and a shared commitment to advancing knowledge.
Roger has shaped not only a world-class research capability through CMM, but also a community of talented and dedicated people who reflect his vision, values, and leadership. The legacy he has created will endure, and we will continue to draw upon and channel that legacy in the years ahead.
On behalf of the University, I extend our deepest condolences to Roger's family, friends, colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.
Further information regarding memorial arrangements will be shared when available and in accordance with the wishes of Roger's family.
Vale Roger. Thank you for your leadership, your friendship, your vision, and your extraordinary contribution to UQ and the global scientific community.
With deepest sympathy,
Bonno
Banner image: Fungal Spores on Barley leaves taken by Professor Roger Wepf.
