+ Early Career Forum
Periodically and the Early Career Forum will share research from, and opportunities for, early career researchers working in the polar regions. This regular round-up aims to highlight and celebrate the work being done by early career researchers in Arctic research. If you have information you would like to submit, please see the link below.
Are you or do you know an early career researcher who has recently published work related to the Arctic? We at and the Early Career Forum want to highlight your work! Please fill out this form with any Arctic publications, webinars, posters, etc. and we will share on the Early Career Forum and with our Twitter followers. Anyone who identifies as early career is eligible to submit! Any questions? Email usapecs@gmail.com for more information. Submit documents here: https://forms.gle/S1Gd3jpE4CtSoY6Y6
Early Career Publications
M.-L. Timmermans and Z.M. Labe (2026). Sea Surface Temperature [in “State of the Climate in 2025”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 107 (8), S315–S317. https://doi.org/10.1175/-D-26-0123.1.
Keywords: Arctic, Climate
Author website/social media: https://zacklabe.com/, https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com
Mariah Seater, Ivalu Katajavaara Seidler, Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, Wayne Clark and Sappho Gilbert (2026). “Youth-Centered Investments for Thriving Arctic Communities.” Fulbright Arctic Initiative 2026 Policy Brief, eds. E. Rink and L. Bjørst. https://fulbrightscholars.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/Fulbright-Arctic-Policy-Brief-2026.pdf
Announcements
Pre-print now available: Challenges facing U.S.-based polar early-career researchers
About a year ago, US shared a survey asking early career scientists in the United States to share their experiences following recent governmental policy changes. For those interested in the results of the survey, they are sharing their pre-print, “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:
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.
Access the preprint: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/14949/
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 Application 2027
The Arctic Data Center will host the Scalable and Computationally Reproducible Approaches to Arctic Research course March 1-5, 2027.
This course will be held in-person at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara, California. We encourage applicants to read these details before proceeding with this form.
This 5-day in-person workshop will provide researchers with an introduction to advanced topics in computationally reproducible research in Python, covering software and techniques for working with very large datasets. This includes using modern cloud-native data storage approaches, parallel processing with tools like Parsl and Dask, and software design for scalable processing and analysis. The workshop will also cover concrete methods for documenting and uploading data to the Arctic Data Center, advanced approaches to tracking data provenance, responsible research and data management practices including data sovereignty and the CARE principles, and ethical concerns with data-intensive modeling and analysis. We welcome individuals participating in Arctic research with a wide variety of backgrounds, experience, and career stages to apply.
Topics include:
- Scalable computing
- Cloud computing concepts
- Docker environments
- Remote computing
- Parallel processing and concurrency
- Large data transfer, data staging
- Data extraction
- I/O efficiency
This course is intended for Arctic researchers who have a solid foundation in programming (R, Python, or similar) and want to take their skills to the next level to maximize efficiency working with big datasets or running computing-intensive processes. Please provide the following information if you are interested in attending this course.
Application deadline: October 30, 2026
Visit https://arcticdata.io/training/ to apply!
Please contact training@arcticdata.io with any questions.
Applications open: Scientific Imaging and Machine Learning Workshop
We invite you to apply to the Scientific Imaging and Machine Learning Workshop (https://datascience.uchicago.edu/events/scientific-imaging-and-machine-learning-workshop/), generously supported by Schmidt Sciences. The 4-day workshop will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 15 - 18, 2027. The workshop will cover hotel accommodation. Limited travel scholarships are available. Application (https://forms.gle/B39Z5JgPTQiWcQbv7) deadline is October 30, 2026.
Workshop Overview
Imaging workflows build around a core set of computer vision tasks, such as classification and segmentation. While considered mature in computer vision, off-the-shelf models often struggle to generalize to scientific data collected by different instruments under different environments. Too often, solutions are developed within individual disciplines, even when breakthroughs in one field could directly benefit another. For example, U-Net, originally developed for biomedical image segmentation, has now been widely used in almost all scientific imaging fields.
This workshop brings together computer vision and machine learning method developers with domain scientists who work with image-based data across fields like Earth sciences, biomedical imaging, and astronomical observations. This workshop aims to enhance cross-domain and method transferability awareness and identify high-impact, unsolved scientific imaging problems.
Format
Instead of coming to present a poster or a talk, there are two ways to participate:
- I have an imaging problem I want to solve: What is the biggest imaging bottleneck holding back your research? Bring it here, find out whether scientists in other domains face similar technical obstacles, and learn from computer vision experts and fellow domain scientists alike.
- I have an imaging method I want to share: If you have developed or adapted a computer vision (or scientific imaging) method to potentially solve a domain-specific imaging challenge, share it with other domain scientists and computer vision experts. This is an ideal venue to extend the impact of your work beyond your own domain, and to learn what remains the unsolved imaging problems.
You will be matched into small groups centered on shared challenges, e.g. domain shift group, memory efficient group. Members in the same group will work together for 1.5 days. Instead of developing a single joint project, you will work on the same technical bottleneck but focus on your own application.
Application
The workshop is open to graduate students, postdocs, early-career researchers within 5 years of their highest-degree, such as faculty or research scientist. All applicants should complete the application form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehs42uED8gv09oqmupChXbFZuTxerSDQjs9ujq0ZUGsiZ8Og/viewform?usp=dialog> and submit the following two application materials by October 30, 2026:
- A CV.
- A Statement of Interest, no longer than 2 pages but ideally within 1 page, including figures and tables, excluding references.
Participants will come from a range of fields working with image-based data, including but not limited to, Earth and geophysical sciences (satellite, radar, seismic imagery, and other remote sensing data), biomedical (CT, X-ray, MRI, microscopy, endoscopy, and other biomedical images), astronomical observations, and robotics and autonomous driving.
Please email liuwj at uchicago.edu<mailto:liuwj at uchicago.edu> if you have any questions regarding the workshop.
Travel Funding
Cryosphere Section Travel Support — Fall Meeting 2026
The Cryosphere section has generously set aside money to assist members of the community with covering costs associated with attending the fall meeting in San Francisco in December 2026. This year, we have two types of awards available (CryoStuD and Caregiver), described below. Both grants are administered by the Cryosphere Broadening Participation Working Group. Each awardee will receive $500. Please note that due to limited funding, applicants may apply to both awards if they are eligible but can only receive one. To apply for both awards, please fill out this form twice.
These applications close on October 9th (11:59 pm EST). Awardees will be notified in early November prior to the Early Bird registration deadline.
CryoStuD Award: The Cryosphere Section Student/Post-doc/Recent Graduates Travel Grant for Diversity (CryoStuD) (pronounced: cryo-study) was established to support students and early career researchers from traditionally marginalized groups, and/or those who are actively working on broadening participation within the cryosphere, who are presenting their research at the Fall Meeting. Eligible applicants include students, postdoctoral fellows, and recent graduates (within 3 years of earning their degrees) affiliated with the Cryosphere Sciences section. Prior CryoStuD recipients may apply, but due to limited funding we are prioritizing applicants who have not yet received a CryoStuD award.
For questions about the CryoStuD Award, please contact Sarah Wells-Moran (swellsmo at uchicago.edu).
Caregiver Award: This is an application to offset or cover dependent-care costs during the Fall meeting for members with caregiving roles whose participation would benefit from our support. This caregiver grant has been modeled after the Tectonophysics Section Caregiver Award. We thank Jacky Austermann for her help.
For questions about the Caregiver Award, please contact Caitlin Locke (cd2477 at columbia.edu).
Application Form: https://forms.gle/DmCG6wx413JfdXSR6
Opportunities
Call for Applications: 2026 Cryosphere Innovation Award for Students
Are you a student looking to fund your innovative research in Cryospheric Science? Consider participating in the Flash Freeze competition at this year's Fall Meeting!
The Cryosphere Section Executive Committee is now accepting applications for the Cryosphere Innovation Award for Students. Winners will be decided in the Flash Freeze competition during the Fall Meeting (Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 7:00 pm). Format will be 2-minute flash talks. The award is open to all students attending the 2026 Fall Meeting in person and is given to support and recognize innovative student-led research in the Cryospheric Sciences that goes beyond the scope of otherwise funded research.
Students who wish to participate in this year's competition must submit:
- A letter of intent (maximum one page)
- A CV (maximum two pages)
Submissions should be sent by email to the Innovation Award Subcommittee (sqa2tu at virginia.edu, kkim228 at jhu.edu,mszemak at islander.tamucc.edu,aleah.n.sommers at dartmouth.edu) no later than October 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm US Eastern Time.
Further specific details, including student eligibility criteria, are listed at the website below. We look forward to seeing exciting and innovative student-led ideas at this year's event.
https://connect.agu.org/cryosphere/awards/innovation-award
Not planning to compete but would like to support the students and hear their ideas? Please feel free to join us! No registration is required to attend. Although you may see Flash Freeze tickets listed as sold out in the registration system, you do not need a ticket to come and watch the competition.
Sincerely,
Flash Freeze Committee (Valentina Ekimova, Robin Kim, Magkena Szemak, and Aleah Sommers) and the Cryosphere Executive Committee
Applications now open for PYRN Executive Committee
Applications are now open to join the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) Executive Committee for the 2026-2028 term.
If you would like to get involved with PYRN, contribute to the network, and connect with early-career permafrost researchers from around the world, we would love to hear from you!
Applications are open until 2nd October 2026.
Further information and the application form can be found here:https://forms.gle/TdKBo9E5fqAAzdur8
support for 2027 workshops, summer schools, and other events
is excited to offer support for 2027 workshops, summer schools, and other events. The deadline application is 1 October 2026.
co-sponsors cryosphere-related events that further the Objectives (https://igsoc.org/about/objectives). Priority will be given to events at or in close connection with an symposium or an co-sponsored event. Please also note that at least one of the applicants must be an member.
typically contributes funding up to a maximum of 3,000 GBP per event. The local organizing committee may use support to, for example, fund event organization, registration or travel support for students / ECRs / international participants, and student/ECR prizes.
More information and a link to the application form here: https://www.igsoc.org/about/support-for-summer-schools-workshops
You can see events that were supported in 2026 here: https://www.igsoc.org/igs-co-sponsors-10-field-schools-workshops-in-2026, as well as examples of recent meeting reports from Karthaus<https://www.igsoc.org/karthaus2026> & McCarthy<https://www.igsoc.org/igss7> courses which were supported by .
Arctic Research Program Photo Contest!
Submit your photos by October 16, 2026
Want to help tell the Arctic’s story? ’s Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Arctic Research Program invites photographers from around the world, ages 13 and up, to enter the Arctic Research Program Photo Contest. Share images that capture the people, landscapes, wildlife, communities, and scientific research that make the Arctic one of the world’s most remarkable regions.
The Arctic plays a critical role in the global climate and supports vibrant ecosystems, communities, their economies and cultural traditions. Through this contest, aims to showcase the Arctic’s importance and inspire greater awareness of the changes and resilience unfolding across the region.
This year’s contest themes include:
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Traditional Subsistence Practices & Cultural Heritage
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Youth Leadership & Community Engagement
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Arctic Commerce & Livelihoods
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Flora & Fauna
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Environmental Research & Monitoring
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Arctic Environmental Systems
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Why the Arctic Matters
Winning entries will be selected by a multidisciplinary panel of judges and featured in Arctic Research Program related materials. Whether you are capturing by video or photo a moment of scientific discovery, a traditional practice, a dramatic weather event, or the natural beauty of the Arctic, your work can help tell the story of this extraordinary region.
Submissions are now open! Check out the flyer linked below for contest rules, submission requirements, and how to enter.
See https://globalocean.noaa.gov/arctic-research-program-photo-contest/ for more information.
