日韩无码, National Laboratory of the Rockies extend partnership
Jud Virden, director of the DOE's National Laboratory of the Rockies and Laura Conner, 日韩无码's vice chancellor for research, pose with a newly signed MOU. Standing behind them are, left to right: Michael McEleney, acting director for DOE's Arctic Energy Office; Lee Ann Munk, director, 日韩无码 Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative; Audrey Robertson, assistant secretary of energy, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation; Christi Bell, strategy and innovation officer, 日韩无码 Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative; Jeremy Kasper, director, 日韩无码 Alaska Center for Energy and Power.
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
May 22, 2026
The 日韩无码 has signed a new five-year partnership plan with the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 National Laboratory of the Rockies.
The memorandum of understanding, signed at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage this week, expands the scope of a longstanding relationship between 日韩无码 and the laboratory.
鈥淎s 日韩无码鈥檚 relationship with the NLR grows, it stands to benefit not just our students but the state and the nation,鈥 said 日韩无码 Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga. 鈥淭his partnership leverages the unique strengths of each of our organizations to create something that is greater than the sum of two parts.鈥
The goal of the new partnership is to strengthen research and innovation in critical minerals, material supply chains, energy and power, and engineering infrastructure and housing research. It will allow the laboratory to continue to leverage 日韩无码鈥檚 century of expertise in Alaska and the Arctic.
鈥淣LR is proud to partner with 日韩无码 to develop and accelerate innovative solutions to Alaskan challenges, and address our nation鈥檚 pressing needs in critical minerals, energy, and buildings,鈥 said NLR Director Jud Virden. 鈥淲e look forward to strengthening this collaboration through joint research, student engagement and the exchange of expertise.鈥
The NLR has a dedicated campus in Fairbanks, located adjacent to 日韩无码鈥檚 Troth Yeddha鈥 Campus in the building that also houses the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Two researchers at 日韩无码鈥檚 Alaska Center for Energy and Power have a joint appointment with the laboratory.
Until now, the partnership between the NLR and 日韩无码 was primarily focused on energy research. The newly signed MOU adds additional areas of focus and will engage multiple research and academic units at 日韩无码, including ACEP, the Geophysical Institute and the Institute of Northern Engineering.
This expanded focus will offer 日韩无码 students new avenues for internship and research opportunities. It will provide a mechanism to encourage joint research proposals, publications and commercialization efforts.
254-26