September 25, 2023

An internationally recognized expert in high-energy gamma-ray astronomy and galactic cosmic rays, 2023 Michigan Tech Research Award recipient Petra Huentemeyer (Physics) views the career path she has followed as a natural if not always easy progression.

Fueled by a persistent curiosity to probe the unknown origins of the universe, Huentemeyer has studied and conducted research at the world’s leading institutions in her field. Among the top three most cited authors at Tech, she serves as vice-spokesperson for a globally collaborative observatory and mentors her students to seek their own bright futures.

Learn more about Huentemeyer and her work at Michigan Tech News.

Saturday (Sept. 30) is the last day of tick collection for the Crowdsourcing Ticks Project at Michigan Tech.

Current Results from Community Tick Submission
Of 819 ticks collected and submitted to the lab, current testing results are as follows: 

• 131 Lyme positive ticks
• 42 Anaplasma positive ticks
• 287 Rickettsia positive ticks
• 8 positives for Ehrlichia
• 0 positives for Babesia and Tularemia

Top locations for disease-positive ticks include Maasto Hiihto Trails, Chassell, Stanton-Liminga Road and Pilgrim River Trails. Several disease-positive ticks were submitted from unknown locations. Please note that not all Rickettsia bacteria cause disease — we will be performing sequencing analysis to determine the types of Rickettsia found in those ticks.

If you have any questions, please contact Aimee Marceau, sequencing lab lead, at ahmarcea@mtu.edu. 

 Crowdsourcing Ticks Project at MTU Ends Saturday
The Genomic Sequencing Lab wants ticks from you, your family and your pets. The goal of this project is to identify the prevalence of tick-borne illnesses in the Copper Country. Through Saturday (Sept. 30), please bring any ticks you find to one of two collection boxes on the Michigan Tech campus:

• U. J. Noblet Forestry Building — Main Entrance
• Great Lakes Research Center at 100 Phoenix Drive — Building Lobby

How to Remove and Preserve Ticks

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause its mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by:
   1. Placing it in a sealed plastic storage bag. Multiple ticks from the same location can be placed in the same bag.
   2. Once the tick is sealed inside the plastic storage bag, bring it to a drop-off point within eight hours or place the bag with the tick in a freezer until dropping it off at Michigan Tech.
5. Follow the directions at the drop-off site to ensure the tick is properly preserved.

The Board of Trustees will meet Oct. 6 from 9-11 a.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom B, and public attendance is welcome.

Members of the public are invited to make public comments to the Board in accordance with Board of Trustees Bylaw 1.14. Those who wish to address items in the agenda, and who have filed their intent with the secretary of the board as required by Bylaw 1.14, will be limited to five minutes. Those addressing general topics are limited to three minutes.

If you wish to provide public comments to the Board of Trustees, please submit your intent to Sarah Schulte, secretary to the Board of Trustees, at shschult@mtu.edu. The deadline to submit your intent is Friday (Sept. 29).

As the Michigan Tech Testing Center starts our 10th year of operation, we will be bringing you tips and fun facts — one each week for 10 weeks.

Week 4 Fun Facts: The most exams the Testing Center has given in one day was in fall 2018 finals week with 285. The busiest non-finals day was 173 during the seventh week of that same semester.

Week 4 Tips: During a Zoom exam, here are some suggestions.

• Change to recording gallery view:
  • Log in to Zoom, go to Settings in the left menu, then Recording from the top menu. Check the box next to "Record gallery view with shared screen."
• When setting up a Zoom session:
  • Requiring authentication to join will ensure that all participants are logged in with their MTU credentials, keeping others out.
  • Under Options, automatically recording meetings can help prevent forgetting to start the recording.
• Turning off chat between participants:
  • Once the meeting is underway, navigate to the chat window and click the three dots at the bottom left of the chat screen. In the dropdown menu, choose to allow chat between No One, Host and Co-Hosts, or Everyone.

If the Testing Center can assist you or your students, please reach out to us at techtesting-l@mtu.edu or 906-487-1001.

Get ready for Fusion Night – Rhythms of India!

Calling all music and dance enthusiasts! Join us for an electrifying DJ night, brought to you by the Indian Students Association in collaboration with the MUB Board. We're turning up the heat with the hottest beats from India.

Event Details:

• When: Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8:30-11:30 p.m.
• Where: Walker Lawn, Michigan Technological University
• Rain Location: SDC Multipurpose Room

Mark your calendars and spread the word. This is a night you won't want to miss! Entry is free!

Menu for Thursday (Sept. 28):

• Teriyaki Pork Loin
• Garden Salad
• Basmati Rice
• Chef Vegetables
• Spring Rolls and Sweet Chili Sauce

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Tech is hosting this week's C-Cubed Luncheon on Thursday 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 C-Cubed, or C3, lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by chef Luis Delgado 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 and cookies are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $15 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 C-Cubed feedback using the C-Cubed Survey/Comments form. To join the C-Cubed Google Group and receive weekly menus, please complete the C-Cubed Luncheon Email List form.

Are you working on a pitch or business model for your new venture? Do you have an innovative idea? In his free time, Michigan Tech alum Joe Corso (B.S. Electrical Engineering) mentors entrepreneurs at a business accelerator in Austin, Texas, and has scheduled online office hours to mentor our Husky Innovate startup teams.

Corso has an impressive record of leading new initiatives throughout his corporate career. He is passionate about entrepreneurship and wants to help Tech innovators move their ideas forward. Office hours will be held regularly throughout the year. If you are a faculty or advisor, please encourage students working on startups to attend.

Register to attend Fall Office Hours with Joe Corso.

This fall, we will meet online with Corso from 4-5 p.m. EST, on four dates: today (Sept. 26), Oct. 19, Nov. 9 and Nov. 30. Spots for Office hours are limited and based on availability. After we receive your registration, we will follow up with a Google Calendar invite and Zoom link to confirm.

About Joe Corso
Corso is the founder and president of TouchPoint Inc., where he provides management consulting to various technology companies in the Austin, Texas, area. Prior to that, he held executive management positions at IBM, Picture Network International (sold to Kodak), Dazel (sold to HP), AlterPoint and Mirage Networks.

Yeonsu Jung from Harvard University will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium. The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 28) in Fisher 139.

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

In academia, promotion and tenure reviews are pivotal for career progression. Join our workshop to gain crucial insights into promoting equity and fairness within promotion and tenure evaluations. Through interactive sessions, explore strategies to enhance inclusivity and equity in these assessments, and receive practical recommendations and templates for navigating the promotion and tenure review process effectively.

Drawing from a critical analysis of 75 publicly available templates for requesting external promotion and tenure review letters, our workshop deepens your understanding of potential biases, particularly those affecting women and faculty of color. Regardless of your career stage, our workshop offers practical recommendations for enhancing the promotion and tenure process.

Join us for this free virtual workshop on fostering more equitable academic environments, where all individuals have a fair opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals.

There are two offerings of the same workshop:

• Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 3-4 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 10-11 a.m. ET

Register to attend the workshop.

We hope to see you there!

Join us for an entrepreneurship talk with Rob Cote ’85, Michigan Tech alum and founder and CEO of Security Vitals, a cybersecurity organization.

Cote has founded and led two companies in the cybersecurity space. He will share misconceptions about entrepreneurship and insights gleaned from his experience as a startup CEO. He will discuss how he and his company stay focused on delivering value-added products and services to the customer in a dynamic environment. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

We will meet tomorrow (Sept. 26) from 2-3 p.m. in Chem Sci 211. Josue Reynoso (COB) is co-hosting this talk during his Management of Technology and Innovation class, and it is open to the Tech community.

Please register to attend the talk. After registration, a Google Calendar invite with a Zoom link will be sent.

Single-game tickets for the Michigan Tech football VIP tailgate at the Ajax Paving Champions Pavilion end at 10 a.m. on the Wednesday before the Huskies' upcoming game.

Single-game VIP tickets are $60 and remain available for the final four games at Kearly Stadium.

• Saturday, Sept. 30 — Davenport
• Saturday, Oct. 21 — Ferris State
• Saturday, Nov. 4 — Minot State
• Saturday, Nov. 11 — Saginaw Valley State

The Wednesday deadline has been installed to give catering staff proper numbers for food preparation.

Fans can purchase single-game VIP tickets at the SDC ticket office or online at BuyHuskiesTickets.com.

Job Postings for Monday, Sept. 25, 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.

Department Chair, Biological Sciences. Apply online.

Assistant Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences. 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.

Sigrid Resh (CFRES/ESC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $200,000 research and development grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service.

The project is titled "Prioritizing and Restoring Landscapes in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula."

Dorthea Vander Bilt (MTRI/ESC) and Rod Chimner (CFRES/ESC) are co-PIs on this potential 22-month project.

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Ryan Williams (GLRC) is the PI on a project that has received a $49,003 research and development grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The project is titled "2023 Resiliency Strategy-003."

Dan Lizzadro-McPherson and Guy Meadows (both GLRC), and Don Lafreniere (SS/GLRC) are co-PIs on this project.

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Adrienne Keller (CFRES/ESC) is the PI on a project that has received a $90,076 other sponsored activities co-op joint agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station.

The project is titled "Ecosystem Management for Climate and Carbon Benefits."

Lucas Nave (CFRES/ESC) is a co-PI on this potential two-year project.

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Hongyu An (ECE/ICC) is the PI on a project that has received a $174,229 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "CRII: FET: Building A Self-Learning Robot System with Neuromorphic Computing."

This is a potential two-year project.

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Jeremy Bos (ECE/ICC) is the PI on a project that has received a $42,864 research and development grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

The project is titled "Unravelling dependencies on turbulence strength and propagation geometry in models of optical scintillation."

This is a potential two-year project.

Michigan Tech volleyball’s Alayna Corwin and Matt Jennings (ATH) were quoted in a Daily Mining Gazette feature story about Corwin’s path to Tech and her impact on the volleyball program so far.

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The Detroit Free Press, MSN and Yahoo! News mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about Houghton being named one of the nation’s top 15 off-the-beaten-path vacation destinations.

Applications Open for Visiting Professor Program

The Office of the Provost now has funding available for the 2023-24 academic year to invite scholars, potential faculty or research collaborators to Michigan Tech's campus. This funding is available thanks to the state of Michigan King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Visiting Professor Program (VPP).

University departments or units are invited to apply for financial support to bring visiting scholars who provide underrepresented perspectives in their field of expertise to Michigan Tech's campus. Visitors do not need to possess a terminal degree or hold a faculty position to qualify for support. Supported visits can be as short as an afternoon, or up to a week or longer. While on campus, visiting professors should interact with faculty and students in the classroom, in seminars and in informal and formal group discussions, or teach a session during an academic or summer semester.

Applications must be received one month before a proposed visit for pre-approval by the state of Michigan. Funding requests can be made for up to $1,500. However, departments or units must provide a 1-to-1 match to KCP funds.

Learn more about the Visiting Professor Program, including its purpose and the application process. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Shannon Vairo, manager of partner engagement and faculty support.

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49th Annual Copper Country Color Tour & First Dirty Dieter

The Upper Peninsula's golden season is upon us, and what better way to explore the stunning fall colors than on your bike with the 49th Annual Copper Country Color Tour?

Get ready to pedal through the stunning Keweenaw Peninsula, adorned in vibrant autumn hues. Whether you're a cycling pro or a newbie, we have the perfect route for you: choose from 60, 115 or 210 kilometers of cycling bliss. Fuel up at aid stations along the way, stocked with snacks and drinks to keep you energized.

Road riding is not your thing? You are not afraid of getting dirty? You crave a different kind of challenge? Embrace the first ever Dirty Dieter — a self-supported gravel route for the fearless. Conquer sand, mud and the heart of the Keweenaw on your gravel or mountain bike during an 80-mile dirt adventure.

Takeoff is on Saturday (Sept. 30) at 8 a.m. from the R. L. Smith Building (MEEM) on campus. Secure your spot now on our event registration webpage.

For more info and a route preview, visit our website.

Gear up for an autumn cycling adventure like no other with Michigan Tech’s Copper Country Cycling Club (C4)! Let's hit the road (or gravel) together — see you there!

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2023-24 CISR Funding for Research and Curriculum Development

The Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR, pronounced "scissor") is offering three funding opportunities in fiscal year 2024 to support Michigan Tech faculty and staff in developing collaborative research and curriculum development around the themes of sustainability and resilience. These activities are supported by the Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience.

All awards have due dates of Oct. 5, 2023, and March 7, 2024, but rolling submissions and inquiries are encouraged!

• Faculty Fellowship
  The Sustainable and Resilient Communities Faculty Fellowship offers teaching buyout in fall 2024 or spring 2025 to support research development activities. We anticipate making three to four awards in FY 24. Read the RFP.

• Early Career and New Directions Award
  In the range of $5,000 to $7,000, this award complements start-up packages for early career faculty or supports established researchers who are pursuing new ideas or topics in their work. We anticipate making four to six awards. Read the RFP. 

• Curriculum Innovation Award
  Supports the development of new or retooled courses. Awards range from $3,000 to $5,000, but are flexible to meet the project needs. Read the RFP.

Please send all inquiries to Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu.

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VPR Research Series: 'Moving Your Research Forward with GrantForward'

Join us tomorrow (Sept. 26) from noon to 1 p.m. for the next session of the VPR Research Series, "Moving Your Research Forward with GrantForward.”

The GrantForward team will be our guides as we explore comprehensive tools to find funding opportunities for your research program. In addition to system basics, the team will be sharing their top use cases for researchers and how you can implement these to automate your funding searches and take advantage of the features available to you with your Michigan Tech account.

Join us on Zoom at noon tomorrow to learn how to receive recommendations, find funding, learn strategic information and more!

Any questions should be addressed to rd-l@mtu.edu.

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CISR Research Discussion: 'Hydrogen and Emerging Gas Technologies as Tools of Sustainability and Resilience'

Tomorrow (Sept. 26) from noon to 1 p.m. in Library 103 (or on Zoom), join the Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) for a discussion on upcoming opportunities for team proposals in the thematic area of "Hydrogen and Emerging Gas Technologies as Tools of Sustainability and Resilience."

David Shonnard and Robert Handler (both ChE) and Jeff Allen (ME-EM) will help seed and moderate the discussion. Attendees will also get a chance to learn more about CISR resources to support research development. Feel free to bring lunch.

Add the event directly to your Google Calendar.

If you are interested in this area of research but are unable to attend, please email Alan Turnquist at alturnqu@mtu.edu and we will provide you with a summary and an opportunity to join subsequent discussions.

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Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place at 3 p.m. today (Sept. 25) in GLRC 202.

Longhuan Zhu, research scientist III, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, will present "Accelerated Coastal Erosion in Lake Michigan under Wave Climate Change: Nature-based Solutions with Aquaculture Structures."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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EPSSI Seminar with Gwenore Pokrifka

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) guest Gwenore Pokrifka, a Ph.D. candidate of the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University, will give a talk today (Sept. 25) at 4 p.m. in M&M U113.

Pokrifka's talk is titled "Measurements of Small Ice Particle Growth Rates to be Used in Cirrus Cloud Models."

Event details can be viewed on the University Events Calendar.

From the abstract:
Cirrus clouds are often composed of small ice crystals and their growth is poorly understood. Many begin as spherical frozen droplets, but develop into complex shapes, or “habits”. For an ice habit to form, water vapor must deposit more efficiently onto some surfaces than others. This growth efficiency is called a deposition coefficient, α. In numerical cloud models, the deposition coefficient is often assumed to be unity, meaning that all vapor molecules incorporate into the crystalline lattice. This would force the small crystals to remain spherical, which contradicts our recent in-cloud observations that showed branched and hollowed particles even at small sizes (maximum dimension < 100 µm). Here, we present data-driven approximations for the deposition coefficient and the processes that produce hollowing and branching. These approximations are derived from almost 300 single-particle growth experiments of small, cirrus-like, ice crystals. The particles grew in a thermal-gradient diffusion chamber at cirrus temperatures (-65 to -40°C) and supersaturations ranging from ice- to liquid-equilibrium. At low supersaturation, the measured growth is well represented by a supersaturation-dependent deposition coefficient function. At high supersaturation the influence of hollows and branches is characterized by a simple power-law. The approximations based on these data can easily be incorporated into cloud and weather forecasting microphysical models.

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

Layered in Between: Prints by Erin Hoffman Presented by Michigan Tech Art

Monday, September 25, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

Erin Hoffman is an artist and printmaker from Muskegon, Michigan, who deals primarily with political and social concerns. Through the presentation of mismatched ideas and...

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Homecoming T-shirt Swap

Monday, September 25, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | MUB Circle

Huskies are giving back for Homecoming again this year! If you donate an item from the lists below, we will give you a 2023 Homecoming Shirt while sizes and shirts last. This...

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Boys' Basketball Little Huskies

Monday, September 25, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC)

Learning skills, working as a team, and having fun: that’s Michigan Tech’s Boys’ Basketball Little Huskies League. It’s about the best introduction to basketball you can...

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EPSSI Seminar: Gwenore Pokrifka

Monday, September 25, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), Room U113

PhD Candidate Gwenore Pokrifka of the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University will give a talk on Monday, Sept 25 at 4:00 pm In M&M...

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Mingle & Games at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Monday, September 25, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Huskies meet at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion for lawn games, music, and fun food! Hangout and enjoy relaxing fun with fellow students, staff, and faculty. Our new...

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Chalk Art Competition

Monday, September 25, 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Walker Lawn Sidewalk Areas

Homecoming's registered teams will showcase their team's artistic talents and compete for the opportunity to win prizes. Join our community to watch the art unfold and...

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Race Practice

Monday, September 25, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. | East Houghton Waterfront Park

Race practices are pretty casual. We set a few marks in the portage and have a few races on Monday and Wednesday nights. Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of sailing...

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Huskies Group Swim Lessons - Parent & Child Aquatics Fall 2023 Session 1

Monday, September 25, 5:10 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Ages 6 months to 3 years. Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6...

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Huskies Group Swim Lessons - Parent & Child Aquatics Fall 2023 Session 1

Monday, September 25, 5:10 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Ages 6 months to 3 years. Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6...

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Huskies Group Swim Lessons - Preschool Aquatics Fall 2023 Session 1

Monday, September 25, 5:10 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Ages 4-5 years. Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old. ...

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German Horror Film Series

Monday, September 25, 5:30 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 134

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, directed by Robert Wiene The 1920 classic German Expressionism film

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Law Club Weekly Meeting

Monday, September 25, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Library 103

Objectives: 1. To provide a pre-professional organization for those who are planning to pursue a legal career or those who are interested in the legal field. 2. To prepare...

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Accelerated Coastal Erosion in Lake Michigan under Wave Climate Change: Nature-based Solutions with Aquaculture Structures

September 25, all day | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar Longhuan Zhu, Research Scientist III, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire Abstract:...

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Campus Barbershop

September 25, all day

Sign up for an appointment today: https://getsquire.com/booking/book/the-good-life-barber-lounge-marquette