Healthy and Climate-Resilient Food Systems: Spotlight on Postdoctoral Fellow Nathalie Lambrecht

Every year, the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health, the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, and the London School of Health and Tropical Medicine join forces to welcome postdoctoral fellows advancing planetary health research. As we look forward to receiving applications for the next round of the Planetary Health Postdoctoral Fellowship, we are excited to share a recent conversation with current postdoctoral fellow, Nathalie Lambrecht, highlighting the impacts this fellowship has had on her research and career. Here is an excerpt:

1. Your research focuses on the interplay between environmental changes and food systems. Can you share some highlights from your recent work and the specific challenges you are addressing?

My research focuses on two areas: building more climate-resilient food systems for improved nutrition and reducing the environmental impact of diets. Perhaps seemingly contradictory, the thread through both of these areas is understanding the role of animals in our food system. In this fellowship, I am examining how integrating crops and livestock as an agroecological practice can make farming households more resilient to weather shocks, like drought, and thereby support food and nutrition security for children. My work prior to this fellowship showed that the potential health implications of rearing livestock in low-resource settings are complex, as livestock are not often used for food, may expose children to enteric pathogens, yet remain an important resource for households. My other line of work looks at how we can promote healthier, plant-forward meals in settings like hospitals, universities, and schools by shifting procurement practices.

2. You’ve been at Stanford for 6 months now—in this time, how has the fellowship influenced your approach to interdisciplinary research and collaboration with other experts in the fields of health and environmental sciences?

There have been numerous opportunities around food and planetary health during my time here. I’m having conversations with ecologists, physicians, economists, anthropologists, and more, and I’m finding that everyone is incredibly passionate about their work and excited to explore new ideas and potential collaborations. Being at Stanford means I’m approaching interactions with experts from diverse fields with a broader perspective and a readiness to think big. 

3. Looking forward, how do you envision your research evolving, and what impact do you hope to achieve beyond the fellowship?

I’m thinking deeply about how to create both global and local impact. Looking forward, I am increasingly exploring ways to engage more deeply with the local food system around Stanford and in California in creating a healthy, equitable, and resilient local food system. 

4. What advice can you offer to prospective applicants? 

I would encourage prospective applicants to put forward bold and achievable ideas when applying. I also think one of the unique aspects of this fellowship is the partnership between Stanford and LSHTM, so I encourage applicants to think about how any proposed idea could utilize the deep expertise of potential faculty mentors from both institutions. 

Thank you, Nathalie! 

To learn more about the fellowship and the exciting research of our Center and the Planetary Health Postdoctoral Fellows, please visit our website and sign up for our newsletter. We look forward to sharing our work with you!