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Extraordinary effort in the study of gut bacteria recognized

Nutrition and dietary habits Bacteria and microorganisms Health and diseases

Postdoc Martin Laursen from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, has received a Young Researcher Award from the university for his study of the gut bacterial composition in early life.

At the annual PhD Graduation Ceremony at the Technical University of Denmark, Postdoc Martin Laursen from the National Food Institute received a Young Researcher Award. Six of this year’s PhD graduates received such an award at the ceremony.

The award recognizes the extraordinary effort that Martin Laursen has put into his thesis. On his own initiative, he established a cohort of infants whose parents donated faecal samples from their infants for his research. He also managed to get extra funding from four foundations. The money was spent on analyzing the donor material in further detail in cooperation with another Postdoc.

His work is detailed in six articles, which have been published by recognized, international journals. During his studies, Martin Laursen has also been a mentor and supervisor to a number of project students. Additionally, he has been a teaching assistant at the National Food Institute and taught biological chemistry to bachelor students.

Martin Laursen currently works as a Postdoc in the Research Group for Gut, Microbes and Health at the National Food Institute.

Excellent supervisors nominated

From the National Food Institute both Professor Professor Charlotte Jacobsen and Professor Tine Rask Licht were nominated for the title of PhD advisor of the year by their students. However, the prize went to Nini Pryds from DTU Energy.

Read more 

Read more about the other winners at this year’s PhD Graduation Ceremony in a news item from the Technical University of Denmark: PhD thesis of the year led to new startup.

You can also watch Martin Laursen explain his research in a short video from the university.

The National Food Institute’s website also has more information about the research carried out by Research Group for Gut, Microbes and Health to further understand the effects of diet and food ingredients on the bacterial composition of the gut, and how the bacterial population affects the immune system and metabolism.

 

Image: Birgitte Røddik

Postdoc Martin Laursen (left) receives a Young Researcher Award from Dean of Graduate Studies and International Affairs, Phillip Binning.