Member Spotlight: Meet Marc Pignitter

Dr. Marc Pignitter earned his doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Graz, Austria. He is an associate professor of chemistry and the head of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at the University of Vienna, Austria. Dr. Pignitter is also the current chair of the Lipid Oxidation and Quality (LOQ) Division of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS). His research focuses on identifying pathways and markers of lipid oxidation in foods, improving food processing methods to enhance oxidative stability, and evaluating the biological effects of dietary oxidized lipids.

AOCS Membership
Dr. Pignitter has been a member of AOCS since 2018, joining after attending the Annual Meeting and experiencing its welcoming culture and vibrant lipid science community. He values AOCS as an invaluable learning, collaboration, and professional growth platform.

Research Focus
Dr. Pignitter’s research began with investigating lipid oxidation in bulk oils under typical household conditions. His work now spans sustainable food chemistry, focusing on improving food quality, functionality, and durability while minimizing food waste. Current projects include:

• Developing packaging materials to enhance food quality.
• Valorizing by-products from the food industry.
• Exploring oxidomic approaches with machine learning to study oxidized food lipids in intestinal inflammation.

His efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing sustainable consumption and production.

Entrepreneurial Endeavors
Dr. Pignitter co-founded Lipid Legends, a spin-off company from the University of Vienna, specializing in optimized flaxseed oil with higher antioxidant content, longer shelf life, and reduced bitterness. The company is also developing heat-resistant, cold-pressed sunflower and rapeseed oils as healthy alternatives to processed oils.

Advice for Scholars
Dr. Pignitter emphasizes the importance of building strong networks, embracing challenges, and staying flexible. He credits AOCS and the LOQ Division for providing mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and unique platforms like fireside chats to learn from leaders in lipid science.

Looking Ahead
Dr. Pignitter envisions Lipid Legends leading sustainable oil production within five years, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and ecological footprints through innovative production methods.

Learn More
To engage with Dr. Pignitter and other experts, explore AOCS resources, including the LOQ mentorship program and upcoming events like the November 19 fireside chat with lipid science pioneer Prof. Kai Simons.