RISE-UP

Together, these organizations leverage complementary technical expertise, collectively develop, and commercialize scalable technologies, and build a workforce for industries of the future. We are looking for mentors to work with the UAF C-ICE team and our supported innovators. If you would like to connect with C-ICE and become a Rise-Up Mentor then fill out this form:

There are four components to the RISE-UP initiative, that have parallel programs within each state and each location. These components support the development of technical solutions to real world needs, and cultivate an environment committed to preparing the next-generation of talent for the jobs of the future. At UAF, these four components are:

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Graduate Fellowships and Postdocs

The RISE-UP program supports two forms of fellowships.

For graduate students and postdocs with an entrepreneurial project:		For graduate students with no project and an interest in exploring the potential for impact of their research:
The Entrepreneurial Fellowship covers tuition, insurance, and provides a stipend to explore the potential of their project and develop their idea further into a solution solving a real-world need. Fellows participate in training designed to teach them how to maximize the impact of their research, and work with mentors toward milestones to get their research in the hands of those who need it.		Through the Innovation Fellowship, Center ICE will partner with departments to modify TA-ships to support 10 hours per week of students exploring the world of innovation through hands-on programming and activities, and reflecting on the potential for impact of their research.
If you have an idea, please please read the Entrepreneurial Fellowship Application Guidelines and review criteria to learn the requirements of the application process and the goals of the fellowship.		If you do not have a specific project you are currently working on, but are interested in exploring ways to create impact with your research along with other graduate students, please read the Innovation Fellowship Application Guidelines and review criteria to learn the requirements of the application process and the goals of the fellowship.

Once your application is ready for either program, please submit it via this Submission Form.

Applications are currently open.

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Innovation for Alaska and the Arctic Training

Spring 2025 course: Sign up to BA 494/HSEM 494 - Innovation for Alaska and the Arctic

• Undergraduate and graduate classes that teach skills to rapidly address emerging and mission-critical needs of Alaskan communities, industry, governmental groups and agencies.
• Students focus on identifying the needs of communities, building towards implementable operational solutions, and focusing on real-world problems. 
• For more information: Email - pwwebley@alaska.edu
• Keep up to date via Center ICE Newsletter and mailing list.

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Ideation Studio

• The Ideation Studio is a program designed to help researchers and scholars connect, spark innovative ideas, and co-develop new interdisciplinary projects geared toward problem-solving as well as the generation of positive societal impacts. The Ideation Studio sponsors networking events, and supports new teams and initiatives through seed funding and connections.  

To apply for current seed funding

 

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Faculty Fellows

This program is developed for our faculty to develop cutting edge, transformative experiences for students and pilot new initiatives. Fellows projects will open up opportunities for the Fellows themselves, students, the state of Alaska and the many institutional support staff who make UAF the premier research university in Alaska. 

Faculty who are awarded a Fellowship : 

• • Are seen for their leadership in creating cutting edge experiences for students and in strengthening the Alaska innovation ecosystem.
  • Gain recognition from their chairs and deans, Alaskan industry thought leaders, and students for taking the risks to effect real change. 
  • Have access to a team of supportive institutional and community leaders and thinkers who will help them implement their ideas.
  • Get training in topics like Lean Methodologies, Design and Systems Thinking, or other innovation-related topics.
  • Are paid a stipend and see the fellowship reflected in their workload and in tenure and promotion files.

2024 - 2025 Fellows

• • 11 Fellows
  • From across the university
  • Such as College of Liberal Arts, College of Ocean Sciences, Institute of Arctic Biology, and more
  • Integration of community → researcher → industry partners continues to improve

2023 - 2024 Fellows

Christa Mulder Professor, Plant Ecology - Biology and Wildlife	Santosh Panada Associate Research Professor, Snow, Ice & Permafrost	Kait Hazard Assistant Professor, Applied Business & Accounting	Sarah Stanley Assistant Professor, Director of University Writing; English	Olga Skinner Assistant Professor, Alaska Indigenous Teacher Corps
Project: Community-based problem solving and transdisciplinary teaching practices: a model.	Project: Opportunities and challenges of implementing carbon management projects on state lands of Alaska.	Project: Educate to innovate: fostering community entrepreneurship.	Project: Developing Personal Dispositions Towards Problem Solving: A Collaborative Unconference.	Project: Developing Personal Dispositions Towards Problem Solving: A Collaborative Unconference.

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Testbeds Opportunity

Are you a startup company or scalable business? Are you interested in connecting with UAF's facilities to grow and scale your innovations? Under the testbeds program, the UAF Center ICE team is building a database of facilities across UAF that can work with scalable companies and building a network of local and regional companies looking at UAF to collaborative with the University on joint opportunities. If you are interested in this testbeds opportunity, then please fill out this form:

To learn more out the testbeds program and how to get involved, please sign up to office hours with Uly Rivera, urivera@alaska.edu at https://calendly.com/urivera-alaska/30min

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Learn More on RISE-UP

Each component collaborates with the equivalent programs at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and 401 Tech Bridge in Rhode Island. For more information on the RISE-UP program and its components, please contact the project lead Peter Webley (pwwebley@alaska.edu) with the subject "RISE-UP". 

Funding for this RISE-UP initiative is through grant funding to UAF Center ICE from the Office of Naval Research.