My primary research focus on the understanding flow processes and the connection to nutrient transport within agricultural landscapes. I have developed models and national maps that explain the variation in flow pathways using both statistical and physical transport models. My interest has also been on the investigation of the spatial variability, heterogeneity, and scale effects of soil hydraulic properties. In the agricultural landscape, I have worked with detailed modelling of tile drain discharge. I have also contributed to the understanding of flow processes in lowland soils. This includes investigations of water and nutrient flow as well as detailed geological mapping using geophysical methods in combination with standard geological descriptions. Another key focus has been mapping soil drainage properties and major flow pathways on a national scale. In addition, I have worked with the mapping of tile drain system using proximal and distal soil sensors. A focus area has been on the transport of water and nutrients from tile drain systems and the related used of edge-of-field measures to reduce nutrient loads from farmlands.
In collaboration with our laboratory technicians, I have continuously worked on enhancing our cutting-edge soil physics laboratory with a focus on measuring soil hydraulic conductivity. Here, we have developed instruments measuring both the saturated and the near-saturated hydraulic conductivity effectively and precisely on undisturbed large soil columns leading to the development of databases that connects soil data (e.g. soil texture) with hydraulic properties. This has resulted in the development of different pedotransfer functions in order to parameterise physical transport models.
In terms of policy support, I have contributed to different projects initiated by the Danish Parliament. Additionally, I have contributed to knowledge syntheses related to climate adaptation and carbon-rich lowland soils. Furthermore, I have provided general policy support concerning the implementation of targeted mitigation techniques in agricultural landscapes.
I teach in soil science at an undergraduate as well as postgraduate level. In addition, I am the head of our Bachelor degree program in Plant and Food Science and national academic project coordinator of the International Master of Science program in Soils and Global Change (IMSOGLO). As a member of the Agricultural Science Examiner Corps (Det Jordbrugsvidenskabelige Censorkorps), I frequently function as an external examiner at both Aalborg University and Copenhagen University.