Captivated by the biosynthesis and evolution of natural products
Matilde Florean honored with prestigious Otto Hahn Medal for groundbreaking work on plant natural product evolution.
Matilde Florean, a former doctoral researcher in the Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, is awarded the Otto Hahn Medal by the Max Planck Society (MPG) at the MPG annual meeting in Frankfurt. With this award, the MPG recognizes one of the most outstanding doctoral theses of the past year: Matilde Florean’s groundbreaking research on the convergent evolution of the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in plants using benzoxazinoids as a model system. The award, endowed with 7,500 euros, recognizes outstanding scientific achievements by early-career researchers during their doctoral studies and supports emerging talent.
Discovery of a metabolic innovation with broad implications for natural product research
During her Ph.D., Matilde Florean uncovered how plants have independently evolved multiple biochemical pathways to produce the same natural compounds—a phenomenon known as convergent evolution. Her work revealed that benzoxazinoid biosynthesis evolved at least four times across the plant kingdom, with distinct genetic solutions emerging in different lineages.
One of her most significant discoveries was the identification of a previously unknown TSB-like gene that is co-expressed across all dicot plants producing benzoxazinoids. This gene plays a novel role by diverting tryptophan biosynthesis to produce free indole. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding metabolic plasticity and evolutionary innovation in natural product biosynthesis.
“This previously unrecognized mechanism for indole biosynthesis is not only unprecedented in plants but also has broad implications for natural product research, metabolic engineering, and evolutionary biology,” said Tobias Köllner from the Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, supervisor of Matilde Florean’s doctoral work. “Her discovery reshapes our understanding of how plants evolve complex chemical defenses.”
A long-term interest in plant metabolisms and its remarkable complexity and diversity
Born in Verona, Italy, Matilde Florean first developed her passion for science during a high school exchange in the United States. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Padua and a master’s in Industrial Biotechnology from the University of Milan-Bicocca. Her master’s thesis, conducted at Wageningen University in the Netherlands through the Erasmus program, explored the biosynthesis of the compounds responsible for chicory’s distinctive flavor—her first deep dive into plant metabolites.
“I’ve been captivated by the complexity and diversity of plant metabolism ever since,” says Matilde Florean. “The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology stands out for its interdisciplinary excellence in natural product research across plants, insects, and microbes. I was especially inspired by Sarah O’Connor’s work on plant natural product biosynthesis and evolution —this was the perfect place to pursue my research dreams.”
In 2021, she joined Sarah O’Connor’s department as a doctoral researcher. Her project yielded seven publications, including three first-author papers in top-tier journals: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Nature Chemical Biology.
“Matilde Florean is an exceptional scientist who made significant contributions to our understanding of plant metabolism during her Ph.D. studies. She was an enthusiastic and determined presence in the lab, and I look forward to seeing her future research career unfold,” Sarah O’Connor praises her former Ph.D. candidate.
Curiosity and enthusiasm as powerful sources of motivation in science
Reflecting on her journey, Matilde Florean credits her success to mentorship, collaboration, and the freedom to explore. “The Otto Hahn Medal recognizes not only my work, but also the support, mentorship, and collaboration that made it possible. Receiving this award celebrates the work I have completed thus far and motivates me to continue pursuing ambitious scientific questions in the future,” she said.
In April 2026, Matilde Florean joined the Department of Biochemistry and Synthetic Metabolism at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg as a postdoctoral researcher where she now focuses on adapting synthetic carbon-fixation pathways for implementation in plants —paving the way for more efficient, climate-resilient crops.
She encourages young scientists, especially women in STEM, to seek out mentors and communities that nurture their curiosity. "It's important to be passionate about your scientific question. I think that is the only way you can contribute the most to science,” she is convinced.
About the Otto Hahn Medal
Awarded annually by the Max Planck Society, the Otto Hahn Medal honors outstanding doctoral research by young scientists. Named after Nobel laureate Otto Hahn, the award celebrates scientific excellence, innovation, and the potential of early-career researchers to shape the future of science.
