Laura Hernandez

Laura Hernandez is an American associate professor of dairy science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who studies endocrinology and lactation, especially that of dairy cows. Hernandez aims to apply the findings from the ungulates to humans having issues with breastfeeding.

Career Hernandez grew up in El Paso, Texas. Initially she studied at Iowa State University, however she transferred to New Mexico State University where she completed her master's degree in animal science and toxicology. In 2014 she was given the Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow Award by her department for her promising work as an assistant professor, and in 2017 the American Dairy Science Association (ASDA) awarded her an ASDA Foundation Scholar Award.

Research Lactation can drain calcium from human and cow mothers. In dairy cows, if this loss is substantial enough, it can cause milk fever. In Jersey cows the amount of calcium in the milk was increased, while the increase was found in the blood circulation of Holstein cattle, showing different regulation of calcium in the two breeds.