August 23, 2024

Jennifer Becker (CEGE) is the recipient of Michigan Tech’s 2024 Faculty Distinguished Service Award.

“Jennifer’s leadership in establishing the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing program during the COVID-19 pandemic was instrumental in protecting the health and safety of the Michigan Tech community,” said Andrew Storer, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Her dedication and innovative approach went far beyond her regular responsibilities, making her truly deserving of this award.”

Read more about Becker’s service to the MTU community at Michigan Tech News.

Financial Services and Operations (FSO) wants to inform you that SAP Concur will be launching a refreshed homepage experience that features an intuitive design and user-friendly navigation. Starting in late August, you will have the option to enable the new SAP Concur homepage.

By enabling this option, you will benefit from the following:

• A refreshed, modern design
• Simplified navigation
• Streamlined user workflows to facilitate faster completion of tasks
• Improved scalability, performance and responsiveness
• An aligned user experience across SAP products

The SAP Concur homepage redesign will not change any features or functionality of SAP Concur products; it is only a visual user interface (UI) update.

How to Enable the New SAP Concur Homepage Experience
Starting at the end of August, you will have the option to enable the new SAP Concur homepage experience via a banner at the top of the homepage. You will be able to revert back to the legacy home page through the banner. Beginning in January 2025, the legacy home page will be retired, and the new homepage will be the only option.

The Michigan Tech volleyball team was the third pick in the GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll, receiving 79 points.

The Huskies were voted to finish behind Ferris State (97 points) and Grand Valley State (94 points), who received seven and four first-place votes, respectively. Michigan Tech was followed by Parkside (71), Northern Michigan (67), Wayne State (48), Davenport (46), and Purdue Northwest (44) in the top eight. Lake Superior State (27), Saginaw Valley State (18) and Roosevelt (14) rounded out the poll.

MTU's season gets underway on Sept. 6, when the Huskies travel west to Colorado Mines for a four-match weekend. The Huskies return four all-GLIAC honorees from a season ago, when they advanced to the GLIAC semifinal for the seventh straight season.

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Postings for Friday, Aug. 23, 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.

Office Assistant (12 months/ 30 hours/ first shift) #24243, Van Pelt and Opie Library (UAW posting dates Aug. 23 to Aug. 30, 2024 — 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.

Office Assistant (12 months/ 30 hours/ shift varies) #24242, Van Pelt and Opie Library (UAW posting dates Aug. 23 to Aug. 30, 2024 — 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.

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.

Kaichen Yang (ECE/ICC) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $240,000 research and development grant from Kansas State University.

The project is titled "CICI: UCSS: Safeguarding AI in Bioinformatics: Enhancing Cybersecurity in Biological Data Infrastructure."

This is a potential three-year project.

Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) was quoted and David Shonnard (ChE) was mentioned by MIT Technology Review in a story about a system developed at Michigan Tech that uses bacteria to break waste plastics down to be recycled into useful products. Through the process, the bacteria themselves become an edible protein powder similar to vegemite, as described in MTU’s 2022 Research Magazine. The story was picked up from Undark.

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Mark Rudnicki (CFRES) was quoted and Xinfeng Xie (CFRES) was mentioned by UPword in a story discussing the benefits and potential economic impacts of producing mass timber construction materials in Michigan. Also quoted was Professor Emeritus/Dean Emeritus Terry Sharik (CFRES).

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Matt Jennings (ATH) was interviewed by The Daily Mining Gazette for a story about the upcoming season for the Michigan Tech volleyball team.

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SpaceWeekly.com and Universe Today mentioned Michigan Tech as one of three teams that performed well in the final round of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge in June. Along with the two prize-winning teams, NASA invited MTU to use the thermal vacuum chambers at its Marshall Space Flight Center to continue testing and developing their rover.

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The Keweenaw Report covered the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts’ release of the full schedule for the 2024-25 season. The announcement ran Tuesday, Aug. 20, in Tech Today.

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The Sun Times News based in Dexter, Michigan, mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the latest annual report from MTU’s study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale.

NSF I-Corps Program Registration Open Through Monday

Are you interested in taking your idea, technology or process commercial? Entrepreneurially minded faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, alumni and local community teams are invited to attend the Great Lakes Region Hub National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Program hosted by Husky Innovate at Michigan Tech.

Course Description
The NSF I-Corps lean startup program spans six weeks. Using the scientific process, customer discovery and the business model canvas, teams will work to validate key business hypotheses and develop a scalable business model.

Course Benefits
Upon completion of the workshop and the customer discovery interviews (30), you or your team may be eligible for a mini grant of up to $1,000 for continued customer discovery.

Teams who complete the program may become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Team Program and a $50,000 grant. Participation in the workshop can lead to qualification for research and other funding from several granting agencies, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, as well as various state and regional programs.

Past participants have reported that they saved time and money by better understanding potential applications of their technology and improved their ability to receive add-on funding.

Register to participate by Monday, Aug. 26.

Our fall cohort will meet online via Zoom on Mondays from 4-6:30 p.m. per the following schedule:

• Sept. 9 — Workshop No. 1 (Kickoff)
• Sept. 16 — Workshop No. 2
• Sept. 23 — No Meeting: Continue customer discovery and meet with mentor.
• Sept. 30 — Workshop No. 3
• Oct. 7 — Workshop No. 4
• Oct. 14 — Workshop No. 5 (Wrap-Up)

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Need to Hire Students? The On-Campus Job Expo Can Help!

Does your department have student hiring needs? If so, Career Services invites you to reserve a table at our upcoming On-Campus Job Expo. This event is free and provides an excellent opportunity to engage directly with enthusiastic students.

The On-Campus Job Expo will take place Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge. This event will attract students eager to explore employment opportunities available right here on campus.

We hope you can join us for this valuable recruiting opportunity! If your department has not signed up and would like to attend, please contact Career Services at careerfair@mtu.edu.

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SelectedWorks Discontinuation

The Van Pelt and Opie Library would like to inform the University community that free SelectedWorks profiles will be discontinued on Dec. 31. After Dec. 31, profiles and their contents will no longer be accessible.

Those who would like assistance identifying an alternative scholarly profile platform are encouraged to email library@mtu.edu by Sept. 3.

This change does not affect content included in Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech.

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

Women's Soccer vs Wis.-Stevens Point

Friday, August 23, 4–7 p.m. | Sherman Field

Women's Soccer vs Wis.-Stevens Point Houghton, Mich.

Gamers Anonymous O-Week Meeting!

Friday, August 23, 5:30–9:30 p.m. | Room 129/130

Welcome back Huskies! If you're looking for something to do Friday night during O-week, come down to Fisher 129 at 5:30 to play some board games with Gamers Anonymous! Come...

Huskies Pep Band - Band Camp

Friday, August 23, 6:30–9:00 p.m. | Rozsa Center

Come to HPB's Band Camp to meet leadership, play music, and get involved with our group! Check-in at the Rozsa Lobby beginning at 6:15pm. NO audition necessary. Please bring...