Welcome to the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
We investigate how organisms interact with chemical signals.
We do research in the lab to better understand interactions at a molecular level.
We do research in the glasshouse and in the field to better understand interactions and signals in their natural environment.
Photo: Anna Schroll
Training and international collaborations are key features of our work.
We believe diversity and inclusion leads to the best science.
We celebrate our 25th anniversary together with our neighboring institute.
Follow the QR-code to listen to short podcasts about our current research.
Research News
Current News and Announcements
New structures, spectrometric quantification, and inhibitory properties of cardenolides from Asclepias curassavica seeds. Molecules 28 (1), 105 (2022)
Ancient origin and conserved gene function in terpene pheromone and defense evolution of stink bugs and hemipteran insects. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 152, 103879 (2023)
Symbiosis: Creating a tractable intracellular insect-microbe association. Current Biology 32 (18), pp. R943 - R946 (2022)
The Jena chemist is awarded the most prestigious German research prize for her fundamental discoveries on plant natural product biosynthesis.
Over 250 scientists from all over the world will present and discuss their latest research results in smell and taste research.
In the category "doctoral researchers" Nomthi Kanyile received the prize for the best presentation and Ana Simão Pinto de Carvalho the prize for the best poster.