Elizabeth Tolrud is a recent alumna of the University of Michigan and a current 2025-26 Fulbright grant awardee. She graduated in May of 2025 with a BS as a triple-major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity; and Program in the Environment. After graduating, she moved to Tromsø, Norway as a Fulbright research grantee.
From a research expedition in the harsh Arctic conditions to cozy dinners with Norwegian families, the Fulbright experience has shaped me into a more open, adventurous, and collaborative scholar and person.
I live in Tromsø, a Norwegian city above the Arctic Circle. Partnered with Dr. Ingeborg Hallanger at the Norwegian Polar Institute and Dr. Natascha Schmidt at NILU, I am working to improve current techniques to detect and analyze microplastics in sea ice. By helping to standardize studies in the environment, this project increases our ability to understand and mitigate the impact of plastics. Further, we are creating a protocol that allows data to be more collaborative, expanding our ability to support international collaboration. In the fall, I participated in a research expedition traveling 84° North into the Arctic Ocean. It was an amazing experience to live on an icebreaker for three weeks and crash through sea ice in the constant darkness of the polar night. Whether on the expedition or during daily coffee breaks, the research culture at my partnered institutes is incredibly positive, and we have a lot of fun tackling our research projects.
Beyond my research, the community here is incredibly welcoming. Whether learning to sail, to ski, or a new intensity of backpacking, I am grateful for my Scandinavian friends who are teaching me new skills. A Norwegian family has “adopted” me, including me in their family holiday celebrations and teaching me how to cook Norwegian recipes.
Whether creating weekly sports groups or joining local music jams, Fulbright gives the opportunity to truly connect with the community and create deep ties with your surroundings, both through the people and through the environment. There is a strong culture of “dugnad” in Tromsø, acts of caring for your community and neighbors. During volunteering at music festivals, film festivals, ski cups, and community gardens, there is a deep warmth and kindness here that I intend to carry forward.
I came to Fulbright excited to complete rigorous research and engage in international collaboration at a broad level. After joining this community, I have realized that broad global collaboration is truly based on individual, local connection. It is truly a privilege to engage with this special space, and I am incredibly grateful for this experience.
