Leadership
Daniel Robert Leeb
IRISS Managing Director
Dr. Sigurður Magnús Garðarsson
HI Dean of Engineering / Natural Science
Dr. Adam Fishwick
UNAK Director of Research
Sigmundur Páll Freysteinn
LHI Research Coordinator
Faculty
Dr. Jón Emil Guðmundsson
HI Professor of Astrophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences
My research is focused on the development of novel devices and techniques for the microwave regime motivated by studies of the large scale structure of the Universe. I am involved in multiple experimental efforts studying the polarization of the cosmic microwave background, the oldest light in the Universe,in an attempt to shed light on the physics at the beginning of time
Dr. Benjamin David Hennig
HI Professor / Faculty of Life & Environmental Sciences / Geovis Lab
I am a professor of Geography and an honorary research associate in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. My research interests include humanity’s impact on the planet, global sustainability and the development of concepts for analysing, visualising and mapping these issues using geospatial technologies such as GIS and remote sensing.
Dr.Oddur Þór Vilhelmsson
UNAK Professor Molecular Biology, Faculty Natural Resource Sciences
Oddur Vilhelmsson’s lab focuses on bacterial-fungal symbiotic associations and on bioprospecting Arctic and sub-Arctic habitats for environmental biotechnology applications. His work has shed a light on how Icelandic lava tubes make for attractive planetary analogues for astrobiological studies.
Student Researchers
Þorsteinn Kristinsson
PhD Student | Bachelor of Science University of Colorado Boulder
I’m Currently working on interdisciplinary aerospace engineering and planetary science research with a focus on autonomy in planetary exploration robotics, worked with the ISA on their International Mars Exploration Working Group face to face meeting in Reykjavik!
Alexander Björn Kerff Nielsen
MSc student in Engineering Physics and Technology | University of Southern Denmark
I’m a passionate Engineering Physics Master student with a strong interest in Space, RF. optics, and sensor technology working on the Danish DISCO cubesate program and R&D analyst for the Iceland Space Agency and currently in Sydney at the IAC!
Mikael Norðquist
BSc student in Biochemistry & Molecular biology | University of Iceland
I aspire to be become an Astrobiologist and conduct origin of life research. Currently studying tardigrades and hot spring thermophiles. This past summer I gave an oral presentation at the BEACON astrobiology conference in Rvk and met the NASA HABMARS team in the field!