September 5, 2024

Michigan Tech is excited to offer free CyberHusky training to local middle and high school students. This year, we're focusing on machine learning with Python, recognizing artificial intelligence's growing significance in our daily lives.

We'll start with Python programming and then explore key machine learning techniques. Participants will also engage in cybersecurity competitions, such as CyberPatriot and the National Cyber League.

The CyberHusky program is led by professors and students from the College of Computing. Our first session will be held on Sept. 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 117 of Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall at Michigan Tech.

For more information and to apply, please visit the CyberHusky Team website.

Assistant Professor Amna Mazen (AC, MMET) is seeking applications for a Ph.D. position in mechatronics starting in spring 2025. The research will focus on leveraging mobile manipulators for tasks in healthcare and industrial applications. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Ideal candidates should possess the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in mechatronics, robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field
• A solid foundation in ROS, SLAM, MoveIt, mobile robot navigation, manipulator motion planning and robot perception
• At least one published paper
• Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, C++
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Exceptional communication and teamwork skills
• Preference will be given to candidates with additional experience in mobile manipulators and human-robot interaction

How to Apply: Interested candidates should email the following documents to Amna Mazen at amazen@mtu.edu with the subject line: “Ph.D. Application_FirstName_LastName”.

All University researchers, scientists, and staff have a role to play regarding laboratory safety on campus. Facilities Management supports laboratories, shops and similar learning environments by providing regular cleaning and sanitation services. The following provides a summary of the laboratory-types and the respective services provided by building custodial staff. 

• Open Labs - Custodial staff cleans touchpoints and floors, and empties trash receptacles on a weekly basis. Laboratory personnel are responsible for cleaning horizontal surfaces, counter tops, furnishings, and fixtures.
• Teaching Labs - Custodial staff cleans touchpoints and floors, and empties trash receptacles on a daily basis. Laboratory personnel are responsible for cleaning horizontal surfaces, counter tops, furnishings, and fixtures.
• Research Labs & Shops - Facilities Management staff does not provide cleaning services. Laboratory & shop personnel are responsible for emptying trash and recycling bins. Trash should be taken to the building’s dumpster. Additional trash bags can be requested by submitting a Facilities work request. 

Laboratory personnel are encouraged to consider custodial staff when reviewing lab safety procedures and best practices for maintaining a safe work environment. Facilities staff asks that you also consider the following: 

• Follow best practices for labeling chemicals and related solutions. In the event of an emergency, accurate labeling can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of response actions.
• Glass collection boxes/buckets should be located in all laboratories with glassware and the potential for breakage. Utilize properly labeled and maintained bins for the collection of broken glassware.
• If required, review laboratory contact information for accuracy and ensure that an updated emergency response poster is printed in color and placed at the entrance to all laboratories, shops and other areas where hazardous materials are used or stored.

The Career Closet is a give-away of gently worn business clothing to assist students in preparing for Career Fair and other career opportunities. In order to provide as many options for students as possible, we need to secure donations of professional clothing and shoes. We will be accepting donations of gently worn, clean business clothing through September 20 at noon. Donated items will be available to all Michigan Tech students at no cost.

The Career Closet will take place Friday, Sept. 20 from 3-6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 21 from 1-4 p.m. in Wads G04W.

If you would like to volunteer at the event, please sign up through GivePulse or email huskycloset@mtu.edu.

While we will accept any new or gently used professional items, we do have some high priority items:

• Men’s shoes
• Men’s suit coats
• Men’s dress shirts
• Men’s dress pants (size 32 & smaller)
• Ties
• Women’s size small tops
• Women’s size 0-6 dress pants

Clothing may be dropped off at any of the following locations:

• College of Business
• Dean of Students Office
• Career Services
• University Images
• Campus Bookstore
• Van Pelt and Opie Library
• Residential Living

Or, boxed clothing can be mailed to:
Residential Living
1701 Townsend Drive
153W Wadsworth Hall
Houghton, MI 49931

Thank you to all who have supported this effort of the Husky Closet Collective. This event is donation- and volunteer-based, and we could not do it without the help and support of our Husky community. 

Hello and welcome to the fall 2024 semester! We hope you've had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to the upcoming academic year. You are invited to the welcome back social hour for the Center for Innovation in Sustainability & Resilience (CISR). We hope you will join us on Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. in MUB Alumni Lounge B. We will have coffee, tea, breakfast snacks, and opportunities to learn more about CISR's activities last year and plans for this year, to celebrate our accomplishments, and to share information on how to get involved!

Please use this RSVP Form to let us know if you're planning to attend, no later than September 13, 2024. Please contact Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu with any questions (or requests for CISR!).

Thanks for your time, engagement, and contributions to the CISR research community. We look forward to seeing you soon!

The Accessible Technology Working Group (ATWG) is pleased to offer a limited number of seats to staff and faculty for self-paced digital accessibility training with Deque University, a leading provider in digital accessibility education. This training is designed to enhance your skills in creating accessible digital content, ensuring that all members of the Michigan Tech community can access and benefit from the information you share.

Training Curriculum Highlights:

• Web Accessibility
• Word and Google Document Accessibility
• PDF Accessibility
• PowerPoint Accessibility
• EPUB Accessibility
• InDesign Accessibility
• iOS/Android Accessibility Features

The Deque University training offers both fast-track and in-depth courses, each featuring interactive quizzes, a final assessment, and a certificate of completion for those who successfully pass the training. Whether you regularly post instructional materials for your students in Canvas or share information and documents on a Michigan Tech website, this training will help you become a digital accessibility champion and align with University Policy 1.15: Accessible Information and Communication Technology.

To request access to this training or for more information, please contact the ATWG at accessibility-l@mtu.edu.

Welcome to Insights from Student Affairs, your go-to source for the latest updates and information directly from professionals within Student Affairs. We aim to keep you informed and engaged with a curated selection of information that impacts our work and student life. Each month an office within our division will share a bit of their expertise directly related to the excellent work their staff is doing.

This month's column comes from Rob Bishop, Assistant Dean of Community Conduct and is titled, "The Pros and Cons of Generative Artificial Intelligence Use."

The next installment will be published on October 1.

The Graduate School is offering support services to assist graduate students in applying for the Michigan Space Grant Consortium’s Graduate Fellowship, including a workshop and one-on-one writing support. 

MSGC’s Graduate Fellowship opportunity supports graduate students from affiliate institutions who are conducting research and public service projects relevant to NASA’s strategic interests as expressed in NASA’s 2018 Strategic Plans specifically, research focused on aerospace, space science, and earth system science. Graduate students working in related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields are also eligible to apply. Additionally, MSGC is piloting an expanded definition of STEM to include support for interdisciplinary projects that include art, so graduate students conducting research and projects relevant to NASA’s strategic interests in disciplines not traditionally considered STEM, such as the humanities or social sciences, are likewise encouraged to apply. 

Fellowship recipients are awarded $5,000. To be eligible, applicants must identify a mentor, be U.S. nationals, have a good academic record, and be in good academic standing. Women, under-represented minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.  Students currently receiving MSGC Fellowships are eligible to reapply. 

MSGC Graduate Fellowship Workshop: Overview and tips from a reviewer

• Date and Time: Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 1-1:50 p.m.
• Location: Zoom
• Presenter: Will Cantrell, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
• Host: Sarah Isaacson, GLAS Program Director, sisaacso@mtu.edu  

The workshop will be recorded and shared with registrants. Register here.

For more information and specific application instructions, visit the MSGC website and MTU Graduate School’s MSGC web page. 

The next guest speaker in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) Seminar Series will present Friday (September 6) at 3 p.m. in person in ChemSci 102 and virtually via Zoom.

Bahareh Behkam from Virginia Tech will present "Engineering Bacteria-based Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy."

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

The Michigan Tech soccer team heads to Minnesota to face NSIC foes St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth to open the 2024 campaign.

Thursday's tilt against St. Cloud State is slated for an 8 p.m. start. Saturday's matinee against Minnesota Duluth is scheduled for 2 p.m.

For more information, visit Michigan Tech Athletics.

Qiuying Sha (Mathematical Sciences) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $429,153 research and development grant from the US Dept of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health.

The project is titled, "Integrative analysis of electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony to improve cardiac resynchronization therapy."

Weihua Zhou (Applied Computing) is a Co-PI on this potential two-year award.

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Ana Dyreson (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering/APSRC) is the PI on a project that has received a $22,924 research and development contract from the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The project is titled, "Fiber Optic Sensor Deployment for Single-axis Tracking Solar PV."

Central Michigan University’s WCMU News quoted Sarah Hoy (CFRES) in a story about the National Park Service's response to bold wolves on Isle Royale. Hoy shared insights into the wolves' behavior and their impact on the ecosystem. The story was picked up from WGVU News.

VPR Shares DEIS Resources

A core strategic value of both Michigan Tech and the Vice President for Research Office (VPR), skills and knowledge regarding the support of diversity, equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging (DEIS) are critical to much of our work.

In order to develop VPR staff skills in supporting DEIS within our staff and in our core work serving University researchers, the VPR DEIS Committee has selected some particularly valuable LinkedIn Learning Library DEIS resources, both foundational and advanced, and linked to the list and individual modules via VPR's DEIS Strategic Plan webpage. Access to LinkedIn Learning Library resources is available to all Michigan Tech staff and faculty.

The committee invites the campus community to take some time to explore the expanded site. The resources listed offer the flexibility to engage individually or as a group, and formally or informally — you decide! Moving forward, we invite you to return periodically for updates to our resource list.

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Coming Up: 2024 CTL Instructional Awards and Luncheon

The Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) congratulates the following 2024 Deans' Teaching Showcase members who have been selected to receive 2024 CTL Instructional Awards.

• Innovative or Out of Class Teaching: Christopher “Kit” Cischke (ECE)
• Large Class Teaching: First-Year Engineering Team (EF)
• Curriculum Development and Assessment: Kathryn Hannum (SS)

This year's recipients will present an overview of the efforts that led to their teaching awards at a CTL Lunch and Learn event on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at noon in the MUB Ballroom. Each presenter will receive formal recognition and a cash award.

Please register in advance to attend the luncheon.

The CTL would also like to thank previous instructional award recipients who were instrumental in the selection process.

We're looking for nominations for the 2025 Deans' Teaching Showcase during spring semester. Please consider suggesting (to your dean or chair) instructors who have made exceptional contributions in curriculum development, assessment, innovative or out-of-class teaching, or large class teaching.

Contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu for more information.

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First Friday Social

Join Graduate Student Government (GSG) for an exciting hangout! Mingle, explore and unlock Houghton’s hidden gems with Bob Wenc. All grad students, faculty and staff are welcome to drop in at the Grad Commons for a First Friday Social tomorrow, Sept. 6, from 5-7 p.m.

We’ve got food, fun and plenty of surprises planned. And hey, if you’re planning to visit the beverages stand, don’t forget to have your ID (passport, driver’s license or state ID) handy. See you there!

Event Details:

• What: First Friday Social
• When: Friday, Sept. 6, from 5-7 p.m.
• Where: Grad Commons Patio, located at 207 East Street (across US-41 from the Van Pelt and Obie Library)
• RSVP: No RSVP is required

View the First Friday Social flyer. For any questions or concerns, please contact GSG Social Chair Vikram Gurrapu at gsg-social@mtu.edu.

Organized by the Graduate Student Government (GSG).

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CTL Technical Workshop: Getting Started with iClicker Cloud

The William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will host a technical workshop tomorrow, Sept. 6, from 10-11 a.m. in Library 243 to introduce instructors to iClicker Cloud software.

iClicker Cloud helps instructors engage with their students in the classroom by asking polling questions that can promote discussion, identify areas of confusion and generate questions. Michigan Tech has a campus site license for iClicker Cloud, so instructors can use this tool at no additional cost to their students.

In this CTL technical workshop, we’ll review how to get started using iClicker Cloud in your classroom. We’ll review how to set up your instructor account, iClicker Groups, make custom course settings to meet your needs, and integrate the course with your Canvas course.

Register for the CTL technical workshop — make plans to join us!

Contact the CTL at elearning@mtu.edu with any questions about this workshop or using iClicker Cloud in your class this fall semester.

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Physics Colloquium with Apparao Rao

Apparao Rao of Clemson University will present at a Physics Colloquium this week. The seminar will be held in person at 4 p.m. today, Sept. 5, in Fisher 139.

Rao's presentation is titled "Sustainable Batteries for Future Energy Storage."

Read Rao's abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

This talk is made possible through the generous support of the Jim ’66 and Shelley Williams Applied Physics Annual Fund.

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Last Chance to Register: High-Impact Strategies for Difficult Dialogue

Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity! Extended registration ends today, Sept. 5, for our highly anticipated workshop, High-Impact Strategies for Difficult Dialogue with renowned expert Ronald L. Jackson II.

Workshop Details:

• What: High-Impact Strategies for Difficult Dialogue
• When: Thursday, Sept. 12, from 8-9:30 a.m.
• Where: MUB Ballroom
• Registration: Deadline extended to Thursday, Sept. 5

Spaces are filling up fast for this transformative event in our Bridging Communities Series. Here's why you can't afford to miss it:

• Learn game-changing strategies to navigate contentious topics on campus
• Enhance your ability to facilitate respectful and productive conversations
• Gain invaluable skills particularly beneficial for classroom settings
• Network with colleagues over a complimentary breakfast

Register now to secure your spot and join your peers in developing crucial communication skills that will benefit you both personally and professionally.

Remember, registration closes at the end of today, Sept. 5, and we expect the remaining spots to fill quickly. Act now to ensure you're part of this enriching experience!

This program is partially sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program, funded through a grant to the Office of the Provost from the state of Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks Initiative.

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C-Cubed Luncheons are Back!

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University brings back the C3 Luncheon for the 2024-25 school year. The luncheon is held each week held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday (Sept. 5):

- Chicken Tikka Masala (AG, PR)
- Potato, Garbanzo and Pea Coconut Curry (VG, AG)
- Basmati Rice (VG, AG)
- Garam Cauliflower and Chickpea (VG, AG, CF)
- Garlic Naan (V, PR)
- Kachumber Salad (VG, AG)

The C3 lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by Chef Luis Delgado and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea and cookies are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $15.49 per person. Cash, credit cards, and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). Meals are for dine-in only; no personal containers or to-go meals are permitted.

Allergen Icons:

V= Vegetarian, VG= Vegan, AG= Avoiding Gluten, PR = Good Source of Protein, CL= Climate Friendly

More information on allergen icons can be found on the Dine on Campus website or app.

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IAGLR Outstanding Poster Award

Recent M.S. in Biological Sciences graduate Mitch Kehne ’24 has been awarded the Outstanding Student Poster Award for his original research titled “Assessing the nutritional quality and fate of Saginaw Bay dreissenid mussel veligers.” Keane received the award following his presentation at the 67th Annual Conference of the International Association for Great Lakes Research. Mitch’s research presentation was selected the overall winner from over 75 in-person and virtual poster presentations.

His graduate research was supported by Michigan Sea Grant funding awarded to Gord Paterson (BioSci/GLRC), Jill Olin (BioSci/GLRC) and Trista Vick-Majors (BioSci/GLRC).

The announcement is available online in the Summer 2024 issue of IAGLR’s Lakes Letter.

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

Fall 2024 Blood Drive

Thursday, September 5, 10–11 a.m. | MUB Ballroom

The Fall 2024 Blood Drive will be on September 4th and 5th from 10 AM until 4 PM in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom. The American Red Cross recommends everyone make an...

Career Fest Kick Off

Thursday, September 5, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Get ready for the recruiting season! Show us your completed Handshake profile and we'll give you a hotdog.

First Year Students: Making the Most of Career Fair

Thursday, September 5, 12–1 p.m.

Learn about what to expect from career fair, why you should go and how to prepare.

CTL Event: Open House

Thursday, September 5, 1:00–2:30 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Join the Center for Teaching and Learning for the following opportunity:

Huskies Swim Training - Session 1

Thursday, September 5, 4–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and...

Physics Colloquium with Apparao Rao

Thursday, September 5, 4–5 p.m. | fisher hall, 139

Apparao Rao from Clemson University will present at this week's Physics Colloquium. Rao's presentation is titled "Sustainable Batteries for Future Energy Storage." The...

Cardboard Mini Golf

Thursday, September 5, 5–7 p.m. | TKE House

Join the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon for this event. We will be making 9 mini golf holes and playing through them with your group. Stop by to learn more about how we can...

Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 - Session 1

Thursday, September 5, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-5 are being offered at the SDC Pool. Ages 6-17 years Space will be provided for...

Football vs South Dakota Mines

Thursday, September 5, 6–9 p.m. | Sherman Field

Football vs South Dakota Mines Houghton, Mich.

Worship Ambiance

Thursday, September 5, 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall

Experience the atmosphere of worship, our bi-weekly gathering for believers and those who yearn to have a deeper relationship with God, deepening their understanding of Jesus...

Women's Soccer at St. Cloud State

Thursday, September 5, 8–11 p.m. | St. Cloud, Minn.

Women's Soccer at St. Cloud State St. Cloud, Minn.