Doctoral grants for research in earth sciences, biology and chemistry

Four grants have been awarded from the Aðalsteinn Kristjánsson Memorial Fund at the University of Iceland to support research in earth sciences, biology and chemistry. The grant recipients are PhD students in the final stages of their doctorates, researching the human impact on the ecosystems of Icelandic lakes, the suppressive effects of crowberry in the Icelandic highlands, the synthesis of gels used in environmental cleaning, and the impact of the volcanic activity on geothermal areas on the Reykjanes peninsula. They are Emily Koenders and Patrick Kant Muanza, PhD students in geology, Geethanjali Kuppadakkath, PhD student in chemistry, and Ingvild Ryde, PhD student in biology. A total of ISK 8 million was awarded.

Emily Koenders’ doctoral project: The growth of agriculture and tourism, as well as broader global changes, have had a significant impact on Icelandic lakes over the last few centuries. These changes may have led to increased erosion in lakes, increased inflow of waste and reduced plant cover in surrounding areas. This could in turn potentially affect water quality, the amount of nutrients in lake soil and, ultimately, the make-up of the lake ecosystems. Emily’s study aims to investigate the increasing human impact on Icelandic lake ecosystems. Four lakes were included in the study and sediment cores were extracted. The sediment cores were used to research changes in the composition of non-biting midges and the geochemical components of the cores over the past 200 years. The results were then placed in the context of known changes to the river basin and the environment of the lakes. Other potential causes for the changes were also investigated and compared to the results of the observations.

Emily’s supervisor is Steffen Mischke, professor at the UI Faculty of Earth Sciences.

Ingvild Ryde’s doctoral project: Ingvild’s project aims to research the role of crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) in degraded ecosystems in the Icelandic highlands. Crowberry is known to produce suppressive compounds which could potentially contribute to maintaining the degradation level of ecosystems. Bioactivity tests showed that Icelandic populations of crowberry also have a suppressive effect by reducing seed germination and root growth in neighbouring species. The results also showed that volcanic soil in Iceland considerably reduces this suppressive effect, compared to other soils. Furthermore, Ingvild’s findings showed variation in the suppressive ability of different varieties of crowberry. She is now working to map in detail the metabolic diversity of Icelandic crowberry, which will clarify which compounds cause the suppressive effect. The findings will improve our knowledge of the suppressive effect of crowberry and how it shapes ecosystem processes in general and specifically in the degraded ecosystems of the Icelandic highlands.

Ingvild’s supervisors are Elizabeth Neilson, professor at the University of Copenhagen, and Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir, professor emerita at the UI Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Geethanjali Kuppadakkath’s doctoral project: Over the past two decades, gels constructed from low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) have attracted attention as smart materials with a wide range of applications. For example, they can be used as the basis for chemical synthesis and crystallisation, in drug delivery, as chemoreceptors and in environmental cleaning. Designing such gels with well defined and specialised properties is, however, very challenging, as the formation of a gel is determined by many interrelated factors, such as the choice of building blocks, solvent, temperature and pH level. To understand the process of gel synthesis and the targeted design of materials with tunable properties, it is essential to improve our understanding of the relationship between structure and properties. Geethanjali’s project aims to design and synthesise a series of gels by systematically varying the nature and geometric arrangement of functional groups to identify key factors that affect gel formation. The project will also assess the utility of these gels for removing toxic dyes from water, as well as their use as reagents in the synthesis of chiral organometallic compounds from achiral precursors.

Geethanjali’s supervisor is Krishna K. Damodaran, professor at the UI Faculty of Physical Sciences.

Patrick Kant Muanza’s doctoral project: Patrick’s project aims to use remote sensing techniques to map and analyse changes in the surface activity of geothermal areas which can be attributed to volcanic activity, including subsurface magma activity and crustal deformation due to accompanying earthquakes. Thermal, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging data will be analysed to monitor the development of geothermal activity before, during and after volcanic events. This will make it possible to detect temperature anomalies and transformations related to geothermal processes in the area. In recent years, volcanic eruptions have had a significant impact on the Reykjanes peninsula, including its geothermal areas, which are key areas for geothermal energy production in Iceland. Such events could affect thermal conductivity and surface temperature in geothermal areas, with effects lasting from weeks to several years. Research on the Reykjanes peninsula has largely investigated the volcanic activity itself, with less focus on how such events affect surface activity in geothermal areas. Monitoring changes in geothermal areas supports the responsible exploitation of geothermal energy and improves our understanding of the relationship between geothermal energy and volcanic activity on Reykjanes peninsula. Analysis of remote sensing data collected between 2016 and 2023 has made it possible to map and study changes in surface temperature. Changes have been detected in some geothermal areas on the Reykjanes peninsula, especially during periods of volcanic activity.

Patrick’s supervisors are Þorvaldur Þórðarson, professor at the UI Faculty of Earth Sciences, and Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, senior lecturer at the same Faculty.

About the Fund

The Aðalsteinn Kristjánsson Memorial Fund for the Promotion of Chemistry and Natural Sciences was established at the University of Iceland in 1978 with a bequest from Aðalsteinn Kristjánsson. He spent most of his life in Winnipeg, Canada, moving in later life to Puente in Los Angeles, California. Aðalsteinn died on 14 July 1949. 

The Fund operates in accordance with a ratified charter and has an independent board. Members of the board are: Sigurður S. Snorrason, professor emeritus at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences and chair; Árný Erla Sveinbjörnsdóttir, research scientist at the Institute of Earth Sciences; and Einar Örn Sveinbjörnsson, professor at the Faculty of Physical Sciences.
The Aðalsteinn Kristjánsson Memorial Fund is under the auspices of the UI Scholarship Funds and is managed by the University. The UI Scholarship Funds manage the funds and donations that have been bequeathed to UI since its foundation.

For further information about the Aðalsteinn Kristjánsson Memorial Fund and other funds managed by the UI Scholarship Funds, please contact Helga Brá Árnadóttir, project manager, helgab@hi.is, tel: 899-8719.