Julie Risien

Dr. Julie Risien is an Adjunct Professor and Director of the NSF Polar STEAM program at Oregon State University, affiliated with the STEM Research Center and the Office for Research Advancement. She holds a joint role on the graduate faculty of the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) and the Environmental Sciences Program. Her work bridges science, education, and institutional change, focusing on broader impacts, faculty development, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences (Social Science)
• M.S. in Marine Resource Management
• B.A. in Environmental Sciences (Marine Ecology)

Dr. Risien’s research centers on the intersection of science and society, particularly how learning networks, organizational structures, and institutional incentives shape public engagement and research impact. She investigates transformative learning networks, broader impacts strategies, and reform in promotion and tenure systems. Her work supports scientists in developing meaningful public engagement and navigating institutional reward systems.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in higher education reform, focusing on infrastructure for broader impacts, evaluation methods, and equity in academic advancement. She frequently publishes on institutional systems that support or hinder public engagement and the integration of innovation and entrepreneurship into tenure processes.

Dr. Risien has led or co-led major NSF-funded initiatives including Polar STEAM, ARIS, ARC-Learn, and PTIE. She is a Principal Investigator and Co-PI on transformative projects aimed at redefining success in academia and enhancing research impacts in society.

She advises and collaborates on graduate research through her roles in CEOAS and the Environmental Sciences Program, and leads national efforts to build research impact networks. Her leadership extends to co-developing tools for departmental self-assessment on equity in promotion and tenure.

Dr. Risien is a key figure in OSU’s research impact ecosystem, leading the STEM Research Center’s efforts in transdisciplinary research and public engagement. She is central to the Polar STEAM initiative and collaborates with the Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts and Precollege Programs to integrate arts and science.