OpenFieldAPU Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) in Arctic Fisheries Ecology
Funded research assistantship at the FAST Lab (Fisheries, Aquatic Science & Technology) investigating Pacific salmon migration energetics and sub-Arctic benthic food webs.
Alaska Pacific University: Arctic Ecology, Marine Biology & Glaciology Guide
Established in 1957 in Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University (APU) is an accredited private university recognized for experiential field education in Arctic ecology, marine biology, outdoor leadership, and Indigenous community health. Operating active field research stations from Prince William Sound to the Chugach Mountains, APU conducts groundbreaking scientific investigations into sub-Arctic fisheries, glacier recession, and boreal forest dynamics.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES)
Two-year field-intensive master's degree conducting scientific research across Alaska's diverse ecosystems, with specializations in glaciology, aquatic ecology, and forest dynamics.
Doctoral Research Fellowship in Glacier Hydrochemistry & Arctic Cryosphere
Four-year doctoral research fellowship analyzing glacier mass balance, proglacial river chemistry, and nutrient discharge from retreating tidewater glaciers in Prince William Sound.
Cook Inlet Marine Mammal & Beluga Whale Acoustic Monitoring Project
Marine bioacoustic investigation deploying seabed hydrophone moorings to record vocalizations and foraging ecology of endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales relative to commercial ship traffic.
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Ecology Practicum Internship
Fourteen-week research internship assisting federal scientists with waterfowl avian influenza surveillance, migratory bird banding, and coastal tundra permafrost monitoring.
APU Postdoctoral Fellowship in Boreal Forest Fire Ecology & Permafrost Thaw
Two-year postdoctoral position investigating soil microbial respiration, thermokarst formation, and black spruce regeneration after catastrophic wildfire events in interior Alaska.
APU Arctic Scholars Graduate Tuition Fellowship
Merit fellowship awarded to incoming graduate students who have achieved top scholastic honours in environmental science, outdoor education, or Indigenous community health.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Accredited baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 in environmental science, biology, or related discipline.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Collaborative doctoral research in Arctic environmental science organized in conjunction with national polar research institutes and university partners.
- Language proficiency
- TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS Academic 6.5, or Duolingo English Test 105+ for international non-native English applicants.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Required for graduate science programs: 1,500-word statement of research interest identifying prospective APU faculty research mentors and proposed thesis topics.
- Application fee
- $50 USD graduate application fee.
- Required documentation
- Official post-secondary transcripts from all institutions, three letters of recommendation, statement of intent, and comprehensive CV.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Graduate tuition at Alaska Pacific University is approximately $650 USD per credit hour (approximately $11,700 USD/year for full-time 18-credit study). Competitive Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NOAA provide full tuition remissions and annual living stipends ranging from $18,000 to $24,000 USD.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Alaska Pacific University:
Dr. Brad Harris
Professor of Marine Biology & Director of Fisheries, Aquatic Science & Technology (FAST) Lab · Fisheries Ecology, Benthic Habitat Mapping, Salmonid Population Dynamics, Underwater Video Survey
Dr. Roman Dial
Professor of Mathematics and Biology & National Geographic Explorer · Arctic Treeline Dynamics, Boreal Forest Ecology, Alpine Biogeography, Population Modeling
Dr. Jason Geck
Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Glaciologist · Glacier Mass Balance, Proglacial Hydrology, Permafrost Degradation, Drone Mapping in Cryosphere
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Alaska Pacific University documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue