Professional summary

Lauren's research focuses on the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to enhance ecosystem monitoring. Lauren has recently completed a Defra co-funded PhD on translating eDNA biomonitoring into policy and practice from the Natural History Museum, Cefas and Royal Holloway University.

Lauren is an award-winning science communicator and artist, using art as a tool to convey scientific concepts and raise awareness for conservation issues. She is a guest lecturer at UCL and Bath Spa University on the links between art and science, and the art of presentation design.

 

Prizes and Awards: 

Conservation Optimism Good Natured Film Festival 2021 Overall Winner & Animation Winner

Bristol Science Film Festival Animation Runner Up & Cabot Institute for the Environment Runner up

Royal Holloway Student Symposium Most Popular Talk award 2023 & Best Poster Award 2022

Natural History Museum Most Popular Talk 2023 & Best Poster Award 2022

Natural History Museum SciArt Competition Winner 2021 & 2022

Hen Harrier Day Early Career Presenter Award 2020

Selected publications

Cook Lauren S.J. et al. , (2025), Design and validation of a single-species environmental DNA qPCR assay for the detection of the invasive Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. Environmental DNA, 7, https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70166

Other Publications
  • Lauren S. J. Cook, Andrew G. Brisoce, Vera G. Fonseca, Jens Boenigk, Guy Woodward & David Bass (2025) Microbial, holobiont, and Tree of Life eDNA/eRNA for enhanced ecological assessment. Trends in Microbiology. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2024.07.003
  • David Bass, Kevin W. Christison, Grant D. Stentiford, Lauren S. J. Cook & Hanna Hartikainen (2023) Environmental DNA/RNA for pathogen and parasite detection, surveillance, and ecology. Trends in Parasitology. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2022.12.010
  • Lauren S. J. Cook & Lynsey R. Harper (2025). Guide to using DNA-based Monitoring with Citizen Science. Natural England and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology for Natural England and UK-EOF DNA Working Group. Available online: ukeof.org.uk. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17953947
  • Shelton JMG, Woodcock BA, Newbold L, Oliver A, Savage J, Grove E, Suresh M, Syed U, Cook L, Brown M, Rathod B, Bennett M, Bacon J, Upcott E, Read D, Turvey K, Roy D, Soon H & Pywell R. (2026) Using honeybees for national scale long-term eDNA biomonitoring. PLoS One 21(5): e0347485. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347485