The jury praised Caroline Paul’s visionary and highly original research into expanding the scope of biocatalysis, which is both fundamentally groundbreaking and relevant to tangible, sustainable industrial applications. The KNCV Gold Medal 2024 will be awarded on 3 December during the NWO CHAINS chemistry conference in Veldhoven, The Netherlands.  

Caroline Paul has gained international recognition for her research into so-called non-natural analogues of cofactors — ‘supporting’ molecules that enable enzymes to do their job. In doing so, she has significantly increased the possibilities of using enzymes, nature’s catalysts, for chemical reactions. Her research thus opens new ways of developing sustainable, environmentally friendly production processes for the chemical industry.  

The jury, chaired by polymer chemist Professor Katja Loos (University of Groningen), praised the originality and creativity of Paul’s research, which is also characterised by a strong interdisciplinary approach and a clear societal impact. The quality and international visibility of her work is demonstrated by numerous publications in leading scientific journals and by prestigious awards and grants, including an ERC Starting Grant, a Chemistry Europe Fellowship and an NWO ENW XL Grant.   

In addition to her scientific achievements, the jury sees in Caroline Paul an inspiring teacher and a dedicated mentor. She is also a highly skilled science communicator, capable of explaining complex phenomena and results to a wider audience. In her outreach activities, she frequently uses social media channels and popular science media to reach new audiences. She also founded the NextGenBiocat initiative to support early career researchers and is active in various (inter)national scientific organisations.   

Read more about her work in our recent item Reducing enzyme can also oxidise of 15 October 2024.