RISE-UP

Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships Program

is a collaboration of the vlog, University of Ჹɲʻ at Mānoa, and 401 Tech Bridge (a division of the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation).

 
 

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:


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  to learn the requirements of the application process and the goals of the fellowship. If you have questions and are interests, please contact Prof. Peter Webley @ pwwebley@alaska.edu.

 

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 to learn the requirements of the application process and the goals of the fellowship. If you have questions and are interests, please contact Prof. Peter Webley @ pwwebley@alaska.edu.

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

Applications are currently open. Some of our current P2P funded graduate students are:

  • Noah Emerson, Masters in Natural Resources. Advisor: Jenifer McBeath
  • Michael Martinez, PhD in Chemistry. Advisor: Brandon Briggs
  • Danielle Wrenn, Masters in Biological Sciences. Advisor: Devin Drown
  • David Sauter, MBA in Business Analytics and Blue Economy. Advisor: Kimberly McGinnis
  • Stephanie (Anne) Moore, Masters in Professional Communication. Advisor: Tori McDermott
  • Sujung Chung, Masters in Fisheries. Advisor: Jessica Glass

Innovation for Alaska and the Arctic Training

Spring 2025 course: Sign up to - 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 .

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. The Ideation Studio sponsors networking events, and supports new teams and initiatives through seed funding and connections.  

To apply for current seed funding


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 that include
    • William Howard, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Natural Science and Mathematics
    • Katey Walter Anthony, Research Professor, Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering
    • Kayleen McMonigal, Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanography, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
    • Laura Timm, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Fisheries, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
    • Arghya Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Mines
    • Sarah Stanley, Professor, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts
    • Diana Wolf, Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Wildlife, College of Natural Science and Mathematics
    • LaVerne Demientieff, Professor, Department of Social Work, College of Liberal Arts
    • Seungil Cho, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Natural Science and Mathematics
    • Byrant Chow, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Systems Science, College of Natural Science and Mathematics

2023 - 2024 Fellows

  • 6 Fellows from across the university that include
    • Christa Mulder, Research Professor, Department of Biology and Wildlife, College of Natural Science and Mathematics
    • Santosh Panda, Associate Professor, Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension
    • Kait Hazard, Assistant Professor, Business and Accounting, Community and Technical College
    • Sarah Stanley, Professor, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts
    • Olga Skinner, Professor, Alaska Indigenous Teacher Corps, College of Liberal Arts
    • Janice Dawe, Assistant Professor. Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Natural Resources and Extension

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


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.