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Arctic Early Career News – September 2026

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USAPECS + IARPC Early Career Forum

Periodically, USAPECS and the IARPC Early Career Forum share research from, and opportunities for, early-career researchers working in the polar regions. This regular round-up features publications, funding opportunities, workshops, and other news relevant to the Arctic research community.

Are you or do you know an early-career researcher who has recently published work related to the Arctic? We at USAPECS and the IARPC Early Career Forum want to share your work! Please fill out this form with any Arctic publications, webinars, posters, or other research activities. Anyone who identifies as early career is eligible to submit. Questions can be sent to usapecs@gmail.com.


Publications:


Announcements

USAPECS Pre-print now available: Challenges facing U.S.-based polar early-career researchers

About a year ago, US APECS shared a survey asking early career scientists in the United States to share their experiences following recent governmental policy changes. The results are now available in the preprint, “Assessing Challenges for U.S.-Based Polar Early Career Scientists During Science Policy Changes.”

Between November 2025 and March 2026, they surveyed ~100 U.S.-based early-career researchers working in polar and cryosphere science to better understand how recent changes in science policy and federal research funding are affecting their research, careers, and future plans.


Some key findings include:

  • 96% of respondents reported concern about recent changes in U.S. science funding.

  • 94% expressed concern about future job opportunities in polar and cryosphere science.

  • 72% reported that their motivation to conduct research had been negatively affected.

  • 44% reported considering leaving polar and cryosphere research entirely.

  • 76% said they would be more likely to remain in U.S. polar and cryosphere research if recent science-policy and funding reductions were reversed.

The study also examines variation in responses across federal funding status, gender, age, career stage, disability status, race, and fieldwork participation, highlighting that the effects of current uncertainty are not experienced uniformly across the early-career community.

The study has not yet been peer reviewed; feedback and discussion are welcome from the polar and cryosphere research community (please reach out at usapecs@gmail.com).


Training and Workshops

Scalable and Computationally Reproducible Approaches to Arctic Research

Dates: March 1–5, 2027

Location: National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), Santa Barbara, California

The NSF Arctic Data Center will host a five-day, in-person workshop on computationally reproducible Arctic research using Python. Topics include scalable computing, cloud computing, Docker environments, parallel processing, large data transfers, data provenance, and responsible data management.

The workshop is intended for Arctic researchers who already have experience programming in R, Python, or a similar language.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026


Dates: March 15–18, 2027

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

This four-day workshop, supported by Schmidt Sciences, will bring together computer vision and machine learning researchers with scientists working with image-based data in Earth sciences, biomedicine, astronomy, and other fields.

Participants will work in small groups on shared technical problems, such as image classification, segmentation, and adapting imaging methods across disciplines.

Hotel accommodation will be provided, and limited travel scholarships are available.

The workshop is open to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career researchers within five years of their highest degree.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026


Travel Funding

AGU Cryosphere Section Travel Support – Fall Meeting 2026

The AGU Cryosphere Section is offering two types of travel support for the December 2026 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

Each award provides $500.

  • The CryoStuD Award supports students, postdoctoral researchers, and recent graduates from traditionally marginalized groups and/or those working to broaden participation in cryosphere science.

    For questions about the CryoStuD Award, please contact Sarah Wells-Moran at swellsmo@uchicago.edu.

  • The Caregiver Award helps cover dependent-care costs for attendees with caregiving responsibilities.

    Applicants may apply for both awards if eligible but may receive only one.

    For questions about the Caregiver Award, please contact Caitlin Locke at cd2477@columbia.edu.

Application deadline: October 9, 2026

Awardees will be notified in early November prior to the Early Bird registration deadline.


Opportunities

2026 Cryosphere Innovation Award for Students

The AGU Cryosphere Section is accepting applications for its annual Cryosphere Innovation Award for Students.

Students attending the 2026 AGU Fall Meeting in person can present their research ideas in the Flash Freeze competition on December 10, 2026. Participants will give two-minute presentations about innovative student-led research in cryospheric sciences.

Application materials include a one-page letter of intent and a CV of no more than two pages.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026

Those who are not competing are also welcome to attend the Flash Freeze competition and support the students. No registration or ticket is required to watch, even if Flash Freeze tickets appear as sold out in the AGU registration system.


Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) Executive Committee

PYRN invited applications for its 2026–2028 Executive Committee. The committee provides an opportunity for early-career permafrost researchers to contribute to the network's activities and connect with researchers internationally.

Application deadline: October 2, 2026


International Glaciological Society Support for 2027 Events

The International Glaciological Society (IGS) is offering support for workshops, summer schools, and other cryosphere-related events taking place in 2027.

Funding of up to £3,000 per event may be used for organization, registration and travel support, or student and early-career researcher prizes.

At least one applicant must be an IGS member.

Application deadline: October 1, 2026


NOAA Arctic Research Program Photo Contest

NOAA's Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Arctic Research Program invited photographers aged 13 and older to submit photographs documenting Arctic communities, landscapes, wildlife, scientific research, and environmental change. Contest themes include traditional subsistence practices, youth leadership, Arctic livelihoods, flora and fauna, environmental monitoring, and Arctic environmental systems.

Selected photographs will be featured in Arctic Research Program materials.

Submission deadline: October 16, 2026



 
 
 

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Last updated March 2026

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