June 6, 2023

Amy Marcarelli (BioSci/ESC) is the recipient of Michigan Technological University’s 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award in the Associate Professor/Professor category.

“We must educate students as whole people, and they must understand the social and societal context in which we work,” says Marcarelli of her teaching philosophy. “Science is a social endeavor with strengths and biases that we must recognize to address the wicked problems facing the Earth’s ecosystems and the human societies that rely on them.”

Read more about her approach to teaching at Michigan Tech News.

Yun Hang Hu’s pioneering contributions to advanced materials and clean energy have earned him recognition as a Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) Fellow. 

Hu, the Charles and Carroll McArthur Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech, is one of 46 new fellows, along with eight new international fellows and one honorary fellow, who will be inducted in a ceremony on June 20 in Victoria, British Columbia. 

CAE fellows are nominated and elected by their peers in recognition of their distinguished achievements and career-long service.

“Over the past 36 years, fellows of the academy have provided engineering leadership in the fields of education, infrastructure, innovation, energy, transportation and many more,” said CAE President Soheil Asgarpour in the announcement today. “New fellows have been selected for their outstanding contributions to engineering in Canada and around the world and for their service as role models in their fields and to their communities.” 

“I am very honored and humbled by my election to the Canadian Academy of Engineering,” Hu said. “I owe this to the great support from my family, colleagues and students.”

Read the full press release at Michigan Tech News.

Michael Mullins has agreed to serve as interim chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE). He will officially start July 1, taking over from chair and faculty member Pradeep Agrawal.

Mullins, a professor in ChE, has previously served as ChE department chair. He has extensive experience leading Michigan Tech's University Senate, and won a Fulbright award, the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology award, to spend the 2015-16 academic year on sabbatical at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"The department is in a strong growth curve of research, and I know that Michael will only help accelerate this as we add additional faculty to the department and also search for the department's next chair,” said College of Engineering Dean Janet Callahan.

“Having been in the department for over 35 years, I am pleased to serve as interim chair as we go through the transition period of finding our next chair and hiring additional faculty,” said Mullins. “Until that time, we will continue to promote excellence in education and research, and stay connected to our alumni and industry stakeholders.”

Agrawal came to Michigan Tech in 2017 to serve as chair after nearly 40 years at Georgia Tech. He will soon be returning to Atlanta upon retirement, where he will enjoy winters without anywhere near as much ice or snow!

Dining Services Executive Chef Eric Karvonen has retired after many years of creating tasty and delicious food here at Michigan Tech.

We will be celebrating with him today (June 6) at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Union Commons. Stop in to wish him well and enjoy some cake, goodies and refreshments.

Job Posting for Tuesday, June 6, 2023

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.

Manager of Student Outreach and Retention, Dean of Students. 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.

Samantha Smith (CLS) and Robert James Laverne (CFRES) were quoted by Traverse Northern Michigan Magazine in a story about Michigan Tech’s Nature Psychology course, which was developed primarily by Smith. The spring 2022 course was the subject of a story on Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

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PenTest Magazine published an article written by Victoria Walters (AC) and Yu Cai (AC/IC/ICC) about legal and ethical boundaries of generative artificial intelligence in relation to the practice of ethical hacking and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. 

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Steve Walton (SS) and Mark Rhodes (SS) were mentioned by the Iron Mountain Daily News in a story about ongoing community efforts to preserve the Ford Center and Forest’s Alberta Sawmill. The story was picked up from the Daily Mining Gazette.

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The Daily Mining Gazette published an article written by Sigrid Resh (CFRES/ESC) and undergraduate student Erin Mauk (wildlife ecology and conservation) about how to properly dispose of invasive plants.

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Erin Matas (Library) and Rick Stanitis (Canterbury House) were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about the large crowd drawn by the first Keweenaw Pridefest, held Saturday (June 3) at the East Houghton Waterfront Park.

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Michigan Business Network mentioned Michigan Tech in an announcement about an online app wherein prospective higher education partners can apply to participate in the state’s campaign to grow and support its semiconductor industry. The announcement was made by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. As part of the campaign, MTU students will be eligible for a Semiconductor Scholars scholarship program that mirrors the $10,000 Michigander EV Scholars program announced in February. 

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The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the financial history that led to Finlandia University’s closure earlier this year.

Fall 2023 PHF Graduate Assistantship Nominations Open

Applications for Fall 2023 Portage Health Foundation (PHF) Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. next Tuesday (June 13) to the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student conducting a research or outreach project that will promote and/or improve the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities.
2. Must be a Ph.D. candidate at the time of application.
3. Must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
4. Must not be a prior recipient of a PHF Graduate Assistantship.
5. Preference will be given to applicants with long-standing local connections to Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon county.

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

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

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

Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

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2023 Fiscal Year-End Closing Schedule

Financial Services and Operations has posted the 2023 Fiscal Year-End Closing Schedule on our website. The schedule is located on the Controller's Office webpage under the "Closing Schedules" subheading.

The fiscal year-end closing schedule lists important deadlines and should be distributed to appropriate employees.

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