I am a veterinarian (degree 2013) and defended my PhD at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in 2020 with the thesis “Transmission and dynamics of VTEC O157:H7: a story about the complex associations between pathogen, host and environment.”
My doctoral research examined how VTEC O157:H7 is transmitted and maintained in cattle populations. By combining epidemiological analyses with studies of infection dynamics and environmental factors, the work improved understanding of how biological and management-related factors influence the risk of zoonotic transmission.
I currently work as a researcher at the Department of Clinical Sciences, where I lead the epidemiology group as Deputy Subject Leader for Veterinary Epidemiology.
I teach within the veterinary program and postgraduate education in scientific methodology, basic and applied epidemiology, and veterinary public health. Since my PhD, I have been continuously involved in epidemiology teaching and currently serve as Deputy Subject Leader for Veterinary Epidemiology at the Department of Clinical Sciences.
My teaching philosophy is to inspire students to use epidemiology as a tool to understand and address complex problems at the interface of animals, humans, and the environment — integrating digital tools, interactive learning, and real-world examples.
My research focuses on how environmental, management, and biological factors interact to influence animal health, welfare, and the sustainability of production systems. I work in an interdisciplinary setting and combine classical and molecular epidemiology with both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand complex relationships and develop practical, evidence-based solutions.
Ongoing projects include studies on heat stress and extreme weather in dairy cows, biosecurity and disease control, and the opportunities of digitalization for sustainable dairy production and advanced welfare assessment.
Current Research Projects
Bridging the gap between biosecurity and animal welfare for resilient animal production systems
Identifies and analyzes trade-offs between biosecurity and animal welfare. Combines epidemiological methods, welfare assessments, and farmer interviews to develop strategies that promote both animal health and system resilience.
From sensitive to robust athlete – genomic selection to help dairy cows cope with heat stress
Investigates how genetic traits can improve dairy cows’ resilience to heat stress in a changing climate. Integrates production data, welfare indicators, and genomic analyses.
Animal protection and welfare monitoring using multi-sensor technology and computer vision
Develops digital tools for automated welfare monitoring using sensor and image data. Conducted in collaboration with industry and research partners including Sony Nordic, DeLaval, RISE, and Växa.
Mapping the road for a sustainable digitalization within dairy production
Explores how digital technologies and data flows can support sustainable, transparent, and welfare-oriented dairy production by linking technology, management, and animal health.
Sources and transmission routes for shigatoxigenic E. coli in foods of plant origin
Examines how E. coli O157:H7 can spread to plant-based foods through environmental and livestock-related pathways, using molecular epidemiology and environmental monitoring.
Are Swedish cows cool enough?
Studies how heat stress affects dairy cow health, fertility, and welfare under Swedish production conditions, aiming to identify management strategies to reduce climate-related stress.
Maximising the use of sensors for a successful transition period in dairy cows
Evaluates how sensor technology can detect early health problems and improve the transition period after calving by combining production, health, and behavior data.
I collaborate actively with industry, governmental agencies, and academia in several ongoing research projects, including partners such as Sony Nordic, DeLaval, Dalarna University, RISE, Växa, and the Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA).
Internationally, I participate in research networks such as BIOSECURE and BETTER (COST Action), focusing on improved biosecurity and sustainable livestock production in Europe. Also an active collaborator in the European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare. In 2024, I conducted a research exchange at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, focusing on biosecurity and international collaboration in veterinary epidemiology.
Supervision of degree projects
2024: Main supervisor MSc project of Erica Broman (SLU). Assistant supervisors: Susanna Sternberg-Lewerin (SLU)
2023: Main supervisor MSc project of Emelie Björnhagen (SLU). Assistant supervisors: Susanna Sternberg-Lewerin (SLU)
2022: Main supervisor MSc project of Elna Laxmar (SLU). Assistant supervisors: None.
2022: Main supervisor MSc project of Emma Laufors (SLU). Assistant supervisors: None.
2021: Main supervisor MSc project of Amanda Jacobsson (SLU). Assistant supervisors: None.
2018: Assistant supervisor for MSc project of Antonia Skog Candemo (SLU). Main supervisor: Ulf Emanuelson (SLU)
2016: Assistant supervisor for MSc project of Daniel Martinsson (UU). Main supervisor: Ulf Emanuelson (SLU)
2015: Assistant supervisor for MSc project of Linnea Andersson (SLU). Main supervisor: Ulf Emanuelson (SLU)
Current supervision of doctoral students:
2025: Assistant supervisor for PhD student Lina Wachtmeister (SLU). Main supervisor: Karin Alvåsen (SLU). Other assistant supervisors: Theodoros Ntallaris (SLU), Lisa Ekman (Växa).
2025: Assistant supervisor for PhD student Karin Berggren (SLU). Main supervisor: Renée Båge (SLU). Other assistant supervisors: Niclas Högberg (SLU).
2024: Assistant supervisor for industrial PhD Boris Zandona (DeLaval/SLU). Main supervisor: Nils Fall (SLU). Other assistant supervisors: Niclas Högberg (SLU), Ilka Klaas (DeLaval)
2022: Assistant supervisor for PhD student Adrien Kroese (SLU). Main supervisor: Nils Fall (SLU). Other assistant supervisors: Niclas Högberg (SLU), Moudud Alam (Dalarna University).
Supervision of international students and post docs
2024: Main supervisor Short-Term Scientific Mission in CA of Giulia Graziozi (Post doc, University of Bologna)
2020: Main supervisor Erasmus+ traineeship (3 months) of Eglé Rapaliutè (Undergraduate student, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences). Assistant supervisors: None
2020: Main supervisor Short-Term Scientific Mission in CA17110 (1 month) of Eglé Rapaliutè (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences). Assistant supervisors: Celine Faverjon (Ausvet)
2016: Assistant supervisor Erasmus+ traineeship (5 months) of Claire-Lise Sol (Undergraduate student, Agrosup Dijon). Main supervisor: Ulf Emanuelson (SLU)
2016: Assistant supervisor Erasmus+ traineeship (5 months) of Laurie Briot (Undergraduate student, Agrosup Dijon). Main supervisor: Ulf Emanuelson (SLU)
For full list of pucliations, click here: https://publications.slu.se/?file=pers/show&cid=3081930
Selected publications:
Tamminen L.-M., Båge R., Åkerlind M. & Olmos Antillón G. (2024) Farmers’ sense of the biological impact of extreme heat and seasonality on Swedish high-yielding dairy cows – A mixed methods approach. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106131
Duarte F., Tamminen L.-M., Kjosevski M. et al. (2025) Methods to assess on-farm biosecurity in Europe and beyond. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106486 repository.ukim.mk+1
Tuominen K., Hansson I., Söderlund R., Bertilsson S., Belaghi R. & Tamminen L.-M. (2025) Comparison of culture-based methods for detecting Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter hyointestinalis in dairy cattle feces. Microbiology Spectrum. doi:10.1128/spectrum.01475-25
Tamminen L-M., Dicksved J., Eriksson E., Keeling L.J., Emanuelson U. Untangling the role of environmental and host‐related determinants for on‐farm transmission of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157. Infect Ecol Epidemiol. 2024. https://res.slu.se/id/publ/123640 SLU publication database (SLUpub)+1
Tamminen L-M., Dahlberg J. Evaluation of an automatic image classifier for analysis of bacterial growth on a multiple-agar plate developed for bovine mastitis. 2025.
Ahmed H., Tamminen L-M., Emanuelson U. Temperature, productivity, and heat tolerance: Evidence from Swedish dairy production. Climatic Change. 2022;175(1):1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s10584-022-03461-5
Tamminen L-M. Transmission and dynamics of VTEC O157:H7: a story about the complex associations between pathogen, host and environment. Doctoral thesis, SLU 2020. https://res.slu.se/id/publ/104817
Tamminen L-M., Keeling L.J., Svensson A. Unraveling the Complexity to Observe Associations Between Welfare Indicators and Hair Cortisol Concentration in Dairy Calves. 2021. Frontiers in animal science, volume: 2, article number: 793558
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lena_Mari_Tamminen