March 23, 2023

Michigan Tech has been clear on our mission from day one. The state’s only public university specifically established to drive industry forward, Tech consistently delivers on our promise to deliver the leading-edge technology that industry needs.

In the cover story of the latest Tech Magazine, MICHauto Executive Director Glenn Stevens Jr. reflects on his connections to the University and describes why Michigan Tech is uniquely positioned to lead in the new industrial age.

Read the story in our 2023 Michigan Tech Magazine.

As announced last spring (2022), a number of updates related to the Schedule of Administrative Deadlines for the 2023-24 tenure, promotion and reappointment (TPR) review process are taking place. Following are the most notable changes.

• Faculty planning to go up for promotion (instructional-track or tenure-track/tenured) or early tenure must notify their chair (dean for colleges without departments) of their intent to go up by April 7.
• Tenure-track/tenured faculty going up for tenure and/or promotion will need to provide their chair (dean for colleges without departments) with a list of external reviewers by April 19.
• The unit’s TPR committee will need to provide the respective chair (dean for colleges without departments) with suggested external reviewers by April 28. 
• By May 5, external reviewers should be asked to commit to writing a letter; this is a new step in the process. This does not mean that materials for external reviewers need to be provided; this deadline is listed as Aug. 4 in the Schedule of Administrative Deadlines. However, if a faculty member has their materials ready and is comfortable having the packet shared at this time, there is no requirement to wait.

These updates follow feedback from those involved in the TPR review process over the last few years, as well as some units finding that other universities have been asking for external letters before or during the summer.

As a part of MTU Earth Month programming, you are invited to join in recognizing the four recipients of the second annual Michigan Tech Sustainability and Resilience Campus Leadership Awards.

This year’s awardees are:

• Undergraduate: Janelle Freeman (sustainability science and society)
• Graduate: Elise Rosky (Ph.D. in Physics candidate)
• Staff: Dan Liebau (Facilities)
• Faculty: Mark Rudnicki (CFRES)

We will gather for a celebration of the award winners and their accomplishments and provide a brief update on sustainability work at Michigan Tech with some time to enjoy snacks and interact with your peers.

Event Details:

• What: Sustainability Awards Gathering
• When: Monday, April 10, from 4-5 p.m. (formal program ends by 4:40)
• Where: Alumni Lounge in the MUB

You don't have to win, you just have to TRI! Michigan Tech Recreation is hosting an indoor triathlon for MTU students and SDC Access Pass holders (minimum one month)! Unlike a traditional triathlon, which covers fixed distances of swimming, biking and running, indoor triathlons challenge competitors to race the greatest distance with a fixed time frame. Beginners and seasoned athletes are welcome to participate in the 10-minute swim, 15-minute bike and 10-minute run! Transition time is provided between events. Event capacity is limited.

The indoor triathlon will take place April 5 at 7 p.m. Open to MTU students and SDC Access Pass Holders (minimum one month) with a valid MTU student ID or SDC Access Pass. Must be 16 years of age or older to participate.

Registration Details:

• Cost: It's free! (But you must register to participate!)
• Registration opened: Thursday, March 16, at 8 a.m.
• Registration closes: Thursday, March 30 at 11:59 p.m.

For more information, visit the Michigan Tech Rec Indoor Triathlon page.

Please join the Graduate School on May 12 from 3-5 p.m. at the Great Lakes Research Center, GLRC 201/202, to celebrate the retirement of Nancy Byers Sprague.

Byers Sprague has been a valuable member of our campus community for over 45 years, and has been with the Graduate School for the last 20. During this time, countless students, faculty and staff have been impacted by her caring and compassionate nature, and it will be hard to imagine campus life without her.

Please join us in wishing her well as she “sails” toward retirement at the end of June.

RSVP to Mia Kemppainen at miaw@mtu.edu with the number of attendees. We hope to see you there!

Qiben Yan of Michigan State University will present a Department of Computer Science (CS) Colloquium lecture next Friday (March 31) from 3-4 p.m. in Rekhi 214 and virtually via Zoom.

The title of Yan's talk is "Securing Cyber Physical Systems Against Novel Physical-Layer Attacks.”

Yan’s research interests include Internet of Things (IoT) systems, blockchain system security, mobile and IoT security, and wireless communication and security. His research has been reported in various high-impact media outlets, including BBC Radio, Scientific American, Science Daily, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, Gizmodo and The Register.

Learn more and read the abstract on the Computing News Blog.

"The Joe Shawhan Hour" was recently honored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters with a Broadcast Excellence Award in the Sports category.

Host Dirk Hembroff and Michigan Tech hockey head coach Joe Shawhan go live on Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM at 10 a.m. on Monday mornings throughout the season. The show regularly features guest appearances from current coaches, staff, student-athletes, and former players and friends of the program.

The show won a Broadcast Excellence Award in Sports in the Commercial Radio Market 4. Hembroff was also honored with a Broadcast Excellence Award in Morning Show Broadcast Personality for his final show, "The Dirkside," which aired April 1, 2022.

Fans can listen live to the Joe Shawhan Hour on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM, online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net, or by using your favorite radio streaming app. The show is also be posted for on-demand listeners at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech hockey will open the 2023 NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament against Penn State Friday (March 24) at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The puck will drop at 5 p.m.

The Huskies earned an at-large bid to the tournament for the second straight season. Tech is 24-10-4 overall and will play the Nittany Lions for the first time in program history. 

Michigan Tech Athletics is hosting a watch party at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena for the game. Fans can also listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. ESPNU and ESPN+ will televise Friday's regional semifinals. Fans in Canada can watch the NCAA Tournament on TSN+.

The region's top seed, the University of Michigan, will play Colgate in the second semifinal at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The winners will play in the regional championship on Sunday (March 26) at 6:30 p.m.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Wayne Weaver (ME-EM/MARC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $105,000 research and development contract from the Sandia National Labs.

The project is titled "Power Electronics and Advanced Modeling and Control for Energy Systems."

Shangyan Zou (ME-EM/MARC) is a co-PI on this project.

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned the Michigan Tech Archives in a story about Verna Mize, remembered for her advocacy for the health of Lake Superior. Many materials from Mize’s Save Lake Superior campaign are housed in the Archives’ collection.

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The Daily Mining Gazette and WLUC TV6 picked up Michigan Tech Athletics’ press release on the death of Husky basketball great Geof Kotila. 

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WLUC TV6 previewed the NCAA watch party planned at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena tomorrow (March 24).

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Yahoo! Finance covered Intel’s appointment of Stuart Pann ’81 (B.S. Electrical Engineering) as head of Intel Foundry Services. The story ran in more than 40 tech industry and business publications in the U.S.

Deadline Extended: Applications Still Open for Climate Leaders Academy

Current undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in climate leadership are invited to apply to be a fellow of the Climate Leaders Academy (CLA), which is launching this summer.

CLA is a two-semester program with the goal of providing formal climate training and professional development to fellows through direct engagement with national and international climate change frameworks, formalized mentoring and collaboration with a diverse set of institutions. CLA is funded through the National Science Foundation and the YEAH network, and supported by MTU, Boston University, Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University.

CLA-Fellows will be entitled to the following benefits:

• $10,000 stipend ($5,000 per semester)
• Four transferable course credits
• All travel expenses covered (to and from kickoff workshop, climate change conferences, etc.)
• One-on-one mentoring by a CLA faculty member
• Tuition coverage for CLA course

Additional information and the official application can be found at the CLA Application Form. Applications are due March 31 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

Questions can be directed to Rose Daily at roset@mtu.edu or Leah Dundon at leah.a.dundon@vanderbilt.edu.

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CS Colloquium Lecture with Karem Sakallah

Karem Sakallah, University of Michigan, will present a Department of Computer Science (CS) Colloquium lecture tomorrow (March 24) from 3-4 p.m. in Rekhi 214, and virtually via Zoom.

The title of Sakallah's talk is “Verification of Distributed Protocol Specifications is Decidable.”

Sakallah is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science. His research is focused on automating the formal verification of hardware, software and distributed protocols. He is a fellow of the IEEE and the ACM and a co-recipient of the prestigious Computer-Aided Verification Award for “Fundamental contributions to the development of high-performance Boolean satisfiability solvers.”

Learn more and read the abstract on the Computing News Blog.

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Save the Dates: 'Mobility in Michigan' Site Visits and Presentations

Janine Ward, program manager for the state of Michigan's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) will be on campus for site visits and presentations Monday and Tuesday (March 27 and 28).

The Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI) will be holding a reception for Ward on Monday from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Memorial Union. During the reception Ward will present her talk, titled “State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) funding platforms - Opportunities for Michigan Tech and the Upper Peninsula.” Light refreshments will be served.

All are welcome to attend. RSVP is required by the end of today (March 23).

As the program manager of the Michigan OFME, Ward is focused on growing Michigan’s mobility and electrification ecosystem and creating safer, more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation solutions for Michigan residents. She leads innovation growth initiatives at OFME, including signature grant programs under the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) and statewide testing assets. In addition to managing MMFP, she facilitates industry collaboration through various working groups convening subject matter experts to identify challenges in the state and develop solutions.

If you would like an opportunity to meet with Ward outside of the reception and presentation time, please contact Pam Hannon at prhannon@mtu.edu for schedule availability.

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Modern Language Spring Film Series: 'Identifying Features'

Tonight (March 23), we are screening the third film in this year's Modern Language Film Series, where we approach the theme of social justice. Thursday's film is "Identifying Features," a Spanish language film directed by Fernanda Valadez and released in 2020 in Mexico and Spain. Run time: 95 minutes.

Magdalena embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth about what happened to her son, who disappeared after he left with a friend to cross the border into the U.S. looking for work.

The film will begin at 7 p.m. in Fisher 135. Each film will be subtitled in English. The screening is open to the public.

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This Week's C3 Luncheon

Menu for Thursday (March 23):

• Chile Verde Chicken (Gluten Friendly)
• Southwest Sweet Potatoes (Vegan)
• Red Rice (Gluten Friendly, Vegan)
• Borracho Beans with Chorizo (Gluten Friendly, Vegan)
• Southwest Chopped Salad (Vegan)

Dining Services presents this week's C3 Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C3 lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by executive chef Michael Landini and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $12 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). You can submit C3 feedback using our Google form. To join the C3 Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

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BioSci Seminar with John McCall

John McCall will present as part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series/Defenses from 3-4 p.m. today (March 23). The seminar will be held in the Great Lakes Research Center, GLRC 202.

McCall is a master's student in biological sciences at Michigan Technological University. He will present "Epi- and population genomic assessments of stamp sand toxicity to salmonids and consequences for Lake Superior fisheries."

From the abstract:
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan historically had significant native copper deposits which made the region the second largest global producer of copper between 1850 and 1930 (Murdoch 1943). Two mines deposited over 22 million metrics tonnes/50 billion lbs of mine tailing wastes (“stamp sands”) along the shore of Lake Superior’s Big Traverse Bay (Pepin 2017). Erosion of this pile has resulted in stamp sands being distributed over 35% of Buffalo Reef, a natural spawning reef for lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) that is estimated to produce almost 1/3 of the regional catch of these species in Lake Superior. We used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and genotyped fish from Buffalo Reef and Lake Superior to quantify adverse developmental or toxic effects associated with stamp sand dispersal onto spawning habitat and potential consequences for the fishery. Bisulfite sequencing identified over 22k loci in lake trout that were screened for unusual DNA methylation at cytosine and guanine dinucleotides, which is a conserved epigenetic marker in vertebrates shown to modulate gene expression due to environmental stress. Buffalo Reef lake trout were hypomethylated and had an aberrant methylation pattern compared to a Lake Huron outgroup, suggesting acute or chronic toxicity from legacy stamp sand exposure. Genotype data showed Buffalo Reef lake trout had more heterozygosity than allopatric fish in Lake Superior and a gradient of genetic differentiation across a large spatial scale. Individual fish were also genetically admixed across sites suggesting high gene flow between populations and potential loss of genetic diversity or demographic consequences for fishes due to continuing stamp sand inundation at Buffalo Reef.

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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker: Sandip Mazumder

The next Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 4 p.m. today (March 23) in MEEM 112.

Sandip Mazumder will present “The Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming.”

Mazumder joined Ohio State University (OSU) in March 2004. Prior to joining OSU, he was employed at CFD Research Corporation in Huntsville, Alabama, for seven years.

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Physics Colloquium with Karen Andeen

Karen Andeen from Marquette University will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. today (March 23) in Fisher 139.

Andeen's presentation is titled "Cosmic ray composition using the icecube neutrino observatory."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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

Michigan Tech Art Presents: Snowsports Faculty and Staff Art Show

Thursday, March 23, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |

MICHIGAN TECH ART PRESENTS SNOWSPORTS FACULTY AND STAFF ART SHOW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 THROUGH SATURDAY APRIL 29, 2023 A-SPACE HOURS: M-F 8 A.M.-8 P.M.

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Art Competition

Thursday, March 23, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Students can submit art to be displayed in the Library. Art will be voted on and prizes will be awarded to the highest voted art pieces. Student can submit their art...

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Master's Defense: Tyler LeMahieu

Thursday, March 23, 9–10 a.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Environmental Engineering Co-advisors: Veronica Webster and Cory McDonald Eutrophication on Twin Lakes: Applying a Phosphorus Budget and Shoreline Surveys To Assess Current...

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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance by Appointment

Thursday, March 23, 11–12 a.m. | Academic Office Building (AOB), G015

The College of Business is pleased to again offer Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Accounting majors will provide free income tax preparation assistance for students and...

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Safe Place Training

Thursday, March 23, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Superior Room B001

Faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to sign up for the Michigan Tech Safe Place Program. Structured as four steps, the training takes approximately four hours...

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CTL Technical Workshop - Canvas Grading and Gradebook

Thursday, March 23, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Join the Center for Teaching and Learning (Technical Workshops) for the following opportunity: Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 2:00PM ...

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Biological Science Seminar - John McCall

Thursday, March 23, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

John McCall MS Student Biological Sciences Michigan Technological University Epi- and population genomic assessments of stamp sand toxicity to salmonids and consequences...

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Seminar by ChE Chair Candidate

Thursday, March 23, 3 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Dr. Brandon Weeks will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Research Series on Thursday (March 23) at 3 p.m. in person in Chem Sci 201 or virtually...

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Software Carpentry Workshop in R

Thursday, March 23, 3:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Michigan Tech will host a “Software Carpentry Workshop in R” from March 20 to March 24, 2023, each day from 3-5:30 p.m. ET. The virtual workshop is open to and free for...

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Physics Colloquium - Dr. Karen Andeen

Thursday, March 23, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Karen Andeen from Marquette University will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium. Please join the in-person presentation at 4 p.m. Thursday (March 23) in Fisher...

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The Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

Thursday, March 23, 4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 112

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Sandip Mazumder, PhD Professor and Interim Associate Chair The Ohio State University Abstract This seminar will...

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Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2023 Session 3

Thursday, March 23, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to the intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the...

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Adult Huskies Swim Training Spring 2023 Session 3

Thursday, March 23, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

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Bi-Weekly Club Meeting

Thursday, March 23, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | The Bubble Greenhouse

Plant & Gardening Club will be hosting our bi-weekly meeting at 5pm in the Bubble Greenhouse on the main campus. Below are some activities we have outlined for those who can...

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Study Abroad with ISA and TEAN

Thursday, March 23, 5 p.m.–6 p.m.

Join International Studies Abroad (ISA) and The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) for a virtual info session to learn about their various study abroad programs, meet their...

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Outdoor Venture Crew Weekly Meeting

Thursday, March 23, 5:15 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | Fisher 129

We'll be voting on our weekly trip and discussing other relevant information. While our meetings run until 7:00 PM, they don't usually last longer than 20 or 30 minutes. Feel...

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Crochet Class

Thursday, March 23, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | MUB Ballroom, Memorial Union Building

Join us in the MUB Ballroom at 6pm for a class on crocheting. The class will be focused on making a granny square knot.

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Modern Languages Film Series Spring 2023 – Movie in Spanish: Identifying features

Thursday, March 23, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 135

The Modern Languages Program is excited to present one more year its ML Film Series. This year’s theme is Social Justice. We will watch the movie in Spanish with English...

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Club Roll

Thursday, March 23, 8 p.m.–10 p.m. | SDC Pool

Come join the Log Rolling Club in the SDC Pool. No experience needed, we would be more than happy to help you learn and have a great time! Everyone that participates in...