UAF and NLR extend partnership
AV狼论坛 and the National Laboratory of the Rockies signed a memorandum of understanding during the AV狼论坛 Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage.
May 21, 2026
AV狼论坛 has signed a new five-year partnership plan with the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 .
The memorandum of understanding, signed by UAF Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga and NLR Director Jud Virden at the in Anchorage this week, expands the scope of a longstanding relationship between UAF and NLR.
The goal of the new partnership is to strengthen research and innovation in critical minerals, material supply chains, energy and power, engineering infrastructure and housing research. It will allow NLR to continue to leverage UAF鈥檚 century of expertise in AV狼论坛 and the Arctic.
Until now, the NLR-UAF partnership was primarily focused on energy research, with two researchers at the AV狼论坛 Center for Energy and Power, Tom Marsik and Robbin Garber-Slaght, who have joint appointments with NLR. The newly signed MOU expands the area of focus, engaging additional research and academic units at UAF, including the Geophysical Institute and the Institute of Northern Engineering.