Heidi Pardoe

www.marice.is

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

My story – timeline & overview

July 2005 – graduated BSc Marine Biology & Oceanography, University of Southampton, UK

November 2005 – moved to Iceland as Marie-Curie Early-Stage Researcher in EU Research Training Network ‘FishACE’ (FP6). Based at Hafrannsóknastofnunin (& University of Iceland). 36 months funding

2008/2009 – funded by Rannís FS grant, co-funded by Hafró & Teaching assistant salary, University of Iceland

December 2009 – completed PhD ‘Spatial and temporal variation in life history traits of Atlantic cod in Icelandic waters’

January 2010 – awarded Rannís Postdoctoral Researcher grant (3 years salary, from March 2010)

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

The PhD years

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

Committee: Guðrún Marteinsdóttir (Uni. of Iceland), Guðmundur Þórðarson (Hafró), Mikko Heino (Uni. of Bergen, Norway), Ulf Dieckmann (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Austria)

Part of EU RTN FishACE: ‘Fisheries-induced Adaptive Change in Exploited stocks’, 3 million EURO budget, funded 7 PhD students & 9 Postdocs, 8 Nations, 11 Institutes inc. Hafró

Presented at >6 international conferences + 3 national seminars, attended >8 meetings/workshops, inc. ICES Study Group, spent 5 months at IIASA (Austria), published 5 peer-reviewed papers (3 as main author)

Researcher in EU Research Network ‘Fisheries-induced Evolution’ (FinE), 2007 – 2010

Life as a Postdoc

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

‘Diversity in Icelandic cod and its consequences for population persistence and sustainable exploitation’

1 published paper, 3 currently in prep.

Co-supervisor of 2 PhD students, part of Nordic Centre of Excellence, NorMER

Co-ordinator/Principal Investigator of project: ‘Developing morphological and life history markers of sub-stock structure in Icelandic cod‘, funded by Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries

Co-organiser/lecturer for graduate summer program in Marine & Fisheries Science at University of Iceland

1 (PhD) grant application in review, 2 project grant applications to be submitted

I enjoy being a foreign researcher in Iceland.....

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

Lack of bureaucracy

‘Can-do attitude’

Rules are guidelines

Flexibility & innovation –

Icelanders are not afraid of change

Experts & sources of knowledge in close

proximity, aware of each other

Unnecessary to learn Icelandic, although

doing so is encouraged

Informal attitude to communication/exchange

of knowledge

Less competition, greater funding opportunities

Greater funding for marine research

Helpful, friendly, welcoming, interested, enthusiastic, laid-back, good work/life ethics,

inspiring social support/attitudes

Island mentality – e.g. word of mouth

.....but sometimes it can be challenging!

Euraxess Event, Reykjavik, 27th May 2011

Lack of bureaucracy

‘It’ll get done, probably tomorrow, don’t worry’

Rules are guidelines

Experts in close proximity, and yet there can be

frustratingly little communication

Fighting for National language in science creates provincial

atmosphere

Informal attitude to communication/exchange

of knowledge

Fear of competition can lead to insular attitudes & lack of

collaboration

Lack of translation of key documents,

websites, guidelines, etc

Forming social bonds beyond veneer can be

difficult

Island mentality – e.g. word of mouth

Thank you for listening!