Przemyslaw (Przemek) Dera is a Professor of Mineral Physics and Extreme Materials Science at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. He obtained his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 2000 from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, under tutelage of Prof. Andrzej Katrusiak. Prior to moving to Hawaii, he worked as research scientist at Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Geophysical Laboratory (2000-2007) and University of Chicago’s Center for Advanced Radiation Sources (2007-2013).  Przemek has been closely involved in the activities of high-pressure research community both within USA, as well as internationally.  He chaired the International Union of Crystallography Commission on High Pressure (2008-2014) and served as member and vice-chair the Executive Committee of COMPRES, the Consortium for Materials Properties Research in Earth Sciences (2010-2013). His main scientific interests include study of pressure-induced displacive phase transitions and spin crossover phenomena in materials, with particular emphasis on minerals relevant to planetary interiors. Przemek is an Elected Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America (2013) and was selected as Distinguished Lecturer for COMPRES in 2015. He has authored and co-authored 99 papers in scientific journals, 4 book chapters, and co-edited 4 books and journal special volumes.