November 17, 2023

The Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education is pleased to announce that Steve Patchin has accepted the position of project manager for Essential Education implementation. Patchin began in this role on Monday (Nov. 13).

Patchin brings a wealth of project management experience in education to this position, having previously served as director of Career Services at Michigan Tech and as superintendent of the Hancock schools, among other positions. He also brings both professional and scholarly expertise in educational innovation and a deep commitment to student success.

As project manager for Essential Education implementation, Patchin will work closely with the leadership team and with the working groups, as well as other stakeholders, in order to ensure that we are ready to launch the new Essential Education program in fall 2025.

Faculty can help Student Billing and the Campus Store save students money and avoid confusion by adhering to Inclusive Access (IA) deadlines. Here's how.

In spring 2022, the billing process for Inclusive Access materials changed to a "bill first" system, meaning that IA is charged before the start of the semester. Refunds are generated for courses that are dropped or students who choose to opt out. If IA materials change for any class due to a late adoption into IA, students receive an additional bill they are not expecting. These changes happen weekly through the second week of the semester. This has led to students and parents being confused as to why they're receiving another bill, balances not being paid, and late fees being assessed.

Faculty can help prevent these issues by submitting accurate and timely textbook requests by the deadlines set forth. Confirm you want to use Inclusive Access when you receive the email from the Campus Store regarding pricing for your course.

Deadlines for spring semester have already passed. However, we can still add classes to IA until the end of November without affecting student billing. If you haven’t responded to our emails and you want to use IA, please do so as soon as possible.

Thank you for helping make this process as smooth as possible for our students. Please contact the Campus Store at 906-487-2470 or campusstore@mtu.edu with any questions.

The Student Development Complex (SDC) and Gates Tennis Center will have reduced hours over Thanksgiving break, from today (Nov. 17) through next Sunday (Nov. 26).

The SDC and Gates Tennis Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23).

View the Thanksgiving Break Schedule.

The College of Engineering (CoE) Dean Search Committee will be meeting on Nov. 28 at 8 a.m. in the MUB Superior Room.

The agenda includes introducing Alex Collias, Human Resources recruiter; building a rubric and developing the candidate pool; and developing a set of confidential Zoom questions.

The meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) office will be closed next week from Monday to Friday (Nov. 20-24) due to remodeling and Thanksgiving break. Regular office hours will resume the Monday after break (Nov. 27).

The office staff will be working remotely during the closure and can still be reached via email.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

This year’s University Holiday Luncheon will be presented from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the Memorial Union Isle Royale Ballroom. All faculty and staff are welcome.

The University will cover the cost of the tickets this year, but guests will be asked to show their paper or e-ticket to attend. Tickets may be reserved online, in-person or via phone (7-2073) through the SDC Ticket Office. Ticket reservations end at 5 p.m. on Nov. 29. We encourage you to secure your tickets early, as seating is limited.

The Holiday Luncheon Menu:

• Slow Roasted Turkey
• Garden Salad
• Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Herb Gravy
• Italian Sausage Stuffing
• Glazed Carrots
• Caramelized Cauliflower
• Cranberry Sauce
• Dinner Rolls
• Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Pie

The Forestry Club Christmas Tree Sale will take place on Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Hamar House parking lot (Lot 14).

Please fill out the preorder form, which is linked through the QR code on the Christmas Tree Sale poster. The deadline for preorders is Dec. 1.

Please email John Siskaninetz at jmsiskan@mtu.edu for questions.

Please join Northstar EAP on Dec. 6 at noon for a 45-minute hybrid Lunch and Learn presentation in the MUB Ballroom B.

During the Lunch and Learn:

• A registered dietician will answer some big questions regarding how what we eat ties greatly to our mental health and wellness goals. She will answer common questions, debunk myths and discuss various eating habits and how our daily habits at work and in our personal lives play a huge role in our diet.

• A basket of surprises will be raffled off to one lucky employee who attends.

This hybrid presentation will be streamed on Zoom, and in-person seating will be limited. Please sign up using our RSVP form.

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering Hanrui Su will present a Ph.D. defense on Monday (Nov. 20) at 2 p.m. in M&M 610.

Su is advised by Yun Hang Hu.

Su's dissertation is titled "Carbonate-Superstructured Solid Fuel Cells with Hydrocarbon Fuels."

From the abstract:
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have gained prominence as high-efficiency electric generators, yet their high operating temperatures (>800°C) present challenges in terms of system cost, complexity, and long- term durability. Lowering the operating temperature to the low-temperature range (≤ 650°C) has garnered significant attention, especially for utilizing hydrocarbons as fuels. However, the critical issue for low- temperature SOFCs is the polarization losses resulting from temperature reduction. This study presents groundbreaking research on a novel fuel cell type known as the carbonate-superstructured solid fuel cell (CSSFC). A key innovation in CSSFCs lies in the in-situ generation of a eutectic carbonate phase (Li2CO3/Na2CO3), which enhances the total ionic conductivity of the porous samarium-doped ceria (SDC) composite electrolyte by 20-fold, resulting in a six-fold increase in peak power density (PPD), reaching 215 mW cm–2 with dry methane fuel at 550°C, surpassing all reported values of electrolyte-supported SOFCs. Furthermore, we integrated photo energy into the CSSFC system by introducing light illumination into the thermal catalytic CO2 reforming of ethane in the anode, creating a thermo-photo anode process for CSSFCs. Light-enhanced fuel activation leads to an outstanding cell performance, with a record PPD of 168 mW cm−2 with ehane-CO2 fuel at 550°C, with no observed degradation over ~50 hours of operation. Additionally, incorporating finer-scale gradient anode functional layers further enhances internal reforming reactions, reduces polarization resistance, and increases PPD to 241 mW cm–2 at 550°C with ethane fuels. The CSSFCs with gradient anodes maintain excellent durability with ethane fuels for over 200 hours. In conclusion, CSSFCs offer a promising platform for efficient electrochemical energy conversion with fuel flexibility, simplified fabrication, and reduced costs.

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering candidate Yuhuan Fei will present a Ph.D. defense on Tuesday (Nov. 21) at 2 p.m. in M&M 610.

Fei is advised by Yun Hang Hu.

The dissertation is titled "Synthesis and Characterization of Three-Dimensional Hydrogenated Graphene."

From the abstract:
Hydrogenated graphene has gained intensive attention with its application potentials in various fields including hydrogen storage, catalysis, electronics, and biomedicine. The recent decade has witnessed increasing research efforts on exploit of synthesis methods for hydrogenated graphene and the development of four primary synthesis approaches, namely, plasma hydrogenation, thermal cracking, Birch reduction, and electrochemical reduction. However, commonly used synthesis methods generally suffer redundant synthesis process, high startup and operation costs, requirements for extreme conditions, and low-quality products with impurities. To solve these issues, we demonstrate a new approach to synthesize hierarchically porous three-dimensional hydrogenated graphene from newly discovered reactions between alkali metal hydrides (i.e., lithium hydride and sodium hydride) and carbon monoxide (CO). The new chemical reaction between lithium hydride (LiH) and CO achieves one-step catalyst-free synthesis of hierarchically three-dimensional hydrogenated graphene with large specific surface area (up to 494 m2/g) and a 1.31 eV band gap. Furthermore, the hydrogenated graphene sheet possesses a thickness from 1.01 to 1.31 nm and hydrogenation degree from 18 to 33%, which are dependent on reaction temperature. These findings provide a new approach to develop graphene-based materials with tunable properties. Besides, through the reaction between sodium hydride (NaH) and CO, the potential hydrogen storage material NaH is unprecedently embedded inside graphene nanobubbles, which perform as nanocontainers to accommodate NaH nanocrystals and prevent them from oxidation in air. Furthermore, NaH in graphene nanobubbles allows us to observe the electron-beam-induced decomposition of graphene-covered NaH nanoparticles for the first time. These findings provide a new approach for the development of hydrogen storage materials.

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering candidate Ben Wang will present a Ph.D. defense Tuesday (Nov. 21) at noon in M&M 610.

Wang is advised by Paul Sanders and co-advised by Yong-Ching Chen.

The dissertation is titled "Improved Rolling Contact Fatigue of Ductile Iron Utilizing Chills and Chromium Additions."

From the abstract:
Ductile iron powertrain components generally cost less than steel, so there is a demand to enhance ductile iron’s tribological properties such as rolling contact fatigue (RCF) life. One potential strategy to increase RCF life is to increase surface hardness through induction hardening, austempering, and chill casting. These procedures produce drastically different iron microstructures, so common RCF microstructural failure mechanisms have not been observed. Chill casting produces a white iron structure with high hardness and wear resistance while not requiring heat treatment, reducing economic and environmental costs. The focus of this research was on the effect of chill casting on the solidified microstructure, hardness, and RCF life in ductile irons. It was found that the larger the chill, the higher the solidification rate and the better the RCF life. Rapid chilling produced fewer and smaller discontinuities in ductile irons, such as less primary graphite, carbide, and pearlite, as well as finer eutectic lamellar ledeburite spacing. Higher hardness correlated positively with ductile iron RCF life, similar to steels, however, Vickers or Knoop hardness measured from the subsurface should be used rather than the Rockwell C on the surface by considering the graded structure of chilled ductile iron.

Save the Date: Join us the Thursday after Thanksgiving break (Nov. 30) from noon to 1 p.m. for a virtual session as we “Meet the MTRI Researchers.”

During the session, we’ll introduce the leadership team at the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) to talk about their current and emerging focus areas, and discuss opportunities for collaboration and how best to engage with their team.

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

The Michigan Tech volleyball team advanced to the semifinal round of the GLIAC Tournament for the seventh straight season after a 3-0 sweep of Northern Michigan on Wednesday (Nov. 15) at the SDC Gym.

The Huskies won 25-22, 25-14 and 25-15 to beat the Wildcats for the first time this season. With the victory, MTU has now defeated every team in the GLIAC at least once this season.

Tech will play GLIAC top seed and No. 25-ranked Grand Valley State tomorrow (Nov. 18) at 2 p.m. The game will be be livestreamed on FloSports (a subscription is required — discounts are available for students). 

"This was the best win of the year," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "Not just the outcome and consequence, but the way we played from start to finish. This was a team that we hadn't beaten yet — they have some weapons we needed to manage, and we are all aware of what happened the last time we played them. We knew it was the season on the line, and I couldn't be more proud of the way our team responded today."

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Michigan Tech volleyball coach Matt Jennings has announced that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to join the program.

Defensive specialist Madelyn Elsen, outside hitter Cameron Herman and middle blocker Paige Wagner will continue their education and athletic careers at Tech in fall 2024.

"We've got an excellent class coming in next year," said Jennings. "These three bring with them everything you want on a team: talent, character, coachability and stellar academic backgrounds. They will be impact players for our team and will help us maintain our competitive presence in the GLIAC, the region and on a national level. We're grateful for the trust they've shown in us here and look forward to working with each one of them in the gym up here with us soon."

Read about the new recruits at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Posting for Friday, Nov. 17, 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.

Senior Office Assistant (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #23310, Sponsored Programs Accounting (UAW posting dates Nov. 17 to Nov. 27, 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.
Contact: Michelle Meneguzzo

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.

Ishi Keenum (CEGE) was quoted by EurekAlert! in a story about the National Microbiome Data Collaborative Ambassador Program. Keenum is a member of the program’s 2023 cohort of early career scientists  with diverse research interests who will receive training in best practices for biological data standardization.

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Professor Emeritus Rolf Peterson (CFRES) was quoted by Michigan Radio in a story reporting Michigan’s wolf population number as a “stable” 630 and refuting the possibility of a wolf hunt, according to wildlife biologists from the state’s Natural Resources Commission and Department of Natural Resources.

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Marina Stack and Breann Baker (both ADM) appeared in a segment aired by FOX 2 Detroit about the Next Gen STEM Festival, held at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit on National STEM Day (Nov. 8). The Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers’ musical banana piano also made an appearance.

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MTU students Andrew Feys and Lexi Tater were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about student reactions to a free speech event hosted by Young Americans for Freedom last Friday (Nov. 10).

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Renewable Energy World picked up an announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office of the first-round winners for the Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP) — including a joint team from Michigan Tech and Arizona State University.

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CBS News referenced Michigan Tech’s Earthquake Magnitude Scale in a story about the high likelihood of a volcanic eruption near Iceland’s town of Grindavik after more than 1,500 earthquakes were recorded nearby on Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 14-15).

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The Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release from the Western Upper Peninsula Food Systems Collaborative inviting the public to read its 2022 annual report.

Banner Production System Maintenance on Sunday

A production system maintenance window will take place on Sunday (Nov. 19) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• ASPIRE
• Course Tools
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 7-1111.

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MS Defense: Nicholas Wylie, ECE

M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering candidate Nicholas Wylie will present his master's defense today (Nov. 17) at 11 a.m. in person in EERC 501 and virtually via Zoom.

The title of the defense is "Development and Verification of Automated Fixtures for Functional Testing of Space Grade Printed Circuit Board Assemblies."

Wylie is advised by Paul Bergstrom.

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Special Physics Seminar with Siegfried Hoefinger

Siegfried Hoefinger, adjunct assistant professor of physics at Michigan Tech, will present a special Physics Colloquium this week. 

The seminar will be presented in person at 2 p.m. today (Nov. 17) in Fisher 101.

Read the abstract and speaker bio at the University Events Calendar.

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Card Services Upgrade on Monday

A Card Services production system maintenance window will take place on Monday (Nov. 20) from 9-11 a.m.

During this time, CS Gold access readers, meal readers and access to some Keywatcher Kiosk rooms will work in their offline mode. After the maintenance is complete, transactions will be uploaded back into CS Gold.

The following services will be affected:

• cardservices.mtu.edu website
• Mobile Readers
• Vending Readers
• Dining Point of Sale Systems
• Husky Print

If you have any questions or concerns about this maintenance window, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 7-1111.

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Save the Date: Give Back to the Pack Returns in Spring 2024

Michigan Tech’s day of giving, Give Back to the Pack, will return in spring 2024 for a 24-hour giving challenge. The day of giving will begin at noon on April 10 and run until noon on April 11.

Give Back to the Pack is a celebration of Husky spirit and philanthropic support for Michigan Tech among alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. During the established 24 hours, gifts can be made in any amount and to any area of campus. All giving will be routed through the dedicated Give Back to the Pack website, which will be updated over the coming months.

Calling all colleges, departments and programs! Mark your calendars and gear up to join us as partners in making this another successful campaign. Stay tuned to hear from the Office of Alumni Engagement with opportunities to get involved, what we’ll need from areas to target your prospective donors, and how we will be supporting the efforts.

Together, we can make a real difference for Tech students and ensure they have all the resources they need to succeed.

If you’d like to work ahead or have any questions around the upcoming day of giving, please reach out to Jordan Shawhan at jjshawha@mtu.edu.

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

Graduating and Still Looking? Walk In for Coffee and a Chat

Friday, November 17, 8:30–10:30 a.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

Are you graduating soon and need help finding a job? Come in for a coffee and chat with one of our career advisors. We can help tailor your search, review your resume, bounce...

PhD Defense: Manpreet Boora

Friday, November 17, 9–10 a.m. | Fisher Hall, FH133

Applied Physics Advisor: Jae Yong Suh Study of Mechanical and Optical Properties of Two-Dimensional Materials Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/83956789046

Master's Defense: Nicholas Wylie

Friday, November 17, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 501

Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisor: Paul Bergstrom DEVELOPMENT AND VERIFICATION OF AUTOMATED FIXTURES FOR FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF SPACE GRADE PRINTED BOARD ASSEMBLIES...

Master's Defense: Shivayogi Channappa Akki

Friday, November 17, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 501

Mechatronics Advisor: Tan Chen Benchmarking Model Predictive Control and Reinforcement Learning for Legged Robot Locomotion

MATLAB Workshop

Friday, November 17, 2 p.m.–4 p.m. | Online

Free MATLAB Workshop! Women in Physics is hosting a MATLAB workshop that is available to anyone who is interested. It is a 7 week course that will begin with the basic...

Special Physics Seminar with Dr. Sigfried Hoefinger

Friday, November 17, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 101

Siegfried Hoefinger, adjunct assistant professor of physics at Michigan Tech will present a special Physics Colloquium in person at 2 PM, Friday, November 17 in Fisher 101. ...

Machine Learning in Blood Flow Modeling: From No Data to Large Data

Friday, November 17, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 610

Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar Dr. Amirhossein (Amir) Arzani University of Utah Abstract Computational and experimental modeling in cardiovascular fluid mechanics...

(Men's Ice Hockey) Ferris State vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, November 17, 7:07 p.m.–10:07 p.m. | John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

Men's Ice Hockey: Ferris State vs. Michigan Tech

Anatomy of Gray Presented by Michigan Tech Theatre

Friday, November 17, 7:30 p.m. | McArdle Theatre

“Powerful and poignant... as thought-provoking and touching as it was humorous and charming.” – Rick Wyman, Lyric Arts When her father dies, a girl from the small Indiana...