How Graduate Students are Developing Products for a Changing World

Come hear about the journeys of two graduate students, who, through working with their advisors on undergraduate research, fell into developing products and working to commercialize what they co-developed.

Danielle Wrenn is pursuing a master’s in biological sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is developing a toolbox to detect antibiotic-resistant water pathogens intended for remote deployment. Current testing often relies on transporting water samples to the lab within a short time frame — difficult in Alaska.

Jason Noel is pursuing a PhD in Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island and is developing a fiber optic reel system compact winch system for live underwater monitoring. He is the science advisor for Juice Robotics, a small Rhode Island startup, and is simultaneously conducting research with the device and on it while working to commercialize the product.

Both students are supported by RISE-UP’s graduate fellowship programs at their respective universities. The program provides financial support and entrepreneurial training to graduate students empowering them to explore the commercial potential of their work and develop ideas into tangible solutions for real-world problems.

RISE-UP (Regional Innovation by Scaling Entrepreneurship via University Partnerships) is a tri-state initiative led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Hawai’i, and the University of Rhode Island. Began in 2022, the collaboration has focused on addressing the shared economic and geographic challenges of Alaska, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island—states characterized relatively by geographic isolation, maritime activities, and a high dependence on imports.

RISE-UP has a variety of programs to support researchers, students, and industry. Our testbed program is open to startups and businesses interested in collaborating on research, prototyping, design, and development.