July 1, 2026

For her leadership and development of a contact tracing program during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly Kamm (KIP/SS) has been selected to receive Michigan Technological University’s 2026 Faculty Distinguished Service Award.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health departments and healthcare systems were overburdened as they navigated the pandemic’s shifting circumstances and protected community health. Kamm, Michigan Tech’s Copper Shores Community Health Foundation Endowed Assistant Teaching Professor, saw this as an unprecedented opportunity to aid in community response.

“I’m trained in public health, specifically in infectious diseases, and although we hope it doesn’t happen, this is what we are trained for,” said Kamm. “I was positioned to support our local health department, which was clearly going to be overwhelmed very quickly, as all health departments were, so I had an obligation to do what I could.”

Take a look back at how Kamm’s initiatives — from contact tracing to public health education — shaped students and campus community members’ pandemic experiences for the better at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech researchers and students are invited to a live campus demonstration of the Leica Stellaris 8 White Light Confocal Microscope (405-730 nanometers). The advanced imaging instrument will be available for trial from tomorrow, July 2, through July 24.

Because the microscope will be on campus for several weeks, users are highly encouraged to run multiple samples. This extended time frame offers a unique opportunity to gather critical preliminary data or finalize high-resolution imaging for upcoming publications.

Key features of the Stellaris 8 include:

• White Light Laser (WLL): Provides ultimate spectral flexibility with continuous excitation ranging from 405 nanometers up to 730 nanometers.

• Advanced Detection: Delivers high-sensitivity imaging capable of capturing subtle structural details in diverse samples.

• Zero Cost: There are no usage or analysis charges for the instrument during this limited demonstration window.

For technical specifications and capabilities, view the detailed Leica Stellaris 8 product brochure.

Session Guidelines
To ensure a smooth workflow, please note the following community requirements:

1. Sample Readiness: All materials must be completely prepared and ready for immediate analysis at your scheduled time slots.

2. Mandatory Attendance: A researcher or student must remain present during the entire analysis session to directly guide the imaging of your specific samples.

How to Sign Up
Time slots are limited and expected to fill quickly. To secure your session, submit your request through the confocal microscope demonstration sign-up form.

For questions regarding sample preparation, specific system workflows or system capabilities, please contact Liz Fraki at eafraki@mtu.edu.

The following 2026 fiscal year-end deadlines are coming up next Wednesday, July 8. Please refer to the Closing Schedules found on the Controller’s Office webpage for additional information.

• Reallocation of Expenditures/Inter-Departmental Charges
  • Questions? Contact mtuAP@mtu.edu or 906-487-2242
    
    
• FY26 Check Requests to Accounts Payable
  • Questions? Contact mtuAP@mtu.edu or 906-487-2242
    
    
• FY26 Petty Cash Vouchers
  • Questions? Contact travel@mtu.edu or 906-487-2373
    
    
• FY26 Paper Travel Reports
  • Questions? Contact travel@mtu.edu or 906-487-2373

Zach Flener has been promoted to associate head coach of Michigan Tech’s men’s basketball, head coach Josh Buettner announced on Monday, June 29.

Flener served as an assistant coach for the team’s previous four seasons. During that time, the Huskies compiled a 74-52 overall record, including back-to-back GLIAC regular season titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26 for the first time in over two decades. The Huskies capped their title seasons with back-to-back NCAA appearances, highlighted by an Elite Eight run in 2025-26. 

“Coach Flener is a rising star in the coaching world,” said Buettner. “He’s been an instrumental part in back-to-back conference championships and an Elite Eight run. He’s a terrific offensive mind that teaches the game extremely well and is tremendous at building relationships with our players.”

Read more about the team’s achievements at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Postings for Wednesday, July 1, 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.

Office Assistant (12 months, 40 hours), Keweenaw Research Center. (​UAW posting dates are July 1 to July 7, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​UAW posting dates.)

Senior Administrative Aide (12 months, 40 hours), International Programs and Services. (​UAW posting dates are July 1 to July 7, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​UAW posting dates.)

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.

Michigan Technological University Ph.D. student Aidan Botkin (applied and discrete mathematics) and faculty members David J. Hemmer and Robert Schneider (both Math) are co-authors of a paper published in the July 2026 issue of the Journal of Number Theory (JNT).

The paper, titled “Partition-Theoretic Model of Prime Distribution”, outlines a novel theory of prime numbers and their distribution (spacing).

Co-authors include Madeline L. Dawsey of the University of Texas Tyler and Matthew R. Just of the University of Georgia. JNT is a leading publication in the field; related work by this research group was recently noted in Scientific American.

Studied since ancient times, the prime numbers are highly enigmatic objects in mathematics. This new work suggests the distribution of primes — which is usually treated as essentially random — is governed by precise combinatorial structures. The paper derives an approximate formula for the sequence of prime numbers that gives much more accurate estimates of the distribution of primes than the standard computational model in number theory, the Prime Number Theorem, and recovers the Prime Number Theorem as a consequence of first principles about integer partitions. Partitions are different ways to add integers while prime numbers have to do with multiplication; this paper bridges multiplicative and additive number theory, two previously disjoint branches of the field.

A follow-up publication appears in the recent issue of Infinite Loop, Tech’s undergraduate research journal, authored by Eli DeWitt ’25 (B.S. Mathematics) and Schneider. The article resulted from a summer 2025 REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego mentioned Michigan Tech as a collaborator on research that identified a Houston coal-fired power plant as the dominant source of cloud-forming aerosols over the metropolitan area.

AOL mentioned Michigan Tech in a list of the public colleges with the best return on investment. Originally published by Stacker, the list ranked MTU among the nation's top public institutions based on projected long-term financial value.

Coffee with the Safety Crew: Summer Safety

Join Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) today, July 1, from 9-10 a.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge for our monthly Coffee with the Safety Crew.

Michigan Tech’s safety team, EHS and RISSC (the Office of Risk, Insurance, Safety, Security, and Compliance) will be hosting our monthly safety round table, a place for all Huskies to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of campus health and safety. 

This Month’s Topic: Summer Safety — Be Prepared in the Office, Lab, or at Home
Enjoy a cup of coffee and donuts during our short presentation from EHS. Priorities such as keeping perishable foods below 40 degrees and always maintaining a clear distance when igniting backyard fireworks are just some of the topics that will be discussed. We’ll also cover basic precautions that can help prevent the most common summer mishaps.

Join EHS for tips to keep your summer safe. In addition, there will be an informal opportunity to talk with our campus safety professionals for other safety-related questions and issues.

So mark your calendars and come ask the questions you have always wanted to ask and get the answers you need about Michigan Tech safety programs, legal compliance issues and additional resources…and have a cup of Joe with the Safety Crew!

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No Tech Today on Friday

Tech Today will not publish on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Submissions for Monday, July 6, are due by noon tomorrow, July 2.

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MTU Fiber Arts Group Meetup

Fiber crafters from the Michigan Tech community! If you knit, crochet, spin, embroider, cross-stitch, bead, weave or do any other kind of craft involving yarn, cloth, fiber or string, this is the meetup for you. Feel free to bring your lunch as well as your works in progress. We welcome students, staff, faculty, and the community — the more the merrier!

We meet at the Van Pelt and Opie Library every first and third Wednesday of the month from 12-1 p.m. Meetings will be in Library 216.

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

PhD Defense: Alyssa Horne

Wednesday, July 1, 9–10 a.m. | Fisher Hall, 101

Physics Advisor: Ranjit Pati First-Principles Investigation of Quasi-One-Dimensional Van der Waals Magnets for Advancing Low-Dimensional Spintronics

Strength & Conditioning

Wednesday, July 1, 10–11 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), SDC Varsity Weight Room

This program is open to male and female athletes entering grades 6-12 as of Fall 2026. Nine-week collegiate-level strength and conditioning camp for athletes looking to improve their performance and fitness level to prepare for the upcoming season. The program includes (3) sessions per week in a varsity collegiate setting and SDC access to the Fitness Center (min. age 16), Multipurpose Room and the Pool during open recreation hours for the duration of the program. Days/Times Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays - 10:00am-11:00am (Middle School Athletes) Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays - 11:00am-12:00pm High School Athletes) Location SDC Varsity Weight Room (located on the far side of the SDC Multipurpose Room) What to Expect Lead by the MTU Strength & Conditioning staff, athletes will learn and develop proper training techniques in order to improve overall fitness, increase performance potential, and decrease the risk of injury. Athletes will engage in a progressive training program that translates across a wide range of sports with the intent of improving agility, strength, flexibility, and speed. An emphasis will be placed on performance tracking throughout the camp, so athletes will…

Summer Proposal Development Meetups

Wednesday, July 1, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, Rotating between (103, cafe area, and the outdoor plaza)

This summer, the Research Development team is once again hosting weekly Proposal Development Meetups to help the campus community with their proposals. Meetups will be on Wednesdays from 11:00-12:00, starting June 3, through July 15. While this timing aligns well with those working on NSF CAREER submissions, all are welcome to join, regardless of which funding opportunity you are pursuing. The meetups are intended to be flexible, but will generally follow this format: Check-in (5-10 min): Share what you will focus on in the sprint.Focus (45 min): Find your state of flow. A facilitator will run a timer so you can ignore the clockCheck-out (5-10 min): Share your wins, stretch, move, and discuss. We’ll use the library as a central hub for in-person meetups and a zoom option has been provided to allow remote participation. The library meeting location will vary a bit from week-to-week, rotating between the cafe area, conference 103, and the outdoor plaza area when the weather allows. Bring writing with you. Bring your questions. Bring ideas to refine. Just come - we look forward to seeing you!

Fiber Arts Group - Summer 2026

July 1, all day | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, 216

MTU Fiber Arts Meetup Fiber crafters from the Michigan Tech community! If you knit, crochet, spin, embroider, cross-stitch, bead, weave or do any other kind of craft involving yarn, cloth, fiber or string, this is the meetup for you. Feel free to bring your lunch as well as your Works-in-progress. We welcome students, staff, faculty, and the community - the more the merrier! We meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Meetings will be at the Van Pelt & Opie Library, Room 216.