By Ruby Shaw of 
Associate professor Damian Scarf was a beloved member of staff at the University of Otago. Photo: ODT / Supplied
The death of an active and popular member of University of Otago's psychology department has left the team there with a "huge hole" in it, fellow staff say.
Associate Professor Damian Scarf, 41, was a high achiever with a remarkable work ethic who was frank about his mental health, department of psychology head Jamin Halberstadt said on Tuesday.
His death, in Dunedin on 18 December, had had a far-reaching impact on staff and students at the university.
"He had a huge reach as well, in terms of people he worked with and students that he touched," Halberstadt said.
"It's just amazing how many lives he was involved with.
"There's people all over the country who seem to know him."
Scarf received his PhD from Otago in 2011 after researching comparative cognition in pigeons and humans.
His work was placed on the University of Otago Division of Sciences list of exceptional PhD theses.
He also received a Fulbright Scholarship and worked as a visiting researcher at Columbia University.
He began lecturing in the psychology department in 2013 and had published an enormous amount of work, Halberstadt said.
"He was very active in the department.
"There's a huge, huge hole in terms of not just his personality, but ... how much he did in [the field]."
Scarf believed the university's research should benefit local people and solve local problems.
"Probably more than any other staff member, I felt like he was very interested in sort of local impact."
He was generous with his time and an advocate for his students, particularly Māori and Pasifika students and those with mental health struggles, Halberstadt said.
Some supervisors were cautious about students they chose to supervise, but "Damian was known for reaching out and ... taking chances with students who other people might have turned away".
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