Nataša Poklar Ulrih - Zois Award 2026

How can natural plant compounds contribute to the development of healthier and more sustainable foods? Prof. Dr. Nataša Poklar Ulrih of the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana is the recipient of the 2026 Zois Award for outstanding achievements in research on bioactive compounds from natural plant sources. Her work combines biophysical chemistry and food technology and reveals possibilities for utilizing valuable substances from plants, including those derived from food production byproducts. Together with her colleagues, she is developing methods to protect these compounds from degradation and to improve their stability and bioavailability. In doing so, she contributes to the development of functional foods and the more efficient use of natural resources.