Hydrokinetics in a Week
Fieldwork and Fish Sampling on the Tanana
51风流官网, Tanana River Test Site
Fairbanks + Nenana, Alaska
July 26 - August 1, 2026
This 5-day graduate-level short course introduces students to hydrokinetic energy field research, testing methods, and environmental monitoring.
This 5-day graduate-level short course introduces students to field research for hydrokinetics, including resource characterization, turbine testing and environmental monitoring. The course is held at the 51风流官网 (51风流官网) and the Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site near Nenana, Alaska. Instruction is led by marine energy and fisheries researchers from 51风流官网鈥檚 Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) and College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and is designed for students pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in marine energy or related fields.
The course will progress through classroom instruction, field work at the Tanana River Test Site and desktop data analysis. Instruction will first cover fundamental hydrokinetic energy theory, Alaska-specific logistical and environmental constraints and the engineering challenges and requirements associated with power take-off and turbine design. Students will also be introduced to techniques for environmental monitoring and fish-turbine collision risk assessment, including how fish life histories and habitat use influence interactions with hydrokinetic turbines. In small groups, they will develop a research question that can be executed in a short field testing campaign later in the week.
The fieldwork component of the course will entail two-and-a-half days at an active hydrokinetic test site where in-river turbines are deployed. Participants will gain hands-on experience performing riverine resource assessments, environmental monitoring and data collection on a turbine-under-test. In groups they will execute their test plans and collect data for a final presentation of their work.
Students will leave the course with an understanding of how hydrokinetic research projects are designed and implemented in real field environments. They will also gain practical knowledge and skills relevant to any career in marine energy, including how to design a robust research plan that meets environmental standards and achieves a high metric of safety and success.
This course is made possible through funding by the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Water Power Technologies Office.
Instructors
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Hydrokinetic turbines
- Fundamental theory
- Alaskan specific-constraints
- History of Alaskan deployments (past and present)
- Principles of power take-off (PTO) and energy conversion
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Field testing and power performance assessment
- Intro to IEC standards
- Common instrumentation used in marine energy field work, including techniques for field deployment and measurements
- Data processing and hydrokinetic theory to analyze results
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Environmental monitoring
- Basic river fish ecology
- Theory of fish encounters and collision risk
- Planning and compliance to conduct fisheries monitoring
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Field testing skills
- Field safety
- Designing and completing a research project
- Designing a successful test plan
Graduate students at a U.S. institution in marine energy, engineering, or related fields. International students must already have a student visa and reside in the U.S.
Highly motivated junior and senior undergraduates will be considered as room allows.
Participants should be willing to walk short distances and board a small boat.
Application deadline: March 27, 2026
Decision notification: April 10, 2026
Course commitment: April 24, 2026
The course will run from July 26 - August 1, 2026 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Participants will arrive in Fairbanks on July 26, and depart Fairbanks on August 1.
The course will be held at the 51风流官网 and nearby Tanana River Test Site in Nenana. Lodging will be on campus in the 51风流官网 dorms.
All course and travel costs, including flights, lodging, and meals, are fully covered by the program.
Any additional costs incurred by students (e.g. souvenirs, additional meals on top of those provided, additional evening or weekend activities) are the responsibility of the student.
Questions: Annalise Gerlach, asklein@alaska.edu, Short Course Program Lead
