I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Forensic Medicine, where I study how the body's metabolism changes in response to disease, ageing, and the intake of drugs and other substances. Together with my research group, I develop methods to estimate the age of bloodstains, determine the time since death, and create new techniques for fingerprint development. I hold a degree in biotechnology and, during my PhD, I investigated how diet influences metabolism and health in both humans and animals.
I work with metabolomics, the study of the many small molecules involved in the body's metabolism. By analysing these molecules in blood, urine, saliva, and tissues, we can gain insight into how the body responds to factors such as disease, drug exposure, and ageing. Using advanced analytical techniques, we can measure thousands of molecules simultaneously and use the results to identify new biomarkers that may reveal drug intake or help estimate the age of a bloodstain.
I teach graduate students how to apply metabolomics in forensic research. Through lectures, group work, and hands-on exercises, students learn the principles of metabolomics, how to design robust studies, and how to interpret and evaluate results. I also supervise students undertaking bachelor's projects, research projects, and master's theses.
I collaborate with researchers from Danish and international universities on the development of new methods in forensic chemistry and forensic medicine. At Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, I work closely with specialists in bioinformatics, biomedicine, and the Blood Donor Study. A particular focus of these collaborations is the development of machine learning models based on metabolomics data.
My work contributes to the prevention and investigation of crime, accidents, and disease. I am also involved in forensic chemistry casework, supporting law enforcement agencies in Denmark and across the Nordic countries by comparing seized cocaine samples to assist criminal investigations and international collaboration.
