March 11, 2026

Michigan Tech’s College of Computing will officially launch its new Department of Data Science (DS) on July 1, becoming one of a handful of institutions across the nation with an academic department dedicated to the growing and in-demand discipline.

Data science education and research have been an integral part of the College of Computing since its founding in 2019. Data scientist is one of the United States’ fastest-growing occupations. It’s currently ranked fifth by the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics among the 20 occupations with the highest projected increase in employment from 2024 to 2034. The need for data scientists across industry sectors is expected to grow by 34%. In 2024, the latest year for which data is available, the median pay for jobs in data science was $112,590 per year.

Preparations to create a separate Department of Data Science have been in the works for quite some time, said Dennis Livesay, dean of the College of Computing. “We’ve been working toward it since I arrived,” he said. “Along the way, we’ve been gathering the assets needed to make sure the new department was successful.”

Read more about the new department and the benefits it brings across the College at Michigan Tech News.

Associate Professor Angie Carter in Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences has been elected to serve a three-year term as a rural sociologist on the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Administrative Council.

NCR-SARE is a USDA-funded grant program whose mission is to strengthen communities, increase farmer/rancher economic viability and improve the environment by supporting research and education. NCR-SARE's administrative council is responsible for operating the program by appointing a host institution, defining policy, issuing calls for grant proposals and making decisions about funding proposals.

For a third year in a row, Huskies Curl at Michigan Tech has qualified for the College Curling National Championship. This year's event will take place March 12-15 in Schenectady, New York. Competing for the Huskies are Gracie Kohn, Joseph Sharland, Owen Stephenson, Tyler Magnuson, and Hailey Christenson. The Huskies are coached by Michigan Tech alumnus Gordon Maclean. 

In their first draw of the tournament, the Huskies will face University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at noon on Friday, March 13. View the full competition schedule or watch a livestream of the event.

P.A.W.S. (Peer Awareness for Well-being and Support) is a program at Michigan Tech that equips students with the knowledge and tools to effectively recognize the signs of a mental health crisis, give appropriate and supportive aid, and refer a peer who is struggling to professional mental health resources. The program seeks to involve students from multiple backgrounds and experiences who are natural, key peer supporters on campus and want to help bring a higher level of mental health awareness and advocacy to the Michigan Tech community.

Promoting student mental health and well-being is a whole-campus effort, and Michigan Tech students are crucial in helping to support student mental health on campus. Research shows that students who struggle with mental health often reach out to their peers first, while a smaller percentage reach out to their on-campus counseling center.

Over six weeks of training, P.A.W.S. gives students the skills to help their peers experiencing crisis or distress. Participants meet each week for one hour. The core purpose of P.A.W.S. is to increase the number of peer support leaders on campus who are trained to identify warning signs and confidently refer their peers to the appropriate professional mental health resources, and who embrace a holistic approach to well-being by expanding and enriching the network of support on campus.

Once students have completed the six-week training program, they are considered members of the P.A.W.S. network for the remainder of their time at Michigan Tech. Completing this program will open up future opportunities for participating in mental health and well-being advocacy on campus, getting involved in future continuing education or peer programs, and being a leader in promoting mental health resources on campus. With only six weeks of training, students will learn valuable skills that are useful even after their years at Michigan Tech.

Each week brings up a new topic for students to discuss with peers in their group:

• Session 1: What is Mental Health?: Acceptance and Avoidance
• Session 2: Core Supportive Skills
• Session 3: Depression and Anxiety
• Session 4: High-Risk Coping Strategies & Behaviors
• Session 5: Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
• Session 6: Helping Others Get Help

Faculty, staff and students who are passionate about mental health awareness on campus are invited to nominate a student to participate in the fall 2026 cohort. There are a limited number of spots available, and those who are not accepted into the fall 2026 cohort will be put on a waiting list for the next semester. Nominated students must have at least one year left in their degree program and will receive an email requesting a completed application form and their schedule availability for the training.

Nominations are accepted year-round, but please submit nominations by April 6 for consideration for the fall 2026 cohort.

Learn more by visiting our information table in Van Pelt Library from today, March 9, through March 27. You can also check out our website or email us at PAWS@mtu.edu.

The Ecosystem Science Center's (ESC) Student Research Forum will be held tomorrow, March 12, in the Rozsa Lobby from 1-3 p.m. and is open to the public. Graduate and undergraduate students will present posters on research related to ecology and the environment. This is the 21st year of the event, which provides students an opportunity to showcase their research and practice for poster sessions at regional or national meetings. 

Michigan Technological University’s TRIO Upward Bound program is seeking college students to serve as resident assistants (RAs) and overnight assistants for its upcoming summer residential program.

Each summer, TRIO Upward Bound hosts high school students on campus for a college-preparation experience that includes academic instruction, mentoring and enrichment activities. RAs and overnight assistants help create a supportive residential environment while assisting with supervision and student engagement throughout the program.

These positions offer an opportunity for college students interested in leadership, mentoring and working with youth. Staff members support students in the residence halls, assist with program activities and serve as role models as participants explore college life and prepare for their academic futures.

Students interested in learning more about the positions or applying can visit the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Employment page.

TRIO Pre-College Programs at Michigan Tech provide mentoring, academic support and college preparation opportunities for students, helping expand access to higher education.

TRIO Pre-College Programs are 100% grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education and hosted by Michigan Technological University.

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.

The Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) is happy to announce Art in Silico's return in 2026! Led by Robert Schneider (Math) and Evan Lucas (CS), this year's submission window is now open!

Submissions can take all kinds of forms, from 2D paintings to interactive demos, we want to see your creative sparks fly in converging technology and art! Submissions will close at midnight on Thursday, April 9. Visit the Art in Silico website to submit and receive updates on the schedule!

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 12, in EERC 103.

Tim Shipp will present "Internal Combustion Engines in Transition: Design Considerations, Options, and Future Directions."

From the abstract:
This seminar discusses how uncertainty in emissions regulations and policy timelines has influenced the direction of IC engine development and what this means for engineers working on long lived products.

The next guest speaker of the semester in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) Seminar Series will present Friday, March 13, at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 102 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the BioMed Seminar on Zoom.

Zhongjie (Daniel) Wang from Biohub Chicago will present “Metabolome-Driven Design of Next-Generation Nanomedicines”. 

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

Job Posting for Wednesday, March 11, 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.

Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor, Applied Computing

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.

The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the appointment of Sri Beldona as the new dean of the College of Business, beginning July 1.

The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the launch of public phase of the University’s $350 million capital campaign, “The Campaign for Michigan Tech.”

The University of North Texas mentioned Amy Marcarelli (BioSci/ESC) in a story about a multi-institution research project studying microorganisms that survive in extreme environments. The goal of the project is to help guide future space missions. 

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the 90th anniversary celebration of the Mont Ripley Ski Patrol, highlighting the patrol’s long history and its student ski patrol certification course offered for college credit.

NCAA.org mentioned Michigan Tech alum Reid Goble ’21 (B.S. Biological Sciences) in a story about Paralympic cross-country skier Jake Adicoff, noting Goble serves as one of Adicoff’s guides and previously competed for the Huskies ski team. 

WZMQ 19 News covered Michigan Tech hockey defenseman Tyler Miller being named CCHA Defenseman of the Week.

Inaugural Michigan Tech Authors and Creators Reception

You are invited to join the Van Pelt and Opie Library in honoring the scholarship and creativity of Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff as part of the inaugural Michigan Tech Authors and Creators Reception.

The event will be held in the Opie Reading Room on Friday, March 13, from 4-5 p.m. We will be highlighting the books, journals, film and albums released in 2025 by members of the Michigan Tech community.

The reception will start with brief remarks from Provost Andrew Storer and will provide the opportunity to mingle and celebrate with authors and creators over refreshments and music.

*****

Mathematical Sciences Graduate Student Seminar with Dennis Obideyi

Please join the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Fisher Hall 326 tomorrow, March 12, from noon to 1 p.m. for our Graduate Student Seminar Series.

Refreshments will be provided. Contact the math department’s graduate program assistant, Andi Schoch, at ajschoch@mtu.edu or in person in Fisher 318, with any questions. 

This week, Dennis Obideyi will present “RBF–FD Discretization with Interface Coupling for Eigenvalue Problems in Step-Index Optical Fibers”.

From the abstract:
Guided modes of step-index optical fibers can be formulated as a transverse Helmholtz eigenvalue problem with a discontinuous refractive index and transmission conditions at the core–cladding interface. Traditional body-fitted finite element discretizations represent the material interface explicitly in the mesh to accurately capture coefficient jumps and geometric curvature, which can require curved-element meshing and local refinement. We present a mesh-free radial basis function finite difference (RBF–FD) discretization based on polyharmonic splines augmented with polynomials, operating on scattered nodes without requiring interface-fitted meshing. Discrete operators are constructed independently in the core and cladding and coupled through algebraic constraints enforcing continuity of the field and its normal flux across the interface, yielding a block generalized eigenvalue problem for λ = β². The method demonstrates high-order convergence of the effective index and attains O(10⁻⁷) accuracy on refined node sets while accurately capturing modal confinement with reduced geometric complexity.

*****

Michigan Tech Hosting Just-In-Time Virtual Career Fair

Career Services will host Michigan Tech’s Just-In-Time Virtual Career Fair next Wednesday, March 18, from 12-5 p.m. ET on Handshake. This all‑majors fair is designed to support students who are still seeking summer internships, co‑ops or full‑time roles.

Employers from a wide range of industries will be available for one‑on‑one and group sessions.

Faculty and staff can play an important role in encouraging students to participate — especially those still exploring options or finalizing their post‑semester plans.

Students can register and meet with employers through Handshake.

*****

Cultural Resource Management Virtual Career Fair

Michigan Tech students are invited to participate in the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Virtual Career Fair, which takes place next Wednesday, March 18, from 12-5 p.m. ET on Handshake. 

The CRM fair is specifically designed to help students studying for careers in cultural resources, including anthropology, archaeology, geography, sociology, preservation, architectural history, planning and allied fields.

This event brings together students from more than 50 universities and representatives from more than 25 companies nationwide.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with students in relevant programs. Students are encouraged to read Handshake’s Participating in a Virtual Fair guide to prepare.

Registration is now open. Students can register and meet with employers through Handshake.

*****

ChE Research Seminar with John Oakey

John Oakey will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Research Series today, March 11, at 10 a.m. in person in GLRC 202 or virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Research Seminar on Zoom.

Oakey will present “Programming Living Materials: Defining Cellular Architecture at the Mesoscale”.

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

Oakey is a professor at the University of Wyoming.

*****

Don't Forget to Close Windows

As we welcome spring-like weather and “open-window season” begins at Michigan Tech, Facilities Management would like to remind everyone to close windows when leaving classrooms, offices and other campus spaces.

Warm afternoons can quickly turn into chilly nights. Leaving windows open not only causes our heating systems to run unnecessarily, but can also lead to frozen pipes and potential damage as temperatures drop overnight.

Thank you for helping to protect our buildings and conserve energy by closing windows before you leave.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Facilities Management at facilities@mtu.edu or 906-487-2303. 

*****

Spring Commencement Volunteers Needed

The Commencement Team is seeking volunteers for Michigan Tech’s Spring Commencement ceremonies. We need volunteers to help with pre-ceremony setup, serve as greeters and ushers, coordinate graduate check-in, assist with ticketing and bag checks, and assist guests with special seating accommodations.

More information regarding the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies may be found on the Commencement website. 

 Please sign up by April 17 if you would like to volunteer. Contact Tiffany Jaeger at tiffanyj@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

These special events cannot happen without the help of our amazing Michigan Tech community!

*****

Native American Boarding School Exhibit Coming to Michigan Tech March 11-22

Biskaabiiyaang Collective is partnering with the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (KUUF), Trinity Episcopal Church of Houghton, Canterbury House, and the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library to host the "Walking Together Finding Common Ground" Traveling Exhibit. The exhibit was created by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, Great Lakes Peace Center and Beaumier Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University. The exhibit will be at the Van Pelt and Opie Library in the Opie Reading Room from March 11-22. 

The exhibit will open today, March 11, from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. with a showing of film "Remember the Children" (25 min) about the discovery of graves at the boarding school (now closed) in Rapid City, South Dakota. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion with three boarding school survivors, refreshments and exhibit viewing. On Mon., March 16, 6:30-9 p.m., there will be a second event, including a showing of the film "Indian Horse" (104 min) about Saul Indian Horse, a young Canadian First Nations boy who survives Canada's Indian residential school system to become a star ice hockey player. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion, refreshments and viewing  the exhibit viewing.

All events are free and open to the public.

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

Wednesday, March 11, 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…

THEAT 3650 Portfolio Development

Wednesday, March 11, 9:00–9:50 a.m. | Administration and Student Services Building (Admin, Building 1), 220 Career Services

Interviews in depth

I-9 Verification at the MUB

Wednesday, March 11, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Memorial Union Building; Room 101

Human Resources will be on-site at the MUB to verify I-9 documentation for new hires.

Programming Living Materials: Defining Cellular Architecture at the Mesoscale

Wednesday, March 11, 10 a.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. John Oakey Professor University of Wyoming Abstract Microfluidics and soft matter physics provide a unique toolkit to interrogate biological systems at the resolution of a single cell. My research program operates at this convergence, exploiting the fundamental physics of viscosity-dominated flows and interfacial tension to microfabricate functional biomaterials that solve complex challenges in human health and fundamental cell biology. In this talk, I will demonstrate how controlling material architecture at the mesoscale allows us to program biological function. I will present two distinct vignettes that progress from fundamental intracellular physics to applied tissue engineering. First, I will discuss cellular organization and scaling. Using a novel microfluidic encapsulation platform, we isolated cell-free cytoplasmic extracts to investigate how organelles scale with cell size. By rigorously controlling the volume and geometry of the cytoplasmic environment, we discovered fundamental scaling relationships that govern intracellular architecture. This work settled intractable biological questions and established a new engineering framework…

CTL Spring 2026 Online Book Club: Specifications Grading 2.0

Wednesday, March 11, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Join the Center for Teaching and Learning for the following opportunity: Do you find grading challenging? Are you looking for strategies to hold students to high standards while effectively managing your grading load? Please join our Spring 2026 Online Faculty Book Club focused on Specifications Grading 2.0: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, Saving Faculty Time, and Developing Career Competencies by Linda Nilson and Joseph Packowski. During five sessions, we will learn about and discuss the specifications grading approach and how it might be applied to improve student and faculty grading experiences. Please join us online at 11:00 am on: · January 21, 2026 · February 4, 2026 · February 18, 2026 · March 11, 2026 · March 25, 2026 To register, please visit: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/15660379 For accommodations, please contact Catharine Gruver at cgruver@mtu.edu or 906-487-3026.

PSY 3999 Third-Year Seminar

Wednesday, March 11, 1:00–1:50 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building (Admin, Building 1), 220 Career Services

AI and the Job Search

BMES General Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 4–5 p.m. | ChemSci 102

This semester, our general meetings are every other (even) Wednesdays at 4pm in ChemSci 102. Any changes and topics for each meeting will be announced the week before the meeting takes place.

Huskies Swim Training - Session 3

Wednesday, March 11, 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!

Speaker Broadcast: Bill Nye the Science Guy

Wednesday, March 11, 4–5 p.m. | ChemSci 102

BMES and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) are partnering to host a special speaker broadcast featuring Bill Nye! All students are welcome to attend — no membership required. This event will take place during BMES’s regular biweekly meeting time and offers a fun, inspiring opportunity to hear from one of the most recognizable science communicators of our time. Whether you’re interested in leadership, STEM careers, science outreach, or just grew up watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, this is a great chance to connect with peers and enjoy a unique campus event. Event DetailsDate: March 11Time: 4:00–5:00 PMLocation: ChemSci 102Who Can Attend: All students — open to every major and organizationCome join us for an engaging broadcast, community connection, and a chance to learn from a leader in science communication!

Board Game Night

Wednesday, March 11, 6–8 p.m. | Wadsworth Annex (G11)

Swap your notes for a game card and join us for Board Game Night. Bring friends or come solo, there’s always a seat at the table.

SMLS Bi-Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 6–7 p.m. | Fisher 231

Welcome to the Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists! We host meetings every other week to discuss topics within the major, career development opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and do MLS themed crafts. We are open to all majors, and welcome anyone with an interest in MLS.

All About Housing and Dining

Wednesday, March 11, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Interested in learning more about residential life and dining on campus? Join us virtually to hear from a panel of Tech resident assistants (RAs) and ask them any questions you may have about living and eating on campus!

How to Negotiate Salary

Wednesday, March 11, 7–8 p.m.

Join us for this virtual event! Receiving a job, internship, or co-op offer is exciting'but how do you know if it's the right offer' Join Career Services for a webinar focused on how to evaluate offers with confidence. We'll walk through the key components of job offers, including salary, benefits, relocation support, job responsibilities, work-life balance, and more. You'll also learn how to ask for more'professionally. https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/87697968391

How to Negotiate Salary Webinar

Wednesday, March 11, 7–8 p.m. | Online

Receiving a job, internship, or co-op offer is exciting—but how do you know if it’s the right offer? Join Career Services for a webinar focused on how to evaluate offers with confidence. We’ll walk through the key components of job offers, including salary, benefits, relocation support, job responsibilities, work-life balance, and more. You’ll also learn how to ask for more—professionally. https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/87697968391 See Handshake for additional details.

Pickleball Club Weekly Practice/Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 9–11 p.m. | Gates Tennis Center

Come join us at Gates Tennis Center for some Pickleball! We have equipment that is free to use and its a great way to have some friendly competition against fellow huskies. If you have never played pickleball and want to learn, then you came to the right place! We can teach you how play, so feel free to come at any time and join in on the fun.