I am an ecologist with a PhD in Biology from the University of Copenhagen. Since 2017, I have conducted extensive field-based research in Svalbard and Greenland, focusing on exploring aquatic ecosystems in the Arctic and their response to environmental change. My work includes investigating primary producers—phytoplankton and other microalgae—and their roles within aquatic ecosystems. Using microscopy, pigment analysis, and various laboratory techniques, I studied the intricate structures and dynamics of these microbial communities, highlighting their importance for aquatic life in the Arctic. During this time, I also served as a guest lecturer at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).
Since my PhD, I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) on the biogeochemistry of meltwater rivers in Greenland. Currently, I am an external lecturer at DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia, where I teach Polar Biology. My research and teaching practices have taken me to remote field sites and international research stations across the Arctic, where I explore the landscape as both a subject of scientific inquiry and a classroom. By integrating field-based research with hands-on teaching, I use the Arctic environment to inspire curiosity, facilitate learning, and connect people to the dynamic ecosystems shaping these extreme regions.
In addition to my academic work, I have co-developed the project SHADOWING WITHOUT A SUNSET that combines science and arts, offering new perspectives on Arctic field research. The project shares stories of scientists and their work in the Arctic—offering a glimpse into the life of a researcher, the challenges of fieldwork, and the scientific process itself. Having followed several scientists working at the Netherlands Arctic Station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, to document their research, we use these firsthand experiences to create interactive youth workshops. Through these workshops, we bring science to life, fostering curiosity and deeper connections to the natural world.
I serve as a board member of APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists) Denmark, where we aim to connect young polar scientists from Denmark and beyond by organising a variety of events. Additionally, I am an Early Career Researcher (ECR) observer for the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS) and an observer for the research project Seals, Stigma and Survival.
If you would like to contact me or keep up to date with my work:
Bluesky: @sannemdt.bsky.social
Instagram: @sannemdt and @arcticmicrobes
LinkedIn: sannemoedt
Women in the Arctic and Antarctic 