Robert Paull has been a Professor and Researcher in Plant Biology since 1985 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Prior to receiving a PhD in plant physiology at UC Berkeley, Paull was a field agronomist in Australia doing cotton production research. He has served as a consultant to commercial companies, as well as national and international horticulture programs. His international experience includes Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Timor, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, Vietnam and West Bank. Paull’s area of research is in postharvest handling and storage of tropical fruits, vegetables and ornamentals, especially the impact the of preharvest and postharvest factors on commodity quality. Current research involves changes in the gene expression of plant growth regulators and cell wall enzymes during abscission and fruit ripening. He has co-authored four books and co-edited an additional five, including the Encyclopedia of Fruits and Nuts and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers and extension publications. Paull serves as an associated editor on two journals.