Restoration Ecology
Iceland
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
The visiting U.S. scholar is expected to participate in the teaching of selected graduate level courses in the Restoration Ecology graduate program at the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI), either as a leading and/or a supporting teacher, depending on the scholar’s expertise and interests. The Restoration Ecology program is offered with a distance-learning option, so lectures are recorded for remote students. Most of the courses are largely based on independent and project-based learning and include significant practical components such as field trips, in-class seminars, group work, individual projects, and discussion sessions. Some of these sessions require mandatory attendance, either in person or online.
Students typically have access to required textbooks through the university’s e-library. Course materials also include peer-reviewed scientific articles, international reports, and restoration standards, which are provided electronically. Courses generally have 12–20 students enrolled.
Mandatory or restrictive elective courses in the program that the scholar could contribute to or lead include:
- 07.41.05 RESTORATION ECOLOGY: Principles, Theory, Challenges and Opportunities (10 ECTS)
- 08.43.03 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE FIELD I: Project Planning, Implementation and Management (6 ECTS)
- 07.43.02 Ecological restoration in urban and other built environments (4 ECTS)
- 08.45.02 Wetland, river, coastal, and marine restoration (4 ECTS)
- 07.42.03 Soil science and land condition (5 ECTS)
- 08.44.03 Governance and sustainable resource management (6 ECTS)
- 08.49.0200 Special topics in restoration ecology (2-4 ECTS; this is a personalized, research-based reading course that allows students, guided by a relevant expert, to dive into specific subjects of their choice)
In addition to teaching, the scholar is encouraged to engage in collaborative research and mentoring of graduate students, as well as to contribute to seminars or workshops that strengthen the academic environment in restoration ecology at AUI. If interested, the scholar will also have the opportunity to give a guest lecture at the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Program, which is hosted at AUI (GRÓ is a Category 2 center under the auspices of UNESCO; see https://www.grocentre.is/lrt).
Agricultural University of Iceland
Faculty of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Hvanneyri, 311 Borgarbyggð
Iceland
AUI offers supportive and enriching environment for visiting scholars. Located in the scenic village of Hvanneyri, within a Ramsar site, AUI provides direct access to Iceland’s diverse ecosystems - ideal for field-based research in restoration ecology.
Grant activity can take place either in Fall semester 2027 or Spring semester 2028. Grant dates can be either mid-August to December 2027 or beginning of January to April/May 2028.
Preferred disciplines: Restoration ecology, conservation biology, applied ecology, landscape ecology and related fields.
Applicants should have one or more of the following specializations within the field of Restoration Ecology:
- Ecosystem and landscape restoration
- Restoration of wetlands, rangelands, forests, and degraded soils
- Restoration of riparian areas and streams
- Restoration in urban and other built environments
- Applied ecology and ecological monitoring for restoration outcomes
- Restoration planning, management and policy
- Community-based or participatory restoration approaches
Key features that make AUI an attractive host institution include:
- On-campus housing: Furnished apartments are available for visiting scholars, with options suitable for individuals or families.
- Family-friendly environment: The campus and surrounding community offer a safe, welcoming atmosphere with access to nature, playgrounds and local schools.
- Close-knit academic community: Scholars benefit from a collaborative atmosphere with small class sizes, interdisciplinary research teams and strong ties to local and international networks.
- Field research opportunities: AUI’s proximity to wetlands, forests and degraded landscapes provides exceptional opportunities for hands-on ecological restoration work.
- International programs and networks: AUI hosts the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Program and participates in Erasmus+, Nordplus and the University of the Arctic, offering scholars access to global partnerships.
- Special invitations: Visiting scholars are often invited to participate in seminars, workshops, and community events, fostering integration and professional exchange.
These features, combined with Iceland’s unique natural setting and AUI’s commitment.
Iceland offers a globally relevant context for Restoration Ecology, with over a century of organized efforts in ecosystem restoration. The country has experienced severe and widespread land degradation since it was settled by humans more than 1,000 years ago, leading to nationally coordinated restoration activities at the turn of the 1900 century. These have produced both notable success stories and valuable lessons from past challenges. Today, restoration efforts involve strong collaboration among governmental agencies, NGOs, and private entities, offering excellent opportunities for teaching, research cooperation, and field-based learning. AUI is, for example, leading a large wetland restoration project (initiated in autumn 2025) funded by European Union’s LIFE program.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
A letter of invitation from AUI is optional for interested applicants .
Letter of invitation can be sought from:
Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Acting Faculty Head and Assistant Rector, eyjolfurg@lbhi.is
Applications from scholars with a strong academic background in restoration ecology or closely related fields are welcomed. The scholar should have several years of university-level teaching experience and an active research profile, ideally with experience in applied or field-based restoration work.
Experience in interdisciplinary teaching or curriculum development at the graduate level would be highly valued, as well as interest in mentoring master’s students and collaborating with AUI faculty on research and program development.
While the primary emphasis is on mid- to senior-career scholars, early-career scholars with strong teaching and research credentials are also encouraged to apply.
Agricultural University of Iceland
Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Acting Faculty Head and Assistant Rector, eyjolfurg@lbhi.is
Berglind Orradóttir, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Restoration Ecology MSc, berglind@lbhi.is
Ása L. Aradóttir, Professor in Restoration Ecology, asa@lbhi.is, https://ugla.lbhi.is/pub/lbhi/simaskra/cv/7f94ea135039.pdf
MSc Program in Restoration Ecology
Address:
Agricultural University of Iceland
Faculty of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Hvanneyri, 311 Borgarbyggð, Iceland
Telephone number(s): (+354) 4335000, (+354) 8435365 (Berglind)
For additional information, please contact at the Fulbright Commission in Reykjavik, Iceland: fulbright@fulbright.is.
$4,500 per month or $5,000 per month for grantees with a dependent or dependents, payable monthly. A dependent must stay in Iceland for at least 80% of the grant period to be eligible for a dependent supplement.
The grant is denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in Icelandic krona (ISK), according to the current exchange rate.
The grant is intended to cover living costs in Iceland.
No separate housing allowance provided (grantees pay for housing out of the stipend). Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing, but the host institution is expected to assist the grantee in finding housing and settling in. Host institutions may in some instances be able to provide on-campus housing.
Travel allowance is a lump sum $1,500, payable with the first grant payment.
Baggage allowance is $400, payable at the end of the grant period.
No receipt is needed for travel and baggage allowance.
All allowances are denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in ISK, according to the current exchange rate.
Children can attend primary and lower-secondary public schools at little or no cost, which is a great way to integrate into Icelandic society. The Commission can assist grantees in finding an appropriate local public school.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Iceland is considered a high-cost country. Housing is comparable to many U.S. cities, with housing most expensive in the capital area and less expensive outside the capital area. Food is relatively expensive compared to some areas in the U.S., but of high quality. Utilities are much less expensive than in the U.S. Many grantees live centrally and can walk to most destinations, but public transport in the form of buses is widely available.
The scholar will be invited to monthly grantee enrichment events provided by the Fulbright Commission during the academic year. Also, the scholar will be taken out to lunch at the beginning and end of the grant period for briefing and debriefing.
Special funding for disabled grantees
Funding is available for U.S. Fulbright scholars to Iceland with a disability, be it a structural or functional impairment or activity/participation limitation, that entails additional costs that are not covered specifically through the Fulbright Program. Some funding may be available for a wide range of disabilities, including, for example, hearing, vision or movement impairment. The funding could, for example, be used to assist with specialized housing needs, in-country transport or specialized assistance. The extra funding amount will depend on need and will be decided by the Commission after consultation with the scholar. Funding is provided through the Bruce A. Fowler Mobility Fund.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Iceland
Iceland is a small Nordic country, an island republic in the North Atlantic, between the U.S. and the European mainland. Iceland is technologically advanced, English is widely spoken and Americans find Icelandic society and culture relatively easy to navigate.
There has been tremendous growth in academia in Iceland in recent years. On the one hand, the Fulbright Program aims, through teaching grants, to enhance and develop key disciplines at the university level and encourage newer and smaller departments. Being a small country, it is very important to the Icelandic higher education system to have access to Fulbright Scholars who have an important role to play in terms of broadening curricula and offering courses that would otherwise not be available, as well as bringing new perspectives and collaboration in research. Fulbright Scholars make a real difference and have a large role in shaping courses and curricula. The Fulbright Commission has increasingly focused also on bringing research scholars to Iceland. Opportunities for research are many and varied and can easily be conducted in English. U.S. scholars, both in natural and social sciences, have in the past years been very satisfied with the research infrastructure in Iceland. Research collaboration is also highly valued by Icelandic academics, who are eager for opportunities to host and collaborate with U.S. colleagues. Through the Commission's partnership with the National Science Foundation, the goal is to strengthen research in Iceland that has relevance for the Arctic and promote cooperation amongst scientists in a wide variety of Arctic relevant fields. Please note that many research topics can have relevance to the Arctic, even though they may not be strictly categorized as Arctic research, for example topics dealing with, health, conservation, security broadly defined (for example, food or energy security), marine or coastal studies, anthropology and archaeology, just to name a few.
Fulbright Scholars are generally pleased with their stay in Iceland and find it very useful for their careers back home. For those grants where Fulbright Scholars are expected to teach and advise, the program is designed to ensure an opportunity for scholars to do their own research as well, if they so desire. Iceland provides very interesting research opportunities in many fields. As a small, highly technologically advanced country, Iceland is ideal for many types of research. English is widely spoken and much used in academia. Scholars can generally expect good access to people, institutions and information for research purposes.
Those who receive research grants will have opportunities to engage in some teaching and lecturing, if they so desire. Many find that this enhances their experience and is useful also for their research. Even if not teaching, scholars are required to present some talks while in Iceland.
Teaching awards are for three to five months in the fall or spring semester. The fall semester starts at mid-to-end of August and ends around mid-December. The spring semester is from early January through mid-May. Research awards are more flexible in terms of time frame and length, but must be completed within the allotted time frame.
Iceland has spectacular nature and offers scholars an opportunity for unique outdoor experiences, in addition to a vibrant cultural scene and an exciting local cuisine. There is a good public school system, and scholars with children have had positive experiences.
Since the Fulbright Program in Iceland is relatively small, the Commission is able to maintain close ties with scholars during their stay and provide a sense of community among Fulbright scholars and fellows. There are monthly grantee activities sponsored by the Commission, in addition to access to Fulbright alumni events and other social activities.
Please see below two grantee video profile of U.S. scholars who talk about her experiences doing research and teaching in Iceland:
Visit the Fulbright Iceland website for information about current and previous grantees.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Agricultural University of Iceland offers a welcoming academic environment with on-campus housing (fully equipped apartment) for visiting scholars at the Hvanneyri campus. The university provides a supportive academic and social environment, with an active staff association that regularly organizes events.
Hosting a U.S. Fulbright Scholar is an exciting opportunity to strengthen international collaboration, expand teaching capacity and foster exchange in the field of ecosystem restoration.