Education
1975–1976: Archaeology, University of Lund, Sweden
Three semesters in archaeology
1977–1982: History, University of Iceland, Reykjavik
1982: Cand. mag. in history
1980: BA in history and archaeolog
1982–1990: History, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Major: European Social history
Minors: Social anthropology, English history and the 19th century Europe
1985: MA fromCornell University
1991: Ph.D. from Cornell University

Post-doctoral position
1990–1991: Postdoctoral position at the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique in Paris

Teaching
1985 and 1987-90: Teaching assistant, Cornell University
1987: Temporary lecturer in history, University of Iceland
1991–1993: Lector (assistant professor) in history, University of Iceland
1993–2000: Docent (associate professor) in history, University of Iceland
2000–: Professor in history, University of Iceland
2012–: Jón Sigurðsson Professor, University of Iceland

Academic administration
1991–1992: Member of the board of Insitute of History, University of Iceland
1992–1993: Director of the Institute of History, University of Iceland
1992–1996: In the scientific board in humanities of the University of Iceland Research Fund
1994–1999: Chairman of the International committee of the University of Iceland
1995–1999: Icelandic representative in the programme committee of ERASMUS
1996–1998: Member of the scientific board in humanities and social sciences, the Icelandic Research Council
1998–2000: Chairman of the scientific board in humanities, the Icelandic Research Council
1998–2004: Icelandic representative in the Steering Group for Nordic Co-operation on Higher Education (HÖGUT)
1999–2000: Chairman of the Department of History, University of Iceland
2005–2010: Co-cordinator of CLIOHRES, a Network of Excellence funded by the 6th Framework Programme
2008–2010: Chairman of the Department of History, University of Iceland
2009–2011: Co-coordinator of CLIOHWORLD, a ERASMUS Network
2014–2015: Chair of the Faculty of History and Philosophy
2016–2020: Dean of the School of Humanities, University of Iceland

Editor
2005–2009 : Country editor for Iceland, Scandinavian Journal of History
2010–2015: Editor-in-chief, Scandinavian Journal of History