Alaska Undergraduate Research and Interdisciplinary Science Exploration (AK URISE) is a program that provides students with the unique opportunity to learn research techniques and apply them to research projects conducted with UAA faculty across the natural sciences: astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. These projects involve the use of cutting edge research facilities and data, such as analysis of astronomical images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope, working with a Helicon plasma source in the UAA Plasma Lab, or understanding how microbes respond to extreme environmental conditions. Alaska URISE also builds a peer-learning community that aims to break down barriers that can significantly impact a student's success in pursuing a STEM degree. Participation in the program formally spans up to two years with most students starting in Fall semester, but there is flexibility to start in Spring semseter in many circumstances.
The Alaska URISE program facilitates successful student participation in research for up to two years through two simultaneous avenues:
supporting participation in faculty mentored research by covering tuition to enroll in Individual Research credit(s) and/or providing funds for a paid research position,
supporting a community of undergraduate researchers and providing professional development opportunities through enrollment in the URS A388 "Developing a Scholarly Identity" course tuition free.
The combination of these two avenues of support gives students the opportunity to dedicate time to a research projects under the guidance of their faculty mentor while earning academic credit tuition free.
Student Commitment for Fall 2025/Spring 2026:
Meet with your faculty mentor on a weekly basis
Dedicate a minimum of three hours a week to research conducted with your faculty mentor supported by enrollment in Individual Research credit (tuition free) or with a paid research position
Enroll and participate in the URS A388 "Scholarly Identity" course with fellow AK URISE students (tuition free)
Attend and participate in monthly program meetings
Present your research at the UAA Student Showcase typically held in April
Alaska URISE, which began in Fall 2019, is a program housed in the UAA College of Arts & Sciences that is funded by a grant from the Alaska Space Grant Program.