Maurizio Bruno completed his studies in chemistry in 1980 at the University of Palermo. From 1983 to 1992, he was an assistant professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Palermo. From 1985 to 1986, he worked at Florida State University with Prof. Werner Herz and from 1987 to 1988 at Imperial College, London, with Prof. Steven Ley. He was appointed to the faculty of engineering (University of Palermo) as an associate professor (1992–2000) and then as a full professor of organic chemistry (2000–present). Since 2002, he has been included in the ISI list as one of the most cited researchers in the world. In 2005, the President of the Italian Republic appointed him a "Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" for his contributions to scientific research. His teaching concerned courses on organic chemistry and the chemistry of natural products and pigments. From 2010 to 2012, he was the President of the Società Chimica Italiana-Sez. Sicilia. He works in natural organic product chemistry on natural and semi-synthetic terpenoids with antifeedant, insecticidal, anti-HIV, and cytotoxic activities, as well as in essential oils with antibacterial and antifungal properties. His interests also include investigations into plants used as food and the determination of their biological properties.