Alumni / Former Members


	Dr. Sukanya Basu Sukanya Basu was a doctoral researcher from 2021 to 2024. Afterwards, she was awarded a startup fund position and continued as postdoctoral researcher until May 2025. Her current research focuses on developing participatory, context-specific approaches to food systems governance and evaluating their socio-ecological resilience, equity, and sustainability. By integrating methods such as field-based studies, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis, Sukanya examines the interplay between natural resources, livelihoods, and food systems, particularly in urban contexts of the Global South. Her work highlights how inclusive, transformative strategies can enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and social equity in the Anthropocene. Her doctoral research in subproject C5 focuses on the intersection of urban blue infrastructure and food systems in rapidly urbanizing cities, particularly in the Global South. Her work examines the role of urban wetlands, local foraging practices, and sustainable restaurants in promoting ecological resilience, food security, and social equity. E-mail: sukanya.basu96@gmail.com Homepage
	Dr. Ainslee Erhard Ainslee Erhard is a researcher specializing in Food Consumer Science, currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, where she focuses on reducing reliance on animal-based foods and fostering transitions to sustainable plant-based diets. Her PhD in Sustainable Food Systems in subproject C2 explored consumer behavior and strategies like nudging to make plant-based choices more accessible, normative, and convenient. Before that, she earned an MSc in Food Innovation and Health at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and a BA in Nursing and Psychology at the University of Connecticut in the USA. She is driven to explore the connections between sustainability, innovation, and dietary choices to create solutions for healthier people and a healthier planet. E-mail: ainslee.erhard@gmail.com Homepage
	Dr. Sophie-Dorothe Lieke Sophie-Dorothe Lieke was a member of the Sustainable Food Systems RTG from 2021 to 2024, contributing to Subproject C3: Societal views on sustainable food systems under the guidance of Prof. Achim Spiller. In 2024, she defended her Ph.D. thesis titled "(Mis)Guiding Consumers to Sustainable Consumption: The Role of Information, Labels, and Claims". Before starting in the RTG, she earned her M.Sc. in Environmental Management from Lancaster University, UK. Her research interests lie in consumer behaviour, sustainable consumption, and the protein transition. After completing her Ph.D., she stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Göttingen. E-mail: lieke.sd@gmail.com Homepage
	Dr. Luisa Müting Luisa Müting was a member of the RTG 2654 Sustainable Food Systems RTG from 2021 to 2025, contributing to Subproject A3: Policies and incentives towards eco-friendly farming, under the supervision of Prof. Oliver Mußhoff. Her Ph.D. dissertation explored the integration of farmers' preferences and requirements in the promotion and adoption of environmentally-friendly agricultural practices within the Sahel region. E-mail: luisa.mueting@uni-goettingen.de Homepage
	Dr. Bruno Paz Bruno Paz was a member of the RTG 2654 "Sustainable Food Systems" research training group from 2021 to 2025, where he worked on Subproject A2: How Sustainable Are Sustainability Standards?, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Meike Wollni. His Ph.D. dissertation focused on the capacity of voluntary sustainability standards to promote sustainability in coffee production systems in Rwanda. Before joining the Sustainable Food Systems team, Bruno worked as a consultant for several international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the National University of Santiago del Estero (Argentina) and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Western Australia. Bruno is taking up a position as an Agriculture Young Professional at the World Bank, starting in September 2025. E-mail: brunopazg@gmail.com Homepage
	Dr. Simone Wahnschafft Simone Wahnschafft holds a doctorate from the Research Training Group in Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Göttingen (Germany), where her research focused on closing the evidence-to-practice gap in public policy for healthier and more sustainable diets. Her work examines the political feasibility of behavior change policies related to food choice, identifying key enablers and barriers, and synthesizing actionable lessons for more effective policy design. She employs a mixed-methods approach—including consumer surveys, conjoint experiments, and in-depth qualitative interviews—across diverse contexts in Western Europe and Latin America. E-mail: simonewahnschafft@gmail.com Homepage
	Dr. Jasmin Wehner Jasmin Wehner was a member of Sustainable Food from 2021 to 2025 in which she worked in the Subproject C1: Project global food demand and sustainable food security under the supervision of Prof. Xiaohua Yu. Her Ph.D. dissertation was on various climate change adaptation options and market power in the dairy sector. After leaving Sustainable Food, Jasmin took up a position as a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University. Her research interests are on methane emissions, climate change adaptation, as well as food economics. Her research focuses on methane emissions, climate change adaptation, and food economics. She holds a B.Sc. in Economics and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, both from Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. E-mail: wehnerjasmin68@gmail.com Homepage

RTG 2654: Sustainable Food Systems

Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Meike Wollni

Vice Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Tobias Plieninger

Coordination Office
Dr. Melanie Grosse

Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12
D-37073 Göttingen
Phone: +49 (0)551 39 29222
Email: mgrosse@uni-goettingen.de