UAF’s Hajo Eicken Named Scientific Director at German Polar Institute – Scott Rupp to Lead IARC Interim
Bremerhaven, Germany – Hajo Eicken, currently the director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center (IARC), has been appointed the new scientific director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). The appointment, announced February 10, 2026, will see Eicken return to his hometown to lead one of Europe’s leading polar research institutions, beginning in mid-March.
The selection of Eicken, an Arctic researcher with an international reputation, was lauded by German officials. According to a statement released by the AWI, the institute is central to Germany’s position in polar and marine research, and Eicken’s recruitment represents a significant gain. “With Prof Dr Hajo Eicken, the Alfred Wegener Institute is gaining a top researcher as director who comes from our region and is returning here after an impressive international career,” a press release stated.
At UAF, Scott Rupp, a longtime researcher and IARC leader, will assume the role of interim director upon Eicken’s departure. UAF Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga expressed confidence in Rupp’s ability to maintain continuity, noting his “strong understanding of the federal landscape” and suitability for the position. Sfraga, a former U.S. Ambassador-at-large for Arctic affairs and chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission from 2021-2024, emphasized the importance of the relationship between UAF and AWI, stating that Eicken’s new role would strengthen it and benefit the broader polar science community.
Eicken’s career began at the Alfred Wegener Institute in 1990, where he earned his doctorate from the University of Bremen and worked in oceanic and atmospheric physics until 1997. He moved to the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1998, eventually becoming the director of IARC in 2015 – the longest tenure of any director in the center’s history. He described the opportunity to lead AWI as a chance to maximize his contribution to polar research. “While I am happy with my work at UAF, when AWI reached out about the position, it presented an opportunity to consider how I could be most helpful in terms of broader polar research,” Eicken said.
The Alfred Wegener Institute, with a staff of 1,400 and an annual budget of approximately $200 million, functions similarly to a U.S. National laboratory and the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs. It operates research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and maintains a fleet of research ships and aircraft dedicated to polar exploration. Eicken’s appointment comes as Germany continues to assert its role as a leading non-Arctic nation in polar research.
Rupp, who served as IARC’s deputy director for nine years, brings extensive experience to his interim role. He co-founded the Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning and has directed the Department of Interior’s Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center for 15 years. “IARC has been my home for the past 13 years and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this leadership role,” Rupp stated. UAF will initiate a search for a permanent IARC director in the coming months, according to Vice Chancellor for Research Laura Conner.
Eicken will officially assume his duties as scientific director of the AWI on March 20, 2026.