Research at UAF
America's Arctic research university
UAF is the principal research university for the statewide University of Alaska system.
Our research engages undergraduate and graduate students so they gain skills and knowledge
to become tomorrow's leaders.
By the numbers
News
Jul 31
As presidential bill signings go, H.R. 6496 wasn’t a particularly exciting one for the nation on July 31, 1946. But it would prove historic for the University of Alaska and the future state.
Jul 30
Endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, which have traditionally fed in the salmon-rich Kenai River throughout the summer, were absent during times of high human activity in a recent two-year period.
Jul 30
After analyzing the DNA in over 500 ancient mammoth bones, an international research team has determined that ice age humans disproportionately killed female woolly mammoths. The newly published study in the journal Current Biology sampled mammoth bone accumulations associated with ancient human activity and found they were dominated by females.
Events
Thursday, May 14, 2026
UAF West Ridge
Join UAF Research for an inspiring day on West Ridge at Troth Yeddha' for the Arctic
Research Open House on Thursday, May 14, from 4–7 p.m. This annual event is hosted
by the UAF Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
From Fairbanks roots, UAF research branches across science, engineering, and creativity,
sprouting new solutions for Alaska and the Arctic. You’ll meet the researchers behind
the work and see how UAF research shows up in your community. Each stop gives you
something real to engage with, from lab experiments to field campaigns, all rooted
in solving problems faced by you and fellow Alaskans. To celebrate the Fairbanks community
and the work happening across campus, the UAF Vice Chancellor for Research will host
a free ice cream social.
Access to events and parking will be FREE across West Ridge. All ages are encouraged
for this free event, minors must be accompanied by an adult. For more information,
or to make an accommodation request at least five days in advance of this event, , email UAF-Research@alaska.edu or call 907-474-6000.
Research calendar
Research enterprise
UAF does high-quality research in a large number of fields. We're one of only a handful of institutions in the country that can claim the triple crown status of Land, Sea and Space Grant Institution.
Achieving R1 at UAF
With more than $200 million in research activity each year, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is Alaska's research university. We are ready to step up to R1 and join the top 4% of research universities in the United States.