UAA Professor Jeff Welker was installed Aug. 8 as the Fulbright U.S. Arctic Chair. His introduction took place in the Nobel Ceremonial Hall in Oslo, Norway.Nobel Ceremonial Hall, Oslo Norway: UAA's Dr. Jeff Welker is introduced as the newest Fulbright U.S. Arctic Chair.During the course of his sabbatical from August 2012-April 2013, Welker will undertake a host of winter ecology studies on sources and ages of respired CO2 using 14C techniques under ambient and long-term deeper snow (snow-fence experiment). In addition, he will study the effects of Svalbard reindeer on winter C cycling using a set of long-term grazing exclosures.

Besides the research facets of his study, Welker will lead a Pan Arctic synthesis of International Polar Year and will work with directors of all major international Arctic institutes, including Scott Polar, Bird Polar, Alfred Wagner Institute, NPI, INSTAAR, CIRES, Woods Hole, IAB and others.

Welker will be based at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), about 500 miles north of mainland Norway. UNIS is the world's northernmost institution for higher education and research, and offers courses at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level in Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology.

At UAA, Welker directs UAA's Environment and Natural Resources Institute (ENRI)and teaches in the Biological Sciences Department. Read more about his research here.