Jonathan Gershenzon is a Professor and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. He leads the Department for Biochemistry and the Project Group Forest Beetles and Friends. His research focuses on chemical interactions between plants, herbivores, and microbes, with a particular emphasis on specialized metabolites like glucosinolates and terpenes. His work explores how plants defend against herbivory, how insects detoxify plant defenses, and the ecological implications of these interactions. He holds a Silver Medal from the International Society of Chemical Ecology (2024) and was elected to EMBO (2024) and the Leopoldina (2021). He has been a Highly Cited Researcher since 2015, with continuous recognition in Plant and Animal Science. His awards include the Charles M. Sweeley Lectureship (2025) and membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012). Research interests span chemical ecology, plant defense mechanisms, insect detoxification strategies, and microbial interactions. He investigates how plant chemistry influences insect behavior, microbial communities, and ecological networks. Notable projects include studies on the role of fungal endophytes in plant defense and the metabolic responses of conifers to biotic stressors. His lab’s work addresses fundamental questions in plant biology and applied challenges like pest management. Collaborative projects often involve metabolomics, biochemical assays, and ecological field studies.

