Dr. Lauren Erland is an Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Berry Horticulture, and Explorers Club Term Member based at the University of the Fraser Valley on Stó:lō Temexwin Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
She runs the BERRi (Berry Environmental Resilience Research & Innovation) Lab and Research Centre, which has the goal of enhancing sustainability and climate resilience of Canada’s berry-based ecosystems and horticulture systems, to promote food security, food sovereignty, and berry health on the land, in the field, and in the lab. Lauren studies the role of plant hormones in mediating plant perception and response to changes in their environments. Her favourite berries are Vaccinium species (cranberry, huckleberry, lingonberry, blueberry).
Lauren is fortunate to have been able to do previous research on plant environmental resilience in Qausuittuq and Iqaluit.
When not in the field or the lab Lauren loves hanging out with her Kerry Blue Terrier named Piper and exploring her backyard in the Fraser Valley and Okanagan Valleys where she grew up.