Dana was born and raised in Lübeck, a beautiful city in northern Germany. She completed her Master of Science degree in Mathematics in Medicine and Life Sciences from the University of Lübeck, with a strong background in biomathematics and bioinformatics gained through multiple courses and interdisciplinary projects.
Research Background
During her studies, Dana participated in an interdisciplinary project connecting stochastics and biology. The project aimed to arouse school students’ interest in stochastics by modeling the emergence of antibiotic resistances previously observed in laboratory experiments. This experience reinforced her enthusiasm for modeling biological systems and sparked her particular interest in population dynamics within an evolutionary context.
PhD Research
Dana’s doctoral work focused on eco-evolutionary dynamics in agricultural systems. She investigated how humans influence ecological and evolutionary dynamics, with particular attention to resistance evolution. Her research examined ecological and evolutionary forces driving population dynamics in agricultural systems, especially the evolution of herbicide resistance in perennial weed species with complex life cycles. Her work aimed to understand how human actions shape evolutionary trajectories through mathematical models and simulations.
Research Interests
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics
- Population dynamics and evolution
- Agricultural systems and crop management
- Evolution of resistance to pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides)
- Herbicide resistance in perennial weeds
- Evolutionary rescue
- Mathematical modeling of biological systems
- Stochastic dynamics in population biology
Publications
Lauenroth, D., Bender, B., Boie, S., Kunze, B. & Keller, K., 2020. Der Zufall schlägt zu - Stochastischer Zugang zur Entstehung von Antibiotikaresistenzen. MNU Journal, 73, 129–135.
Lauenroth, D., and Gokhale, C.S. (2023). Theoretical assessment of persistence and adaptation in weeds with complex life cycles. Nat. Plants 9, 1267–1279. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01482-1 bioRxiv: 2022.08.12.503772