August 27, 2024

The Pavlis Honors College is excited to announce that Shane Oberloier (ECE) has been named the new director of The Alley Makerspace, effective Aug. 12.

"We are excited to welcome Shane as the director of the makerspace!” said Darnishia Morris, assistant dean of the Pavlis Honors College. “He has a passion for innovative approaches to solving problems by providing a space that allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to explore, create and prototype their ideas in a collaborative working environment.”

Oberloier, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, brings extensive experience and expertise to this role. He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Open Source Hardware Enterprise team.

With a passion for innovation and collaboration, Oberloier is looking forward to reinvigorating The Alley Makerspace and exploring its vast opportunities for creative partnerships and collaborations. “I’m eager to shape The Alley Makerspace into a cornerstone of our University’s mission — fostering experiential learning and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset,” he said. “I’m excited to engage with students on a broader scale, helping them bring their ideas from sketches to functioning prototypes. I encourage any existing groups and initiatives on campus to reach out, so we can find ways to build solutions together.”

If you are interested in learning more about working with The Alley Makerspace, please email makerspace@mtu.edu.

What do your students get you for your birthday? If you’re Chelsea Schelly (SS), they create the $75,000 Chelsea Schelly Impact Fund.

The fund's goal is to raise $75,000 for scholarships allowing new scholars from diverse backgrounds to explore innovative solutions to society’s most pressing challenges in sustainability, resilience and social justice, while celebrating professor of sociology Schelly’s birthday and honoring her achievements.

Learn more about the Chelsea Schelly Impact Fund on the Social Sciences Newsblog.

In the "Essential Education Soft Launches Seminar Courses" story published yesterday, Aug. 26, in Tech Today, some readers experienced issues with the links to the seminar modules in Canvas.

Our apologies for the confusion. We believe some of these issues may be tied to inconsistencies experienced by many using Canvas yesterday.

We recommend that you log in to Canvas before clicking on the links, which should take you directly to the Essential Education seminar modules. If you are still unable to access the modules, select "Commons" from the left sidebar and then search for "Essential Education Michigan Tech." The modules should be the first search result.

Thanks for your patience and continued support of Michigan Tech’s Essential Education rollout.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) is pleased to have invited three candidates to Michigan Tech's campus to interview for the position of executive director of the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Candidate Presentation
The second candidate, Dominic D'Andrea, will give a public presentation at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 28, in the Rozsa's north mezzanine.

All members of the Michigan Tech community are welcome to attend. A meet and greet will follow the presentation.

Pre-proposals for Spring 2025 Copper Shores Community Health Foundation (CSCHF) Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due to the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m. on Sept. 10. Students who best meet the foundation’s criteria will be invited to submit a full application, which will be due on Oct. 22. Instructions for the pre-proposal, full application and evaluation process are found online.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student conducting a research or outreach project that will promote and/or improve the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon communities.
2. Must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
3. Must not be a prior recipient of a Portage Health Foundation or CSCHF Graduate Assistantship.
4. Preference will be given to applicants with long-standing local connections to Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, or Ontonagon counties.

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, or Ontonagon counties. Nonresident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding Ph.D. talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:

• health research and technology development
• health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
• rural health care access, informatics and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a CSCHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a CSCHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

We are recruiting participants for a research study designed to determine physiological responses to simulated blood loss, and how these responses might differ in nicotine- and non-nicotine users.

If you are a healthy man or woman between the ages of 21 and 55 who either does or does not use nicotine (smoking, vaping, chewing, nicotine patch), please contact William Cooke at wcooke@mtu.edu for more information.

The experiment will take about one hour of your time and you will be compensated $100 for your participation.

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Michigan Technological University (#2103454-1).

Tech Today will not publish on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Submissions for next Tuesday, Sept. 3, are due by noon on Friday, Aug. 30.

Dive in with Michigan Tech Recreation's PADI Open Water SCUBA Course! Registration opens tomorrow, Aug. 28, at 8 a.m.

The course is conducted over two weekends and includes:

• Ten hours of academic instruction (some coursework to be completed independently),
• Ten hours of confined water training (SDC Pool), and
• Four certification dives in Lake Superior (Marquette).

Upon registration, students will be given all required reading material and paperwork to complete prior to the start of the course. Class size is limited.

Course Dates and Times:

• Friday, Oct. 11:
  • 4-7 p.m. in SDC 238
  • 7-10 p.m. in the SDC Pool
• Saturday, Oct. 12:
  • 7-9 a.m. in the SDC Pool
  • 12-4 p.m. in SDC 238
  • 5-10 p.m. in the SDC Pool
• Sunday, Oct. 13:
  • 8-10 a.m. in the SDC Pool
  • 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in SDC 238
• Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20 or Oct. 26-27:
  • Open Dives in Marquette

Visit our PADI Open Water SCUBA Course page for more info.

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Bengry at 906-487-2995 or email ambengry@mtu.edu.

John Jaszczak (Museum) and the mineral named after him, jaszczakite, were featured in a recently published article in Rocks & Minerals.

The article, titled "Who’s Who in Mineral Names: John A. Jaszczak (b. 1961)," appeared in the journal's September-October 2024 issue and was written by executive editor John Rakovan of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

Jaszczakite was described as a new mineral by Luca Bindi and Werner Paar in 2017.

The Van Pelt and Opie Library is here to help you succeed! At our Library Orientation event, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library's electronic and physical resources. After that, we'll tour the library so you can find your favorite study room, check out a GoPro, take a peek at the 3D printers and learn where to get research help once the semester has started.

This session will be hosted twice; please choose one option to attend!

Event Details:

• What: Library Orientation for New Students
• When: Two sessions are available —
  •  Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m.
• Where: East Reading Room of the Library
• Registration: Please register for one —
  • Register for Aug. 27
  • Register for Aug. 28

The Graduate School is assisting graduate students who wish to apply for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). Support includes Zoom workshops, support via Canvas modules, and one-on-one writing support.

Fellowship recipients earn an annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance. To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident; have never previously applied to the GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program; have never earned a master’s or professional degree in any field; and have not completed more than one academic year in a graduate degree-granting program. Application deadlines begin Oct. 15.

The Graduate School is offering an NSF GRFP Canvas course to support applicants, and students may self-enroll for the NSF GRFP 2025 competition year.

The Grad School is also offering workshops for applicants and their reference letter writers:

• NSF GRFP Workshop 1: Overview and Tips
  • When: Thursday, Sept. 5, from 2-3 p.m.
  • Presenter: Sarah Isaacson, NSF GRFP Support Coordinator 
  • Co-Presenter: Deb Charlesworth, NSF GRFP Reviewer
  • Register for Workshop 1
    
    
• NSF GRFP Workshop 2: Crafting Your Statements (Content and Organization)
  • When: Monday, Sept. 9, from 2-2:50 p.m.
  • Presenter: Sarah Isaacson, NSF GRFP Support Coordinator
  • Register for Workshop 2
    
    
• NSF GRFP Reference Letter Writer’s Workshop
  • When: Thursday, Sept. 26, from 2-2:50 p.m.
  • Presenter: Deb Charlesworth, NSF GRFP Reviewer
  • Register for the Reference Letter Writer’s Workshop

See the NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program website for more details. Questions? Contact Sarah Isaacson, NSF GRFP support coordinator, at sisaacso@mtu.edu.

Thursday, Aug. 29
• Football at Bemidji State, 7 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

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Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Michigan Tech Athletics and Recreation has hired Gabe Frontuto as the recreation program manager. Frontuto began his duties in July.

Frontuto assists with the overall management and operations of Michigan Tech Intramural Sports, Outdoor Adventure Program, and Youth Programming.

"I am so happy that Gabe is now a part of our Recreation team in a manager role," said Jada Gullstrand, the director of programming and membership services. "During his time as a student employee, Gabe demonstrated great work ethic, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead others. Gabe will no doubt be a huge asset to the entire Athletics and Recreation Department, and we all look forward to working alongside such a great team player."

"I have been involved in athletics my whole life," added Frontuto. "I've developed a great sense of purpose through the sports I've played and positions I've held in athletics and recreation. This new position allows me to continue my involvement in athletics and recreation and to share my passion of sports with the University community."

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Posting for Tuesday, Aug. 27, 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.

Administrative Aide (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #24259, Transportation Services (UAW posting dates Aug. 27 to Sept. 4, 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.

John Jaszczak (Museum) is the co-author of an article published in the September-October 2024 issue of Rocks & Minerals.

The article is titled "Signature Specimen: The Gabriel Copper at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum of Michigan Technological University."

Carl Francis of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is also a co-author. 

The invited article highlights the museum's iconic copper crystal specimen from the Central Mine, Keweenaw County, Michigan, that was part of the collection of Donald C. Gabriel. Gabriel donated his exceptional collection to the museum in 1986.

John Vucetich (CFRES) was mentioned by CBS News in a story about a wildlife conflict mediator working to resolve disputes involving the management of gray wolves in the U.S. The story named Vucetich as a co-author of a letter urging U.S. officials to reinstate protections for the wolves after their removal from the federal endangered species list in 2020.

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Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) was quoted and David Shonnard (ChE) was mentioned by The Atlantic and Ars Technica. Both outlets picked up an Undark 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.

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Lei Pan (ChE) and Tinuade Ololade Folayan ’20 ’23 (M.S. Ph.D. Chemical Engineering) were mentioned by Argonne National Laboratory in a release announcing a new froth flotation method of separating individual cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries.

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Simon Carn (GMES) was quoted by the U.K.’s Daily Mail and Yahoo! News U.K. in stories about a cloud of sulfur dioxide gas passing over the country. The cloud came from a volcanic eruption that began Aug. 22 near Grindavik on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. A post by Carn on the social media platform X was picked up by more than 25 news outlets worldwide.

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Mariana Nakashima and Christian Montesinos (both IPS) were guests on the Aug. 15 episode of the “Copper Country Today” radio program. The episode was titled “Michigan Tech International Students.”

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Professor Emeritus Ted Bornhorst (GMES) was quoted by The Lansing State Journal in a story about the history of geological surveying in Michigan, including the discovery of copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

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The Daily Mining Gazette picked up a Michigan Tech Athletics story about the MTU volleyball team ranking third in the GLIAC preseason coaches poll. The story ran Aug. 23 in Tech Today.

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The Keweenaw Report previewed Michigan Tech’s Afternoon on the Town event for new Huskies, held Saturday, Aug. 24, in downtown Houghton.

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The Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about former MTU basketball player Jake Witt’s first preseason action with the Indianapolis Colts. Witt spent all last season on the injured list after being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. The story first ran in The Daily Mining Gazette.

New Course Materials Guide

The Committee for Accessible and Affordable Learning Materials (CAALM) is pleased to announce the creation of a new Guide to Course Materials at Michigan Tech.

A joint effort between the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the Campus Store, and Van Pelt and Opie Library, this guide is intended to provide clarity on the assistance available to instructors in selecting course materials and to students in locating and using course materials.

Feedback and questions are welcome and encouraged. Please email library@mtu.edu.

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Pause on Running Reports, Pulling Sponsored Research Data from Digital Measures

Michigan Tech IT and the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs are nearing the completion of a yearlong project to restore automatic uploads of Sponsored Research data to Digital Measures at Michigan Tech (DM).

To facilitate the final steps, users, unit leaders and assistants should not run reports or pull Sponsored Research data from Digital Measures for a period that began yesterday, Aug. 26, through Monday, Sept. 2. A final announcement will be shared upon completion, and at that time users will be asked to review their Sponsored Research data and report any issues to dm-admin@mtu.edu.

If you have any questions, please contact the DM administrator at dm-admin@mtu.edu or 906-487-2135.

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ChE Seminar Speaker: Bellicia Disashi

Bellicia Disashi will present a seminar on pediatric cataracts in collaboration with the U.S.-Africa fellowship. The seminar will take place at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 28. Attendance is invited in person in Chem Sci 201 or virtually via Zoom.

Disashi is a research biologist who works at the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Physics Colloquium with Rodrigo Amorim

Rodrigo Amorim from the Universidade Federal Fluminense, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will present at a Physics Colloquium this week. The seminar will be held in person at 4 p.m. today, Aug. 27, in Fisher 129.

Amorim's presentation is titled "Solid-state nanopore for biological sensing."

Read Amorim's abstract and bio at the University Events Calendar.

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State Mandated Instructional Staff Fire Safety and Evacuation Training Requirements

Husky safety is Environmental Health and Safety’s goal. Maintaining that overall safety, especially in an emergency, is a joint responsibility between you, the University, and our local emergency response agencies.

An essential component of that safety is preparing every instructor for classroom emergencies.

The Michigan Fire Prevention Code requires universities to annually certify fire evacuation training for all instructional staff. In addition, records of each instructor's training must be made available upon request from the Michigan Bureau of Fire Services.

To comply with state requirements, every instructor has been assigned the “Fire Safety on Campus” course through the Safety Skills training platform. A brief attachment with information specific to Michigan Tech is included with the training.

In an emergency, students look to instructors for guidance. Michigan Tech requires classroom and laboratory instructors to familiarize students with basic evacuation routes and emergency procedures.

What should instructors do?

1. Familiarize yourselves with the building, floor and classroom in which you are teaching. Orient yourselves to the emergency evacuation postings. Email ehs-help@mtu.edu if you would like to include classroom evacuation maps (PDF format) for your syllabus.
2. Communicate evacuation routes and assembly areas to students. 
3. Remind students to self-identify (in private if desired) if assistance is needed to exit a building during an emergency. If there are questions regarding emergency accommodations, please contact ehs-help@mtu.edu.
4. Provide leadership and follow established procedures for all building alarms and emergencies. Stop instruction and immediately proceed to the nearest exit during a fire alarm. Do not use the elevators in emergencies.
5. Include a section on Emergency Preparation in your syllabus and revisit the plan throughout the school year.
6. Familiarize yourselves with the University Safety Manual and individual departmental safety plans for additional information regarding emergency action and fire prevention plans.

For any questions or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at ehs-help@mtu.edu.

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

Get to Know Your Library

Tuesday, August 27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Van Pelt and Opie Library

Activities will be hosted throughout the week at the Reference Desk of the Library 9AM-5PM! Drop in to get to know the Library staff and all of the amazing resources that are...

On Campus Job Expo

Tuesday, August 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Find out what jobs are available on campus and meet the people who are hiring.

On-Campus Job Expo with Career Services

Tuesday, August 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | MUB Alumni Lounge

Interested in working on campus? Stop by the ON-Campus Job Expo. Departments looking for student employees will be tabling to share information about their open positions,...

Library Orientation for New Students

Tuesday, August 27, 1:00–2:15 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

The Van Pelt and Opie library is here to help you succeed! At this event, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library's electronic and...

Physics Colloquium with Rodrigo Amorim

Tuesday, August 27, 4–5 p.m. | fisher hall, 129

Rodrigo Amorim from Universidade Federal Fluminense will present at this week's Physics Colloquium. Amorim's presentation is titled "Solid-state nanopore for biological...

Range Day with the Women's Golf Club

Tuesday, August 27, 5:20–6:30 p.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

Join the Women's Golf Club at the Portage Lake Golf Course for a range day. Everyone is welcome- with and without experience. Come to learn the lifelong skill of golf, and get...

Main Meeting!

Tuesday, August 27, 7–9 p.m. | WADS G42W

Main meeting for our organization where we listen to preaching, take communion and have fellowship