Queen Mary scientist awarded prestigious £1.4 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to uncover biodiversity's hidden benefits to people

The Future Leaders Fellowships programme supports talented early-career researchers and innovators with the potential to become the next generation of world-leading research and innovation leaders. 

Dr Pironon's fellowship will fund an ambitious project, Biodiversity's Hidden Contributions to People: Closing the Gap in Species-Use Knowledge, which aims to transform our understanding of how people depend on biodiversity for food, medicine, materials, livelihoods, cultural heritage and wellbeing. 

Although wild and domesticated species underpin many aspects of human life, surprisingly little is known about how species are used around the world. This lack of knowledge makes it harder for scientists, governments and conservation organisations to understand biodiversity's full value, monitor sustainable use, and develop effective responses to the global biodiversity crisis. 

Through the fellowship, Dr Pironon will create what is expected to become the world's most comprehensive database of species use, bringing together information on plants, animals and fungi from across the globe. Using advanced data science and artificial intelligence, the project will identify major gaps in current knowledge, predict previously undocumented uses of species, and develop new tools to assess the sustainability of species use worldwide. 

The research seeks to reveal biodiversity's hidden contributions to society and provide policymakers, conservation organisations and businesses with better evidence to support sustainable decision-making. 

Dr Samuel Pironon said: 

"I am absolutely delighted to receive a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. Biodiversity supports humanity in countless ways, yet we still know remarkably little about how people use species across the planet. 

This fellowship will allow us to build a new evidence base on biodiversity's contributions to people by combining large-scale biodiversity data, artificial intelligence and strong international partnerships. Ultimately, I hope this work will help improve how we value, manage and safeguard biodiversity for future generations." 

The fellowship builds on Dr Pironon's growing international reputation in biodiversity science. His recent research has included a landmark Science paper that delivered the first global assessment of the diversity and distribution of plant species used by people. His work sits at the intersection of biodiversity, sustainability, conservation and data science, addressing major global challenges including biodiversity loss, food security and climate change. 

Professor Martin Knight, Dean for Research in Queen Mary's Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: 

"This prestigious fellowship is a tremendous achievement for Samuel and reflects the originality, ambition and global importance of his research. 

We are proud to support his work and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on science, policy and society." 

The project is due to begin in October 2026 and will establish a major new platform for understanding, monitoring and safeguarding the relationship between people and biodiversity at a global scale.  

Dr Pironon joins a growing number of Future Leadership Fellowship holders within Queen Mary University of London. The university is pleased to provide a world-leading, supportive environment which facilitates the growth of ambitious research programmes. 

About UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships 

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships support outstanding early-career researchers and innovators with the potential to become future leaders in their fields. The programme provides long-term funding to support ambitious, interdisciplinary research and innovation that addresses major societal and economic challenges.