Olivier Voinnet is a prominent French biologist renowned for his pioneering contributions to RNA biology and molecular plant science. Born in 1973, he currently serves as a Full Professor at the Department of Biology and Head of the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology at ETH Zurich. He obtained his PhD in 2001 in England under the supervision of David Baulcombe, establishing a strong foundation in plant molecular biology. Following his doctoral studies, Voinnet became an independent group leader at the CNRS in Strasbourg, where he was rapidly promoted to Directeur de Recherche in 2005, demonstrating exceptional promise in his field.
Voinnet's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of RNA silencing mechanisms, particularly focusing on the biogenesis, modes of action, and biological functions of microRNAs and other small RNA molecules. His laboratory has made significant contributions to elucidating how these tiny RNA molecules guide sequence-specific regulations at the levels of mRNA stability, translation, and DNA methylation across various organisms. His work has been particularly influential in understanding non-cell autonomous RNA silencing and its critical role in plant immunity, growth, and reproduction. Despite facing controversy regarding image manipulation allegations that led to retractions and corrections of some publications, his scientific contributions to RNA biology have been widely recognized and continue to shape the field.
As Head of the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology at ETH Zurich, Voinnet maintains an influential position in the global scientific community, mentoring the next generation of molecular biologists and guiding research directions in RNA biology. His leadership was acknowledged with the prestigious Rössler Prize at ETH Zurich in 2013, recognizing him as one of the most promising young scientists in his career development. Although the EMBO Gold Medal awarded in 2009 was later retracted in 2016 following investigations into his work, Voinnet continues to lead an active research program exploring fundamental questions in RNA biology. His current research expands on previous work to investigate the functional secretion and transport of microRNAs between cells, potentially opening new avenues for understanding intercellular communication in plants and beyond.
