February 9, 2026

Haley Peterson’s journey to Michigan Technological University included unusual international stops: back-to-back World Pankration Championships, where she earned over a dozen medals. Competing in an ancient sport that dates back to the original Olympic Games helped Peterson discover what she’s capable of — and she brought the same fighting spirit to Michigan Tech.

Peterson is as much a committed student as she is an athlete. Before graduating high school, she completed two NASA-sponsored internships, competed on her high school’s robotics team and earned her associate degree in computer programming. Her drive for personal and professional growth brought her to Tech, where she’s now a first-year student double majoring in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering.

Meet Peterson and learn more about pankration at Stories from Husky Nation.

Michigan Tech launches the University’s first annual Lab Safety Week today, Feb. 9, joining universities across the country in the CSHEMA (Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association) national initiative to strengthen laboratory safety in research and teaching environments.

Throughout the week, all Huskies will have opportunities to engage in hands‑on demonstrations, micro‑trainings, self‑checks, and campus events designed to build confidence, awareness and the shared responsibility of Husky Safety across campus. All events — including the welcome message — can be found on Environmental Health and Safety’s (EHS’s) Lab Safety Week website.

Lab Safety Week Kickoff
The week opens with a short welcome message from Andrew Barnard, vice president for Research, highlighting why safety is foundational to MTU’s research excellence and our growing R1 culture. EHS, Research Integrity and campus partners will host daily activities ranging from emergency preparedness stations to chemical safety refreshers, personal protection equipment (PPE) demonstrations, and the Safety Quest Cards: an easy, campuswide way for all Huskies to engage with key safety practices.

Safety Quest Cards
Lab Safety Week participants will complete safety‑focused actions throughout the week and turn in their completed Safety Quest Cards for a random drawing of prizes, including Biggby Coffee, Velodrome Coffee Co., Rozsa Center tickets, MTU Athletics swag, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum gifts, Transportation Services free parking, and much more.

Husky Lab Safety Awards 
This year also marks the launch of MTU’s new Husky Lab Safety Awards, recognizing individuals and groups who demonstrate exceptional commitment to laboratory and workplace safety. Nominations are now open for student, faculty/staff, and research group awards, and the campus community is encouraged to submit names of those who model safety leadership, stewardship and the shared responsibility of safety in their work areas.

Lab Safety Week Wrap-Up
Lab Safety Week concludes on Friday, Feb. 13, with a celebration event and the presentation of the inaugural Husky Lab Safety Awards, honoring outstanding contributions from students, seasoned researchers and University staff. The ceremony will take place during the Lab Safety Week wrap‑up between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the MUB Ballroom.

A full schedule of events and safety award nomination forms are available on the EHS Lab Safety Week website, including the rollout of the hands‑on Fire Extinguisher Training System on Tuesday, Feb. 10 — stop by to test your real‑time firefighting skills and score free prizes and safety giveaways.

The Van Pelt and Opie Library (VPOL) is participating in International Love Data Week this week, Feb. 9-13.

This year’s Love Data Week has two featured data collections, a data scavenger hunt, and “Caption This Graph” opportunities in the library and on the library’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

The VPOL has also collaborated with the Department of Visual and Performing Arts to create a data sonification installation, which is housed in the Opie Reading Room for the duration of the week. An online version of the installation will be available on the library’s YouTube channel.

For more about the event, visit the International Love Data Week website hosted by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).

Submitting a research proposal is a massive undertaking, and it’s easy to view internal deadlines as just another hoop to jump through. But here’s the truth: Internal deadlines aren't just red tape — they are the secret sauce to a high-quality, stress-free submission! When we respect these timelines, we’re not just following rules; we’re fostering a culture of excellence and mutual respect across our entire campus.

Here’s why hitting those dates matters:

1. Respecting the Team’s Human Capacity
Every successful grant is backed by a powerhouse of analysts and authorized organization representatives (AORs).

• It’s About Fairness: It isn’t fair to ask your fellow PIs or the Sponsored Programs Pre-Award team to drop their ongoing, on-schedule work to “fire-drill” a late submission.

• Human Limits: Our analysts and AORs have finite human capacity. When we rush the system, we risk staff burnout and submission errors that could have been avoided by keeping a steady pace.

2. Integrity and Equity in Pre-Award
Our Pre-Award team thrives on consistency. It’s unfair to the entire faculty if one analyst is forced to work past deadlines or perform “special favors.” Staying within the timeline ensures that every PI receives the same high-level, meticulous support.

3. Protecting Your Research and Reputation
The stakes are high! If a proposal is rushed:

• The Risk: You run a genuine risk of the sponsor not reviewing the application due to technical errors.

• The Reputation: Frequent last-minute scrambles can impact your professional standing — within the University, with your research collaborators, and with funding agencies.

4. Saving Space for "True" Emergencies
This is very important! Life happens! Sometimes a sponsor sends a legitimate last-minute request, or an unexpected technical glitch occurs. By hitting your internal deadlines, you ensure our Pre-Award team has the capacity to handle true rushes, rather than being bogged down by preventable delays.

The Bottom Line: When we honor internal deadlines, we protect our people, our professional reputations and the quality of our science. Let’s work together to make every submission a smooth success!

Find out more about MTU Internal Deadlines and use our Deadline Calculator.

In recognition of Michigan Tech’s first annual Lab Safety Awareness Week, happening this week from Feb. 9-13, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) invites departments, staff and students to nominate a Husky student, faculty/staff member and research group for awards recognizing individual safety stewardship and group safety culture.

This is an exciting moment for our campus — a moment where our identity as Huskies and our commitment to safety come together with purpose.

Lab Safety Awareness Week provides an opportunity to highlight individuals who actively promote a culture of safety through leadership, innovation, training or day-to-day safe laboratory conduct. It will be held in partnership with the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) as part of their national Lab Safety Awareness Week drive.

Husky Lab Safety Awards:

• Husky Student Safety Stewardship Award
  This award honors an undergraduate or graduate Michigan Tech student who demonstrates exceptional dedication to fostering a safe, responsible and community‑minded laboratory environment. Recipients of the Husky Student Safety Stewardship Award consistently model best practices, support their peers, identify improvements, and embody the shared responsibility that defines Michigan Tech’s safety culture. Their leadership reflects the integrity, stewardship and commitment to excellence that strengthen our research and learning spaces.

• Husky Safety Stewardship Award
  The Husky Safety Stewardship Award recognizes a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member who exemplifies exceptional leadership in fostering a safe, ethical, and supportive research and learning environment. Honorees consistently model best practices, mentor others with patience and clarity, and champion continuous improvement in their labs, shops or workspaces. Their commitment strengthens Michigan Tech’s culture of shared responsibility and reflects the integrity, stewardship and community values that define us as Huskies.

• Exemplary Husky Research Safety Culture Award
  The Exemplary Husky Research Safety Culture Award recognizes a Michigan Tech research group that demonstrates outstanding collective commitment to safe, ethical and responsible research practices. This team models what it means to build a culture of shared stewardship — integrating safety into daily routines, supporting one another, proactively identifying improvements and fostering an environment where every member feels empowered to speak up and contribute. Their leadership strengthens Michigan Tech’s identity as an R1 research institution where world‑class research and world‑class safety go hand in hand.

Please submit your nominations by Thursday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m.

The Husky Lab Safety Awards will be presented on Friday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m. in MUB Ballroom B. Nominators will be entered into a prize drawing for taking the time to recognize a person or group. Everyone is encouraged to attend the event and participate in week-long activities.

Find out more about activities and how to participate on the EHS Lab Safety Awareness Week website.

We appreciate your support in recognizing the efforts of those who help keep our campus safe. If you have any questions, please contact ehs-help@mtu.edu.

Proposals for Summer 2026 Copper Shores Community Health Foundation (CSCHF) Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. on Feb. 23 to the Graduate School. Instructions for all steps of the process, including the application and evaluation process, are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student conducting a research or outreach project that will promote and/or improve the overall health of the Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities.

2. Must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.

3. Must not be a prior recipient of a Portage Health Foundation (PHF) or CSCHF Graduate Assistantship.

4. Preference will be given to applicants with long-standing local connections to Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon county.

Previous recipients of a CSCHF Graduate Assistantship are not eligible to reapply.

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon county. Non-resident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding Ph.D. talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:

• health research and technology development
• health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
• rural health care access, informatics, and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a CSCHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment, except for employment required from the matching funds provided by the University.

This is a reminder for departments to continue communicating procedures regarding weather-related absences.

During times when weather conditions deteriorate, each member of the University community must exercise personal judgment about their ability to get to or from campus safely. Interruptions in work due to weather are no different from other events that cause us to leave work early or arrive late.

If any employee’s work schedule is affected by winter weather, the first thing they should do is contact their supervisor directly and explain the situation. Hourly employees may use vacation or comp time to make up for hours missed due to bad weather. Exempt employees are expected to fulfill their regular job responsibilities.

Employees should contact Human Resources at 906-487-2280 with questions or concerns.

A Banner production system maintenance window is scheduled for Feb. 22 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable:

• apps.mtu.edu 
• Banner 
• Banweb 
• MyMichiganTech 
• Aspire 
• Course Tools 
• Degreeworks 
• Experience 
• Fischer/mylogin.mtu.edu 
• mtu.edu/tips 
• OAP Rental System 
• Oracle Reports 
• Papercut Printing 
• Perceptive Content (Imagenow) 
• Pinnacle 
• Sunapsis 
• Timeclock Plus 
• TechTracks 
• Titanium 
• Prism 
• MSSQL servers 
• UC4/Appworx 
• Virtual Cashiering 
• WebFocus 

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Email IT or call 906-487-1111.

The Human Resources office will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, for a departmental meeting.

Questions during this time can be sent to hr-help@mtu.edu.

Join Vice President for Research Office (VPR) Faculty Fellow for Research Development C.K. Choi on a deep dive into the broader landscape of early-career awards. The “Early Career Award Opportunities” virtual session will be held Feb. 19 at noon EST.

While Michigan Tech has strong, well-established support for those preparing submissions for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), many early-career faculty may be less aware of funding opportunities beyond NSF. To help address this, we have created a concise, deadline-based overview of early-career funding opportunities from both federal agencies and private foundations, along with brief highlights of each program’s focus and eligibility requirements.

The goal of this presentation is to increase awareness of the wider range of opportunities available to researchers and equip faculty with the tools to plan strategically for the programs they’d like to target during the earlier stages of their career.

Five professors from Michigan Tech’s Department of Physics, M. R. Hurtado, R. J. Nemiroff, R. Pati, R. A. Shaw and Y. K. Yap, will present at this week’s Physics Colloquium in a panel discussion titled “Using AI to Explore Physics: A Panel of Professors Tell Their Stories.”

The seminar will be presented  at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, in Fisher 139. The coffee hour will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Fisher Lobby.

Read the physics seminar abstract at the University Calendar.

Job Posting for Monday, Feb. 9, 2026

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Chief Procurement Officer, CFO and Vice President for Administration.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment or for an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

WLUC TV6, Keweenaw Report, the Daily Mining Gazette and My UP Now covered the announcement of Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival snow statue winners, with Phi Kappa Tau earning the overall month-long title and Catholic Campus Ministries at St. Albert the Great winning the one-night category. Multiple MTU students were quoted in the stories.

NASA published an article written by Laura Bourgeau-Chavez (MTRI) about field research examining how extreme drought and the 2023 wildfire season affected peatland and upland ecosystems in Canada’s Northwest Territories as part of the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment.

Radiolab mentioned Michigan Tech in a podcast episode re-aired from 2019. Titled “The Punchline” it tells the story of former MTU hockey player John Scott ’10 (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) and his unexpected rise to the 2016 NHL All-Star Game through a viral fan vote.

ESPN mentioned Michigan Tech alum Deedra Irwin ’15 (B.S. Exercise Science) in a list of 32 U.S. Olympians to watch at the Olympic Games, noting her path from Michigan Tech athletics to biathlon and her historic seventh-place finish at the 2022 Olympics.

GlobeNewswire and 61 national outlets mentioned Michigan Tech alum Wolf Schleiss ’86 (M.S. Geology) in coverage of Q-Gold Resources’ announcement appointing him as director of exploration as the company advances its Quartz Mountain Gold Project in Oregon.

WorldAtlas mentioned Michigan Tech in a listicle naming Houghton as one of the 11 “Most Relaxing Great Lakes Towns.”

Funds Available for Spring Semester Visiting Professors

The Office of the Provost is happy to announce that the state of Michigan has approved funding for visiting professors through the King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) initiative. This program supports campus departments in inviting professors, scholars, potential faculty or research collaborators to Michigan Tech’s campus during the 2025-26 academic year. We are now accepting applications for visits to take place through Sept. 30, 2026.

University departments or units are invited to apply for financial support to bring visiting scholars who provide underrepresented perspectives in their field of expertise to Michigan Tech. Visitors do not need a terminal degree or a faculty position to qualify for support. Supported visits can range from a few hours to a semester or longer. While on campus, visiting professors must interact with students in the classroom, in seminars, and/or in informal and formal group discussions, or teach a session during an academic or summer semester. They are also welcome to work with faculty during their visit.

Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to a proposed visit for pre-approval by the state of Michigan. Funding requests can be made for up to $2,000. However, unit(s) must provide a minimum 1-to-1 match to expenses covered by KCP funds.

Learn more about the Visiting Professor Program, including its purpose and the application process. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Shannon Vairo, manager of partner engagement and faculty support, at ssvairo@mtu.edu.

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Faculty Invited to Participate in 2026 Spring Commencement Ceremonies

This year there will again be two Spring Commencement ceremonies at Michigan Tech. The graduate student ceremony will take place on Friday, April 24, at 3 p.m. and the undergraduate student ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m. Both ceremonies will be held in the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. 

Michigan Tech faculty are cordially invited to participate in the faculty procession to support students in their department at the ceremony. Faculty presence means a great deal to the students and their families. Members of the procession wear regalia, march in the procession and sit as a group to show support for the graduates. 

To participate in the graduate student ceremony on April 24, please submit the Graduate Commencement Ceremony Participation Form by Friday, Feb. 13.

To participate in the undergraduate student ceremony on April 25, please submit the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony Participation Form by Friday, Feb. 13.

Faculty may order caps and gowns through the from the Campus Store’s Cap and Gown Order page. Order before noon next Tuesday, Feb. 17, to receive the lowest price. Expedited shipping fees will apply to all orders placed after that date. Orders placed after noon on March 16 are not guaranteed to arrive before Spring Commencement. 

Full information can be found on Faculty/Staff webpage on the Commencement website. 

The Commencement Team hopes you will join us!

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Workshop: 'Preparing a Tenure and Promotion Packet'

The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs will host a workshop, “Preparing a Tenure and Promotion Packet,” on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 3-5 pm. The event will take place in the Memorial Union Ballroom A2.

The first half of the session will focus on the mechanics of preparing a well-presented promotion and/or tenure packet and will include insights from those who have been involved in the TPR review process. The second half of the session will focus on how to input data and narratives into Digital Measures to produce a Faculty Activity Report (FAR) for tenure and promotion.

All tenure/tenure-track faculty are welcome; those who plan to submit a tenure/promotion package in the next couple of years are especially encouraged to attend. Faculty are welcome to attend just one part of the session as their schedule allows.

Questions can be directed to Shari Stockero, assistant provost for faculty development, at stockero@mtu.edu.

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Faculty and Staff Invited to Share Perspectives on Supporting Student Mental Health

Michigan Tech faculty and staff play a critical role in shaping students’ sense of belonging, well-being and success. As part of a Master of Public Health capstone project, the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being is partnering on the development of a Mental Health and Well-Being Toolkit for faculty and staff, designed to provide practical, evidence-informed strategies for supporting students in everyday academic and professional interactions.

To ensure this toolkit reflects the real experiences, challenges and strengths of our campus community, we are seeking faculty and staff volunteers to participate in a one-on-one interview. Participants should regularly interact with students in roles such as teaching, advising, student support, housing or student affairs.

Interviews will:

• Take approximately 30-45 minutes
• Be conducted via Zoom
• Focus on experiences, needs and perspectives related to supporting student mental health and well-being

Help shape a resource tailored to Michigan Tech’s community
Participation is voluntary, and insights will be used solely to inform toolkit development. This project is intended as a community-informed initiative rather than an evaluation of individual practices.

Faculty and staff interested in participating are invited to complete a brief interview interest form. Recruitment will remain open for one week, and participants will be contacted directly to schedule interviews.

For questions about the project, please contact Josh Carlson, the center’s outreach and prevention coordinator, at joshuaca@mtu.edu.

Carlson is an MPH candidate at University of Maryland, College Park.

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Research Excellence Fund Office Hours

Have questions about the Research Excellence Fund? Planning to submit a proposal to either the Research Seed or Scholarship and Creativity Grant? The Research Development office is scheduling virtual office hours on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 10-11:30 a.m. and on Feb. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer any questions you may have via Zoom.

To sign up for the office hours, please email REF-l@mtu.edu, and you will be added to the calendar invite.

Keep in mind that proposals must be approved in Cayuse by the internal deadline of Feb. 26. Final proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on March 5, and must be uploaded electronically in Cayuse by the PI. This due date will be strictly enforced based on the time stamp marked in the Cayuse system. Early submission is encouraged.

For additional information, see the Research Excellence Fund webpage.

Questions can be directed to REF-l@mtu.edu.

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Call for Judges: GSG Graduate Research Colloquium 2026

The Graduate Student Government (GSG) respectfully invites our esteemed faculty and staff to volunteer as judges for the Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC) 2026. Judges may participate either in the poster or oral presentations, or both.

Your time and expertise play a vital role in supporting graduate student research excellence and providing valuable feedback to presenters.

Register as a GRC 2026 Judge.

All GRC judges will be invited to the GRC Awards Banquet.

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Husky Folio Workshops

Are you looking for powerful ways to incorporate meaningful reflection and “folio thinking” into your courses? Join us for a series of three one-hour workshops designed to help you master Husky Folio powered by PebblePad.

While all are welcome, these sessions are highly recommended for anyone teaching Essential Education courses.

Choosing a Seminar:
When choosing sessions to attend, consider how you plan to use PebblePad. For Essential Ed Option 1, where students create a page or portfolio and share a link to Canvas, “Husky Folio: Basics” is the perfect workshop for you. For Essential Ed Option 2, where faculty connect Canvas assignments to PebblePad, we recommend that you attend all three sessions.

Workshop Series Schedule:
Choose the series that best fits your schedule. All sessions run from 12-12:50 p.m. in Library 243.

1. Husky Folio: Basics — Monday, Feb. 9, and Tuesday, March 17
   Get familiar with the PebblePad dashboard, key terminology, and the various components of the tool from a learner's perspective.

2. Husky Folio: Structured Templates and Workbooks — Monday, Feb. 16, and Tuesday, March 24
   Learn to design and build structured learning materials for your students, guiding them through complex assignments or required portfolio components.

3. Husky Folio: Behind the Scenes — Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, March 31
   Master ATLAS, the administrative side of Husky Folio. You’ll learn how to connect your course to PebblePad, link to it from Canvas assignments, review student work submitted to ATLAS, and provide feedback.

To attend one or more of these workshops, complete this Husky Folio Workshop Registration Form. Can’t make these dates? Please contact Husky Folio Director AJ Hamlin at ahamlin@mtu.edu so we can notify you of future sessions.

Prefer Self-Paced Learning?
This year, PebblePad is offering free self-serve training! This is a great option if you prefer to learn to use PebblePad on your own schedule. To learn more and sign up, please visit PebblePad Self-Serve Training.

We’re here to support you in integrating Husky Folio into your courses. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Hamlin at ahamlin@mtu.edu if you need any assistance!

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ChE Research Seminar with Liheng Cai

Liheng Cai will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Research Series today, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. in person in the Library East Reading Room or virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Research Seminar on Zoom.

Cai will present “Bottlebrush Polymers, Networks, Biomaterials, and Tissue Mimics.”

Read Cai’s abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

Liheng is an associate professor and Copenhaver Fellow at the University of Virginia.

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February Recreation Opportunities

Michigan Tech Recreation, including the SDC, Gates Tennis Center and Outdoor Adventure Program, have something to offer for all of your recreation needs this February. Make sure to visit our website soon for registration links and check back often for new and upcoming programs for a wide range of ages and abilities!

Interested in building membership and taking advantage of all the great components? We’ve got you covered! Check out all the details of an SDC Membership or Gates Membership.

Questions? Reach out to recreation@mtu.edu.

February Recreation Programs:

• Spring Sports Camps and Events 
  • Volleyball High School Skills Academies
  • Girls' and Boys' Basketball Little Huskies
  • Football Little Huskies 
  • Doghouse Classic 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
  • Indoor Triathlon
    
    
• Aquatics
  • Adult Swim Lessons and Training Session 2
  • Private/Semi-Private Swim Lessons
  • Youth Group Swim Lessons Session 2
  • Youth Competitive Swim Training Session 2
  • Aqua-Fit Class
  • PADI Open Water SCUBA Course
  • Huskies Diving Clinic
  • WIBIT Events
    
    
• Fitness Coaching and Classes
  • Personal and Partner Fitness Coaching
    
    
• Group Fitness Classes 
  • HuskiesFit Programs 
  • Indoor Rowing 
  • Aikido (Adult and Youth)
  • Tumbling
    
    
• Ice Arena and Rental Center
  • Open Skate and Open Hockey
  • Equipment Rental and Skate Sharpening
    
    
• Outdoor Adventure Program
  • Indoor Rock Climbing and Log Rolling
  • Snowshoeing
  • Equipment Rental
    
    
• Shooting Range 
  • CPL and Defensive Handgun Courses
  • Pistol League and Pistol Competition
  • Hunter’s Safety Course
  • Ladies Night
    
    
• Gates Tennis Center 
  • Group and Private Lessons (Adult and Youth)

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Women's Rights are Human Rights: International Posters on Gender-based Inequality, Violence, and Discrimination Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Monday, February 9, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Art Galleries, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Women’s Rights are Human Rights is a fitting title for an exhibition of women’s rights and advocacy posters, as it was a term used in the women’s rights movement and was the title of an important speech given by Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1995 at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This exhibition features posters created by artsit of all genders to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role that all citizens should play in protecting and promoting human rights while challenging gender inequality and stereotypes, advancing reproductive and sexual rights, protecting women and girls against brutality, and promoting women’s empowerment and participation in society. These poster images challenge patriarchal attitudes that subordinate, stigmatize or restrict women from achieving their fullest potential. These images argue for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls enabling empowerment of women and achievement of real equality between women and men that fosters societal stability and human dignity. Learn more at womensrightsarehumanrights.org Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | January 30-March 28, 2026 RECEPTION | Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. ADMISSION| Free and open to the public CONTENT GUIDANCE | Strong language and discussion of domestic violence. Plan your visit with information about parking, accessibility, and more. Rozsa Art Galleries are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed during academic recesses. Contact the Rozsa Box Office for more information. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Presenter Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations. The Michigan Tech Art Series offers dynamic programming that supports Michigan Tech students and our wider community. Part of the the annual Rozsa Season, the Michigan Tech Art, Music, and Theatre Series are presented by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Through these series, students from across campus, community members, and faculty create art that connects us to the world. With majors in audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and entertainment technology, and nine minors, the department fosters creativity, self-motivation, and the development of practical and artistic skills. Everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone. View all Michigan Tech Art Series Events. Related Events Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries September 12-November 7, 2025 Reception | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Artful Intersections: Fall Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries November 21-December 2, 2025 Reception | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Through the Quiet Hours: Night Sky Photography Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 16-23, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Women's Rights are Human Rights Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 30-March 28, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries April 10-14, 2026 Reception | Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Art Events. Plan Your Visit to the Rozsa Rozsa Box Office InformationAccessibility Services Find a Digital ProgramPlan your Parking​ Get Involved Volunteer to UsherDonate to Support the RozsaMeet Our DonorsGet Updates via Email View All Upcoming Events Personal Responsibility Statement Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. The Rozsa Center provides content guidance to alert audience members to common potentially sensitive or distressing material. Guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with each event in order to make informed decisions prior to attending an event. Views Expressed Statement The views, information, thoughts, or opinions expressed in this program or event are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Rozsa Center or Michigan Technological University. Effective Date: 2025/26.

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Bottlebrush Polymers, Networks, Biomaterials, and Tissue Mimics

Monday, February 9, 10 a.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Liheng Cai Associate Professor University of Virginia Abstract A bottlebrush polymer consists of a long linear backbone densely grafted with many relatively short side chains. Unlike classical linear polymers, mechanical, biophysical, and biochemical complexities can be independently encoded into bottlebrush polymers. This feature allows bottlebrush polymers to emerge as a versatile platform for soft (bio)materials design and innovation. In this talk, I will describe my lab’s recent efforts to understand and apply bottlebrush polymers. First, I will introduce a new theoretical framework for the molecular structure of bottlebrush polymers. Corroborated by experiments, we discover that, in some cases, the bottlebrush backbone can fold to store length regardless of the strong steric repulsion among highly overlapping side chains, a finding that challenges the prevailing view. Second, I will show that using this socalled foldable bottlebrush polymer as a network strand offers a universal strategy to decouple stiffness and extensibility in single-network elastomers, the fundamental component of all kinds of polymer networks. Further, I will highlight a few applications of bottlebrush polymers, including therapeutic delivery, modular cell-instructive biomaterials, advanced (bio)manufacturing, and high-performance solid polymer electrolytes. Finally, I will share our recent progress in developing a voxel-bioprinting technology to digitally assemble cellinstructive biomaterial droplets into functional 3D tissue mimics with controlled cell–matrix and heterotypic cell–cell interactions. Bio Liheng Cai is an Associate Professor and Copenhaver Fellow at the University of Virginia (UVA), where he holds joint appointments in Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, with courtesy appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry. He received his B.S. in Physics from Lanzhou University in 2006 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of North Carolina in 2012, where he studied theoretical polymer physics with Prof. Michael Rubinstein and experimental biophysics with Prof. Richard C. Boucher. During postdoctoral training with Profs. David Weitz and Jeffrey Fredberg at Harvard University, he transitioned fully to experimental research. Since 2018, he has led the Soft Biomatter Laboratory at UVA, which focuses on understanding and controlling the interactions between soft (bio)materials and living systems to address critical challenges in human health, energy, and sustainability. His group’s research spans four areas: polymers and soft matter, advanced (bio)manufacturing, biomaterials, and bioengineering. Dr. Cai’s honors include the John H. Dillon Medal (APS, 2026), the Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE, 2025), the NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA R35) (2024), the ACS PMSE Early Investigator Award (2024), the UVA Research Excellence Award (2023), and the ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2020), and the NSF CAREER Award (2019). He has also been recognized as a Soft Matter Emerging Investigator (2020) and an ACS Polymers Au Rising Star (2023).

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Interning at Isle Royale's Water and WastewaterTreatment Facilities and Michigan Tech's Minor in Water Resource RecoveryTechnology

Monday, February 9, 3 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC)

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar Carsyn Boggio, Undergraduate student in Environmental Engineering, MTU Emily Dersch, Undergraduate student in Environmental Engineering, MTU Lea Korsmeyer, Utility System Repairer Operator Leader, Isle Royale National Park Prof. Eric Seagren, Faculty, MTU Abstract: The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers a minor in Water Resource Recovery Technology. The minor is designed for students in the environmental engineering undergraduate program at MTU who may be interested in working at a water resource recovery facility (WRRF). As part of the minor, participants intern at a WRRF. Through the internship, students gain the experience required to take and pass the Class D Certification exam and enter the work force as a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. Dr. Seagren will describe the minor, and two students who interned at the water and wastewater treatment facilities operated as part of the Isle Royale National Park, Carsyn Boggio and Emily Dersch, will describe their experiences last summer. Finally, Lea Korsmeyer, Utility System Repairer/Operator/Leader on Isle Royale, will describe the internship opportunity available this coming summer on Isle Royale.

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Huskies Swim Training - Session 2

Monday, February 9, 4–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and efficiency. Sessions will be designed to improve swimming through stroke drills and swimming sets focused on endurance, speed, and race strategy. Coaches will provide feedback and stroke correction in a group environment with an emphasis on promoting a love for competitive swimming and lifelong skills such as discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Come be part of the pack! Competitve swimming opportunities are now availabe to current Huskies Swim Training participants!

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AIChE General Meeting

Monday, February 9, 5–6 p.m. | ChemSci 211

Join AIChE for a presentation from FEECO! FEECO International is an engineering and manufacturing company that designs and builds custom industrial processing equipment. All are welcome!

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Parent & Child Aquatics (Ages 6 mo-3 yrs) - Session 1

Monday, February 9, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6 months to 3 years old. A parent is required to be in the water with each participant.

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Preschool Aquatics (Ages 4-5 years) - Session 1

Monday, February 9, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old.