Florian studied biotechnology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, focusing on influenza viruses in his dissertation. Since 2010, he has been conducting research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, including work on a universal flu vaccine. At the beginning of this year, he also took on the role of head of the new Ignaz Semmelweis Institute at the Medical University of Vienna. In addition, he will lead a new Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Science Communication and Pandemic Preparedness.

‍