My main interest is development of genetically sustainable management and domestication practices of trees in the face of climate change. 

In our research group on Forest Genetics and Diversity we study more than 25 European species including Quercus, Fraxinus, Tilia, Ulmus, Corylus, Prunus, Cystisus, Castanea, Juglas, Malus, Picea, Abies, Larix and Pinus . We analyse fitness traits based on common garden trials combined with genomic techniques and dendroecological and ecophysiological metods in order to study  adaptive processes and capacity. We also study the potential of North American species for growth under Danish conditions.

Currently, I am  in charge of  a major study on adaptive potential of the native Danish oak species to future climatic conditions.  In recent years, I have become increasingly interested in the role of interactions bentween tree and their  microbiomes. I have during the last decade been part in several studies on genetics of host pathogen interaction with focus on tolerance of  European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) against the novel Ash decline (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) in Europe. In recent years,  we have expanded this research to study the Ash holobiont and the importance of the microbiome for healthy ash trees. Development of guidelines that can facilitate recovery of the ash forests is an important goal for most of research in ash these years. 

I am involved in management of the the Hørsholm Arboretum, which is the Danish national Arboretum with more than 1500 different woody plant species.

Outside Europe, I am currrently involved in studies of  tropical food tree species in co-operation with partners in West Africa. I also have close cooperatuon with researcher in India on studies of teak (Tectona grandis), a species that I have  studied during almost  three decades. 

Academic degrees

1999 Doctor of Science in Forest Genetics;

1989 M.Sc. Forestry (Cand silv)

Employment

2001->            Professor, University of Copenhagen (until 2006: Royal Vet. &  Agric. University), DK

1999-2001       Senior Advisor. Danida Forest Seed Center, DK

1995-1999       Head of Tree improvement and gene conservation section. The Nature Agency, DK

1993-1995       PhD fellow, The Hørsholm Arboretum, Royal Vet. and Agric. University, DK

1989-1993       Forestry officer (forest seed supply and nursery operations). Nature Agency, DK

Professional memberships outside University of Copenhagen: Danish Advisory committee on forest reproductive material, Danish committee for approval of forest reproductive material. Censor for BSc, MSc and PhD in Biology. Previously: Member of evaluation committee for Tandem Forest (Sweden, 2018), Member of Swedish Research Council FORMAS (2010-2012).Reviewer for IFS (MSc grants) and Trees4u (mobility grants),  Organisation review for CIRAD (France; 2005), External PhD/Docent/ Professor  assessment committees: Swedish Agricultural University; University of Gothenburg, University of Vienna, Technical University of Copenhagen, University of Aarhus, Norwegian Institute for Forest and Landscape.  Chairman for Nordics network of Forest genetics (ADAPCAR) 2011-15. 

Teaching and supervision: BSc, MSc, PhD and post doc. Deputy head of department (teaching).

Publications

More than 200 Publications: papers in peer reviewed journals, peer-reviewed contributions to books/proceedings, and guidelines on how to use the research findings in forest management, breeding and/or conservation in Denmark, Europe and Worldwide. http://scholar.google.dk/citations?user=RHwq7vYAAAAJ&hl=en