Laurien Crump (1978) graduated with distinction in both Classics at the University of Cambridge (2000) and Comparative History at the University of Utrecht (2009). After a decade as a teacher of Classics, History and Critical Thinking, she became a university lecturer and researcher in the History of International Relations at the University of Utrecht in September 2010. She is the winner of Utrecht University's prestigious Teaching Talent Prize.

She has finished her doctoral thesis on the multilateralisation of the Warsaw Pact in September 2013, and has been appointed as Assistant Professor. She obtained her doctorate 'Cum Laude' (with distinction) in January 2014. Her thesis is based on extensive archival research in inter alia Bucharest, Berlin and Rome, and has been published by Routledge (London/New York) in February 2015, under the title The Warsaw Pact Reconsidered: International Relations in Eastern Europe, 1955-1969. Her book has been awarded the international 'Basees Blazyca Prize' for the best book on Eastern Europe in April 2017.

Laurien has conducted part of her research as Senior Associate Member at St. Antony's College, Oxford, and she spent extensive time in Romania, Germany, Italy and Russia. She has presented her research at a large number of international conferences, varying from the London School of Economics and the George Washington University to Prague, Paris and Padua. Her command of nine European langauges enables her to conduct archival research in a wide range of archives. This has resulted in numerous book chapters and articles in international peer reviewed volumes and journals.

Laurien has now embarked on a new research angle, which explores how the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (1972-90) contributed to a peaceful conduct of the Cold War and its conclusion through Pan-European, multilateral diplomacy. Since such an all-embracing dialogue is currently lacking, this can also teach us how to meet present challenges on European security. Laurien therefore also actively contributes to the public debate, as well as the academic debate.