LAURA VANG RASMUSSEN
I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
I am interested in understanding and seeking solutions to the global challenge of feeding the world while conserving nature at the same time. I have pursued this research field in a number of different contexts and countries, particularly in Africa.
I have two main contributions to science that I am particularly proud of. First, I have led an European Research Council (ERC) 5-year starting grant – and together with an excellent team of postdocs and PhDs, we have been able to show how wild foods can contribute to people’s dietary quality across Africa.
Second, I have together with Prof. Ingo Grass from University of Hohenheim, led the publication ‘Joint environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture’ published in April 2024 in Science. The paper was also the international winning article of the Frontiers Planet Prize 2025.
2010-2013 PhD, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2007-2009 MSc, Geography, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2004-2007 BSc, Geography, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2021- Associate Professor, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2019-2024 Affiliate Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
2019-2021 Tenure-track Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2017-2019 Banting postdoctoral fellow, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
2017 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2015-2017 Postdoctoral fellow, International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI), University of Michigan
2013-2015 Postdoctoral fellow, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2010-2013 Ph.D. candidate, Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2026-2031 ERC consolidator grant. Uncovering a revolutionary way of transforming farming systems with forgotten foods. PI
2025-2031 Danish National Research Foundation. Centre of Excellence for Remote Sensing and Deep Learning of Global Tree Resources. Co-PI.
2024-2029 The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Climate, Pollinator biodiversity, Crop Pollination and People’s Livelihoods. Co-PI.
2023-2025 European Research Council (ERC) POC grant. An innovative ‘Forest and Trees Toolkit’ for reducing malnutrition in Africa. PI
2021 Independent Research Fund of Denmark. Effects of deforestation and reforestation on food security and nutrition. PI
2020-2025 ERC starting grant. Reinterpreting how forests support people’s dietary quality in low-income countries. PI
2020 Strategy 2023: Integrating research into teaching, University of Copenhagen. PI
2018-2020 The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Socio-economic benefits of ecological infrastructure in South Africa. Work package lead
2017-2019 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, Can agricultural expansion perversely lead to lower food security among local people? PI
2025-2027 Co-Chair of the Global Land Programme (GLP). An interdisciplinary community with >2800 members.
2019-2020 International Union of Forest Research (IUFRO) Global Expert Panel on Forests and Poverty
2019-2024 Selected member of the of the Danish Young Academy (under the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters)
Since 2021 Associate Editor of Cambridge Elements Book Series: Sustainability
Since 2017 Journal of Land Use Science – Editorial board member
Since 2015 Forest & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research and Engagement (FLARE) – Coordination committee
Office: 6.2.641
lr@ign.ku.dk