Lauren graduated with a BA in Archaeology and Prehistory from the University of Sheffield in 2004. She since gained an MSc in Human Osteology and Funerary Archaeology, and completed a doctoral thesis exploring palaeodemography, diet and health in the population of Roman York. Her specialisms within the field of osteoarchaeology include palaeodemographic analysis and Romano-British urban populations.

A member of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaelogy (BABAO), Lauren has substantial experience working as an osteoarchaeologist for a variety of institutions, both on site and in the laboratory. In 2008 she conducted analysis of over 550 skeletons multi-period cemetery of All Saints Fishergate in York, including analysis of 113 individuals interred in ten mass graves and thought to be Parliamentary soldiers pertaining to the 1644 Siege of York. This excavation was shortlisted for "Rescue Dig of the Year" by Current Archaeology.

Lauren joined the team at Heritage Burial Services, at the Oxford Archaeology South office in August 2015. She has also recently become an eMentor to archaeology students at the University of Sheffield.