Ríkey is a PhD Candidate at the University of Iceland, researching China-Russia Arctic Relations. She is aPredoctoral Fellow at Harvard‘s Arctic Initiative, and a Research Fellow at the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network. She is a former Project Manager at the Centre for Arctic Studies at the University of Iceland and has worked as a journalist and a radio show host. Ríkey holds a B.A. degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Iceland and an M.A. degree in International Relations from the same university. She has taught at University of Iceland, including international relations theories, security studies, as well as courses about Chinese society and politics. Her main research interests include Arctic politics and security, Chinese foreign policy, and small state security.