Johann Friedrich Laurer (28 September 1798 in Bindlach – 23 November 1873 in Greifswald) was a German anatomist, pharmacologist and lichenologist.
He initially trained as a pharmacist, of which, he worked as an assistant under Heinrich Christian Funck at the pharmacy in Gefrees.
He made the acquaintance of David Heinrich Hoppe, who inspired him to learn botany, and by way of an invitation from bryologist Christian Friedrich Hornschuch, he became a student at the University of Greifswald.
[1] From 1824 he studied medicine and sciences at Greifswald, where his instructors included anatomist Friedrich Christian Rosenthal.
[1] In 1830 he received his doctorate with the dissertation Disquisitiones anatomicae de Amphistomo conico, and shortly afterwards, obtained his habilitation for anatomy.