Curriculum Vitae

Helga Ingimundardóttir

Curriculum Vitae

One source, three depths: a one-page selection, a four-page version, and the full list here on the web.

Detail level
Download PDF Full list

Choose how much to show. The same tags drive the PDF exports.

Academic appointments

  • 2024–

    Fellow of the Teaching Academy

    Icelandic Teaching Academy, University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Recognised for excellence and innovation in university teaching.

    The fellowship reflects a sustained commitment to active learning pedagogies, including flipped classroom design, project-based assessment, and industry-engaged curricula that connect students with real-world engineering challenges.

  • 2023–

    Assistant Professor

    Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Teaching business intelligence, discrete-event simulation, operations research and information engineering — with real data from Icelandic companies.

    My focus is on bridging theoretical knowledge with practical skills, emphasising the use of real-world data in collaboration with Icelandic companies. Specialising in courses such as Business Intelligence, (Discrete) Simulation, Operations Research and Information Engineering, I equip students with the tools and insights needed to excel in the industrial sector.

  • 2023

    Postdoctoral Researcher

    Industrial Engineering Department, University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Member of the IDeLM (Intelligent Decision Learning Models) research team, funded by the Icelandic Research Fund.

    The IDeLM project develops intelligent decision-making models by applying machine learning and data analytics, with the goal of enhancing decision processes across domains. My responsibilities included conducting research, analysing data, developing machine learning models, and collaborating with the team.

Education

  • 2009–2016

    Ph.D. in Computational Engineering

    University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Hyperheuristics for job-shop scheduling, supervised by Prof. Tómas Philip Rúnarsson.

    Automating the scheduling process for Job Shop Scheduling Problems using ordinal regression, and analysing the problem difficulty and the algorithm footprints in instance space for such optimisation problems. Awarded a doctoral grant from the University of Iceland Research Fund.

  • 2010–2012

    Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Studies in Higher Education

    School of Education, University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    A 30 ECTS programme in university teaching — one of the inaugural participants in 2010.

    A programme spearheaded by Professor Guðrún Geirsdóttir, tailored to faculty and doctoral students teaching at the University of Iceland. Coursework across three semesters covered university-level teaching studies, course design and assessment, and reflective practice. The final class produced a grant application that was funded by the University of Iceland Teaching Fund.

  • 2008–2010

    M.Sc. in Computational Engineering

    University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Wavelet transforms for fouling detection in heat exchangers, in collaboration with the Université de Valenciennes.

    Research with Prof. Sylvain Lalot at the Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis, France (now the Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France), exploring the feasibility of using wavelet transforms to detect fouling in cross-flow heat exchangers from measurements taken during normal operation. Awarded a grant from the French Embassy in Iceland to study in France.

  • 2005–2008

    B.Sc. in Mathematics

    University of Iceland · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Specialisation in Computer Science.

Industry experience

  • 2022–2023

    Head of AI Research

    Travelshift · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Led the AI research team optimising vacation packages for GuideToEurope.com — the travelling thief problem.

    The team developed data-driven optimisation for vacation packages offered on GuideToEurope.com. The core problem was the NP-hard travelling thief problem, which combines the knapsack problem with the travelling salesman problem. I also contributed to related patent applications.

  • 2021–2022

    Data Scientist

    CCP Games · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Led development of a real-time recommendation engine for new EVE Online characters.

    Built real-time time-series features from proto-events on Kafka streams using the TimescaleDB extension for PostgreSQL, and developed ad-hoc metrics to measure content quality and engagement for the new recommendation models.

  • 2016–2021

    Research Scientist

    deCODE genetics · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Founding member of the Oxford Nanopore team; ran the long-read pipeline that processed 6 petabytes in three years.

    Responsible for implementing and maintaining the long-range sequencing analysis pipeline. Collaborated with the lab on protocols and with IT on cluster and disk architecture to process a large volume of data (6 PB over three years) while ensuring data integrity. Also co-authored research papers with the ONT team and operationalised research findings for production use.

  • 2015–2016

    SQL Consultant

    AGR Dynamics · Reykjavík, Iceland

    Implemented AGR 5, a web-based supply chain management system, into client ERP systems.

    AGR 5 lets users visualise sales history and generate order proposals using statistical forecasting. The work involved implementation, database maintenance and custom SQL solutions tailored to individual customers.

  • 2013–2015

    Computational Engineer, Research and Development

    Valka (now part of JBT Marel) · Kópavogur, Iceland

    Designed an intelligent fish portioning algorithm from X-ray imagery and generalised bone detection across species.

    Valka is a leading provider of equipment and automation for fish processing. Alongside the portioning and bone-detection algorithms, I contributed to three-dimensional visualisation of fish bones and carried out efficiency testing and reporting.

Teaching

  • 2024–

    IÐN302G Information Engineering

    University of Iceland

    Undergraduate course on databases, SQL, regex and data storytelling — taught through team projects and peer assessment.

  • 2025–

    IÐN403M Discrete-Event Simulation

    University of Iceland

    Discrete-event simulation of queueing systems and production processes, modelled from real operational data.

  • 2023–

    IÐN610M Business Intelligence

    University of Iceland

    Supervised learning, clustering and process mining on real-world data for 3rd-year BSc and 1st-year MSc students.

    A project-driven approach with an emphasis on active participation. Students develop practical skills such as effective use of GitHub and technical report writing, and leave with a solid understanding of key machine learning techniques and their use cases.

  • 2011, 2012, 2024

    IÐN401G Operations Research

    University of Iceland

    Sole instructor in 2011 and 2012, co-teacher in 2024; restructured the assignments, grading and tests together with the School of Education.

    Working with Guðrún Geirsdóttir at the School of Education, the course was restructured from the ground up. The innovations in course design, assessment and tutorial evaluation inspired a fellow teacher in Natural Sciences, and together we secured a University teaching grant to develop the methods further.

  • 2007–2010

    Teaching Assistant

    School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland

    Tutorials and marking for Linear Algebra, Simulation, Operations Research, Calculus IB and Numerical Analysis.

Grants

Project grants

  • 2024–2026

    HiDef Textiles: Optimising Textile Processes with AI

    University of Iceland Research Fund

    Project grant merging AI, industrial engineering, computer science and textile craftsmanship.

    The goal is to democratise technology and programming through textiles, integrating arts and sciences. We are developing a sustainable learning platform to share industrial best practice, with an emphasis on women in STEM.

  • 2024

    Student Innovation Fund grant

    Icelandic Centre for Research, Student Innovation Fund

    Funding to upgrade a 1990s knitting machine to modern autonomous standards — three BSc graduates for three months each.

    Part of HiDef Textiles. The project combines sustainable technology, textile innovation, STEAM education, AI and IoT. By the end of the summer a functional knitting machine was ready to present at local conferences.

  • 2012

    Grant for Teaching Development

    University of Iceland, Academic Affairs Fund

    The project Breytt dæmatímafyrirkomulag hjá VON — a new tutorial format at SENS.

    A grant to improve undergraduate homework assignments in Engineering and Natural Sciences: a simpler method that reduces teacher workload while giving students better feedback. The work was done as part of the course Reflective practice and professional development.

  • 2009–2012

    Postgraduate Scholarship

    University of Iceland Research Fund

    Three-year stipend for doctoral studies.

Mobility grants

  • 2024

    Erasmus+ Higher Education Mobility Grant

    ERASMUS+

    Study visit to Aalborg University and DTU on project-based learning and curriculum integration.

    The mobility enhances the University of Iceland teaching methodology by learning from Aalborg University project-based learning and DTU curriculum integration. The collaboration improves the curriculum, smooths BSc to MSc transitions, and strengthens international partnerships.

  • 2010

    Higher Education Mobility Grant

    Fundusz Stypendialny i Szkoleniowy (FSS)

    Mobility grant to visit Politechnika Śląska in Gliwice, Poland.

  • 2009

    Postgraduate Scholarship

    French Embassy, Reykjavík

    Awarded to Icelandic students pursuing a Masters degree in France.

Awards and nominations

  • 2015

    Nominated for Best Paper award

    9th International Conference on Learning and Intelligent Optimization (LION9)

    One of three full-paper submissions nominated for the Best Paper award.

  • 2005

    Magna cum laude

    The Commercial College of Iceland

    Ranked third in my graduating class, with an award for academic achievement in mathematics.

Talks and outreach

Invited talks

  • 2025

    Invited talk: HiDef Textiles: Reviving Tradition with Innovation

    Reykjavík DataBeers, 25 January 2025

    Empowering creativity and sustainability in textile production through digital transformation — Icelandic knitting tradition meets modern tooling.

    The talk showed how the HiDef Textiles project modernises textile production by combining traditional Icelandic knitting techniques with digital design tooling. Data and slides are on GitHub.

  • 2024

    Invited talk: Software development and people

    The Icelandic Computer Society (SKÝ)

    On transparency and communication between teams in software development, drawn from experience across industries.

  • 2023

    Invited talk: Pushing Boundaries: A Data-Driven Dive into The Legend of the Ice People

    Advania Autumn Conference, Harpa, Reykjavík

    Where literature meets data science: insights from the Icelandic book releases and Storytel audiobooks.

  • 2023

    Invited talk: The Legend of the Cat People

    6th Reykjavík Data Beers, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur

    An engineering perspective on Margit Sandemo 1980s sensation (with cat memes). All data and code on GitHub.

  • 2022

    Panellist: The impact of language technology and AI on Icelandic

    3rd European Language Resource Coordination (ELRC) workshop in Iceland

    A discussion with developers, integrators and users on the status and future of language technology in Iceland.

  • 2010

    Invited speaker: Politechnika Śląska, Gliwice

    Erasmus+ Teaching Staff Mobility Programme

    Invited by Prof. Waldemar Grzechca; presented my doctoral research to the Faculty of Automation, Electronics and Computer Science.

  • 2009

    Invited speaker: Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis

    ENSIAME (now the Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France)

    Presented my Masters research to the faculty, as part of the collaboration with Sylvain Lalot.

Conference presentations

  • 2016

    Founding workshop: Association of Women in Science (SKVÍS)

    SKVÍS

    Took part in the founding workshop, developing strategies to increase the visibility of women experts in the media.

  • 2016

    Doctoral defence: ALICE: Analysis & Learning Iterative Consecutive Executions

    University of Iceland, 30 June 2016

    Opponents: Prof. Edmund Burke and Prof. Kate Smith-Miles.

Media

  • 2024

    Newspaper interview: An autonomous knitting machine in the making

    Morgunblaðið, Reykjavík

    Coverage of three students making a 1990s knitting machine run autonomously — part of HiDef Textiles.

  • 2017–2020

    Podcast host: ÍSKISUR

    Alvarpið & Storytel

    Read all 47 books of Margit Sandemo Legend of the Ice People with two friends — and curated the internet-cat segment.

  • 2016–2017

    Recurring podcast guest: Tæknivarpið

    Hlaðvarp Kjarnans

    Discussing the latest technology, from iPhones and Star Wars to gender representation in IT.

Service and committees

  • 2015, 2023–

    Advisory board member, Technology Development Fund

    Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís)

    Advisory board assessing grant applications for technological development and innovation in Iceland.

  • 2018–2021

    Board member of the company union

    deCODE genetics

  • 2016

    Treasurer of the company union

    AGR Dynamics

  • 2014–2015

    Treasurer of the company union

    Valka

  • 2011–2012

    Science Committee member

    School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland

    Graduate student representative on the committee that promoted research activity and cross-disciplinary discussion.

  • 2011

    Founding member of Arkimedes

    School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland

    The society for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers at the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences.

  • 2009–2011

    Co-founder and Treasurer of Heron

    School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland

    Merged defunct student organisations into one body representing postgraduate students, and managed its finances.

  • 2009–2010

    Treasurer of BEST Reykjavík

    Board of European Students of Technology (BEST)

    Represented BEST Reykjavík at the General Assembly and organised two academic courses hosting 20 European students.

  • 2006–2007

    President of Stigull

    School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland

    The undergraduate student organisation for Mathematics and Physics.

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

  • 2021

    Long-read sequencing of 3,622 Icelanders provides insight into the role of structural variants in human diseases and other traits

    Article

    Doruk Beyter, Helga Ingimundardottir, Asmundur Oddsson, Hannes P. Eggertsson, Eythor Bjornsson, Hakon Jonsson, Bjarni A. Atlason, Snaedis Kristmundsdottir et al.

    Nature Genetics, 53(6), pp. 779 – 786, Springer Nature, 2021

  • 2021

    Ratatosk: hybrid error correction of long reads enables accurate variant calling and assembly

    Article Open access

    Guillaume Holley, Doruk Beyter, Helga Ingimundardottir, Peter L. Møller, Snædis Kristmundsdottir, Hannes P. Eggertsson, Bjarni V. Halldorsson

    Genome Biology, 22(1), Springer Nature, 2021

  • 2018

    Discovering dispatching rules from data using imitation learning: A case study for the job-shop problem

    Article

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    Journal of Scheduling, 21(4), pp. 413 – 428, Springer Nature, 2018

  • 2018

    Insights into imprinting from parent-of-origin phased methylomes and transcriptomes

    Article

    Florian Zink, Droplaug N. Magnusdottir, Olafur T. Magnusson, Nicolas J. Walker, Tiffany J. Morris, Asgeir Sigurdsson, Gisli H. Halldorsson … Helga Ingimundardottir et al.

    Nature Genetics, 50(11), pp. 1542 – 1552, Nature Publishing Group, 2018

  • 2011

    Detection of fouling in a cross-flow heat exchanger using wavelets

    Article

    Helga Ingimundardóttir, Sylvain Lalot

    Heat Transfer Engineering, 32(3-4), pp. 349 – 357, Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2011

Selected papers, revised and extended

  • 2026

    A Scalable Matheuristic for Routing Capacity-Constrained Groundfish Surveys

    Book chapter

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Margret Thorsdottir, Bjarki Elvarsson, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    Learning and Intelligent Optimization. LION 2026, Springer International Publishing, 2026, Accepted

  • 2016

    Evolutionary learning of linear composite dispatching rules for scheduling

    Book chapter

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    Studies in Computational Intelligence, 620, pp. 49 – 62, Springer Verlag, 2016

Peer-reviewed conference proceedings

  • 2026

    Designing Authentic Industry-Engaged Assessment for Professional Competence in Business Intelligence

    Conference paper Open access

    Helga Ingimundardóttir

    Proceedings of the 22nd International CDIO Conference, pp. 211 – 220, 2026

  • 2026

    Using Pull Requests to Make Collaboration Visible in CDIO Project-Based Courses

    Conference paper Open access

    Helga Ingimundardóttir

    Proceedings of the 22nd International CDIO Conference, pp. 296 – 305, 2026

  • 2024

    Evolving Submodels for Column Generation in Cutting and Packing for Glulam Production

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    2024 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), IEEE, 2024

  • 2015

    Generating training data for learning linear composite dispatching rules for scheduling

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardòttir, Thomas Philip Rùnarsson

    Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 8994, pp. 236 – 248, Springer International Publishing, 2015

  • 2014

    Evolutionary Learning of Weighted Linear Composite Dispatching Rules for Scheduling

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    International Joint Conference on Computational Intelligence, 1, pp. 59 – 67, Science and Technology Publications, Lda, 2014

  • 2012

    Determining the characteristic of difficult job shop scheduling instances for a heuristic solution method

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 7219 LNCS, pp. 408 – 412, 2012

  • 2011

    Sampling strategies in ordinal regression for surrogate assisted evolutionary optimization

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications, ISDA, pp. 1158 – 1163, 2011

  • 2011

    Supervised learning linear priority dispatch rules for job-shop scheduling

    Conference paper

    Helga Ingimundardottir, Thomas Philip Runarsson

    Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 6683 LNCS, pp. 263 – 277, 2011

Theses

Seminars and colloquia

  • 2016

    ALICE: Analysis & Learning Iterative Consecutive Executions

    Seminar

    Helga Ingimundardottir

    Statistics and Bioinformatics Seminar, deCODE Genetics, Reykjavík, Iceland, 2016

  • 2013

    Supervising Learning Linear Composite Dispatch Rules for Scheduling

    Seminar

    Helga Ingimundardottir

    ReiDok13 Symposium on Computational PhD Projects, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, 2013

  • 2012

    Creating Meaningful Training Data for Difficult JSSP Instances for Ordinal Regression

    Seminar

    Helga Ingimundardottir

    Seminar for Ph.D. students, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, 2012

  • 2012

    Determining the Characteristic of Difficult JSSP Instances for a Heuristic Solution Methods

    Seminar

    Helga Ingimundardottir

    Stats colloquium, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, 2012

Technical skills

General purpose
C#, C++, Python
Numerical
MATLAB
Statistical
R, tidyverse
Databases
Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, TimescaleDB
Optimisation
Gurobi, GLPK
Scripting and tooling
awk, grep, sed, make, git, Quarto

Languages

Icelandic
mother tongue
English
fluent
Danish
conversational
French
conversational

Interests

Professional
heuristics, artificial intelligence, evolutionary computation, global optimisation, statistical learning, machine learning, big data, automation, data visualisation and real-world applications
Personal
knitting, sewing, arts and crafts, horticulture, podcasting, internet cats and Russian Blues

Membership

  • The Icelandic Teaching Academy of the Public Universities