Dr. Simone Wahnschafft

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Public Health Nutrition with a background in sustainable food systems and food governance. My research sits at the intersection of public health and political science, examining the political feasibility of food environment policies and the role of governance and advocacy in shaping healthy and sustainable food systems. The regional focus of my work lies in Latin America and Europe.

CV

• 2025 - present: Postdoctoral researcher, Chair of Public Health Nutrition, University of Bayreuth
• 2020 - 2025: Consultant, Health, Nutrition, and Population, World Bank Group
• 2021 - 2024:  Doctoral Researcher, Sustainable Food Systems, University of Göttingen
• 2020: Research Fellow, Food Law and Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School
• 2017–2019: Team Leader, AmeriCorps NCCC

Degrees

• 2021–2024: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Göttingen
• 2019–2021: Master of Public Health (MPH), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• 2013–2017: Bachelor of Science (BS), Georgetown University

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Wahnschafft, S., Spiller, A., & Graciano, B.A. (2024). How can advocates leverage power to advance comprehensive regulation on ultra-processed foods? Globalization and Health, 20, 68.
  
  
• Wahnschafft, S., Spiller, A., Boztuğ, Y., von Philipsborn, P., & Lemken, D. (2024). Examining public support for comprehensive policy packages to tackle unhealthy food environments. Public Health Nutrition. Dec 22;28(1):e7.
• Lemken, D., Erhard, A., & Wahnschafft, S. (2024). A choice architect’s guide to the (autonomous) galaxy: a systematic scoping review of nudge intrusiveness in food choices. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, Article 1030. Nature
• Lemken, D., Wahnschafft, S., & Eggers, C. (2023). Public acceptance of default nudges to promote healthy and sustainable food choices. BMC Public Health, 23, 2311.

Policy Reports

• Wahnschafft, S., Chan, B., & Bayona Garcia, J. (2024). Integrating Noncommunicable Disease Management into Primary Health Care: An Anthology of Country Cases. Washington, DC: World Bank
• Chan, B., Wahnschafft, S., & Xu, M.M. (2024). The Non-Communicable Disease System Assessment Tool for Identifying Priorities for Investment. Washington, DC: World Bank.
• Beckmann, J.S., Broad Leib, E.M., … & Wahnschafft, S. (2022). Sugar Reduction Law and Policy Toolkit. Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic.

Contact

• Mail address: Chair of Public Health Nutrition, University of Bayreuth (Campus Kulmbach), Fritz-Hornschuch-Strasse 13, D-95326 Kulmbach, Germany
• E-mail: simone.wahnschafft@uni-bayreuth.de
• Phone: +49 (0)9221 / 4071005 (Secretariat)