December 5, 2023

Career Services is hosting an on-campus jobs expo Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge in the MUB. Students are encouraged to come check out the job opportunities available right here on campus. Many departments will be represented.

On-campus jobs provide opportunities for Michigan Tech students. A part-time job offers income to students who need it and is an important co-curricular opportunity. As a co-curricular opportunity, on-campus work can lead to internships and co-ops, opening the door to full-time offers immediately after graduation. It can also help a student establish a strong foundation for research that leads to enhanced graduate school opportunities.

If your department has not signed up and would like to attend, please contact Career Services at careerfair@mtu.edu.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Dec. 17 from 7 a.m. to 2 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.

Have you ever wondered what's been erased from campus in the past?

With new construction projects and an ambitious campus master plan, we all can see that campus change is coming. Students in SS3240 Reading the Landscape have created illustrated narratives about buildings and features around campus and in our community that may have been erased from the landscape but still have important stories to tell about who we are.

This week, look for QR codes around campus to view the students' story maps. Find all nine! Their projects will always be accessible in the Keweenaw Time Traveler.

The fourth episode of "IPEC Presents," the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture's (IPEC’s) monthly podcast, is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Our guests, IPEC Director Stefka Hristova and Associate Director Soonkwan Hong, discuss how their research relationship has developed over time and spanned University service-related projects, publication collaborations and research development.

Taking a critical perspective on AI and algorithms, we dive deep into the power relations at play in today’s techno cultural environment. Join us for a riveting discussion and learn how, as a general AI user, we can better educate and protect ourselves when interacting with these black box technologies.

For more information, visit our website.

A group of 17 Michigan Tech graduate and undergraduate students across a range of majors recently participated in the latest Experience Innovation trip, undertaking a unique exploration of southeastern Michigan's innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) landscape focused on Detroit's thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem. The students, along with faculty and staff from Pavlis Honors College (PHC) and the College of Business (COB), took part in the immersive experience over the first half of Thanksgiving recess, gaining firsthand insights into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and available resources for Michigan startup founders.

The journey kicked off with a visit to MI-HQ, Michigan's fastest-growing innovation campus. MI-HQ President Mark Smith and Steve Tokarz, CEO and founder of Stabilux (a Michigan Tech spinout), provided tours and shared startup innovation stories. At MI-HQ, Michigan-based founders benefit from affordable lab and office spaces, mentorship and investment funds. Tokarz and Michigan Tech alum Nazmiye Yapici shared the exciting journey of Stabilux.

The exploration continued at Ford Motor Company's Michigan Central Book Depository, a billion-dollar mobility innovation district housing business incubator Newlab. Students connected with startup founders, including Michigan Tech alum Hajj Flemings, founder of Rebrand Cities. The day concluded with an alumni engagement reception, fostering connections between alumni and current students.

The second day commenced with a tour of downtown Detroit's historic sites, instrumental in shaping the city's innovation hub. Students visited Bamboo, a co-working space, engaging with representatives from the Michigan Founders Fund, a nonprofit investment fund supporting founders and ecosystems. An interactive session with a panel of startup founders, followed by visits to successful startups Rivet Work and Signal Advisors, provided valuable insights. The day concluded with a tour of Techtown Detroit, a nonprofit supporting small businesses and tech entrepreneurs.

The trip concluded with a presentation from Michigan Tech alum Kevin Heras, who shared his journey with InvestNext, a real estate investment platform aiming to democratize real estate investing. The experience immersed students in Detroit's vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, equipping them with knowledge and renewed commitment to drive innovation within the Michigan Tech community.

Special thanks to the PHC, COB and Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) for sponsoring the event.

Husky Innovate, a collaboration between the PHC, OIC and COB, serves as Michigan Tech's resource hub for innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E). Since 2015, it has fostered an entrepreneurial spirit across disciplines through workshops, competitions, NSF I-Corps training, panel talks and immersive I&E trips like Experience Innovation.

Department of Chemistry (Chem) Ph.D student Adelina Oronova will present their defense next Tuesday (Dec. 12) at 3 p.m. in person in Chem Sci 101 and virtually via Zoom webinar.

Oronova's defense is titled "Small Fluorescent Glycoconjugates as Imaging Agents for GLUT Sugar Transporters."

Oronova's advisor is Marina Tanasova.

Join the Zoom webinar.

From the abstract:
The evident connection between metabolic diseases and metabolic alterations led to exploring alternative approaches for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases, with a particular focus on metabolic reprogramming as a new therapeutic target. Metabolic reprogramming of carbohydrate uptake and metabolism is a widely recognized hallmark of cancer. Hence, the deregulations and alterations in the functioning of glucose transporters (GLUTs) as main sugar transporters are common characteristics in various cancers that are being used for targeting cancers.

While the research on targeting glucose-transporting GLUTs dates back to the 1950s, fructosespecific GLUT5 and other non-specific fructose transporters have recently gained attention as potential targets for diagnostics and therapy. This shift is propelled by mounting evidence of the role that fructose plays in the development of a plethora of diseases, including cancer. Thus, targeting fructose transporters has emerged as a prominent strategy to deliver imaging and therapeutic agents specifically to cancer cells reliant on fructose for its development and progression.

Despite years of research, GLUTs’ targeting still faces challenges related to specificity, safety, and efficiency in both diagnostics and therapy. Therefore, novel tools allowing for molecular imaging of fructose-dependent cancers are needed. This dissertation introduces fluorescent imaging probes designed for applications in biomedical imaging. Those include the GLUT5-specific coumarin-based fluorescent probe compatible with PET (positron emission tomography) imaging. The work also showcases the advances toward GLUT mediated delivery of larger fluorophores to broaden an array of fluorescence colors and fluorescence-based analytical tools for GLUT research. Specifically, this dissertation presents GLUT-specific rhodamine-based “turn-on” fluorescent probes, enabling imaging of GLUT activity in live cells and in vivo. The outcomes of this work provide critical insight into GLUT substrate specificity and substrate binding vs. passage, establishing the basis for designing more specific and effective activity and expression probes for GLUTs. Overall, the developed imaging agents reported in this dissertation offer additional functionalities, contributing to the existing repertoire of molecular tools for imaging and distinguishing fructose-dependent cancer cells. This work lays the foundation for further rational design of GLUT-specific probes with desired properties.

Women in Physics presents this week's Physics Colloquium speaker, Clio Sleator from the U.S. Naval Research Lab.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 7) in Fisher 139.

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

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) guest Clio Sleator, astrophysicist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, will give a talk on Friday (Dec. 8) at 3 p.m. in M&M U115. Please note: This is not the regular time and location of EPSSI seminars.

Sleator's talk is titled "The Compton Spectrometer and Imager Telescope for Gamma Ray Astronomy: From Balloon to Satellite."

For additional information on the seminar, visit the University Events Calendar.

Maria Gencoglu will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Research Series on Thursday (Dec. 7) at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 211 or virtually via Zoom.

Gencoglu will present "Biomaterials for in vitro disease models."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

In June 2021, Gencoglu joined the Clinical Diagnostics Group in Bio-Rad Laboratories, and since then has been developing molecular diagnostics products using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies.

Michigan Tech football defensive lineman Samuel Kinne has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the GLIAC's Jack H. McAvoy Award, which is presented annually to a GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom and the community.

The award is named for Hillsdale College's former director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in founding the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.

"It is a tremendous honor for Sam to be recognized for this award," Michigan Tech head coach Dan Mettlach said. "He represents Michigan Tech and our football program very positively, extending into the community, classroom and on the football field."

Read more about Kinne at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Michigan Tech hockey's Blake Pietila has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week. It is his 15th career conference goaltender of the week honor.

Pietila backstopped the Huskies as they took 4-of-6 CCHA points against Bowling Green over the weekend. He had a .937 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average in the series, and the Huskies went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Pietila made 28 saves Friday (Dec. 1) and 31 Saturday (Dec. 2). He has six wins this season with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Michigan Tech hockey earned a CCHA split against Bowling Green and took 4-of-6 points on the weekend at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Tech fell 2-1 in overtime on Friday (Dec. 1). It was the seventh overtime for the Huskies this season — they are now 3-2-2 in the extra session.

"We started out good but didn't play very well collectively," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "There wasn't much skill involved in the game, and we missed Arvid (Caderoth) tonight. He's the heart of our team. I give Bowling Green credit. They really wanted to beat us, and they took over the game and beat us."

Michigan Tech came away with a 3-2 win on Saturday (Dec. 2). Isaac Gordon scored the game-winning goal with 6:03 remaining in the third as the Huskies improved to 7-7-3 overall and 5-3-0 in the CCHA.

"I thought tonight was a really good hockey game," Shawhan said. "It was a grind and their coaching staff made a lot of adjustments before the game — and during the game — that we had to work through. Kash (Rasmussen) gave us a nice jump tonight. I'm really proud of him, and we're a different team with Arvid in the lineup."

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Monday (Dec. 4)
• Huskies Hockey Radio Show, 10 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM

Tuesday (Dec. 5)
• Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM

Thursday (Dec. 7)
• Women's Basketball vs. Saginaw Valley State, 5:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM & FloSports
• Men's Basketball vs. Saginaw Valley State, 7:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM & FloSports

Friday (Dec. 8)
• Hockey vs. Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM, FloHockey & FOX-UP

Saturday (Dec. 9)
• Nordic Skiing at Duluth CXC Cup
• Women's Basketball vs. Wayne State, 1 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM & FloSports
• Men's Basketball vs. Wayne State, 3 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM & FloSports
• Hockey at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ-FM, FloHockey & TV6

Sunday (Dec. 10)
• Nordic Skiing at Duluth CXC Cup

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Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Job Postings for Tuesday, Dec. 5, 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.

Assistant Production Manager, Rozsa Center for Performing Arts. Apply online.
Contact: Mary Jennings

Food Service Helper (nine months/ 40 hours/ second shift) #23207RPRP, 23208RPRP, Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, 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.

Food Service Helper (nine months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #23188RPRP, 23189RPRP, 23320, Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, 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.

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.

John Vucetich (CFRES) was quoted at length by Newsweek in a story about study results indicating that the majority of Americans support prioritizing the restoration of threatened wildlife as opposed to increasing hunting opportunities. Vucetich is one of the study’s co-authors.

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Mary Jennings (Rozsa) was mentioned by the Keweenaw Report in a preview of the “Jingle Bell Pop with the Detroit Youth Choir” concert, presented last Saturday (Dec. 1) by the Rozsa Presenting Series.

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Michigan Tech and Mont Ripley were mentioned by Minnesota’s Star Tribune in a story about Mount Bohemia, crowned the No. 1 ski resort of 2023 by USA Today readers.

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The Daily Mining Gazette covered Michigan Tech hockey’s Isaac Gordon being named CCHA Rookie of the Month.

Summer Youth Programs Hiring for 2024!

Are you looking for a summer job where you can spend your summer here in Houghton and build professional skills while making an impact on the next generation of doers and makers? If so, Summer Youth Programs (SYP) is the place for you.

This coming summer, we're looking for dedicated individuals to join our team of counselors as we host nearly a thousand middle and high school students from around the world. During the day, our students spend time in Michigan Tech classrooms and labs doing hands-on activities to spark curiosity. In the evenings, awesome students just like you join our participants as they explore the Keweenaw.

Come share your passion for our beautiful home and make an impact today. Job descriptions and an application can be found on our website and we're always happy to chat. Contact us at outreach@mtu.edu, stop by our office (Admin 217) or give us a call at 906-487-2219.

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Literary Reading

Please join the members of HU5090 Writing Creative Nonfiction for a literary reading and reception today (Dec. 5) from 7:30-9 p.m. in Walker 109.

Graduate students in the Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture program will read selections from original works of bibliomemoir — a subgenre of literary nonfiction in which the writer relates episodes from their own life to books of special significance to them. How do the books we read — from religious texts to children’s lit to literary classics — help us to make sense of our own experiences and identities? Insights will be shared and light refreshments will be served.

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Campus Free Speech Forum

We would like to invite all members of the Michigan Tech campus community to a moderated free speech forum today (Dec. 5) from 5-6:30 p.m. in Fisher 135.

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

Explaining Your Market Opportunity

Tuesday, December 5, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), U113

Explaining Your Market Opportunity This workshop is a must for anyone planning to pitch their startup idea. It will help you determine and frame the argument that your...

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Fall 2023 Session 3

Tuesday, December 5, 5 p.m.–6 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...

Adult Huskies Swim Training Fall 2023 Session 3

Tuesday, December 5, 5 p.m.–6 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...

Free Speech Forum

Tuesday, December 5, 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 135

All members of the campus community are invited to a moderated free speech forum on Tuesday, December 5th, 5-6:30 pm in Fisher 135. We hope you'll join us!

Financial Aid and FAFSA 101

Tuesday, December 5, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

To learn more about financing your Tech education and filling out your FAFSA, join us! We want to help make this process as accessible as possible.

Financial Aid and FAFSA 101

Tuesday, December 5, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Learn more about how to file your FAFSA and options for financing your Michigan Tech education!

Art-O-Rama Student Gallery Showcase Presented by Michigan Tech Art

December 5, all day | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries

A showcase of student artworks from the fall '23 Art + Design and Art & Ecology classes. A variety of media is represented including painting, sculpture, installation,...