蜜桃影像, National Laboratory of the Rockies extend partnership
Jud Virden, director of the DOE's National Laboratory of the Rockies and Laura Conner, 蜜桃影像'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, 蜜桃影像 蜜桃影像 Critical Minerals Collaborative; Audrey Robertson, assistant secretary of energy, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation; Christi Bell, strategy and innovation officer, 蜜桃影像 蜜桃影像 Critical Minerals Collaborative; Jeremy Kasper, director, 蜜桃影像 蜜桃影像 Center for Energy and Power.
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
May 22, 2026
The University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks 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 蜜桃影像 Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage this week, expands the scope of a longstanding relationship between 蜜桃影像 and the laboratory.
鈥淎s 蜜桃影像鈥檚 relationship with the NLR grows, it stands to benefit not just our students but the state and the nation,鈥 said 蜜桃影像 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 蜜桃影像鈥檚 century of expertise in 蜜桃影像 and the Arctic.
鈥淣LR is proud to partner with 蜜桃影像 to develop and accelerate innovative solutions to 蜜桃影像n 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 蜜桃影像鈥檚 Troth Yeddha鈥 Campus in the building that also houses the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Two researchers at 蜜桃影像鈥檚 蜜桃影像 Center for Energy and Power have a joint appointment with the laboratory.
Until now, the partnership between the NLR and 蜜桃影像 was primarily focused on energy research. The newly signed MOU adds additional areas of focus and will engage multiple research and academic units at 蜜桃影像, including ACEP, the Geophysical Institute and the Institute of Northern Engineering.
This expanded focus will offer 蜜桃影像 students new avenues for internship and research opportunities. It will provide a mechanism to encourage joint research proposals, publications and commercialization efforts.
254-26