JIRP is a collaborative endeavor run primarily through the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, with significant support from the University of Maine School of Earth and Climate Sciences, the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, and the University of Alaska Southeast Dept. of Environmental Science.
In addition to CU Boulder, UMaine, and UAS, JIRP welcomes students, faculty, and research teams from colleges, universities, research institutes, and professional programs around the world.
What's New:
2025 Teaching Faculty Applications are OPEN!
Visit the Faculty Information page to apply as Teaching Faculty! Applications are due January 22, 2025.
The priority deadline for student and staff applications has passed, but we are still reviewing late submissions on a rolling basis. To apply as a student, visit the Student Application Overview page. For staff application information, visit the Staff Information page.
2026 Interest Form
Interested in participating in JIRP in 2026? Fill out the 2026 Interest Form to be notified when applications open in fall 2025.
JIRP in Print
JIRP Board member and teaching faculty Ben Huff photographed students on the 2022 expedition. He wrote and published an article about JIRP in the April/May 2023 edition of Smithsonian magazine. Congratulations to Ben!
Check out Ben’s Smithsonian article here. You can find more of Ben’s work on his website.
JIRP in Film
Caroline Wexler, a student from 2022, created a mini-documentary about her JIRP experience. Her film, The Icefield: An Expedition Memoir was accepted into the 2023 USAPECS International Polar Film Festival. Congratulations Caroline! Check out her film here.
Data from the Icefield
Looking for mass balance, GPS survey, or meteorologic data from the Icefield? Find it on our Data from the Icefield page.
Interested in helping us get more data up in a more accessible format? Email our staff at office@juneauicefield.org.
What is JIRP?
A short film by 2018 student Andrew Opila.
The JIRP Instagram Feed
“My JIRP experience strengthened in me a love of exploration that ultimately led to my participation in the space program, including the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. JIRP was fundamental to my growth as a scientist and as a person.”