I have worked for more than 10 years in regulation of metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism, with a focus on the role of physical activity and nutrition. I have since my work as research assistant in Prof. John Vissing’s lab investigated the effect of exercise training for mitochondria adaptations in young and elderly individuals.

During my PhD with Prof. Bente Kiens, I studied the interaction between metabolic fluxes in muscle and learned methodologies to study lipid and glucose metabolism in muscle of mice and humans. I also investigated the regulation of autophagy in muscle and the intracellular mechanisms controlling this protein degradation system. Finally, I was a part of a large dietary intervention study in humans elucidating the molecular signaling and adaptations in adipose tissue during weight loss. During my PhD I visited the lab of Prof. Gregory Steinberg, McMaster University, Canada to study the role of FGF21 on muscle and adipose tissue metabolism. During my post doc, I have worked with the mechanisms responsible for switching between lipid oxidation and glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissue and contributed to development of a new model for investigating metabolic flexibility. During my postdoc I spent 1 year in the lab of Prof. David James, University of Sydney, Australia, where I worked on a project elucidating gene-diet interactions in mice regulating insulin sensitivity.

The various models I taken advantage of include invasive human experimental models in healthy and diseased individuals with muscle and adipose tissue biopsies. To gain a deeper insight into molecular regulation, I use different transgenic animal models and cells. This allows me to take a molecular approach to explore how lipids influence metabolism in humans underpinned with rodent and cellular work – with a clear translational perspective.

Associate Professor, Group Leader, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

Education

• May 2016: PhD at Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, UCPH.
• Nov 2011: MSc. Human Physiology, UCPH.

Previous positions:

• Jul 2016-Jul 2017 and Sep 2018-Mar 2023: Post-doctoral fellow and Assistant Professor in Section of Molecular Physiology at Dept. of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, UCPH
• July 2017-Sep 2018: Post-doctoral fellow in Prof. David James’ lab, University of Sydney, Australia.
• Jan 2015 – May 2015: visiting PhD student in Prof. Gregory Steinberg’s lab, McMaster University, Canada.
• Oct 2011-May 2016: Research assistant and PhD Student in Section of Molecular Physiology at Dept. of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, UCPH.
• Aug 2007-Jul 2009: Research assistant at Neuromuscular Research Unit in Professor John Vissing’s lab at Rigshospitalet.

Selected awards and Funding:

• 2015: Awarded the Gold Medal from University of Copenhagen for a Prize Paper entitled: “The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in regulation of muscle metabolism”.
• 2016-2021: Almost exclusively self-financed during my post-doctoral period through in total 4 years of post doc funding; 1 year from the Alfred Benzon Foundation (375,000 d.kr.) and in two different funding’s from Danish Diabetes Academy 1+2 years (600,000 + 1,200,000 d.kr.).
• 2021: Co-PI on 5.000.000 DKK from the Arla Food for Health and 3.000.000 DKK from the Danish Dairy Research Foundation.
• 2202: Co-supervisor on 2/3 PhD-fellowship (1.100.000 DKK) to Josephine Kanta from Danish Cardiovascular Academy.
• 2022: 5-year Excellence Emerging Investigator Grant Novo Nordisk Foundation 10.000.000 DKK
• 2022: Selected to Board of Director at European Sports Nutrition Society