July 29, 2024

The Office of Alumni Engagement is excited to host Alumni Reunion 2024 this week! More than 430 alumni and friends will return to campus, ranging from the Class of 1954 to the Class of 2021, for a weekend full of activities. This year marks the 50-year reunion for the Class of 1974, who will get inducted into the Golden M Society. Also joining us on campus will be the honored classes of 1954, 1958, 1964, 1969, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014.

Alumni should check in with our staff at the registration/check-in desk in the MUB Commons to collect their packets before attending their first event. Reunion packets include name tags (required at Reunion functions), a personalized registration schedule, information on the Department Open Houses on Friday, Aug. 2, and other goodies! If alumni and friends need help throughout the week, please direct them back to the MUB Commons during the below times so that our staff can assist them.

Registration and check-in for alumni will be available in the MUB Commons on:

• Wednesday, July 31, from noon to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Faculty and staff registered to attend Reunion events do not need an attendee packet, but are requested to wear their professional name tags. If you have any questions or concerns around Reunion weekend, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@mtu.edu.

P.S.—The men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball reunions have been rescheduled. Visit the Michigan Tech Athletics website for more information.

If you are looking for a highly effective way to contribute to your community, donating to the Husky Food Access Network (FAN) is a great option. We are mostly volunteer-run and donation based, and are committed to making our resources as accessible as possible. This year has been a huge success, we've distributed 4,106 pounds of food since January 1st, and our shelves still need stocking! Please consider donating to help us continue the fight against food insecurity on our campus this year. We welcome all unexpired and shelf-stable food as well as basic toiletries. See our priority donations list. 

• Donating Food: Donations can be left in the bins outside the HuskyFAN pantry located in first floor Fisher Hall at anytime.
• Donating Financially: Financial donations go directly to our grocery fund. You can donate online. Please select "HuskyFAN" under the Fund Designation dropdown menu when making your contribution.
• Donating Your Time: Email us about volunteer opportunities at huskyfan@mtu.edu.  

To use the pantry, stop by during our open hours. We post updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Job Postings for Monday, July 29, 2024

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 Professor, Biomedical Engineering. 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.

Christo Z. Christov (Chem) has received a renewed grant (2R15GM139118-02) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health for $403,453.

The ongoing project is titled "Understanding Catalytic Mechanisms of Human Non-Heme Fe(II) and 2-Oxoglutarate Dependent Histone Demethylases."

The study continues the established research at Michigan Tech on Computational Bioinorganic Chemistry with advanced exploration on histone's lysines dealkylations by non-heme Fe(II)/2OG-dependent histone demethylases which are in great importance for epigenetic regulation.

Sustainable Plastics picked up a story from Interplas Insights discussing the solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP) technique for recycling flexible plastics. The story mentioned the STRAP pilot plant being built at MTU to prove the technology. 

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WZMQ 19 News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story previewing the U.P. Accessibility Summit that will be held both on campus and virtually Sept. 26-27. The summit will be the first of its kind in the Upper Peninsula.

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Rodney Chimner (CFRES/ESC) was mentioned by Colorado’s Montrose Daily Press for leading a field trip organized by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership to the Ironton Fens & Wetlands on Saturday, July 27. 

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WJMN Local 3 ran a story about open roles for Michigan Tech’s upcoming Parade of Nations. Co-chair coordinator Mariana Nakashima (IPS) was quoted in the story. Open roles include volunteers, parade floats and food vendors.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in a story about the upcoming Rozsa Soirée, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6. The soirée will serve as a launch party for the Rozsa’s upcoming season, featuring hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and a concert. Tickets go on sale to the public on Aug. 6.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital hosting a Pet Therapy Certification Class on Aug. 10. The class, led by certified handler Robin Beale, aims to train handlers in pet therapy to meet the growing need for therapy dogs in the Keweenaw, and will include visits to local hospitals and Michigan Tech.

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R&D World mentioned Michigan Tech in a story announcing the judging panel for the 2024 R&D 100 Awards program. Stephen F. Hahn ’82 (B.S. Chemistry) was named one of the judges. Hahn is a member of the College of Sciences and Arts Academy at Michigan Tech.

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The Verge interviewed Michigan Tech undergraduate student Danny Ezzo (mechanical engineering technology) and Kyle Samluk ’23 ’24 (B.S. M.S. Mechanical Engineering) about their record-breaking "Cannonball Sun" journey. Their homemade solar-powered car, the Sun Strider, traveled from New York City to Los Angeles in 13 days, 15 hours, and 19 minutes, significantly beating the previous record of 57 days.

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MLive mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about new rules announced by the National Park Service for Isle Royale National Park to reduce wolves' access to human food. The article highlighted the importance of using bear-proof canisters and hanging bags to keep food away from wolves. The story referenced MTU’s annual Isle Royale Winter Study, the longest-running predator-prey study in the world.

PhD Defense: Sadia Nowrin, CS

Department of Computer Science (CS) Ph.D. candidate Sadia Nowrin will present a final oral examination (defense) for her Ph.D. in Computer Science today, July 29, from 3-5 p.m. via Zoom online meeting.

The title of Nowrin’s defense is “Programming by Voice.”

Join the Zoom meeting.

Read the defense abstract on the Computing News Blog.

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Summer Youth Programs Coming to a Close

The Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) would like to send a campuswide thank-you to all those who supported another incredible summer of life-changing programming, as Summer Youth Programs came to a close on Saturday, July 27.

Our department is transitioning back to our offices in the Administration Building this week, beginning today, July 29. As part of this transition, our office will have limited availability by phone and will be closed Thursday and Friday, Aug. 1 and 2. If you need to reach our staff during this time, please email us at syp@mtu.edu.

We look forward to sharing highlights from this summer soon. For a preview, please visit our Flickr page.

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

PhD Defense: Tiffany Degroot

Monday, July 29, 10–11 a.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, 144

Forest Science Co-advisors: Kristin Brzeski and Jared Wolfe Assessing Tropical Mammal Diversity and Distribution Using Noninvasive Methods Attend Virtually:...

Master's Defense: Ryan Heines

Monday, July 29, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Biological Sciences Advisor: Jill Olin TROPHIC INTERACTIONS OF SYMPATRIC CYPRINODONTIFORM FISHES INHABITING LOUISIANA SALTMARSHES Attend Virtually:...

PhD Defense: Udit Sharma

Monday, July 29, 1–2 p.m. | R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), 1021

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Jeffrey Allen Study of Nanoparticle Dispersed Phase Change Materials and the Impact of Temperature Gradient on the...

PhD Defense: Sadia Nowrin

Monday, July 29, 3–5 p.m.

Computer Science Advisor: Keith Vertanen Programming by Voice Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/89020833761

Huskies Swim Training - Summer 2024 Session 3

Monday, July 29, 3:30–5:00 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Join us for a summer of swimming in Huskies Swim Training! This training program provides additional attention and competitive guidance to proficient swimmers ages 6-17...