February 25, 2025

Menominee Harbor is an economic engine that relies on navigable water depth for shipping traffic and the industries based there — but over time, natural fluctuations and declining lake levels have caused the harbor's waters to become shallower.

With millions of dollars and local livelihoods at stake, College of Business researchers Laura Connolly and Jenny Apriesnig, along with Travis White of Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center, helped the City of Menominee and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers complete a $2.6 million feasibility study aimed at helping the port prosper.

Read about the study and its effects in both Menominee and at Michigan Tech in the 2024 Impact Magazine.

The University has invited three candidates to campus to interview for the position of chief financial officer (CFO) and senior vice president for administration. Each candidate’s interview will include a presentation of their vision for finance at Michigan Tech at an open forum.

The first candidate will interview this Friday, Feb. 28. The candidate's open forum will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday in Ballroom B of the Memorial Union.

The second candidate will interview on Monday, March 3. Their open forum will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday in the Alumni Lounge of the Memorial Union.

The third candidate will interview next Wednesday, March 5, and their open forum will be held next Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Ballroom A1 of the Memorial Union.

Candidate resumes, cover letters, interview dates and open forum information can be viewed at the CFO Search Page. A Michigan Tech login is required to view candidate information.

The search committee encourages the campus community to interact with each candidate during the interviews and to provide feedback by completing the anonymous comment form provided on the candidate webpage. Feedback forms will be posted immediately following each candidate's visit and will remain available for 72 hours following the last candidate's visit.

On March 10, from 5:15-7 p.m., the Portage Lake District Library is hosting Graduate Language Assessment and Support (GLAS) Student Presentations, showcasing the cultures and perspectives of international students at Michigan Tech.

Hear firsthand accounts of life around the world as GLAS students share stories about their home cultures, academic passions and personal journeys. It's a chance to learn about unique traditions, gain global insights and connect with the vibrant international community right here in Houghton.

This free event is open to everyone — students, faculty, community members and anyone with a curious mind. No registration is needed. Come to the library on March 10 ready to listen, learn and connect. Expand your world and celebrate our global community!

Read more about the event on the Graduate School Newsblog.

Department of Physics graduate student Yi Zhi Chu has been honored with the prestigious Ovshinsky Student Travel Award by the American Physical Society (APS).

This merit-based award is sponsored by the APS Division of Materials Physics and enables students to participate in the 2025 APS Global Physics Summit, being held March 16-21 in Anaheim, California.

At the conference, Chu will present his research on "Mono- and Multilayer Ti₃C₂T_x MXene Model."

He is co-advised by Professors Kah Chun Lau and Ravi Pandey.

The Friends of Mineralogy presented the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum the Best Kay Robertson Educational Exhibit by an Institution award at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show's 2025 awards ceremony on Feb. 15.

The award-winning exhibit, titled "Wanted! Criminal Minerals," was displayed at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show in September 2024.

The exhibit, designed by John Jaszczak and Janice Fraki, was illustrative of the lecture presented at the show by Jaszczak on the same topic. The title minerals are an interesting and important class of minerals that break the laws of classical crystallography, yet have ordered atomic structures.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for March 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• apps.mtu.edu
• Banner
• Banner Self Service
• Experience
• MyMichiganTech
• ASPIRE
• Course Tools
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

If you have questions about this maintenance, we can help. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

Registration for Session 2 of Spring 2025 Michigan Tech Aquatics programs closes tomorrow, Feb. 26. Swimming programs are offered at the SDC for all ages and ability levels. We hope to see you at the pool!

• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Preschool Aquatics (ages 4-5 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Training (ages 6-17 years)
• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 and older)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 and older)

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

If the class you are looking for is full, please fill out the waitlist form or contact Aquatics Manager Annie Bengry at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995. We will try to add additional sections based on demand.

Wednesday, Feb. 26
• Tennis at Embry-Riddle University

Thursday, Feb. 27
• Men's Tennis at Eastern Florida State College
• Women's Basketball at Purdue Northwest, 6 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball at Purdue Northwest, 8 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege

Friday, Feb. 28
• Hockey at St. Thomas, 8:07 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ and Midco Sports Plus

Saturday, March 1
• Women's Basketball at Parkside, 2 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball at Parkside, 4 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Hockey at St. Thomas, 7:07 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ and Midco Sports Plus

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Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Job Posting for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 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.

​S​enior Academic Advisor, ​Biomedical Engineering (Internal Posting Only). 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.

Wayne Weaver (MAE/MARC) is the principal investigator on three projects that received research and development contracts from Sandia National Laboratories.

The first project, which received a $20,000 R&D contract, is titled "Advanced MoAdvanced Modeling, Controls, and Power Electronics Testing for Large Penetration of Renewable Energy Grid Integration (TASK 2025B - CESER FY25)."

The second project, which received a $40,000 R&D contract, is titled "Advanced Modeling, Controls, and Power Electronics Testing for Large Penetration of Renewable Energy Grid Integration (AGM FY25)."

The third project, which received an $80,000 R&D contract, is titled "Advanced Modeling, Controls, and Power Electronics Testing for Large Penetration of Renewable Energy Grid Integration (RES FY25)."

SlashGear mentioned Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) in a story about innovative uses for plastic trash, highlighting his research on converting plastic into food through plastic-devouring microbes.

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WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids quoted Professor Emeritus Bill Rose (GMES) in a story about the giant lava flow caused by ancient volcanic activity in Michigan. The story highlighted the Greenstone Flow, which formed a significant part of the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale. The story was picked up by Lansing’s WLNS TV6 and Yahoo! News.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in two stories about the City of Hancock’s inaugural Snow Sculpture Invitational. One story covered the start of the event, while the other announced the winners. Michigan Tech’s Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and St. Albert the Great University Parish participated in the event, which ran Feb. 21-23.

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Ferris State University mentioned Michigan Tech as one of nine colleges whose websites were named the Top Higher Education Websites of 2024 by Modern Campus. On its blog, Modern Campus highlighted Michigan Tech’s audience-first design and its standout features, including personalized navigation and dynamic content.

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The Daily Mining Gazette and WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about a change to the University’s Diversity Incentive Award, as well as recent organizational updates at the University.

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The Traverse City Record-Eagle mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about 20Fathoms’ new entrepreneur-in-residence. The article highlighted 20Fathoms’ work with Michigan Tech and other partners in building a “blue tech” ecosystem focused on freshwater and maritime innovation.

Nominations Open for Summer 2025 Fellowships from The DeVlieg Foundation

Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2025 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible Ph.D. student per program. The recipient will receive a stipend for summer 2025 plus tuition support (1 credit or 3 research credits for Ph.D. candidates). Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

1. Must be a graduate student in the field supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
   
   1. Engineering
2. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
3. Must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
4. Must be nominated by student’s graduate program. Each Ph.D. program may nominate one student if the research conducted is related to the field(s) supported by The DeVlieg Foundation.
5. Must not be supported by another funding mechanism while supported by The DeVlieg Foundation (part-time job, fellowship, GTA, GRA, etc.).

Nominations are due no later than 4 p.m. next Tuesday, March 4, to the Graduate School. Graduate programs will upload their nominee's application as a single PDF file.

Please see our webpage for details on the application procedure and materials needed. Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.

Please contact the Graduate School at gradschool@mtu.edu with any questions.

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CTL and Essential Education Lunch and Learn: 'Building an Essential Ed Experience'

Make plans to attend a Lunch and Learn hosted by the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Essential Education at Michigan Tech.

The Lunch and Learn is titled “Building an Essential Ed Experience: (Re)Designing Your Course to Become an E3.”

• When: Tuesday, March 4, from 12-1 p.m.
• Where: MUB Ballroom A
• Registration: Register to Attend the Lunch and Learn (registration is required).

Interested in designing and teaching an Essential Education Experience (E3)? Join E3 leadership and fellow instructors for a course redesign workshop. E3 courses should prepare students for an ever-changing, dynamic and diverse world by increasing social awareness, global understandings and/or cultural competencies through hands-on learning. Students will apply their learning toward a project or activity that engages with community beyond the traditional classroom.

This workshop will cover the basics of E3 requirements and provide participants time to workshop with others an existing or proposed Essential Education Experience course, while learning more about practical tools for transforming their own courses into E3s. Faculty who are interested in E3 courses but don't have a specific course in mind yet are welcome to attend and can expect to gain insights that will aid in future course development.

Lunch will be provided to those who register.

For questions or to request accommodations, including dietary, please feel free to contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu or 906-487-3000.

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MnDOT Master Agreement – Researchers Needed

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is requesting proposals from colleges and universities to provide academic research on a wide variety of research topics through a master contract. Contracts will include research support, implementation and technology transfer and education activities to address specific research issues identified by MnDOT. The list of topics is extensive and goes beyond typical transportation research.

The Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI) currently has multiple projects with MnDOT and we are planning to purse a master contract renewal in cooperation with our Sponsored Programs Office (SPO). We would like your assistance in identifying those project areas of transportation which are of interest to you. A response is required today, Feb. 25, for inclusion in this proposal.

A list of potential topic areas is included in the MnDOT Master Agreement Participant form. Please identify those areas of research you may wish to collaborate on in the future. Note that in identifying these topics, the RFP calls for additional information which must be provided by each of you, including: 1) skills, training, experience, ability, facilities and equipment available; 2) examples of similar work in the past three years; and 3) hard copies of resumes (three pages maximum). Pam Hannon will be in touch with you to collect that information after submission of this form.

Entering the information into this document does not obligate you in any way, but without a renewal of the master contract, Michigan Tech will not be qualified to receive RFP requests from MnDOT. Please respond today to be included.

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National Invasive Species Awareness Week

The Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) is encouraging everyone to participate in National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW). By participating in NISAW events, you can learn about how to stop the spread of invasive species and help to protect our natural ecosystems for the benefit of everyone. Invasive species impact everyone, and the longer we ignore the problem, the harder it will be to solve. Preventing new invasive species and managing the species we have benefits us, the outdoor places we love and the species that rely on those ecosystems.

The Keweenaw is an amazing place to recreate, with hiking, kayaking, boating, snowshoeing, bird watching, fishing and disc golfing. There is something for everyone to enjoy, but the spread of invasive species can put those activities at risk or lessen our enjoyment of them — think about spiny barberry harboring ticks where you like to hike or invasive Eurasian watermilfoil getting stuck in your propeller and decreasing fish habitat!

NISAW is an international event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose and what can be done to prevent their spread. According to the Journal of Extension’s article “Invasive Species Terminology: Standardizing for Stakeholder Education,” Invasive species are species that are non-native to a specific geographic area, were introduced by humans (intentionally or unintentionally), and can cause harm to the environment, economy or human health. Without predators, competitors or diseases to keep their populations in check, invasive species outcompete native species and disrupt healthy habitats.

This year, NISAW is the week of Feb. 24-28 with the theme “Enhancing North American Biosecurity to Protect Against Invasive Species” and a special emphasis on cross-border management efforts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, biosecurity is a series of management practices designed to prevent the introduction, delivery and spread of disease pathogens that can harm or adversely affect livestock, crops, environments and people.

The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) hosts many educational webinars during the week of NISAW. To view the full topic list and register for these webinars, visit the National Invasive Species Awareness Week website. 

NISAW also provides an opportunity for organizations to hold formal briefings for Congressional staff to educate and inform on a specific topic or bill. They provide the opportunity for individuals and organizations to meet with their elected officials to talk about invasive species legislation, funding, policy and management. NISAW gives you the chance to learn more about invasive species and their spread, and gives you the chance to tell others about the importance of managing these species for the benefit of our natural resources and us.

To support NISAW, there are many things you can do! 

Invasive species prevention and management encompass a wide range of topics: 

• Lake and wetland protection — Clean, drain and dry all watercraft, trailers and equipment when boating or fishing. Comply with watercraft inspection and decontamination requirements. Clean your fishing equipment and don’t dump live bait.

• Forest insects and disease prevention — Buy firewood where you’ll burn it or gather on-site when permitted.

• Invasive plant prevention and management — Clean your hiking boots, waders, boats and trailers, off-road vehicles, and other gear in between outings. Take extra care when traveling, gardening or moving plant material, and buy your plants from a reputable source. Plant native species to support your local ecosystem, and avoid using invasive plant species.

• Ask your political representatives at the local, state and national levels to support funding for invasive species prevention and management efforts.

Learn more about National Invasive Species Awareness Week. For more information on how to address the threat of invasive species, visit the NAISMA website. 

Contact KISMA at kisma.up@gmail.com or your local CISMA with questions about invasive species.

Authored by MTU undergraduate Brooke Strauch (wildlife ecology and conservation), KISMA Assistant Coordinator Emily Klawiter, and KISMA Coordinator Sigrid Resh (CFRES).

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

Isle Royale Art Exhibition - Michigan Tech Art

Tuesday, February 25, 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...

February NotMiSpecies Webinar

Tuesday, February 25, 9–10 a.m.

Join KISMA, Michigan's EGLE, and more for February's installment of the NotMISpecies webinar series. NotMISpecies webinars are monthly webinars hosted by EGLE to educate...

NCSA General Meeting

Tuesday, February 25, 6–7 p.m. | Chem-Sci 102

A weekly meeting where we cover what's going on in the organization, often followed by a guest presenter, then discussion of what's going on in the world of tech.