In the News
National Science Foundation funds UAF-led critical minerals coalition
July 14, 2026
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced today that it will fund a major critical minerals project led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The regional…
UAF critical minerals proposal a finalist for NSF funding
September 19, 2025
A University of Alaska Fairbanks proposal to reduce the United States’ dependency on foreign sources of minerals critical to the technology and defense industries has…
Explore data and collaborate with the 71 NSF Regional Innovation Engines proposers nationwide
November 14, 2024
UAF Geophysical Institute one of 71 teams invited to submit to NSF Engines
Educate
Be a globally recognized research and educational organization.
Technology
Advanced interdisciplinary critical minerals and materials technology.
Research
Facilitate research with industry, agency and academic partners.
Advanced interdisciplinary critical mineral and materials research, education, technology and partnerships to discover and produce critical mineral resources.
A collaboration between university faculty, staff and labs to conduct critical mineral research that positively impacts the state’s economy and society.
We help create new research collaborations
UAF’s Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative (ACMC) facilitates research across the University of Alaska with industry, agency and academic partners. Initially housed within the Geophysical Institute, it is a collaboration between university faculty, staff, and labs to conduct critical mineral research that positively impacts the state’s economy and society.
Meet Our Experts
Expertise:
Mining, Metallurgy & Recovery
Lee Ann Munk
CEO/PI, NSF Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine in Alaska
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Expertise:
Data Science, Discovery, Exploration, Geoscience, Remediation
Expertise:
Mining, Metallurgy & Recovery
Expertise:
Mining, Metallurgy & Recovery
Expertise:
Data Science, Discovery, Exploration
Nicole Misarti
INE Director
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Expertise:
Remediation
Christi Bell
COO, NSF Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine in Alaska
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Expertise:
Technology Commercialization, Workforce Development
Martin Stuefer
ACRC Director and State Climatologist
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Expertise:
Remote Sensing
Expertise:
Exploration, Geoscience
Expertise:
Geoscience
Expertise:
Remediation
Expertise:
Remediation
Expertise:
Geoscience
