Mette Hedegaard Thomsen is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University. Her research focuses on biorefinery systems, halophyte utilization, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) mitigation. She leads projects involving valorization of organic waste, development of natural biocides, and sustainable biofuel production. Research Interests: Halophyte-based biorefineries Microbial corrosion inhibition Organic waste-to-energy conversion Phenolic compound extraction Probiotic/postbiotic applications Key Projects (2018–2027): Biorefinery of Biomass Residues for High-Value Compounds Improving GreeN Innovation for Sustainable Animal Farming Halophyte Extracts as Natural Corrosion Inhibitors Advising & Grants: Supervisor for 4 PhD students Funded by EU Horizon 2022 and industry partnerships Labs/Teams: Halophyte Biorefinery Lab Corrosion Inhibition Research Group Waste Valorization Consortium
Kristian Koefoed Brandt serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, specializing in Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology. His research focuses on environmental microbiology, antibiotic resistance dynamics, and contaminant fate in agricultural systems. His primary research interests span Soil Microbiology, Antibiotic Resistance, Environmental Contaminants, and Wastewater Treatment, with significant contributions to understanding microbial processes in organic agriculture and wastewater systems. Key themes include bioremediation strategies, pesticide risk assessment, and the One Health implications of emerging contaminants. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on antimicrobial resistance surveillance across environmental interfaces, particularly in wastewater-river systems and agricultural settings. His work integrates molecular techniques with large-scale environmental monitoring, often through European collaborative projects examining climate gradients and farming practices. 295 citations for 'Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective' (2024) Featured in 13 news outlets and referenced in Wikipedia High-impact research on wastewater-based disease surveillance Extensive collaboration across European research networks Professor Brandt actively contributes to environmental risk assessment frameworks, particularly regarding recycled nutrients in organic agriculture. His research group employs advanced molecular markers and isotope techniques to study microbial interactions, with significant implications for sustainable agricultural practices and public health monitoring systems.
Sam Roozbehani serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics Energy Technology and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Ballerup campus. His research in power systems engineering directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals for affordable and clean energy, with expertise spanning microgrid stability, inverter control, and advanced power system protection mechanisms. His primary research domains include Microgrid Engineering, Inverter Engineering, and Reactive Power Engineering, with specialized focus on fault ride-through coordination, grid-forming/grid-following inverter architectures, and advanced control techniques like fractional-order sliding mode control. Current investigations address critical challenges in renewable integration resilience, particularly voltage stability during grid faults and optimal control of hybrid photovoltaic-battery systems in microgrids. Analysis of his 2025 publications reveals concentrated efforts on real-time solutions for inverter-based microgrid stability, with significant contributions to fault management protocols and frequency regulation in industrial energy clusters. His work demonstrates consistent emphasis on practical implementations of control algorithms for wind turbine systems and eco-industrial applications. Dr. Roozbehani actively contributes to two major research initiatives: Electric weed control in seed crops - Developing electrical methods for sustainable agricultural weed management GRACE project - Creating grid capacity-aware investment frameworks for eco-industrial clusters to optimize sector coupling and renewable integration These projects involve cross-disciplinary collaboration with DTU researchers in energy systems and environmental engineering, targeting near-term industrial implementation.
Abrha Teklay Abay is an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in the Department of Food and Resource Economics under the Section for Environment and Natural Resources. His research focuses on integrating environmental sustainability with agricultural and resource economics. Research Interests: Environmental Economics Climate Change Adaptation Sustainable Agricultural Systems Ecosystem Services Valuation Policy Design for Natural Resource Management Research Trends: His recent work emphasizes climate impacts on crop diversity in the Nordic region, farmer-acceptable rotation strategies for ecosystem resilience, and marine spatial planning in the Kattegat. Collaborations span policy analysis, interdisciplinary climate modeling, and stakeholder-driven solutions. Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen Section for Environment and Natural Resources, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C Email: ata@ifro.ku.dk
Birgit Jensen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, specializing in Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology. Her research focuses on developing sustainable agricultural solutions through biological control methods. Her primary research interests include: Biological control of plant diseases - from isolation of beneficial microbial candidates to testing efficacy in plant assays Diversity and ecology of plant-associated beneficial microbes Combining beneficial microbes to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress (such as drought) and pathogens in agricultural and horticultural crops Dr. Jensen's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on fungal biocontrol agents, particularly Trichoderma and Clonostachys rosea species, for managing plant diseases in cereals, grapes, and other crops. Her work spans molecular mechanisms of disease control, field applications, and ecological considerations of microbial communities. She has presented her research at numerous conferences and events, including studies on Colletotrichum acutatum isolates, gene discovery in plant-pathogen interactions, and development of biocontrol agents. Dr. Jensen has also participated in public engagement activities such as Kulturnatten (Cultural Night) events.
Daniel Buchvaldt Amby is an External Researcher at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, specializing in molecular plant pathology. His research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of inter-kingdom host shifts between plants and insects of plant pathogenic fungi, with particular expertise in identification and characterization of fungal pathogens affecting agricultural crops. Dr. Amby's research program centers on developing and applying molecular (multi-loci and genome sequencing) and morphological diagnostic tools (microscopy and colony appearance) for identifying plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. He investigates population genetics, biology, and phenotyping of microbial pathogens causing diseases in crops such as strawberry, citrus, and quinoa. His previous work and ongoing collaborations explore beneficial fungal or bacterial strains that help plants (barley, maize, tomato) withstand abiotic stresses (drought, salinity) and biotic stresses (plant diseases) using molecular, biochemical, physiological, and multispectral imaging techniques. His research bridges fundamental understanding of pathogen biology with practical agricultural applications for disease management. Analysis of Dr. Amby's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong thematic focus on quinoa pathology, high-throughput phenotyping methodologies, and molecular identification of plant pathogens. His work demonstrates integration of traditional microbiological techniques with modern genomic and imaging technologies. Key research directions include development of automated phenotyping platforms (PhenoLab), characterization of emerging diseases in alternative crops, and establishment of practical diagnostic protocols for fungal pathogens. His publications appear in reputable journals across plant science, agricultural technology, and plant pathology domains, reflecting interdisciplinary research with practical applications for sustainable agriculture.
Juan Martin d'Ambrosio is a Researcher in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in the Section for Plant and Soil Sciences. His work focuses on molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions and genetic engineering for crop improvement, with contact details including email jmda@plen.ku.dk and phone +4535329984. His research centers on plant biotechnology, particularly CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to enhance disease resistance in crops. He investigates molecular pathways like phospholipase C 2 in tomato plants and their role in defense against fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea , bridging fundamental molecular biology with agricultural applications. His 2023 publication in Planta demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of phospholipase C 2 in tomato plants increases resistance to Botrytis cinerea . This work reflects broader trends in applying gene-editing technologies to plant pathology, emphasizing genetic targets for sustainable crop protection within plant science and agricultural biotechnology.
Regin Rønn serves as a Guest Researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in Terrestrial Ecology within the university's Faculty of Science. Affiliated with the Terrestrial Ecology research group, Rønn maintains an active research profile with 85 documented research outputs. Rønn's research focuses on soil microbial ecosystems , particularly examining the ecological role of soil microfauna and interactions between bacteria and protozoa. Key research themes include: Effects of protozoan grazing on bacterial community structure in soil Bacterial diversity dynamics under environmental stressors Microbial responses to metal pollution and wood ash amendments Legacy effects of copper contamination on soil microbial communities Vertical stratification of microbial communities in forest soils Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a consistent focus on soil pollution remediation and microbial community resilience , with significant contributions to understanding how wood ash amendments alter soil chemistry and microbial composition. Rønn's collaborative work spans international research teams across Europe and Asia, with particular emphasis on environmental risk assessment in forest ecosystems. Rønn maintains active scientific collaborations as evidenced by extensive co-authorship networks, though specific grant funding or formal advising roles are not documented in available sources. The research demonstrates practical applications for sustainable forest management and pollution mitigation strategies.
Trine Sørensen is a Researcher in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Aalborg University, Faculty of Engineering and Science. Her work bridges fungal genetics, secondary metabolite exploration, and applied biotechnology. Current affiliations: Aalborg University (Mathematical Sciences) Projects: Rettidig omhu (2023-2027), MASPot population maintenance (2023-2025), RESPOT (2020-2024), and Fusarium pigmentation studies (2019-2021) Research Focus: Fungal genetics and secondary metabolites characterization CRISPR/Cas9 and Oxford Nanopore Technology applications Redox flow battery development using fungal quinones Plant-pathogen interactions for crop protection Environmental detoxification of micropollutants Publication Trends (2019-2025): 17 research outputs including fungal biotechnology for energy storage, comparative genomics, and environmental remediation. Key areas: fungal pigmentation pathways (Fusarium solani), carbohydrate-active enzymes (Apiospora), and CRISPR-based genomic tools. Collaborations: Active in cross-disciplinary projects with 20+ collaborators across fungal biology, potato breeding, and environmental engineering. Notable work on SARS-CoV-2 genomic datasets and enzyme optimization systems.
Kenneth Veland Halberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on molecular genetics and integrative physiology of neuropeptide signaling in insects, primarily using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle) as genetic model organisms. He leads a newly established laboratory investigating fundamental biological processes with applications in human disease modeling and eco-friendly pest control. Halberg's research interests center on neuropeptide systems as key mediators of intercellular communication that regulate critical physiological processes including morphogenesis, metabolism, reproduction, behavior, and homeostasis. His work particularly emphasizes insect renal function, studying how the insect renal system maintains internal balance by regulating water, ions, nutrients, and waste. This research has dual significance: providing fundamental insights into epithelial function (as insect renal tissue is the fastest secreting epithelium in biology, moving its own volume of water every 6 seconds) while also enabling modeling of human renal diseases in Drosophila and development of neuropeptide-based pest control strategies. His laboratory employs a highly cross-disciplinary approach integrating molecular genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and advanced technological methods including RNA sequencing (RNAseq), bioinformatics, super resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy (SR-CLSM), immunocytochemistry (ICC), electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), receptor biochemistry, and peptide chemistry. Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on insect renal physiology, neuropeptide signaling, evolutionary biology of excretory systems, and applications in pest management. Halberg maintains strong national and international collaborations with researchers at institutions including University of Copenhagen (particularly with Assistant Professor Kim Rewitz), University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, University of Göttingen, The Mayo Clinic, and USDA. His laboratory is actively recruiting B.Sc. and M.Sc. students along with Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
Nimra Musaqaf serves as a Researcher in the Section for Organismal Biology at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Her work focuses on sustainable agricultural solutions through plant-insect interaction research. Education: PhD in Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen (2022) Research Interests: Dr. Musaqaf specializes in plant resistance mechanisms against herbivorous pests, with emphasis on entomological and pathological dimensions. Her investigations span plant-insect-pathogen tripartite interactions, genotypic diversity effects on pest populations, and ecological approaches to biological control. Key methodologies include field trials in horticultural systems and laboratory analysis of induced resistance pathways, contributing to integrated pest management frameworks in sustainable agriculture. Publication Trends: Her 2022-2023 publications reveal concentrated research on strawberry agroecosystems, examining how crop resistance traits and genetic diversity modulate aphid-hemipteran dynamics and natural enemy efficacy. These studies published in Crop Protection and Biological Control demonstrate translational applications for reducing chemical pesticide reliance while maintaining yield stability through ecological principles. Departmental Affiliation: As part of the Section for Organismal Biology, she contributes to the department's mission of understanding organismal responses to environmental stressors in agricultural contexts, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on crop protection initiatives.
Peter Damgaard serves as a Part-time Lecturer and External Lecturer at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, with contact details including email pdamgaard@hum.ku.dk and institutional address Karen Blixens Plads 8, 2300 København S. His educational background features a 2012 Ph.D. in Humanities from the University of Copenhagen, centered on contemporary Chinese literary theory through the dissertation Visions in Exile: Inroads to a 'counter-system' of contemporary Chinese literature . Research interests bifurcate into Chinese Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies (emphasizing exile narratives, dissident voices, and counter-systems in modern Chinese literary history) and Microbiology-Entomology (focusing on microbial pathogens of agricultural pests). This interdisciplinary duality reflects a career transition from biological sciences to humanities. Publication analysis reveals a chronological shift: 1990s work examined microbial ecology in crop systems (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis dynamics in cabbage ecosystems), while post-2010 research pivoted to literary theory, indicating evolving scholarly priorities without overlap between domains. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in source materials Advising and Grants: No records of supervised students, research funding, or grant administration are provided. Laboratory or collaborative team affiliations remain unmentioned in available documentation.
Hans Thordal-Christensen is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, where he leads research in plant-pathogen interactions within the Section for Plant and Soil Sciences. Dr. Thordal-Christensen's research primarily focuses on molecular and cellular studies of plant-pathogen interactions , particularly examining how powdery mildew fungal pathogens establish themselves in plant cells and how plants defend against these attacks. His work has two main branches: one investigating effector proteins secreted from fungi and their interaction with the extrahaustorial membrane, and another exploring the role of PEN1 syntaxin in pre-invasive immunity in Arabidopsis against powdery mildew fungi. He is also the proponent of the innovative REWIDE (REsistance WIthout DEfence) concept, which aims to redirect plant resources from costly defense mechanisms toward increased yield while maintaining resistance through alternative means. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on barley and wheat immunity against fungal pathogens, particularly powdery mildew. The research spans molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, fungal effector biology, and biological control strategies. Notably, his work bridges fundamental plant science with practical applications in crop protection, with significant contributions to understanding how plants recognize and respond to pathogens at the cellular level. Dr. Thordal-Christensen has been active in academic service with 19 recorded activities, including serving as an editor for 9 research journals, delivering 5 lectures and oral contributions, participating in supervision activities, and organizing conferences. His work demonstrates strong international collaboration across multiple countries. His laboratory maintains dedicated research websites at http://plen.ku.dk/english/research/plant_soil/breeding/defence_genetics/ and https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/plant_soil/plantdefencegenetics/, focusing on plant defense genetics and molecular mechanisms of plant immunity.
Trine Aalborg is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University's Faculty of Engineering and Science. Her research focuses on genomics, bioinformatics, and potato crop improvement, with particular expertise in tetraploid genetics and fungal systems. She maintains an active research profile with multiple publications and projects spanning from 2020 to 2025. Dr. Aalborg completed her MSc in Biotechnology with research focused on Introducing Molecular Methods for Genome Engineering in Apiospora Filamentous Fungi (2019-2021) Her primary research interests center on potato genomics and biotechnology, with specific expertise in tetraploid genetics, genomic selection, and CRISPR/Cas9 applications. She investigates secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi, particularly Apiospora, and applies structural bioinformatics to advance crop improvement strategies. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and sustainable agriculture. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on tetraploid potato genomics, with particular emphasis on how marker type and density affect genomic prediction accuracy and genome-wide association studies. Her research bridges computational genomics with practical agricultural applications, developing tools and resources for potato breeders. Dr. Aalborg has received notable recognition including: AAU Biotech Scholarship 2020-2021 (70,000 DKK) Karen Nordjysk Naturtalent award in Chemistry (1st place, 2,000 DKK) She serves as a Co-Investigator on multiple significant research projects including: Sekventering og vedligeholdelse af MASPot kartoffelpopulationen (2023-2025) RESPOT: Development of disease resistant potatoes (2020-2024) These projects focus on potato genetic resources, disease resistance breeding, and genomic prediction methodologies. Dr. Aalborg collaborates extensively with researchers across Aalborg University, particularly with Nielsen K.L., Sverrisdóttir E., and Sørensen T., forming part of a robust research team focused on potato genomics and improvement. Her work connects fundamental genomic research with practical agricultural applications through the MASPot population and related resources.
Nadieh de Jonge is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, affiliated with The Faculty of Engineering and Science. She is part of the Environmental Biomontoring and Center for Microbial Communities research groups. Her work focuses on microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology applications. Education: Holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Microbial Ecology. Active since 2015, with over 59 publications and 11 datasets. Research interests include anaerobic digestion optimization, microbial community dynamics in extreme environments, and environmental biomonitoring using eDNA. Projects include leading roles in studies on raccoon dog diets, desalination plant impacts, and benthic habitat mapping in Jammerbugt. Her recent articles explore topics such as brine discharge effects on marine diatoms, microbiota in cold-adapted Collembola, and pharmaceutical degradation in biofilm reactors. She has contributed to impactful studies like the discovery of ancient plant DNA in a 2,900-year-old clay brick. Grants/Advising: Principal Investigator on projects like 'eDNA spor af odder mink ræv i vandløb' (2024–2026) and 'JAMBO' (2023–2024). Collaborates on initiatives like Greenlandic arthropod documentation and housefly microbiome studies. Labs/Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary teams in environmental engineering, marine biology, and microbial systems. Active in organizing workshops like 'Dronedagen' and participating in outreach events like Girls' Day in Science AAU.
