About us
We’re a team of young career researchers passionate about sharing Icelandic fish research with you.
Theresa Henke
I defended my PhD thesis on alien European flounder in Iceland at the University of Iceland in January 2025. Currently, I am a postdoc at the Estación Experimental de Zonas Aridás (EEZA-CSIC) in Almería, Spain. My research interest lies in invasion science and over the recent years I have become passionate about exploring the human dimensions related to biological invasions and beyond. While I have exchanged the Nordic climate for life under the Mediterranean sun, I am excited to continue communicating fish research in Iceland via this platform.
Lieke Ponsioen
I am a third-year PhD student at the University of Iceland. I am originally from The Netherlands but I have been living in Iceland since 2016. My research is focussed on the four Arctic charr (“bleikja”) morphs in Lake Thingvallavatn. I look at how the morphs use the lake throughout the year which I do by tracking them in the lake and I use a drone to look at their spawning sites.
Michelle Valliant
Hi everyone, I’m Michelle from Canada, living in the Westfjords since 2018. I’m a PhD student at the University of Iceland’s Research Centre in Bolungarvík. My research focuses on juvenile Atlantic cod—how they move, why some remain in coastal fjords and shallow waters while others leave as they age, and what triggers them to be inshore or offshore.
Alessandra Schnider
I earned my PhD in May 2025 from the University of Iceland, though most of my work took place at Hólar University in northern Iceland, where I live. My research focuses on how threespine stickleback respond to environmental conditions like temperature and diet. I now work as a project manager with Eimur, helping communities use resources sustainably, and produce the podcast Fiskaspjall.
Guðbjörg Ósk Jónsdóttir
I’m a PhD student in Biology at the University of Iceland. My research focuses on different Arctic charr populations around Iceland. Where I specifically look at diversity in bone shape between the populations. Seeing how these Arctic charrs have adaptive to their different environments. In my free time I enjoy painting, drawing, writing, cross stitching and hiking.
Collaborators
Biodice
Biodice are a network of universities, institutions, individuals, and companies in Iceland who have the goal to talk to people about what biodiversity is, as well as, why it is so important, and what we can do to help protect nature.