November 25, 2024

Michigan Tech has received notice from the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) that maintenance work on their power lines and substations is scheduled for today and tomorrow, Nov. 25 and 26. The work is scheduled between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. today and between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow.

• Monday, Nov. 25: The proposed work has the potential to disrupt the University's power supply from UPPCO.

• Tuesday, Nov. 26: The proposed work will require a power outage.

The University's backup generators will provide power continuity during the outage(s). As a precaution, researchers and staff with sensitive equipment should consider isolating or powering down these devices as a precaution against potential fluctuations.

Please take any needed steps to protect your equipment, and let us know if you have questions. Contact Steve Store, energy plant manager, at 906-487-2706 (office), 906-390-6336 (cell) or scstore@mtu.edu.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this matter.

Huskies who participate in Michigan Tech’s Enterprise Program learn how to partner with industry and get the kind of experience that employers are looking for when hiring. In the case of the Consumer Product Manufacturing Enterprise (CPM) OneTumbler Team, the research they conducted for their project also led to a publication credit and fewer single-use beverage containers on campus.

Hear from 2024 chemical engineering graduate Jacqui Foreman, who led the CPM OneTumbler Team, on the College of Engineering Blog.

There will be no Tech Today published on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Graduate student thesis and dissertation defenses scheduled for Dec. 2-6 will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 27, in "Defenses Next Week."

Tech Today will resume next Monday, Dec. 2. To be included in next Monday's newsletter, items must be submitted by noon on Wednesday using our Submit a Story form.

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum’s annual 15% Off* Holiday Sale will begin Monday, Dec. 2, and continue through Dec. 21!

The gift shop includes many beautiful and unique gifts: mineral decor, various mineral lamps, agate bookends, stone dishware, jewelry and much more!

The museum gallery and gift shop are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Some exceptions apply. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

Please join the Department of Physics for a seminar with Siegfried Hoefinger today, Nov. 25, at 10 a.m. in Fisher 101.

Hoefinger is presenting a seminar titled "Antiviral Drugs and Open Challenges in Biophysical Simulations."

From the abstract:
A recent study has confirmed the antiviral activity of the synthetic peptide TAT-I24 against a broad class of double-stranded DNA viruses, for example, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, some adenoviruses, vaccinia virus and SV40 polyomavirus. To further enhance its pharmacological profile, the three cysteines in TAT-I24 were selected for mutational analysis. A large array of substitutions was set up and tested in cooperation with computational studies targeting a prediction of the change in binding affinity. Several general conclusions could be drawn from this study regarding the relative impact of the three cysteines and potential cytotoxicity as assayed from HEK293 transduction with a baculovirus vector and reporter gene expression in MCMV-infected NIH/3T3 cells. In this seminar, we shall discuss these recent experiments. observations and the extent to which they could be supported from cooperative computer simulations. In addition, important aspects of ongoing research in the Physics Department are brought up for discussion, in particular, *) RNA simulations and biophysical characterization from electrostatic potentials - by Sulekha Raffi and Dr. Shiyue Fang and *) Course graining of low-molecular condensed matter with the help of the Gay-Berne potential - by Siddharth Karkhanis.

Hoefinger received an M.Sc. in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Vienna, Austria. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at several academic/industrial sites, including IGBMC Strasbourg, the University of Bologna, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Vienna, FZ Juelich, and MTU before joining the VSC Team at TU Wien in 2014. His research interests include computational biochemical physics, HPC-driven insight into fundamental science, quantum chemistry, continuum electrostatics and large-scale simulations of molecular matter.

The Michigan Tech Nordic ski teams have announced their 2024-25 schedule. This season, Tech will host the CCSA Championships & GLD CXC Cup Finale at the Tech Trails on Feb. 15-16.

The Huskies’ season opener is a scrimmage against Northern Michigan at the Swedetown Trails in Calumet on Dec. 7.

See the 2024-25 Nordic ski schedule at Michigan Tech Athletics.

The Michigan Tech Rocket League team wrapped up the fall 2024 season as one of the best four teams in the U.S. The Huskies' postseason run ended with a hard-fought exit in the second round of the Playfly Varsity Premier Playoffs against Seton Hall University.

This Huskies had an incredible regular season run, finishing with a 7-2 record. Each matchup came with a unique set of challenges that they had to adapt and overcome. They took every opportunity to master new skills, improve their in-game knowledge, and facilitate stronger bonds between the individuals on the team.

Read more about Rocket League's outstanding season at Michigan Tech Athletics.

The Michigan Tech football team saw 15 of its members earn GLIAC postseason honors. Tech finished the 2024 campaign 7-4 overall and 4-3 in GLIAC play, earning a three-way tie for third in the league standings.

The Huskies' All-GLIAC honors are highlighted by six First Team All-GLIAC members, four Second Team All-GLIAC honorees and five All-GLIAC Honorable Mentions:

• First Team All-GLIAC: Hunter Buechel, Ethan Champney, Josh Cribben, Brenden Lach, Austin Schlicht and Darius Willis.

• Second Team All-GLIAC: Hunter Chambers, Brandon DeVries, Alex Fries and Owen Watson.

• All-GLIAC Honorable Mentions: Dante Basanese, Drew Collins, Brandon Michalak, Jake Rueff and Porter Zeeman.

Read about our football honorees' accomplishments at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Five Huskies from the Michigan Tech volleyball team were selected to receive All-GLIAC honors.

Tess Hayes and Meg Raabe were named to the All-GLIAC First Team. Paige Wagner and Rachel Zurek were honored on the All-GLIAC Second Team, and Kaycee Meiners was an Honorable Mention selection.

Read about our volleyball honorees' accomplishments at Michigan Tech Athletics.

A research team including nine current and former Michigan Tech students, a faculty member from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) and a staff member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) government has published an article in Socio-Ecological Practice Research.

The article's authors include Ph.D. candidates Mai Anh Tran (forest science) and Kendall Belopavlovich (rhetoric, theory, and culture); alumni Cassandra Reed-VanDam ’24 (M.S. Applied Ecology), Elizabeth Brown ’24 (B.S. Sustainability Science and Society), Kath Higdon ’20 ’24 (B.S. Applied Ecology and Environmental Science, Ph.D. Forest Science), Shelby N. Lane-Clark ’23 (M.S. Forest Ecology and Management), and Kate McGowen ’23 (B.S. Applied Ecology and Environmental Science); Emily Shaw ’18 ’22 (M.S. Ph.D. Environmental Science), Great Lakes resources specialist of the KBIC Natural Resources Department; and Valoree S. Gagnon (CFRES).

The article is titled “Decentering humans in sustainability: A framework for Earth-centered kinship and practice.”

Michelle Scherer (COE) and Jason Blough (MAE) were quoted by My UP Now in a story about Michigan Tech’s new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering program, launching in the 2025-26 academic year.

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Nathan Manser (GMES) was quoted by My UP Now in a story about Eagle Mine’s new tailing recycling initiative, which aims to reduce environmental impact by extracting valuable materials like nickel and sulfuric acid from mining waste. Manser highlighted the operation’s potential to set a precedent for sustainable mining practices. The story was picked up by the Keweenaw Report.

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Matt Jennings (ATH) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about Michigan Tech volleyball advancing to the GLIAC Tournament Semifinal after a 3-1 win over Wayne State. The Huskies will play Ferris State on Saturday, Nov. 23.

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MLive mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges rankings. Michigan Tech ranked No. 146 overall and was the only Michigan college listed in the top 10 for midsize institutions, coming in at No. 9.

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Tribal Gaming and Hospitality mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded project in collaboration with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the University of Missouri. The initiative uses phytoremediation techniques to restore lands affected by stamp stand pollution.

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DBusiness mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the 2025 Detroit Auto Show’s Future Leaders Forum, where students from Michigan Tech and other universities will explore mobility innovations and connect with industry experts.

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Rural Innovation Exchange mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund’s latest investments in startups advancing outdoor recreation. The Fund’s advisory board includes stakeholders from Michigan Tech. 

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Sports Car Club of America mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Lake Superior Region’s RallyCross Program, which included hosting a “rally night” on Michigan Tech’s campus to educate and engage the public in motorsport activities.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech football in a story about 15 Huskies earning All-GLIAC honors. Wide receivers Ethan Champney and Darius Willis, along with defensive linemen Josh Cribben and Austin Schlicht, linebacker Hunter Buechel and punter Brendan Lach, were named to the All-GLIAC First Team.

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Southgate’s News Herald mentioned Michigan Tech alum Mark Trudeau ’86 (B.S. Mathematics) in a story about a new book he co-authored, “There’s a Food for That.” The book uses analysis of 60,000 studies driven by artificial intelligence to rank foods that may help prevent or manage diseases such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

2025 Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Today

Benefits Open Enrollment for the 2025 coverage period ends today, Nov. 25. This is an active enrollment, which means all benefits eligible employees are required to complete the process. Eligible employees should be receiving daily reminder emails from the new Open Enrollment platform, Employee Navigator. If you have begun your Open Enrollment, please ensure that you select the “Sign to complete enrollment” portion on the final page.

Employees who may need additional assistance accessing Employee Navigator can come to the second floor of the Lakeshore Center to use a laptop today during the following times:

• Monday, Nov. 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For information on the 2025 benefits, please visit the 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment website and also look over the detailed 2025 Benefits Guide PDF.

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MTU Representatives Needed for Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Network

Two representatives of women's leadership are needed from among Michigan Tech's staff, faculty or administrators to serve as institutional representatives of MTU for the Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Network (MI-ACE). Michigan Tech recently joined MI-ACE for the first time through the support of Provost Andrew Storer.

MI-ACE is a professional networking and leadership organization for Michigan women in higher education. It has more than 45 member institutions in the state and connects with 43 state networks through the national ACE Inclusive Excellence Group. The organization is an opportunity to grow leadership skills and make connections throughout the state and across the country.

Michigan Tech's two institutional representatives (IRs) will serve as liaisons between MI-ACE and MTU, and communicate opportunities. Our IRs will work within our campus and with other campuses to promote professional development of women leaders in Michigan higher education institutions. Deans Michelle Scherer (COE) and LaReesa Wolfenbarger (CSA) will support the two IRs' travel to the annual state conference.

If you are interested, please send a resume or CV and a brief one- to two-paragraph letter describing your interest to LaReesa Wolfenbarger at llwolfen@mtu.edu by end of the day on Dec. 3. The deans will review the submissions and select the two representatives.

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Mark Your Calendar for InventCon @ Superior MakerFest 2025

Save the Date: The Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, the Western Upper Peninsula MiSTEM Network and the Copper Country Intermediate School District — in partnership with Superior Fab Lab — are pleased to announce that InventCon @ Superior MakerFest 2025 will take place on March 15.

InventCon is the Western Upper Peninsula regional component of Invention Convention Michigan, a statewide competition where students (grades 3-12) are guided through the invention design process from problem identification through model or prototype development.

All InventCon projects will be judged following Invention Convention Michigan judging criteria. Qualifying projects will be offered the opportunity to advance to the state-level competition, hosted by the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn. Prizes for winners of the state and national competitions include patent application awards, cash and scholarships.

More information, including the location of InventCon, competition rules and guidelines — and more — will be available soon.

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Invention Convention Michigan Kickoff Event

An Invention Convention Michigan (ICM) kickoff event will take place on Dec. 7 from 12-4 p.m. in Ballroom A2 of the MTU Memorial Union Building.

ICM is a statewide competition hosted by the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, where students (grades 3-12) are guided through the creative thinking process of invention design, from problem identification through model or prototype development, to solve problems big or small that are relevant to their own lives.

Invention Convention competitions occur at the regional, state and national levels. The Western U.P. competition is called InventCon and will be held in conjunction with the Superior Fab Lab MakerFest 2025 on March 15.

Join this kickoff event to get an overview of the competition’s rules and guidelines and access to other ICM resources. The overview will be followed up by activities to get brainstorm juices flowing! MTU Tech Tutors and Mind Trekkers student leaders will be on-site to help students begin their Invention Convention journey.

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Thanksgiving Break Open Rec Hours

Open Recreation Hours during Thanksgiving Break:

• Shooting Range: Closed
• Fitness Center: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Weekends 12-5 p.m.
• Multipurpose Room, Track, Racquetball Courts: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Weekends 12-5 p.m.
• OAP Climbing Wall: Closed
• SDC Pool (Open/Lap Swim): Open 12-4 p.m.
• Ice Arena, Skate Rental Center: Closed
• Gates Tennis Center: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Weekends 12-5 p.m.
• OAP Rental Center: Closed
• SDC Central Ticket Office:
  • Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 25-26: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 27: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 28: Closed
  • Friday, Nov. 29: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

The Journey - Fall Student Art Showcase - Michigan Tech Art

Monday, November 25, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Join Art & Design class students as they showcase eclectic artworks created during the fall semester. CONTENT GUIDANCE

PhD Defense: Hrishikesh Suhas Gosavi

Monday, November 25, 10–11 a.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 1021

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Vijaya Venkata Narasimha Sriram Malladi A STUDY TOWARDS DATA-DRIVEN ESTIMATION OF BANDGAPS IN METASTRUCTURES Attend...

Physics Seminar with Dr. Siegfried Hoefinger

Monday, November 25, 10–11 a.m. | Fisher Hall, 101

Dr. Siegrfried Hoefinger from Technical University, Wien, Austria will present a seminar for Physics. Siegfried's presentation is titled "Antiviral Drugs and Open...

Electron Microscopy Consultation Sessions

Monday, November 25, 1 p.m.–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...

Master's Defense: Mieka Clark

Monday, November 25, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 610

Materials Science and Engineering Advisor: Paul Sanders F-TEMPER VS O-TEMPER BRAZING OF 3003 ALUMINUM RETURN BENDS Attend Virtually:...

PhD Defense: Saleh Valizadeh Sotubadi

Monday, November 25, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 1021

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Vinh Nguyen Automated Generation of Smart Manufacturing Machine Learning Models Using Explainable AI

Bi-Weekly General Club Meeting

Monday, November 25, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | Fisher Room 101

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