I am an associate professor in Sports Science at the Department of Public Health, and I have a passion for understanding how diet, exercise, and hormones interact to affect the body – particularly muscles. I actively participate in several research networks and collaborate with both national and international researchers, as I believe that together we can elevate our knowledge. My work is an exciting combination of teaching nutrition and exercise physiology, supervising students, and leading research projects

My research primarily focuses on understanding how female sex hormones influence our muscles, as well as our general health and performance, in conjunction with exercise and nutrient intake. Currently, I am investigating:

• new biomarkers for low energy availability among female athletes

• whether the use of hormonal IUDs affects training adaptations

• the impact of menstrual cycle on physical performance

• the impact of estrogen status on skeletal muscle during immobilization and physical rehabilitation after menopause

• the role of carbohydrates in weight-loss diets on physical performance and body composition

I teach weekly, particularly at Aarhus University and in programs under the Faculty of Health, Health.

I am responsible for two courses:

• Diet, Health, and Performance (10 ECTS, 4th/6th semester, Sport Science, AU)
• Advanced Exercise and Training Physiology (10 ECTS, 5th semester, Sport Science, AU)

In addition, I teach the following courses:

• "Physiology in Strength Training" in the Sport Science program
• "Introduction to exercise and training Physiology" in the Medicine program
• "Organ and Organ Physiology" & "Cell and Basic Physiology" in the Dentistry program
• "Molecular Nutrition" in the Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology program

I also guest lecture both nationally and internationally, where I primarily share my expertise on the effects of female hormones on the body and performance.

I am part of an international female athletes project consortium, where we run a multisite research project to elucidate effects of menstrual cycle on physical performance

I further presently collaborate several researchers including the following skilled Danish and international research colleagues: 

• professor Olivier Seynnes & Gøren Paulsen, Norwegian School of Sport Science on projects aiming at elucidating effects of using oral contraceptives on training adaptations in tendon and skeletal muscle.
• Associate professor Jean Farup (Biomedicin, AU), Associate professor Ryan Godsk Larnsen (Aalborg University) and Professor Claus Gravholt (Aarhus University Hospital) on a project aiming at elucidating effects of transdermal estrogen administration on skeletal muscle mass, function, and microenvironment in postmenopausal women exposed to a catabolic stimulus by immobilization followed by an anabolic stimulus during physical rehabilitation.
• Professor Analiza Mónica (University of Lisbon, Portugal) on a Ph.D. project with the title: Menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use in athletic performance and health-related hydration and energy balance status
• Postdoc Mette Andersen Bisgaard on a project aiming to elucidate the effects of using an intrauterine device (hormonal IUD) on physical training adaptations.
• Professor Ylva Hellsten (University of Copenhagen), Professor Jan Frystyk (Southern Denmark University), Professor Anna Melin (Linnaeus University, Sweden) et al. on a project aiming at exploring new biomarkers for low energy availability in female athletes.

My primary job responsibilities are research, lecturing and supervision.
Other academic affiliations/duties:
Networks and Steering Committees:
•    Steering committee member, AU CellFood Hub (2022-)
•    Female Athlete Project Consortium, Nottingham Trent University (2021-)
•    International Female Athlete Network (2021-)
•    Faculty of Health representative, AU Food Platform (2019-)
•    Vice-chair, AU-Health Network for Diet and Nutrition (2019-)
•    SDG Network Group, AU Faculty NFORM (2019-)
•    Board of Directors, European Sport Nutrition Society (2019-22)
•    Steering group member, Training & Nutrition, Scandinavian Network for Elite Sport (2018-)
•    Reviewer Panel, European College of Sports Science (2016-)
Organizer of Scientific Seminars/Conferences:
•    European Sport Nutrition Society Conference (2021)
•    Scandinavian Sport Nutrition Seminar, Aarhus University (2018, 2015)
•    Sports Congress organizing and scientific committee (2012-2020)
Academic Assessment Work:
•    Internal assessments at Aarhus University, PH (2016-21)
•    External assessments, European College of Sport Science, AU CellFood Hub, and various universities (2014-)
•    Chairperson and assessor of multiple PhD dissertation committees (+ 15 thesis, national and international)
Other Academic Duties:
•    Academic editor, Translational Sports Medicine (2024-)
•    Member, Information Security Committee (2024-)
•    Member, PhD scholarship committee, AU (2020-)
•    Co-editor, Frontiers of Physiology special research topic (2018-20)
•    AU expert group for external communication (2016-)