Dr. Freideriki (Frida) Michailidou named to MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Europe list
A researcher and lecturer in ETH Zurich’s Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Frida develops sustainable processes for creating fragrant materials by combining biotechnology with perfumery and consumer science.
Frida Michailidou has been named to the MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Europe for 2023. A researcher and lecturer in ETH Zurich’s Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Michailidou develops sustainable processes for creating fragrant materials by combining biotechnology with perfumery and consumer science. Her research in sustainable fragrance creation has the potential to impact multiple industries including the future of food, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and advanced materials industries.
As part of her research, she led an expedition to Mount Olympus, Greece's highest mountain, to collect volatile emissions from rare, protected plants growing at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. Using cutting-edge analytical technology, Michailidou identified novel molecular structures contributing to the unique scents of these plants. She now focuses on advancing eco-friendly biocatalysis techniques to harness renewable raw materials, to promote consumer safety while reducing the use of experimental animals.
As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow and a Collegium Helveticum Fellow, Frida Michailidou expanded upon her Ph.D. research in the biosynthesis of natural products from the University of St Andrews, U.K. earning the Swiss STARTUP CAMPUS award for her innovative business plan for sustainable perfumes. Her research and international work have also been recognized in digital science news platform.