February 20, 2025

With multiple robotics courses now being offered and a new robotics lab slated to open this year, Michigan Technological University’s College of Computing is introducing Balto the robot dog to the campus community.

Balto is named for the legendary husky and lead sled dog who ran the last leg of a more than 500-mile dog sled relay to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, in 1925. They will be the greeter in Michigan Tech’s new robotics lab, coming to Rekhi Hall. As plans for the facility come together, Balto has been paying visits to students around campus with Assistant Professor Michael Walker (CS).

“The demos showcase the capabilities of the cutting-edge industrial robot assets available to students at Tech while also bringing awareness to the MTU community about the activity, opportunities and growth within the Computer Science Department in terms of robotics research and courses,” said Walker.

Read more about Balto on Michigan Tech's Unscripted Research Blog.

After submitting her essay to the fifth annual Rising Black Scientists Awards last fall, Nyasha Milanzi ’25, sustainable communities master’s degree candidate and graduate research assistant, had a premonition she’d win — and sure enough, she was announced as an award recipient in the physical, data, earth, and environmental sciences category earlier this month.

Sponsored by Cell Press, Cell Signaling Technology and the Elsevier Foundation, the Rising Black Scientists Awards are designed to empower and support young, talented and motivated Black scientists on their continuing journey through their scientific careers.

Milanzi’s essay, “Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers and Scientists to be Champions of Equitable Change,” shares her passion for underserved communities driven by a family legacy.

“Looking back, the people who really inspired me are at home. I see a lot of parallels between myself and my parents. They want to do good, but they are also thinking of the most vulnerable in our community,” Milanzi said.

Read about Milanzi’s perspective on interdisciplinary research on the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.

A candlelight vigil will be held tonight, Feb. 20, at 10 p.m. on campus at the Husky Statue in memory of Matthew Sisson.

Matt was a Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering who passed away recently.

You are invited to an informal genomic technologies themed coffee hour sponsored by the Health Research Institute in the second floor atrium of the H-STEM Complex on Monday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m.

Students, staff and faculty with an interest in genomic technologies and its applications are welcome to attend this great opportunity to socialize with colleagues across centers, institutes and colleges.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!

The Department of Humanities (HU) department chair candidate visit originally scheduled for today and tomorrow, Feb. 20 and 21, has been canceled.

Please join the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) for the first session in our Friday seminar series, happening tomorrow, Feb. 21, from 3-4 p.m. in Noblet G002, followed by a social in the Forestry Atrium.

Shane Oberloier, assistant teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of The Alley Makerspace at MTU, will discuss how research objectives can be enhanced through collaboration and creation.

Job Postings for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

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.

​C​ustodian (12 months, part-time, no base schedule) #24357RP, Facilities Management (AFSCME posting dates Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, 2025 — 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.

Director of Thompson Scholars Program, Enrollment Management. Apply online.

Structural Engineer, Center for Technology and Training. Apply online.

Research Engineer, Center for Technology and Training. Apply online.

Senior Office Assistant, Sports and Recreation Operations (UAW posting dates Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, 2025 — 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.

Professor Emeritus Iosif Pinelis (Math) is the author of a chapter accepted for publication in “Global Optimization, Computation, Approximation and Applications” (World Scientific).

The chapter is titled “Minimax Approximation of the l1-ball by Ellipsoids.”

The abstract of the chapter can be viewed at Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech.

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Assistant Professor Kayla M. Gabehart (SS) is the author of an article published in Review of Policy Research.

The article, titled “Conservation in conflict: Examining rural-urban discourse in wolf reintroduction policy in Colorado,” examines the contours of rural-urban conflict around large carnivore reintroduction.

The Mining Journal, Daily Mining Gazette, Keweenaw Report, My UP Now and MLive picked up Michigan Tech Public Safety and Police Services’ Feb. 18 announcement that missing Michigan Tech graduate student Matthew Sisson (materials science and engineering) was found deceased and no foul play is suspected.

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Jenny Apriesnig (COB) was quoted by Virginia’s WHRO Public Media in a story about research funding cuts and their potential economic impact on communities surrounding research universities. Apriesnig’s study analyzed the indirect economic effects of research funding, showing that rural areas see significant job growth as a result of research dollars.

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Bridge Michigan mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Rx Kids cash-assistance program in Michigan, referencing research by Richelle Winkler (SS) and Ph.D. student Julia Petersen (environmental and energy policy) on population loss in the Upper Peninsula over the past two decades.

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The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech’s Forestry Club in a story about their nomination for the 2024 Outstanding SAF Student Chapter Award. The nomination recognizes the club’s growth in membership and its contributions to local landscape improvement projects. The story was highlighted in Re:Generations Magazine.

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My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival in a story about Hancock’s inaugural Snow Sculpting Invitational, taking place Feb. 21-23.

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The Daily Mining Gazette covered Michigan Tech senior men’s basketball guard Adam Hobson and first-year hockey defenseman Rylan Brown being named players of the week. Hobson earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Brown was recognized as the CCHA Rookie of the Week.

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WLUC TV6 covered the Michigan Tech Nordic ski team’s victory at the CCSA Championships. The Huskies won the Butch Reimer Cup, claiming the men’s, women’s and overall team titles, with Bridget Burns and Tryg Solberg earning individual conference championships.

Funding Still Available to Support Visiting Professors, Scholars

The Office of the Provost is still accepting applications for visiting professor visits between now and Sept. 30. The Visiting Professor Program supports campus departments, inviting professors, scholars, potential faculty or research collaborators to Michigan Tech’s campus during the 2024-25 academic year. This funding is available thanks to the state of Michigan King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Visiting Professor Program (VPP).

University departments or units are invited to apply for financial support to bring visiting scholars who provide underrepresented perspectives in their field of expertise to Michigan Tech’s campus. Visitors do not need a terminal degree or a faculty position to qualify for support. Supported visits can be as short as an afternoon, up to a week or longer. While on campus, visiting professors are to interact with faculty and students in the classroom, in seminars, informal and formal group discussions, or teach a session during an academic or summer semester.

Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to a proposed visit for pre-approval by the state of Michigan. Funding requests can be made for up to $1,500. However, unit(s) must provide a minimum 1-to-1 match to expenses covered by KCP funds.

Learn more about the Visiting Professor Program, including its purpose and the application process, on the program's webpage. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Shannon Vairo, manager of partner engagement and faculty support.

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Become Mental Health First Aid Certified

The next opportunity for students and staff to become Mental Health First Aid Certified be a two-day training held on March 18 and March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day. This training assists individuals with recognizing signs and symptoms of someone experiencing a mental health crisis and understanding how to respond and/or get them connected to appropriate resources.

Two hours of pre-work are required through online modules ahead of the in-person training dates. The deadline to sign up is March 14 and the session is limited to 30 participants. Cost for participants is $55 and includes all required materials for the course. Sign up today using the Mental Health First Aid registration form.

Please direct any questions to Sarah Dowd at sedowd@mtu.edu.

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Physics Colloquium: Grad Student Presentations

The following Department of Physics graduate students will be presenting their research progress at this week’s Physics Colloquium:

• Ryan Munter (advised by Jae Yong Suh)
• Alyssa Horne (advised by Ranjit Pati)
• Hitendra Singh (advised by Ranjit Pati)

This will be an in-person event — the students will give their talks at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 20, in Fisher 139.

Read the students' presentation titles and abstracts at the University Events Calendar.

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Sustainability Film: 'Troubled Water'

The 2025 Sustainability Film Series, coordinated by Michigan Tech Office of Sustainability and Resilience, will present February’s film “Troubled Water” at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 20, in Fisher 138. The film is free and everyone is welcome to attend. The film will be followed by a facilitated discussion and refreshments.

Add “Troubled Water” to your Google Calendar.

“Troubled Water” follows lifelong friends Chris Yahanda and William Wright as they embark on a 425-mile paddleboard journey across Lake Michigan and the Grand River, exploring environmental threats to the Great Lakes and discovering the power of community in protecting the waters they love.

Film sponsors include the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Keweenaw Co-op, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, WUP MiSTEM Network, Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK), Keweenaw Land Trust, and Michigan Tech's Office of Sustainability and Resilience and Hardwood Mass Timber Institute.

Series Details:

• What: 15th Annual Sustainability Film Series
• When: Third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., through May
• Where: Fisher 135 or 138 (refreshments in lobby)
• Cost: Free! $5 donations are greatly appreciated. You can make a donation online to support the Sustainable Film Series.

Upcoming Film:

“Women of Carbon” — March 20, Fisher 135
This film highlights innovative women redefining our relationship with carbon by repurposing living materials and driving decarbonization, while navigating challenges in male-dominated industries to restore, protect and preserve the planet.

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MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker: Anuj Abhishek

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. today, Feb. 20, in EERC 103.

Anuj Abhishek will present "Operator Networks in Inverse Problems."

Abhishek is an assistant professor of mathematics at Case Western Reserve University, having performed postdoctoral research as a fellow at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and at Drexel University. He received his Ph.D. from Tufts University, with research interests in inverse problems, microlocal analysis and integral geometry.

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GMES Faculty Candidate Seminar with Martin Dangelmayr

Please join the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) today, Feb. 20, from 12-1 p.m. in Dow 610, for a research presentation by faculty candidate Martin Dangelmayr, research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The title of Dangelmayr's presentation is "Uranium Groundwater Contamination and Remediation at Two Field Sites."

From the abstract:
Uranium contamination of groundwater remains a persistent challenge in the U.S., with over 500 abandoned uranium mining sites posing significant risks to water resources. Remediation and management of those sites is often difficult due to the complex biogeochemistry of uranium, which influences its mobility and long-term persistence in groundwater systems. In this talk, I will present key findings from my research at two field sites where uranium remediation strategies have been implemented.

The first site is a former uranium mill tailings site in Rifle, CO, where multiple bioremediation experiments were conducted over a 10-year period. My research focused on using microbial stoichiometries and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the microbial transformation of an injected substrate and its impact on remediation efficiency. The findings showed that microbes generate carbon pools that significantly extend reducing conditions beyond the injection period. Additionally, fluorescence spectroscopy detected a shift in the composition of dissolved organic carbon downgradient of the injection site.

The second project was conducted at the Smith Ranch-Highland site, an in-situ uranium mining site near Casper, WY. For this study, I used PHREEQC to model uranium breakthrough data from a cross-hole field test, demonstrating significant uranium retardation and immobilization. Additionally, uranium isotope ratios were analyzed to quantify kinetic reaction rates, allowing for the simulation of abiotic uranium reduction by ferrous iron. The findings showed that naturally occurring reducing conditions can serve as an effective mechanism for monitored natural attenuation.

I will also briefly introduce two future research projects that I plan to pursue at Michigan Technological University. The first project will investigate uranium accumulation in the vadose zone due to wicking and evaporation, and its impact on remediation efforts. The second project will examine chloride and nitrogen mass loadings in urban restored streams, with a focus on groundwater-surface water interactions. Additionally, I will discuss my research experience, teaching interests, and commitment to undergraduate education and graduate research, highlighting how my expertise aligns with MTU’s mission of advancing geoscience research and education.

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Today's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites faculty, staff, and their guests to 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).

Menu for Thursday, Feb. 20:

• 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 and tea are available free to all attendees. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. Meals are for dine-in only, and personal containers and to-go meals are not 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.

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

Isle Royale Art Exhibition - Michigan Tech Art

Thursday, February 20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Enter into a world of artistic expression inspired by the wilderness of Isle Royale. The artworks showcased in this exhibition have all been...

Operator Networks in Inverse Problems

Thursday, February 20, 2–3 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 103

MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Anuj Abhishek, PhD Case Western Reserve University Abstract Neural operators such as Deep Operator Networks...

Physics Colloquium - Graduate Student Presentations (Munter, Horne, Singh)

Thursday, February 20, 3:30–5:00 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Please join physics graduate students, Ryan Munter, Alyssa Horne, and Hitendra Singh for their presentations on Thursday, February 20th at 4 PM - Fisher Hall 139. Ryan Munter...