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
- 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, Molly Ann Williams, David Bass, Paul F. Clark, David Morritt, Paul Stebbing, Andrew G. Briscoe (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(5), e70166. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/edn3.70166