March 3, 2023

The Enterprise Program and College of Engineering are excited to announce that the 23rd Design Expo will be held in person from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18 in the Van Pelt and Opie Library’s first floor and the Memorial Union Building’s ballroom.

All Senior Design, Capstone and Enterprise teams must register in advance in order to participate in Design Expo. 

Please register today — it only takes a few minutes! The registration deadline is midnight tonight (March 3).

Does your team need more time? Please contact Kim Geiger in the College of Engineering at kmgeiger@mtu.edu. Many thanks!

The Michigan Tech Parade of Nations has chosen a theme for its 2023 event that calls to the young and the young at heart: Fairy Tales from Around the World.

The Parade of Nations is an annual celebration of the multiculturalism of our community. This year’s Parade of Nations will take place Sept. 16.

Post-parade, international student organizations will be offering the cuisine of their countries, and this year we'll have some exciting new additions to events at the Dee. Along with the international food offerings, Parade of Nations is inviting local food vendors and live musicians to attend. Kid’s Corner also returns, where children can participate in a craft and/or activity.

A logo contest will soon be underway, with students from area schools invited to submit logos. The winner will receive a $300 prize, and their logo will be featured on Parade of Nations T-shirts.

Student and community organizations are invited to enter floats or march in the parade.

For more information, see the Parade of Nations website, email ips@mtu.edu or call 906-487-2160.

Today (March 3) is the last day to register to present at this year's Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC)!

This year’s GRC will be held March 29 and March 30. The GRC offers a very special opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research across the campus community and also to work on their presentation skills for upcoming conferences. Students can give oral presentations, present posters or do both.

Poster presentations will be given March 29 at the Rozsa Center Lobby from 5-8 p.m. GSG will be taking care of printing posters this year. The oral presentations will take place March 29 and 30 in the MUB ballroom — each will be 12 minutes long followed by a Q&A session. All the presentations will be scored by judges from a similar field as the presenter. They will provide valuable insight and feedback on how the students can improve their presentations.

Cash prizes are available for the top three oral and poster presentations (first $300, second $200 and third $100).

Registration closes today at 11:59 p.m.

The GRC will be capped off with the annual GRC Awards Banquet. All participants and judges are invited to attend. It will be held March 30 following the closing of the GRC.

Register using the GRC Registration Form. For more info, visit our website.

The contemporary shift to online interactions has implications for the quality of academic relationships and experiences. One such pervasive yet troubling practice is “ghosting.” An essay published in the Chronicle of Higher Education defines ghosting as a sudden cessation of response by one party in a digital communication relationship without explanation or apparent reason. This leaves the other party feeling not only uncertain but often humiliated and devalued. As one person in the essay asked: “Am I so valueless they can’t even be bothered to tell me to go away?”

Ghosting happens in a variety of interactions; however, the most hurtful forms of ghosting happen in relationships of vulnerability. For example, advisors may ghost advisees, undermining their self-confidence; or department chairs or administrators may ghost requests from adjunct or temporary instructors, thus underlining their subordinated status. Ghosting can thereby inflict damage on those most vulnerable in the academy and reproduce structured relations of inequity. A common instance of academic ghosting is during position searches when a faculty candidate is not selected to advance and then ghosted instead of informed of the rejection. Successful communication between search committees and human resources can help ensure that candidates are notified of the outcome of their application in a consistent and timely way, thus eliminating one area where harm from ghosting may inadvertently occur.

Ghosting may seem like a mundane incivility but it is exactly these types of incivilities that must be addressed in order to enact integrity, accountability and mutual respect as values grounding academic life.

Today’s feature was shared with us by the Advance PI Team. If you have an article you think we should feature, please email it to advance-mtu@mtu.edu and we will consider adding it to the ADVANCE Weekly Roundup.

The ADVANCE Weekly Roundup is brought to you by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to improving faculty career success, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion. Past articles are available on the ADVANCE Newsblog.

To learn more about our featured topic, our mission, programming efforts, and to check out our growing collection of resources, contact us or visit our website.

Dean David Hemmer of the College of Sciences and Arts has selected Tarun Dam as the featured instructor this week in the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

Dam, a professor in the Department of Chemistry (Chem), will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Dam typically teaches upper-division courses in biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry, and has also contributed to first-year recitation courses. He has consistently placed in the top 10% of instructors on end-of-term student evaluations of instruction, as identified by the provost. Students have given him top marks on all metrics that demonstrate how much he cares for them, such as his personal interest in student learning, creating an atmosphere where ideas can be exchanged freely and creating an environment of mutual respect.

Sarah Green, Chem's interim chair, stressed that beyond the numerical evaluations, students have gone out of their way to comment to her about Dam’s excellence in education and his dedication to their learning and success. “Any visitor to his class can immediately see those qualities,” said Green. “His classes resemble discussions among scholars more than a dry lecturer imparting nuggets of information to yawning rows. Students are alert and engaged, discussing the topics and asking questions.”

Dam has designed and implemented an assessment method he calls Continuous and Rapid Testing (CaRT), which is designed to improve communication between teacher and students. This approach was reviewed in an article published in the Teaching Professor. CaRT encourages critical thinking about topics discussed in a previous class. Dam distributes index cards to students at the beginning of class and asks questions that require short answers based on the previous class session. Dam then collects the cards and shares the correct answers with the class before beginning a new lesson. The accumulated questions can serve as a question bank for students to use as they prepare for an exam. Dam values how CaRT can help him feel the “pulse” and progress of the class on a day-to-day basis.

Through an NSF grant, Dam is bringing research discoveries from his lab into the classroom through a “bench to blackboard” initiative. In Dam’s spring semester Drug Action course, he discusses how flu and coronavirus both attach to human hosts using a specialized protein. “In my lab, we work on analogous proteins. I share with the students our latest discoveries on those proteins,” said Dam. “The bench to blackboard initiative helps students to be aware of cutting-edge techniques and latest discoveries. Importantly, it also tells the students that science is not a thing done by intellectually unapproachable people, at a distant and unreachable place. Rather, it is often done in their own backyard by their friends and peers in some unassuming laboratories.”

In recognition of his exemplary teaching efforts, Dam was awarded the Michigan Tech Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015 and is a member of the Academy of Teaching Excellence.

"I recently had the pleasure of touring Tarun Dam's lab and chatting with his graduate students," said Hemmer. “He is a wonderful example of the many exceptional scholars we have at Michigan Tech who also do an incredible job in the classroom!"

The Seashore Psychology Training Clinic at the University of Iowa has announced that they will be continuing collaboration with Professor Anne Beffel (VPA) on an art installation titled "Color and Context." This extension of Beffel’s "Color of Kindness" project, currently exhibited in the Seashore Clinic, will engage graduate students as well as clinical faculty and staff.

Participants will be invited to recall a moment in which kindness, or its absence, was important to them and to describe colors present within their memory. In the updated project, Beffel will collect only the name of the color and its brief description through online survey. As Beffel creates a painting for each person’s named color, she will integrate its complement, located 180 degrees opposite on the Newtonian color wheel. The introduction of the complementary color is intended to embody both contrast and connection.

“(Seashore Clinic Director Greg) Gullickson, and former Training Director Michael O’Hara, have been excellent collaborators and art stewards, extending themselves in countless ways,” notes Beffel. “I’m particularly grateful for the opportunity to directly engage the clinic faculty, staff and students in articulating the colors that matter to them as we reflect upon the dynamic and evolving culture surrounding color in America.”

“We are thrilled at our continuing collaboration with Anne Beffel,” writes Gullickson. “Anne has really brought such color and life to our clinic, and having students and staff inspire more of her work will add immeasurably to the beauty and healing spirit of our clinic space.”

Installation of "Color and Context" is planned for summer 2023 with support from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Michigan Tech.

M.S. in Geology candidate Daniel Lizzadro-McPherson (GLRC) will present their master's defense today (March 3) at 3 p.m. in Great Lakes Research Center, GLRC 202, and virtually via Zoom.

Lizzadro-McPherson's defense is titled "Structural Analysis and Slip Kinematics of the Keweenaw Fault System Between Bête Grise Bay and Gratiot Lake, Keweenaw County, Michigan."

Lizzadro-McPherson is advised by James DeGraff (GMES/EPSSI), with committee members Aleksey Smirnov (GMES/Physics/EPSSI) and Don Lafreniere (SS/GRF).

From the abstract:
This project focused on the eastern half of a 2019-2020 EDMAP project to map the Keweenaw fault system between Bête Grise Bay and Gratiot Lake. New mapping and structural-kinematic analysis produced a revised bedrock geology map and 3D-model that better constrains the geometry of the fault system, revealing folds and fault-bounded blocks in the fault’s footwall. Analyses of fault slip data indicate a strike-to-dip slip ratio of 1.7:1 ratio and tectonic shortening direction of 083°-263. Slip along faults is a function of their strike relative to the shortening direction. Fault-bounded blocks were transported eastward along faults, likely facilitated by layer-parallel detachments that ramp up towards the east as thrusts on the block’s leading edge. Footwall folds adjacent faults are considered cogenetic, likely representing drag folds that formed during the Rigolet phase of the Grenville orogeny. Faults, both dextral strike slip and reverse dip slip, define a complex multistranded transpressional system of faults. Findings are consistent with recent mapping projects adjacent to the study area and new investigations correlating far-field compressive pulses of the Grenville Orogeny to Keweenawan tectonic events.

Michigan Tech hockey's Blake Pietila has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Month for February. It's the second straight month he's been honored and his third monthly award this season.

For February, Pietila held a .935 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average while going 4-2 in six games. He had shutouts at Bemidji State and at No. 12 Minnesota State and had three games stopping over 30 shots.

Pietila leads the nation with a school record nine shutouts and ranks third nationally in save percentage (.930), fourth in wins (21) and fourth in goals-against average (1.95). His 56 career wins rank third in Michigan Tech history.

Pietila has now earned six conference goaltender of the month honors in his career. He has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week seven times this season and is a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award and a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

No. 11 Michigan Tech hosts St. Thomas this weekend for a best-of-three CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinal series. The Huskies are the No. 2 seed and the Tommies are No. 7. 

The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. tonight (March 3) and 6:07 p.m. tomorrow (March 4) — and, if necessary, at 5:07 p.m. Sunday (March 5).

Fans can listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. All Michigan Tech home and CCHA games during the 2022-23 season will also be livestreamed on FloHockey.tv.

Tech is 22-9-4 overall and went 3-1 against the Tommies in the regular season.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech women's basketball guard Ellie Mackay tied the single-game points record, amassing 37 points in the Huskies’ 80-71 victory over Wayne State in the GLIAC quarterfinal play on Wednesday (March 1) to advance to the semifinals.

"What a great game for Ellie to go off — her last home game, for everyone to be able to see her score 37 and shoot so well. Super exciting for her," said head coach Sam Clayton. "I think it gives us a ton of momentum moving forward to compete for a GLIAC championship."

As a team, the Huskies went 29-of-69 (42%) from the field, while winning the rebounding battle with 45. Tech also forced 15 turnovers with four steals and six blocks. Isabella Lenz and Sloane Zenner joined Mackay in double-figure scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

With the win, the No. 2 seeded Huskies’ home record remains perfect at 14-0, with an overall standing of 24-5. 

Semifinal vs. Ferris State
Michigan Tech brings a five-game win streak into the GLIAC semifinals. The Huskies will play No. 6 seeded Ferris State at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (March 4) in Allendale, Michigan.

The Huskies and Bulldogs split in the regular season. No. 1 seeded Grand Valley State University is hosting the semifinal matches.

Fans can listen to Saturday's game online at Pasty.net and via radio on 920 WMPL-AM or 107.3 WMPL-FM. Ferris State will provide the video stream on FloHoops.

The other semifinal features No. 1 seed Grand Valley State against No. 5 Saginaw Valley State.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

No. 8 seeded Michigan Tech men's basketball topped No. 1 seed Wisconsin-Parkside 73-68 in the GLIAC tournament quarterfinals Wednesday (March 1) at De Simone Gymnasium.

"We went into halftime with a double-digit lead and we told the guys to just keep fighting through the runs," commented head coach Josh Buettner. "This team won the regular-season title and we knew they were going to keep coming at us. Every time it felt like it could slip away, someone stepped up and hit big shot after big shot for us. Our execution still needs to be a lot better in the last minute and a half but we battled to the end."

Marcus Tomashek scored 26 points for the Huskies, and Pete Calcaterra shot 7-for-10 for 19 points with eight rebounds. Nate Abel scored 11 points and took two charges in the second half to help MTU maintain the lead. Dan Gherezgher contributed 13 points and five rebounds. 

"Marcus was huge," Buettner said. "Pete had a ton of big ones. Nate made some very timely buckets and Dan did a really good job in the first half of setting the tone of the game for us."

Semifinal vs. Grand Valley State
The Huskies will take on No. 5 seed Grand Valley State at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (March 4) in the semifinals at Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids.

Michigan Tech is 0-2 against Grand Valley State this season and fell 74-61 at GVSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 21. The winner will play the semifinal host and No. 2 seed Ferris State, or No. 3 seed Northern Michigan for the GLIAC championship on Sunday (March 5). 

"I don't remember the last time we won a game in Big Rapids," Buettner said. "It will be the same type of situation on Saturday. Not a ton of pressure. No one is expecting us to keep going, but we have two days to recover and the goal is to go out there and play loose, free, confident and aggressive."

Saturday's game will be streamed on FloHoops with radio coverage online at Pasty.net and on 101.1 WUPY-FM in the Keweenaw.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Friday, March 3, 2023

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

Custodian (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #23052, Facilities (AFSCME posting dates March 3 to March 9, 2023 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22354RP and #23053, Human Resources (UAW posting dates March 3 to March 9, 2023 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

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 Detroit Free Press, Bridge Michigan, Detroit News, MLive, WLUC TV6 and multiple other Michigan news outlets covered the new $10,000 Michigander EV Scholars scholarship promoting electric vehicle and mobility careers. The scholarship program will be offered to students at Michigan Tech, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

*****

Jeff Naber and Jeremy Worm (ME-EM/APSRC) were quoted by WLUC TV6 in a story answering Keweenaw residents’ questions about operating electric vehicle batteries in cold temperatures. The story was picked up by Lansing’s WILX News 10.

*****

Rolf Peterson (CFRES) and Brett Huntzinger ’06 were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about new, nonlethal alternatives to keep wolves from killing livestock.

*****

Cassy Tefft de Muñoz (CEO) was quoted by the Voice of Sterling Heights, Michigan, in a story previewing the STEM Fest at St. Clair Community College next Saturday (March 11). The Center for Educational Outreach’s Mind Trekkers program is a partner for the event.

*****

Stefanie Sidortsova (UMC) was quoted by the Livingston Daily of Brighton, Michigan, in a story recapping security and protocols at Michigan colleges after the Feb. 13 shooting at Michigan State. The story was picked up from the Detroit Free Press.

*****

The International Association for Great Lakes Research mentioned Michigan Tech on page 17 of its Winter 2023 Lakes Letter. The page included a story on $1.6 million in funding approved for the planned Freshwater Research and Innovation Center in Traverse City, Michigan. The center is a collaboration between MTU, 20Fathoms, the Discovery Center & Pier, Northwestern Michigan College and Traverse Connect.

*****

UPWord mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Mackinac Economic Alliance’s vision of the Straits of Mackinac as a hub of maritime development and innovation. In partnership with the group, MTU researchers will study the potential for hydro energy, energy generation and ferry electrification in the area.

*****

3Dnatives mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a study examining additive manufacturing as a solution to roadway cracks and potholes.

*****

The Keweenaw Report picked up the announcement of the 2023 Parade of Nations theme and date.

*****

WZMQ 19 News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the outage being experienced by AudienceView, the online ticket sales vendor for Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan University.

*****

Joe Shawhan (ATH) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story recapping Michigan Tech hockey’s last regular-season series and looking forward to this weekend’s CCHA playoff series against St. Thomas University. Multiple Huskies were mentioned in the story.

*****

WJMN Local 3 covered Michigan Tech hockey’s Blake Pietila being named CCHA goaltender of the month.

*****

WJMN Local 3 ran a feature on professional speaker and former Husky football defensive back Jaylyn Boone ’18 (B.S. Finance). The story centered on Boone’s journey so far, what he wants the future to look like and what it means to create a legacy.

*****

The Baltimore Business Journal selected Julia Jasken ’03 (Ph.D. Rhetoric and Technical Communication) for professional recognition in education during Women’s History Month. Jasken is the president of McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.

*****

Radio World mentioned Michigan Tech in a story announcing the posthumous selection of former Husky Walker Sisson, a contract engineer who designed, constructed and maintained many radio stations, as the recipient of the Carl E. Lee Engineering Excellence Award for radio.

*****

The Ponte Vedra Recorder in Florida covered the promotion of George Miller ’99 (B.S. Civil Engineering) to executive vice president of construction engineering and inspection for England-Thims & Miller Inc.

American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Blended Learning Course

Earn your American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification in this three-day intensive training course located at the Michigan Tech SDC Pool. The certification includes Lifeguard/First Aid/CPR/AED certifications and all training materials.

All participants must be 15 years of age or older by the first date of the course (documentation required). Required water skills include the ability to swim 300 yards continuously, tread water for two minutes and complete a timed event in which participants retrieve a 10-pound brick from a depth of 7-10 feet and swim 20 yards with the object.

Online training prerequisites must be completed by the first day of classroom instruction. The instructor will contact class participants with online course information and directions. Class size is limited.

Registration opens next Friday (March 10) at 8 a.m. and closes April 6 at 11:59 p.m. Cost is $200 per participant.

For more information visit Michigan Tech Recreation's Lifeguard Certification page.

*****

Register Now for Family Fun Day!

Registration is now open for the 2023 Family Fun Day on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Family Fun Day, Michigan Tech employees and their families are invited to enjoy free access to the SDC facilities and other campus amenities. Lunch will be provided, along with pool access, Esports and more!

A schedule of events is located on our website.

If you plan to join us, please register online by Wednesday (March 8).

*****

Technical Lecture with AC Faculty Candidate Ronghua Xu

Department of Applied Computing (AC) faculty candidate Ronghua Xu will give a technical presentation today (March 3) at 1 p.m. online via Zoom.

The title of Xu's talk is "Secure-By-Design Federated Microchain Fabric for Internet-Of-Things (Iot) System."

Read Xu's bio and abstract on the Computing News Blog.

*****

Chemistry Olympiad 2023: Register Now!

Upper Peninsula high school science teachers and parents/guardians: We would like to invite your students and children to compete at the 2023 Chemistry Olympiad (Online).

Chemistry Olympiad 2023 will be an online chemistry competition open to all high school students from any U.P. school or home school. Participation is free! Sign up using our registration form by the end of the day today (March 3).

The competition will be held online March 13 from 6:30-8:20 p.m.

All participants will receive a participation gift and a participation certificate, and will be entered into a drawing for prizes.

Top scorers receive a medal and a prize, and have the opportunity to participate in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (in-person event).

The U.P. Chemistry Olympiad is hosted by the American Chemical Society and Michigan Technological University. Please contact coordinator Momoko Tajiri at mtajiri@mtu.edu with any questions.

*****

GRC Judges Still Needed

Graduate Student Government (GSG) is still in search of judges for this year's Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC) on March 29 and March 30.

The GRC provides graduate students a great opportunity to develop their oral and/or poster presentation skills in a friendly environment. GSG matches each presenter with a small panel of MTU faculty members to receive constructive feedback on their presentation. If you are willing to judge and help fulfill this vital role at the GRC poster or oral sessions, please submit the GRC 2023 Judge Volunteer Form to let us know your time availability.

Poster presentations will be held March 29 at the Rozsa Center Lobby from 5-8 p.m. The oral presentations will take place March 29 from noon to 5 p.m. and March 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the MUB.

The GRC event will be capped off with the annual GRC Awards Banquet. All participants and judges are invited to attend. It will be held March 30 following the closing of the GRC.

For more info, please visit our website or email Michael Maurer at gsg-research@mtu.edu.

*****

Chemistry Seminar with Massimo Olivucci

The Chemistry Seminar Series is pleased to present Massimo Olivucci and his seminar, "From photon to neuron: the molecular mechanism of the primary event in vision."

Olivucci will present in person today (March 3) at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 101.

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

Prospects of Electrocatalysis for Sustainable Manufacturing, Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, and Energy Storage

Friday, March 3, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Research Seminar Meenesh R. Singh Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering University of Illinois Chicago Abstract Electrocatalytic up-gradation of...

Job Offer Negotiations

Friday, March 3, 11:00–11:30 a.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

When should you negotiate? And how? Learn to negotiate job offers with ethics, strategy, and insight.

Fidelity Webinar: Saving for the Future You

Friday, March 3, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

Get Started and Save for the Future You: Learn the benefits of your workplace savings plan, how to enroll, and small steps you can take to save more. Registration is...

Technical Lecture: Faculty Candidate Ronghua Xu

Friday, March 3, 1 p.m.

Department of Applied Computing faculty candidate Ronghua Xu will give a technical presentation on Friday, March 3, at 1 p.m. online via Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting...

Chemistry Seminar Series

Friday, March 3, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 101

The Chemistry Department is proud to present the next seminar seires speaker. Dr. Massimo Olivucci will be giving his seminar: "From photon to neuron: the molecular...

Master's Defense: Daniel Lizzadro-Mcpherson

Friday, March 3, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Geology Advisor: James DeGraff Structural Analysis and Slip Kinematics of the Keweenaw Fault System Between Lac La Belle and Gratiot Lake, Keweenaw County, MI Attend...

Registration Deadline - Design Expo

March 3, all day

DESIGN EXPO 2023: SIGN UP NOW Design Expo highlights hands-on, discovery-based learning at Michigan Tech. During the event, which is hosted by the Enterprise Program and the...