12 women driving science forward

Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz

Yafang Cheng investigates the impact of aerosols on air quality, climate, and human health. Her goal is to develop quantitative models to predict these effects within the Earth system and to advance physicochemical theories regarding the properties and interactions of nanoparticles. Cheng combines field observations, instrument development, and laboratory experiments with numerical simulations and machine learning to identify key questions, test hypotheses, and advance theoretical understanding. This approach expands and strengthens the focus on Earth System Chemistry, leveraging the research platforms and resources available at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. These include the HALO research aircraft, state-of-the-art workshops and laboratories, and high-performance computing facilities.
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Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen and Martinsried

Maude W. Baldwin studies the evolution of taste perception and digestive physiology in vertebrates. Together with her team, she discovered that birds lost their receptor for perceiving sweetness over the course of evolution. Yet hummingbirds, songbirds, and certain woodpeckers regained the ability to taste sweetness by repurposing a receptor originally meant for savoury flavours. In contrast, the wryneck—a woodpecker specialized in eating ants—lost this ability a second time in the course of evolution. With her research group having expanded into a full department, Baldwin explores the causes and consequences of such evolutionary shifts in sensory perception. Her team takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining molecular biology, cell culture techniques, and behavioural studies. Ultimately, their research on avian taste perception is expected to provide valuable insights into human health. more

Director, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg
(Previously at the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics in Grenoble and the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur)

Myriam Benisty explores the cosmic nurseries where stars and planets are born.  As an astrophysicist, she studies the various mechanisms of star formation, from massive star clusters to individual, smaller stars. Her research also focuses on planet formation, with a particular interest in how dust grains evolve into planets, and the properties of the gas and dust discs that facilitate this evolution. To conduct her research, Benisty combines observational data, simulations, and experiments. She uses state-of-the-art technologies such as adaptive optics and infrared instruments for telescopes, to observe at multiple wavelengths with both large ground-based and space telescopes. These observations are complemented by supercomputer simulations, theoretical modelling, and specialised laboratory experiments.
 
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Director, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz
(Previously at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies and the University of Heidelberg)

Proteins, the fundamental building blocks of life, are subjected to mechanical forces and adapt to them. Frauke Gräter’s research focuses on the fundamental question of how mechanical forces influence biochemical processes in living organisms. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining experimental methods, high-performance computing, and molecular simulation techniques, she has gained new insights into areas ranging from blood coagulation to material research on collagen. A key focus of her work is the development and application of innovative methods based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are used for cutting-edge research in the field of soft matter. more

Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen
(Previously at the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan)

Yen-Ping Hsueh seeks to uncover the secrets behind predatory mechanisms and evolution within the fungal kingdom. Her new department focuses on the molecular interactions and co-evolution of nematodes—microscopic roundworms—and nematode-eating fungi. Hsueh’s team investigates how the model organism C. elegans perceives and responds to predatory fungi. Their research broadens our understanding of the biology of carnivorous fungi, such as nematode-trapping fungi and oyster mushrooms. By studying the origins of carnivory within the fungal kingdom, their work could open up new pathways for the development of biocontrol methods and innovative therapies for parasitic nematode infections. more

Director, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin

How do different environments influence our lives at various points in time and across different time spans? Given the challenges of climate change and the increasing transformation of habitats, understanding the impact of the physical environment on humans has become more crucial than ever. Simone Kühn investigates whether there are critical phases in life when environmental influences have a particularly profound effect—ranging from long-term effects of living environments to the benefits of short-term nature experiences and immediate reactions to specific environmental stimuli. Using twin studies, the neuroscientist aims to uncover how environmental conditions impact the brains of genetically identical twins. The findings of her studies are expected to provide valuable insights into the relationship between environment, brain structure, and mental health. Kühn’s findings could help improve the design of living spaces, urban planning, and architecture to better promote long-term mental well-being. more

Director at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg
(Previously at the Technical University of Munich, Munich)

Susanne Mertens conducts research in experimental astroparticle physics, tackling some of the most fundamental questions in physics—such as the mass and properties of neutrinos, the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe, and the nature of dark matter. Beyond data analysis, she develops advanced detector technologies for large-scale research projects. Mertens plays a key role in world-leading collaborations, often in leadership positions. She serves as co-spokesperson for KATRIN, the foremost experiment for measuring neutrino mass, and is the Principal Investigator of TRISTAN, a planned extension of KATRIN aimed at detecting sterile neutrinos. Additionally, she leads the ComPol project, a satellite mission designed to measure X-ray polarization from the X-ray binary system Cygnus X-1. Her work makes significant contributions to unravelling the fundamental processes that govern the universe.
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Director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law
(Previously Director of the Notarial Law Centre for Family Businesses at Bucerius Law School and Head of the Interdisciplinary Programme for Legal Research)

Her research, rooted in comparative law and legal sociology, focuses on family and inheritance law. She also explores broader legal questions, including the concept and significance of autonomy in law, the relationship between  private and public law, and the role of interdisciplinarity in jurisprudence and legal education. More recently, her work has centred on emancipation debates, with a particular focus on the dogmas, discourses, and interpretations surrounding bodily self-determination.
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Director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn (previously at University College London, UK )

Amélie Saintonge studies the interaction between galaxies and their environment, with a particular focus on the cold interstellar medium and its role in regulating galaxy growth. Her observations have revealed that the efficiency of star formation varies systematically from one galaxy to another and across cosmic timescales.
Saintonge’s new research department is dedicated to building a robust observational foundation, particularly in the (sub)millimetre and radio wave ranges. This is essential for studying how galaxies connect to their large-scale gaseous surroundings and the cosmic web. At the same time, her team investigates the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium and the key drivers of star formation—from the Milky Way to nearby galaxies and the early universe.   
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Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg
(Previously at Cornell University, New York, USA)

Jie Shan, a pioneer in quantum materials research, is renowned for her groundbreaking work on non-equilibrium phenomena in two-dimensional heterostructures and quantum materials. Her research explores the optical and electronic properties of nanoscale materials, with a particular focus on atomically thin two-dimensional crystals such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, as well as their precisely engineered heterostructures.
Her research group develops advanced experimental techniques to study, map, and control the internal degrees of freedom of electrons in these materials. This work is carried out at extremely low temperatures close to absolute zero, enabling a deeper understanding of the novel properties of these materials.
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Director at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, Bochum  (Head of the SPRING Lab)

The data protection expert will assume her role as Scientific Director of the SPRING (Security and Privacy Engineering) department at the MPI in March 2025. She led the team that developed the protocol for the SwissCovid tracing app, enabling decentralized and privacy-friendly contact tracing. Known as the Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing Protocol (DP-3T), this system ensures that data transmitted from a user’s device contains no information about their location or social contacts. By prioritizing privacy, it guarantees that using the app poses no risk to users. more