November 11, 2024

Today is Veterans Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that Veterans Day is a “celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

Equal Opportunity Compliance (EOC) would like to highlight Michigan Tech’s commitment to employing and advancing veterans in the workforce.

A resource available to assist search committees when reviewing application materials that include military service is the Veteran Hiring and Translating Skills webpage. We strongly encourage search committees to use the Civilian-to-Military Occupation Translator to evaluate veteran experiences. It may require extra time to review the application materials, but veterans often have the same skills, or more, than civilian workers. The biggest difference may be the environment in which the skills were obtained, which should not discount veterans’ skill sets or hinder their employment opportunities when they return to the civilian workforce. In addition, using resources like this helps fulfill our federal requirement to recruit, hire, promote and retain veterans.

You can learn more about Michigan Tech’s obligations under federal civil rights laws by visiting EOC’s The Value of Affirmative Action at Michigan Tech webpage.

Thank you to all veterans and their families, today and every day.

This fall, the College of Engineering welcomed 16 new faculty members across eight departments. These new faculty members bring a wide range of specializations in robotics, geomechanics, cancer tissue engineering, snow hydrology and much more.

These brilliant educators and researchers join us from all over the world and include five College of Engineering alumni.

Read more about the new faculty members at the College of Engineering Blog.

The College of Business is saddened to announce that longtime faculty member Paul Aho passed away Nov. 2 at age 71. Aho served as a lecturer in management information systems in the College from 1987 until his retirement in 2006.

Aho completed a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in information systems at Michigan Tech in 1978, then worked in the accounting industry for several years. Later, he earned a master’s degree in economics from DePaul University.

“Paul was a great inspiration to me as an undergraduate,” said Adam Mitteer ’03 ’17, who earned a B.S. in Management and an M.S. in Data Science at Michigan Tech. “Taking his classes changed the course of how I looked at technology and really academia in general.”

“It was a pleasure to get to know Paul through clubs, as a TA for his class, and taking many of his courses,” said Mitteer.

Read Aho’s full obituary.

Do you have an innovative, creative business or product idea? Husky Innovate invites students to participate in the annual Husky Innovate Idea Pitch Competition, which takes place on Nov. 20 from 5-7 p.m. in M&M U115.

Hosted by the College of Business and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization, the Idea Pitch Competition is a platform for students to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit by presenting innovative business or product ideas that address real-world problems and opportunities. Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top ideas.

Register for the Fall 2024 Idea Pitch Competition.

Students can register for the competition through Sunday, Nov. 17, at 11:59 p.m. A mandatory pitch preparation session takes place on Friday, Nov. 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in M&M U113.

Find full details on the Husky Innovate website.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Nov. 24 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• apps.mtu.edu
• 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. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

The Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers, UP Michigan Works!, and the MiSTEM Network invite you to participate in the 2024 OneUP Copper Trail Festival on Dec. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Michigan Tech SDC Varsity Gym. This event is offered at no cost to schools or exhibitors, and will inspire hundreds of students from the Western Upper Peninsula through the exploration of educational and career pathways.

University departments, student organizations and Enterprises are invited to host hands-on STEM-related activities that showcase their work. If you do not have an activity on hand, but have individuals who will volunteer their time, you can request to borrow a Mind Trekkers demonstration and we will supply all materials necessary.

To learn more about this event, and to register your organization, please visit the festival website. Registration is required by Nov. 25.

There are also additional volunteer opportunities available for those who would like to participate, but are unable to exhibit! Please find the available volunteer shifts on the OneUP Copper Trail Festival's SignUp page.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at mindtrekkers@mtu.edu.

The Student Success Council Sense of Belonging group invites you to attend an LGBTQIA+ campus social! This event is open to students, faculty and staff. This is an opportunity to meet and network with others on campus who are in and support the LGBTQIA+ community. All are welcome. Refreshments will be provided.

The social will take place in the MUB Alumni Lounge next Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 5-7 p.m. This event is informal, so feel free to stop by for a few minutes or stay for the entire two hours!

We are excited to welcome you to a tutoring workshop hosted by Tech Tutors at Michigan Tech! This workshop is an opportunity for K-12 students from around the Copper Country to receive 1-on-1 tutoring in a supportive group environment. Tutoring is availble for most subjects, and students should make sure to bring any schoolwork or resources needed for tutoring if the work is specific. Snacks will also be provided!

The event is on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MTU's Fisher Hall in Room 126. Students may be dropped off or parents/guardians may hang out around campus for the duration of the workshop.

If interested, please register for the event with our workshop sign-up form!

Please contact techtutors@mtu.edu with any questions.

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites you to join the C-Cubed Luncheon, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Nov. 14:

• Fajita Style Chicken Thighs (PR)
• Steak Fajita (PR)
• Portobello Fajita (VG) (CF)
• Flour Tortillas (VG)
• Tortilla Soup (V) (AG) (PR)
• Sopapillas
• Toppings:
  
  • Sour Cream (V) (AG)
  • Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese (V) (AG)
  • Pico de Gallo (VG) (AG)
  • Cuban Black Beans (VG)
  • Spanish Rice (VG) (AG)

The C-Cubed 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. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. No takeout service or personal containers are permitted.

The buffet lunch is $15.50 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union Office (MUB 101).

You can submit C-Cubed feedback using C-Cubed Survey/Comments form. To join the C-Cubed Luncheon Email List and receive weekly menus, please complete the sign-up form.

The Applied Chemical and Morphological Laboratory (ACMAL) is sponsoring a free-of-charge internal hands-on workshop on electron microscopy presented by Erico Freitas on Friday, Nov. 15.

Freitas is a research scientist in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). He manages the scanning transmission electron microscope FEI 200kV Titan Themis, and the focused ion beam instrument in the ACMAL's Electron Optics Facility at Michigan Tech. He teaches the MSE5550 Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) lab sessions and is teaching the MSE4530 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) course.

Freitas has 15-plus years of hands-on experience with the day-to-day operation of SEM and TEM instruments, and has analyzed multiple types of samples in his career. In this workshop, he will run hands-on SEM and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) sessions using the ThermoFisher Apreo2 FESEM and the FEI Titan Themis STEM, the two high-tech cutting-edge research instruments. He wants to use his expertise in the field for the ACMAL user community to help them analyze their samples, and to discuss how to optimize microscope settings and detectors to get the best possible high-quality data.

Sign Up for the Electron Microscopy Hands-On Workshop.

There are limited spots available. The SEM sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to noon in M&M 630. The STEM sessions will take place from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in ATDC 149.

As part of the Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory’s (ACMAL’s) actions to strengthen the electron microscopy (EM) user base at Tech, Erico Freitas (MSE) is offering a few hours of free-of-charge consultations in November for the ACMAL user community.

The EM consultation sessions will take place on Monday afternoons. Freitas hopes to use his expertise on the field to discuss aspects of electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), microanalysis (EDS and EELS) experiments and data analysis, including sample preparation, to help ACMAL users to make the most of their beam time in our Electron Microscopy Facility.

Sign Up for a Consultation Session.

Llorenç Cremonesi, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Milan, Italy, will present at this week's Physics Colloquium. Cremonesi's presentation is titled "Radiative Properties of Dielectric and Absorbing Aggregates."

The seminar will be presented at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Fisher 139. The coffee hour will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Fisher Hall Lobby.

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

Job Postings for Monday, Nov. 11, 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.

Business Intelligence Analyst, Information Technology. Apply online.

Senior Programmer/Analyst, Information Technology. Apply online.

Food Service Helper (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #24320, Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates Nov. 11 to Nov. 15, 2024 — 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.

David Shonnard (ChE) recently attended the 2024 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, held Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in San Diego, California.

At the annual meeting, Shonnard presented research findings on a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on conversion of military plastic waste to useful products. The research presentations were a result of collaborations with several university partners, including Western University in Canada and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.

Names of students, staff and faculty researchers involved are listed in the citations below.

• Daniel Kulas, Sulihat Aloba, Lindsay Putman, Sarvada Chipkar, Adrian Noecker, JoAnn Henry, Emily Leverance, Colin Meinholz, Kevin Garland, Steve Techtmann, Rebecca Ong, David R. Shonnard, "Coupling of ammonolysis and pyrolysis to upcycle challenging multilayer plastic films", 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting, Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2024, San Diego, CA.

• Topher Taylor, Brian Eggart, Daniel G. Kulas, Sarvada Chipkar, Jeffrey D. Nabor, and David R. Shonnard, "Evaluating Pyrolysis Gas from Waste Plastics as a Fuel for Portable Power Generation", 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting, Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2024, San Diego, CA.

• Sarvada Chipkar, Daniel G. Kulas, Christopher Taylor, Emily Leverance and David R. Shonnard, "Upcycled Group IV Base Oil Lubricants generated from pyrolysis of military waste polyethylene and polypropylene plastics", 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting, Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2024, San Diego, CA.

David Flaspohler (CFRES) and undergraduate students Sawyer Fowler (forestry) and Bryan Horning (environmental science and sustainability) were quoted by WLUC TV6 in a story covering Michigan Tech’s annual Natural Resource Career Fair. Hosted by the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, the event connected around 300 students with 25 employers in the natural resources field.

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Carol MacLennan (SS) was quoted by Bridge Michigan in a story about the environmental challenges faced by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community due to historical mining waste and ongoing mining activities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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Josh Buettner (ATH) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a season preview for Michigan Tech men’s basketball. The team, led by four returning junior starters, opened their season at the NCAA D2 Midwest Region Tip-Off on Friday, Nov. 8.

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Michigan Tech hockey defenseman Chase Pietila was featured on The Reporter's Corner podcast episode titled "Chase Pietila, Michigan Tech," which aired on Thursday, Nov. 7. Pietila discussed growing up in a hockey family, his journey to playing for Michigan Tech and being selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

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The U.S. Department of Labor mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release announcing over $10.5 million in grants awarded to support mine safety and health training nationwide. Michigan Tech will receive $283,429 from the Mine Safety and Health Administration to assist in these efforts.

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Offshore Engineer and Marine Link mentioned Michigan Tech alum Todd Fernstrum ’92 (AAS Electromechanical Engineering Technology) and his work at R.W. Fernstrum & Company, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

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The Pride of Detroit mentioned Michigan Tech alum Bobby Slowik ’09 (B.S. Biomedical Engineering) in a preview of the Detroit Lions’ Week 10 game against the Houston Texans. Slowik is the Texans’ offensive coordinator.

2025 Benefits Open Enrollment Begins Today

It is that time of year: Michigan Tech’s annual Benefits Open Enrollment period begins today, Nov. 11, and runs through Nov. 25.

The 2025 Open Enrollment is an active enrollment, which means all benefits eligible employees are required to complete Open Enrollment.

• Open Enrollment Period: Begins Monday, Nov. 11, and ends Monday, Nov. 25
• Benefits Plan Year: Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025

A new Open Enrollment platform, Employee Navigator, will be used this year instead of Banweb.

We encourage employees to visit Michigan Tech’s 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment website and the 2025 Benefits Guide PDF for more information.

What You Need to Know to Prepare for Open Enrollment:

• Today, Nov. 11, you will receive an email from noreply@employeenavigator.com. This email will contain a link to register your account with Employee Navigator in order to begin your Open Enrollment.

• Your first and last name, the last four digits of your social security number (SSN), and your date of birth are required to complete your registration.
  Notes: 
  – Your first and last name must match what is in MTU’s system.
  – The registration process will include a two-factor authentication step, which will send a special code to your email before you can finish logging in to Employee Navigator.
  – Tobacco usage is a required field due to the Critical Illness benefit option for employees.

• Employees will receive reminder emails from Employee Navigator until they complete Open Enrollment.

• During Open Enrollment, questions about benefits options or Employee Navigator should be directed to hr-help@mtu.edu or 906-487-2517.

• Human Resources staff will be available for questions and assistance on Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. via email at hr-help@mtu.edu or phone at 906-487-2517.

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How to Request Employment Accommodations Due to a Disability

If you are a Michigan Tech employee (faculty, staff, student) with a disability, you may qualify for a reasonable accommodation to perform your job. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or change to a task, the environment or a procedure to enable an individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a position.

Please visit Access and Disability for information on accommodations and the link to the accommodation request form. Once the request is received, the University’s ADA coordinator and employee will begin the interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation.

If you are a supervisor with an employee who mentions having difficulties performing their job because of a disability, please contact the ADA coordinator at adacoordinator@mtu.edu, and refer the employee to Access and Disability for more information.

If you are a student with a disability and would like information about academic accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at sds@mtu.edu.

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Sponsored Programs Deadlines

As a result of recent unexpected personnel departures, the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) is currently extremely short-staffed. In order to ensure the ability to submit timely proposal submissions that fully comply with all relevant requirements and policies, established deadlines will be strictly enforced.

Principal investegators are encouraged to complete the Notice of Intent to Submit a Proposal form as soon as they become aware of their interest in a proposal opportunity.

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Virtual Interest Session: Online MS in Applied Statistics

Want to learn about the versatile, in-demand skills of applied statistics? Join representatives from both Michigan Tech’s Department of Mathematical Sciences and Michigan Tech Global Campus for a 45-minute virtual interest session on Michigan Tech's online M.S. in Applied Statistics (MSAS).

The interest session will run tomorrow, Nov. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. EST via Zoom.

Register for the Online MSAS Interest Session.

Applied statistics involves analyzing data, developing models, making predictions, and solving problems. It is crucial to a variety of fields, such as finance, engineering, sociology, health care and marketing.

In the session, attendees will learn more about this online degree, which helps you build specialized skills to meet the growing demand for statistics and data professionals. Presenters will also review registration requirements, the application process and career trajectories.

If you have any questions about this online event, please contact Amanda Irwin at globalcampus@mtu.edu or 906-487-1000.

Attend for yourself or for someone else. Everyone is welcome!

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Save the Date! Register for Research Day 2024 2.0

Research Day 2024 will be held on Dec. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building.

Everyone is invited to join us for a time of learning, inspiration and networking as we look toward the future of research at Michigan Tech.

Please register to attend by Dec. 10.

We encourage participants to attend in person for the best experience, and we also plan to, where practical, provide hybrid options and virtual networking opportunities for anyone who needs to attend remotely. A full agenda with more details and a list of sessions with hybrid options will be published soon.

Any questions should be addressed to rd-l@mtu.edu.

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EPSSI Seminar with Marco Potenza

An Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) Seminar will take place today, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. in M&M U113.

Guest speaker Marco Potenza of the University of Milan, Italy, will present "The Understanding of Optical Properties of Aerosol."

Read Potenza's abstract and bio at the EPSSI's Fall 2024 Seminar Series page.

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Seeking Local Western UP Food Recipes

My project group for SS4700 Communities and Research is designing, creating and sharing a cookbook that highlights the culinary traditions, diverse cultures and shared experiences of Western Upper Peninsula communities. Our hope is that this cookbook will have different recipes signifying the variety of cultures and food within the Western U.P. community. Our student group is collaborating with Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative (WUPFSC) to help make and share this free and publicly available online cookbook.

If you have any recipes that you'd like to submit, fill out the Western U.P. Culture Food Recipes sharing form.

If you have any questions, please email western.cookbook@gmail.com or our advisor, Angie Carter, at ancarter@mtu.edu.

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Midyear Commencement Volunteers Still Needed

The Commencement Team is still seeking volunteers for the 2024 Midyear Commencement ceremony, which will take place on Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the SDC Varsity Gym. We need volunteers to help with pre-ceremony setup, serve as greeters and ushers, coordinate graduate check-in, and assist guests with special seating accommodations. More information regarding the ceremony is available on the Commencement website.

Please sign up by Dec. 6 if you would like to volunteer. Contact Tiffany Jaeger at tiffanyj@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

This special event cannot happen without the help of our amazing Michigan Tech community!

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MTTI General Meeting and Luncheon – Open to All Researchers

Come discuss the future of transportation and mobility research and education at Tech. The Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI) witnessed a robust fiscal year 2024 and is looking to grow its footprint throughout the University and beyond. MTTI's next luncheon meeting will be held today, Nov. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. in MUB Ballrooms B1 and B2.

At the meeting, we will discuss FY24 numbers and FY25 projections, highlight our new members and projects, and discuss potential changes to MTTI and institutes at Tech. We'll also discuss benefits of MTTI membership, including the recently reintroduced travel grants for members/students.

Please RSVP for the luncheon if you plan to attend. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.

Join the MTTI General Meeting on Zoom.

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

CISR Research Talk

Monday, November 11, 12–1 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, 103

Topic: CISR Research Talk with Dr. Chee-Wooi Ten Time: November 11, 2024 12:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:...

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Electron Microscopy Consultation Sessions

Monday, November 11, 1–3 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 607

As part of ACMAL actions to strengthen the electron microscopy user base at Tech, Dr. Erico Freitas is offering a few hours of free-of-charge consultations in November for the...

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Hot Cocoa/Lemonade Handout

Monday, November 11, 1–3 p.m. | Fisher Rock Garden

Come join us and keep cool or warm (weather dependent) and learn about who Christ is in the Fisher Rock Garden

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Integrating Satellite Remote Sensing and Geotechnical Modelling: A New Frontier to Predict Geosystem Failure

Monday, November 11, 3 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC)

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar Xiang Li, Assistant Professor, Geological Engineering, Michigan Tech Abstract: In recent years, severe storms driven by climate...

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Master's Defense: Xiang Zhao

Monday, November 11, 3–4 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 875

Civil Engineering Advisor: Qingli Dai Wet-Carbonation of RCAs for Improved Carbonation Efficiency and Mechanical Properties of RCA and Recycle Concrete

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EPSSI Seminar: Dr. Marco Potenza

Monday, November 11, 4–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), Room U113

This event will be held in M&M U113. Dr. Marco Potenza of the University of Milan will give a talk on Monday, November 11. The title of the presentation is "The Understanding...

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Stammtisch

Monday, November 11, 4:30–5:30 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 120C HDMZ

Please join us for German conversation, snacks, games, and more! All levels of German language proficiency are welcome.

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Become A Published Author

Monday, November 11, 5:00–6:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 125

Please join us for a 90 minute workshop about the Self-Publishing Process. George Paasewe is an entrepreneur, professor, author, former McNair Scholar and founder of Educare...

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Python Workshop

Monday, November 11, 5–6 p.m. | Rekhi 113

A free, in person, python workshop for beginners!

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Parent & Child Aquatics - Session 2

Monday, November 11, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6 months to 3 years old. A...

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Preschool Aquatics - Session 2

Monday, November 11, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash this in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old. Space will...

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General Meeting 11/11

Monday, November 11, 6–7 p.m. | 403 - MEEM

At this General Meeting, we will have an alumni presentation representing his company which is offering opportunities for Mechanical Engineers like yourself! The E-board will...

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Bi-Weekly General Club Meeting

Monday, November 11, 7–8 p.m. | Fisher Room 101

We have fun plant themed events! Join our discord to get more information!

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College of Sciences and Arts Information Session

Monday, November 11, 7–8 p.m.

Join us to learn more about the College of Sciences and Arts! This event is a great opportunity for you to hear current students share more about the college, the majors...