Rate My Professor Russell Frew

Professor Russell Frew is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Otago, part of the Sciences Division. He earned his PhD in Chemistry in 1991 and BSc (Hons) from the University of Otago. Frew began his career applying trace metal and stable isotope analyses to ocean processes. He advanced to Professor of Chemistry around 2013, serving until his retirement in 2021. From 2011, he directed the Forensic Analytical Science programme and established its major. Frew founded Isotrace in 2003 and co-founded Oritain Global Ltd. in 2008, where he now works full-time as Chief Scientist. Between 2012 and 2016, he was seconded to the IAEA/FAO to establish a food traceability programme. He has provided expert forensic evidence in courts, including over 40 reports for the New Zealand government.

Frew's research focuses on trace metals in natural waters, stable isotope geochemistry, paleo-chemistry, and geochemical provenancing. Current projects investigate geographical origins of foods such as honey, coffee, soybean, hops, and edible oils using stable isotopes, trace elements, volatiles, and statistical methods; and nitrogen fluxes in oceans via isotopic tools. With over 192 publications, his work has garnered more than 8,000 citations and an h-index of 46. Key publications include 'Multi-source data fusion for soybean origin traceability: Stable isotopes, elemental composition, & volatile organic compounds' (Food Chemistry, 2025), 'Near-infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis for the geographical origin traceability of New Zealand hops' (Food & Bioprocess Technology, 2025), and 'Non-linear machine learning coupled near infrared spectroscopy enhanced model performance and insights for coffee origin traceability' (Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 2024). His contributions earned the Shimadzu Prize for Industrial and Applied Chemistry (2019, NZIC), IAEA/FAO Merit Award for Outstanding Performance (2014), and a 2012 University of Otago research distinction. Frew's innovations have influenced supply chain traceability across food, fashion, and pharmaceuticals.