Birgit Piechulla’s current research focus is to understand the biosynthesis and regulation of volatile organic compounds of bacteria and plants (flowers) and to elucidate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms and reactions, including signal transduction, in the mVOC receiver. She published 112 peer-reviewed publications, 25 book articles and non-peer-reviewed articles (Researchgate h-index 37). Her book, Plant Biochemistry, co-written with H.W. Heldt has been published in German, English, Russian, Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Turkish. From 1998 - 2013 she was co-editor of Plant Biology, board member of the Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft (DBG) (2009-2016), board member of the Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) (2008-2016), councilor of the Int. Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) (2014- 2017), and she held several academic positions within the university, including Vice Rector for Science at the University of Rostock (2,5 years, 2013-2015). Hans-Walter Heldt was a professor at the University of Göttingen in the Department of Biochemistry of the plant. He is co-authored over 250 scientific publications and is the co-author of the textbook, Plant Biochemistry. In 1993, he was awarded the Max Planck Research Award together with Marshall Davidson Hatch . Since 1990, he has been a full member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences.