Maude Baldwin

Maude Baldwin is the Director of the Evolution of Sensory and Physiological Systems department at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. Her research focuses on the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying sensory receptor evolution in vertebrates, particularly in birds.

• Education: Ph.D. from Harvard University (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 2007-2014); B.A. from New York University (Gallatin School of Individualized Study, 2005).

Research Interests include:

• Evolution of taste receptors, such as the repurposing of savory receptors for sweet detection in hummingbirds.
• Convergent evolution in sensory systems across vertebrates.
• Integrative approaches combining molecular methods, cell culture, and behavioral studies.
• Impact of dietary shifts on ecological and physiological adaptations.

Publication Trends reveal a focus on comparative genomics, protein evolution, and sensory system adaptation, with specific attention to bird taste receptors, gene loss, and echolocation genetics.

Labs & Teams: Baldwin leads a multidisciplinary team at the Max Planck Institute, recruiting researchers in comparative genomics, organoid technology, and vertebrate natural history. The group investigates sensory-diet coevolution and physiological trade-offs.