Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Three hikers walking through the grand canyon.

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)


Empowering you to study environmental health

A student holding a computer while outside.

The purpose of RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) funding is to support research activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. To this end, Northern Arizona University proposes to increase the number of Native American and other underrepresented scientists prepared to enter PhDs in STEM fields related to environmental health. This program uses the drivers of culturally relevant support, hands-on research experiences, and a tailored curriculum to help students progress through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Read more at:

Program benefits

Bachelor’s students

Bachelor’s students work with a faculty mentor. Benefits include:

  • hourly student wage
  • support for travel to conferences
  • research funds
  • intensive training outside the lab and career development through a targeted curriculum and workshops

Master’s students

Master’s students work with a faculty mentor. Benefits include:

  • stipend
  • tuition and health benefits during the academic year and summer term

Eligible students

At the time of application, students will meet the following guidelines:

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • incoming junior or senior by the fall of the application year, or any qualified student wishing to apply as a first-year MS student
  • citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or lawfully admitted US permanent residents
  • planning to be enrolled as full-time students at NAU during the period of their RISE program
  • must be from one of the NIH-defined underrepresented groups in the US Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise:
    • Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders
    • individuals with disabilities
    • individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds

How to apply

Eligible students can fill out our online application. You will need to prepare your personal information, a 500-word statement of interest, two references, and your preferred program mentors. Find more information on the application page.

  • Master’s student application deadline: January 15
  • Bachelor’s student application deadline: April 1

RISE application

Program mentors

Anita AntoninkaPhD, Program coordinatorSoil ecology and dryland restoration, implications for ecological and human health
Julie BaldwinPhD, Health SciencesWorking towards reducing substance abuse and obesity for healthier Native American youth
Bridget BarkerAssociate Professor, BiologyDr. Barker focuses her research on the intersection of genomics and epidemiology of environmentally acquired infectious diseases, such as Valley Fever and other fungal infections
Matthew BowkerPhD, School of ForestryLinkages between ecosystem and human health
Emily CopeAssistant Professor of Biology and Assistant Director of NAU’s Pathogen Microbiome InstituteThe roles of microbiota in chronic illnesses, many with links to environmental health
Dirk de HeerPhD, MPHHealth Sciences: Improving health through prevention of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders among Native Americans
Catrin EdgleyPhD, School of ForestryHuman impacts of fire
Peter FuléRegent's Professor, School of ForestryLinkages between ecosystem and human health
John GeorgasPhD, Informatics, Computing, and Cyber SystemsReducing distances to improve Native American access to healthcare
Jani Ingram PhD, Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryEnvironmental contamination from exposure pathways through Native American food and water resources
Robert Kellar PhD, Center for Bioengineering Innovation (CBI)Influence of environmental contamination on wound healing
Naomi LeeAssistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryVaccine development towards chronic and infectious diseases to improve the health of Native American communities
Erika Nowak PhD; School of Earth and Sustainability and Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Adaptive Western LandscapesEducation-based prevention of venomous snakebite; conservation of threatened herpetofauna affected by human-transmitted pathogens
Catherine PropperPhD, Biological SciencesEnvironmental contaminants influence physiological and behavioral outcomes in vertebrates and the implications of these exposures for biodiversity and human health
Matthew SalangaPhD, Biological SciencesEffect of environmental contaminants on development and cancer
Priscilla SandersonPhD, CRC, Health SciencesNavajo Nation Healthy Diné Act: An implementation study
Marc TollisPhD, Informatics, Computing, and Cyber SystemsComparative genomics of vertebrates and cancer across the tree of life
Tinna TraustadóttirPhD, Biological SciencesRedox biology of aging

Past participants