The Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) is an 8-week summer field course for students interested in undergraduate-level Polar sciences. Participants receive a wide range of training in Earth & climate sciences, alpine travel and safety skills, and science communication while traversing the Juneau Icefield from Southeast Alaska to northern British Columbia.
Applications are now open for students (https://www.juneauicefield.org/students) and teaching faculty (https://www.juneauicefield.org/faculty).Teaching Faculty at JIRP are volunteers who are eager to share their passion and knowledge with students. We cover all expenses for our Teaching Faculty once they arrive in Juneau, including food, lodging, and helicopter flights. Faculty members are responsible for funding their own flights to Juneau.
Typically, Teaching Faculty participate in a two-week block during the summer. Faculty should be prepared to lead hands-on field workshops or exercises, and mentor students on research activities, and teach several undergraduate-level lectures/workshops in core curriculum areas. We are actively seeking faculty who can contribute to our core curriculum in glaciology, glacial geology, climate science, and science communication, as well as in complementary fields like atmospheric science, alpine ecology, biogeochemistry, geomorphology, tectonics, polar engineering, science policy, and other related disciplines.
While many of our faculty are professors, we also welcome advanced graduate students, professionals working in Polar sciences, artists & science communicators, and others to apply.
Teaching faculty will accompany students on the Icefield, so should be prepared for 8-10 hours of challenging physical activity most days. Faculty will participate in required safety training covering basic mountaineering and crevasse-rescue skills to ensure they can safely navigate the Icefield with students.
JIRP also supports a separate Research Faculty track for scientists looking to conduct externally-funded projects on the Juneau Icefield. JIRP can provide logistical support, opportunities to engage motivated students in research, and outreach possibilities.
For additional information, please review the material available at https://www.juneauicefield.org/faculty.
Application information is available at https://www.juneauicefield.org/faculty/application, and applications are due by January 11th, 2026 for priority consideration.
If you have questions about being faculty on JIRP, please feel free to contact us. If in doubt email the JIRP Office and we can connect you with a member of JIRP’s Academic Council.
