April 2, 2025

The Keweenaw has received over 250 inches of snow so far in winter 2024. As spring arrives and the days become sunnier and warmer, the snow is melting. For Alden Adolph (EF/MAE), the process might hold the key to better understanding climate change and freshwater resource management.

The sunlight reflectivity, also known as albedo, of melting snow is one of the highest among natural substances on Earth. At a field site just 15 minutes from Michigan Tech's campus, Adolph and her team of student researchers are studying the effect that liquid water from snowmelt or rain has on snow's albedo, which plays an important role in broader climate systems.

“Because snow is able to stay cool due to its high albedo, it has a global effect. By reflecting sunlight, the snow allows Earth to stay cool as well,” said Adolph.

Read about the team’s local fieldwork at Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

At the WE Local 2025 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 12 members of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Michigan Tech attended professional development seminars and networked with other SWE collegiate members — and two members presented their own workshop to conference attendees.

Additionally, SWE at Michigan Tech members Carsyn Boggio, Tory Cantrell and Katherine Baker received scholarships from the Wisconsin professional section of SWE in support of their educational and professional growth.

“I was also honored to receive a SWE Wisconsin Scholarship, which made this conference even more special. I’m grateful for the memories made and can’t wait for future SWE events!” said Baker.

Learn more about SWE’s recent accomplishments at the College of Engineering Blog.

Effective yesterday, April 1, the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has promoted Daniel Yoder (OIC) to the position of Upper Peninsula regional director, succeeding retiring director Laura Marohnic.

In his new role, Yoder will continue to serve small and medium-size businesses and will assume the leadership, planning and administration of the Michigan SBDC's Upper Peninsula Region, which includes 15 counties.

The organization's U.P. Regional Office is hosted at Michigan Technological University through a collaboration between MTU's Office of Innovation and Commercialization and the College of Business, and is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other collaborators across the state.

Yoder joined the Michigan SBDC in 2019 as a senior business consultant and was promoted to associate regional director in 2024.

Art in Silico is happening this week, and the computational art show's main reception on Thursday, April 3, will feature live music from John Kiran Fernandes!

Fernandes is a multi-instrument musician. He was part of acclaimed psychedelic pop group The Olivia Tremor Control in the ’90s, and branched out to start an Athens, Georgia-based group called Circulatory System. He began performing his own live shows in recent years.

The Art in Silico main reception is happening from 6-8 p.m. at The Orpheum Theater at 426 Quincy St. in Hancock. It will feature live music performed by Fernandes, an art auction, and food and drink.

Prior to the main reception, the Art in Silico Opening Gallery Reception is being held from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, where Art in Silico's gallery is available for viewing.

Visit the Art in Silico website for more details.

Gear up for adventure at unbeatable prices. Join Michigan Tech Recreation for the Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) Annual Silent Gear Auction and bid on high-quality, used outdoor equipment as we make room for brand-new gear. Don’t miss your chance to score great deals!

This auction is open to everyone, so mark your calendar and get ready to bid. Stay tuned for a list of available equipment!

Auction Details:

• What: OAP Annual Silent Gear Auction
• When: Saturday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: MacInnes Student Ice Arena Concourse

More Info:

• This is a silent/blind bid auction — the highest bid wins!
• No pre-registration is needed, just sign in at the event.
• All items are sold as-is — be sure before you bid!
• Winning bidders must pay and pick up items the same day, from 2-4 p.m.

Greek Week 2025 is here! The Interfraternity Council at Michigan Technological University is excited to share that Michigan Tech's annual Greek Week is taking place now through Sunday, April 6!

The University's Greek chapters will participate in a week of friendly competition, including the traditional Greek Week Photo, crest drawing competition and various team challenges, like the foosball tournament, human pyramid building and a pool/billiards tournament.

The festivities will then continue with events such as Dizzy Bats, a darts tournament and yard games, and will culminate in an action-packed schedule on Saturday, April 5, featuring the always-entertaining tug-of-war and presidents' race.

How You Can Stay Connected:
Follow the Interfraternity Council's social media accounts for photo and video highlights (@mtu_ifc on Instagram).

Consider donating to our fundraiser supporting Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in Hancock through the purchase of Greek Week Koozies.

Please join the Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) for the CISR Research Discussion: "From the lab to the world"
on April 11 at noon in person in Library 103 or virtually via Zoom.

Join the CISR Research Discussion on Zoom.

In this CISR research talk, four researchers from across campus will share their experiences on sustainability research in the lab or with models on basic and fundamental science.

Panelists:

• Kathryn A. Perrine, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
• Trisha Sain, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Sriram Malladi, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Bo Xiao, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Perrine will discuss surface science, chemical mechanisms and the need for vacuum science. She will also address how fundamental studies can uncover materials properties in energy and environment challenges with regard to CO2 capture, water quality and surface chemistry of corrosion.

Sain will share more on her work on “Vitrimer-A Class of Recyclable Epoxy: Is it a suitable alternative to conventional thermosets?” Studying the degradability and long-term aging behavior of a class of recyclable epoxy to understand its structural viability as an alternative to conventional thermosets involves a wide range of experiments and the development of a numeric-theoretic approach to unravel how mechanics, chemistry and environment might play roles in deciding the sustainability of this material as a green alternative in the future.

Malladi will share his work on developing a sustainable, noise-free environment using local resonator-based metastructures by designing structures that effectively absorb ambient vibrations from structural elements. By integrating piezoceramic materials, these metastructures not only mitigate vibrations but also convert the harvested mechanical energy into electrical energy. This innovative approach has the potential to enhance energy efficiency in various applications, such as self-powered sensors, structural health monitoring and smart infrastructure systems.

Xiao will share his work on “A digital twinning platform for building wildfire resilience retrofits.” U.S. existing buildings are vulnerable to wildfire events and reducing or eliminating this vulnerability is critical for meeting national health goals. Recent work by Xiao's team focuses on investigating the environmental (i.e., carbon) and health (i.e., social) impacts of building wildfire resilience retrofits using digital twin-based modeling framework as well as determining the benefits and burdens of building wildfire retrofits under future climate scenarios.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Wiktor Bednarczyk, AGH University of Krakow, Poland, at 1 p.m. tomorrow, April 3, in M&M 610.

Bednarczyk’s presentation is titled “Microstructural Engineering and Functional Properties of Zinc Alloys.”

From the abstract:
Zinc alloys have gained significant interest for their potential in both structural applications and biodegradable medical implants. Initial research focused on severe plastic deformation techniques such as equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and high-pressure torsion (HPT) to refine microstructures and enhance mechanical properties. While grain refinement typically strengthens materials, studies have shown that in ultrafine-grained Zn alloys, an inverse Hall-Petch effect can occur, where excessive refinement leads to softening due to grain boundary-mediated deformation. Building on these findings, current investigations focus on complex chemical compositions to further optimize mechanical performance and functional properties. To better understand deformation mechanisms, micropillar compression tests have been employed, revealing a transition from dislocation-based plasticity to grain boundary sliding in fine-grained Zn alloys. In Zn-Cu alloys, superplastic behavior has been observed, largely driven by grain boundary sliding. Based on these results. ongoing efforts aim to reduce grain boundary sliding through rapid solidification and hot extrusion, with the goal of stabilizing the microstructure, hindering grain boundary sliding, and improving mechanical performance. Beyond mechanical properties, research has also explored the biocompatibility of Zn-based alloys, particularly Zn-Ag-Mg compositions, demonstrating cytocompatibility and antibacterial properties. Additionally, this presentation will introduce a wide range of advanced characterization techniques perfectly suited for microstructural and mechanical analysis, providing deeper insights into deformation mechanisms. This talk will present recent advancements in zinc alloy processing, characterization methodologies, and the impact of complex chemical compositions, paving the way for optimized material performance in both engineering and biomedical applications.

Bednarczyk is an adjunct (assistant professor), Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Poland. He earned his Ph.D. in 2021 from AGH University of Krakow. Following his Ph.D., he moved to Warsaw University of Technology to conduct his own research project under conditions similar to a postdoctoral position. Throughout his career, he has been awarded four national research grants and two prestigious honors, including the Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland for Outstanding Young Researchers and the Foundation for Polish Science START Stipend for the Best Young Researchers.

Bednarczyk’s research focuses on understanding the relationships between processing techniques, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of zinc-based alloys for structural and biomedical applications, resulting in 28 scientific publications. His expertise spans a wide range of advanced characterization techniques, including SEM, EBSD, TKD, TEM, nanoindentation and in-situ micromechanics. Additionally, his background covers various manufacturing methods, from casting to final plastic processing.

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. tomorrow, April 3, in EERC 103.

Wade Sheffer will present “Inside GM Energy’s Quest for a Better EV Charging Experience.”

Sheffer currently serves as GM’s vice president of GM Energy. In this role, Sheffer leads a team of experts responsible for enabling, expanding and accelerating broader electric vehicle (EV) adoption throughout and beyond the company’s core vehicle portfolio.

This includes the expansion of public charging infrastructure, broadening EV education and extending the applications of EV technology to new industries and applications, as well as introducing new energy management products, services and solutions for EV, residential and commercial customers.

The next guest speaker in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) Seminar Series will present on Friday, April 4, at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 104 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the BioMed Seminar on Zoom.

Enrico Opri from the University of Michigan will present "Transforming DBS Therapy: Clinically-Driven Innovations in Closed-Loop Stimulation and Neurophysiology-based Targeting."

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

Job Postings for Wednesday, April 2, 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​TEM Success Coordinator, Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success. Apply online.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of 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.

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a math puzzle created by David Genter ’85 ’87 (B.S. M.S. Mechanical Engineering). Genter, a retired Cummins Corporation engineer, designed the puzzle to encourage his children’s interest in math. It is now featured weekly in the Gazette.

Six Days Until Give Back to the Pack!

The countdown is on — Michigan Tech’s 24-hour giving challenge, Give Back to the Pack, kicks off at noon on Tuesday, April 8! Here’s how you can take part and make a difference:

• Make a Gift: You don’t have to wait until April 8! Your gift today will count toward our Give Back to the Pack matches, challenges and totals.

• Participate in a Match or Challenge: Amplify your impact by taking part in one of our matches, challenges or giving day leaderboards!

• Become an Ambassador: Sign up to become an ambassador and help us spread the word for your favorite areas at Michigan Tech.

• Celebrate With Us: Join us for the on-campus festivities below. We'll have goodies to hand out, photo ops and lots of fun!

  • Tuesday, April 8, from 12-2 p.m. — Van Pelt and Opie Library
    Kick off the first day of Give Back to the Pack! Stop by to share what you're most grateful for at Michigan Tech and add it to our gratitude board.

  • Wednesday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to noon — MUB Commons
    Celebrate the final hours of the challenge! Sign thank-you cards for our generous donors and see the impact our Husky community can make by coming together.

Visit giveback.mtu.edu to learn more and join the celebration of Husky generosity. Questions? Contact Sana Dicks at sdicks@mtu.edu.

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Save the Date and Submit Ideas: Lansing Event Celebrating Michigan Tech

The Research Development team is excited to be planning an event in Lansing to celebrate Michigan Tech’s growth and recent R1 classification. The June 24 event will provide Michigan Tech researchers, students and staff with the opportunity to demonstrate our amazing work face-to-face with state legislators, staffers and other key stakeholders at the Michigan State Capitol.

Event Details:

• What: Michigan Tech R1 Lansing Event
• When: Tuesday, June 24
• Where: Heritage Hall and Michigan State Capitol front lawn
• Who: Researchers, students, staff from Michigan Tech; state legislators and staffers; state agency staff; and key industry stakeholders.

Would you like to showcase your research or scholarly work at this event? Do you know a colleague whose work might represent Michigan Tech well at this event? If so, let us know using the Michigan Tech R1 Lansing Event Pitch Form. Please reply by Friday, April 4. We are working on event planning and will be contacting people to fill up the building and lawn spaces.

In the form, there are opportunities to indicate whether you have banners, tents and swag. You can also describe any other physical demonstrations that are effective for showing the state what we’re up to at Michigan Tech.

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A Cup of Joe with the Safety Crew

Michigan Tech’s Safety Team — Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and the Office of Risk, Insurance, Safety, Security, and Compliance (RISSC) — will be hosting our next monthly Safety Round Table: a place for all Huskies to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of campus health and safety.

We invite you to join us today, April 2, from 9-10 a.m. in the MUB Ballroom.

Topic: Reid DeVoge will discuss how the University plans and prepares for various emergencies. This will include discussing the efforts to work with community partners on coordinated emergency responses.

If you have a topic you want discussed, please email ehs-help@mtu.edu. We would be happy to present on a safety topic you are interested in.

Safety Training Compliance is vital for providing a safe Husky learning and working environment. This month, we want to hear from you and understand your safety compliance challenges and how to overcome those roadblocks with features within the Safety Skills system. A brief overview of Safety Skill compliance capabilities will be presented before opening the floor for questions and answers.

In addition, there will be an informal opportunity to talk with our campus safety professionals for other safety related questions and issues.

So mark your calendars and come ask the questions you have always wanted to ask and get the answers you need about Michigan Tech safety programs, legal compliance issues and additional resources… and have a cup of Joe with the Safety Crew!

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Art in Silico 2025 Keynote Speaker: Sarah Bell

MTU’s own Sarah Bell, associate professor of digital media in the Department of Humanities, is set to give the keynote talk of the 2025 Art in Silico event series!

Bell is the author of the book "Vox ex Machina: A Cultural History of Talking Machines," which was recommended by The New Yorker magazine as one of “The Best Books of 2024,” in addition to being featured in online science publications, podcasts and academic journals.

Check out Bell's keynote talk in the Art in Silico event series:

Sarah Bell Keynote Talk
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m.
Location: GLRC 202
Keynote Title: “The Voice Synthesis Mixtape: A History of Singing Machines in Eight Songs”

From the abstract:
It took nearly a century of development in electronic voice synthesis to get to Siri and Alexa. The earliest synthesizers created voice-like sounds out of the buzzy electrical current and circuitry in analog components. These were followed by the robotic sounds of early digital signal processing before today’s human sounding software became possible. Along the way, singing was often used as a demonstration of how human sounding voice synthesis could be, or a test for how far it still had to go. Voice synthesis specifically designed for singing wasn’t developed until the late 1990s, but, throughout the 20th century, avant-garde and mainstream artists incorporated speech synthesizers into their music, exploring both the new electronic soundscape as well as ideas about the problems with and possibilities for human-machine interaction. This presentation will follow the history of voice synthesis discussed in Bell’s book Vox ex Machina: A Cultural History of Talking Machines, but will look at (and listen to!) what happened when those talking machines were made to sing.

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Design Expo Workshop: Finishing Touches

Finishing a poster or video for Design Expo? Join us to get last-minute feedback, bring questions and work on your project with others!

Workshop Details:

• What: Design Expo Workshop: “Finishing Touches”
• When: Wednesday, April 2, from 2-3 p.m.
• Where: Library 244
• Registration: Register for the Workshop.

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It's Art in Silico Week!

This week is the Art in Silico event series!

Tomorrow, April 3, we have our two-part reception. Come hear live music from John Kiran Fernandes from the bands The Olivia Tremor Control and Circulatory System, view the Art in Silico gallery at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, and bid on the artwork for sale! All proceeds go to the CCCAC or toward Michigan Tech scholarships.

Art in Silico Schedule of Events:

• Keynote Talk with Sarah Bell
  Wednesday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m. in GLRC 202
  Keynote Title: “The Voice Synthesis Mixtape: A History of Singing Machines in Eight Songs
  Location: Great Lakes Research Center, Room 202

• Opening Gallery Reception
  Thursday, April 3, from 4:30-6 p.m. at CCCAC
  Light snacks and refreshments will be provided for a reception viewing of the artworks on display at the Copper Country Community Art Center. Take a good look, as many will be available later in the auction!
  Location: 126 Quincy St. in Hancock

• Art in Silico Main Reception
  Thursday, April 3, from 6-8 p.m. at The Orpheum Theater
  Join us for live music from John Kiran Fernandes, the Art in Silico auction, and food and drink from Studio Pizza. Entry is free!
  Location: 426 Quincy St. in Hancock

• Art in Silico Gallery Exhibition
  Wednesday to Friday, April 2-4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at CCCAC
  View the gallery during these three days at the Copper Country Community Arts Center.
  Location: 126 Quincy St. in Hancock

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HU Department Chair Candidate Visit

The Department of Humanities (HU) chair candidate events originally scheduled for Monday and yesterday, March 31 and April 1, were canceled due to weather delays and have been rescheduled.

The candidate presented a department leadership seminar titled "The Lake Whitefish Theory of Leadership" yesterday, April 1.

The candidate will also present a research and teaching presentation titled “Desire and the Limits of Mediation” today, April 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in GLRC 202 and via Zoom.

Join Today's HU Department Chair Presentation on Zoom.

All members of the Michigan Tech community are welcome to attend.

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This Week'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, April 3:

• Char Siu Pork Loin (AG)
• Thai Basil Tofu (VG) (PR)
• Asian Vegetable Stir Fry (VG)
• Vegetable Spring Roll
• Asian Salad (VG)
• Basmati 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.

Processes, Flow, and Waste: Lean Fundamentals

Wednesday, April 2, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

In this fun and interactive workshop, you'll practice visualizing the fundamental Lean concepts of flow and waste and see how you can apply them to your job right away. You'll...

Master's Defense: Theresa Meyer

Wednesday, April 2, 10–11 a.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, 108

Applied Ecology Co-advisors: Evan Kane and Julia Burton Initial Fungal Decomposer Community Determines Wood-Derived Carbon in Discrete Soil Carbon Pools in Aspen Clearcuts ...

Art in Silico 2025 Gallery hosted by the CCCAC

Wednesday, April 2, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Copper Country Community Arts Center, Gallery

Submissions from the Art in Silico 2025 Computational Art Exhibition will be on display at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock, Michigan, during open hours...

FIRST Robotics Competition Volunteering - Michigan State Championships

Wednesday, April 2, 12:00–10:30 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State University

NOTE: Due to the increased travel and distance, Copper Country Robotics at Michigan Tech is requiring $20 per person to attend this trip... This $20 covers a hotel room...

VPR Research Series: The Future of Work and Artificial Intelligence

Wednesday, April 2, 12–1 p.m.

Join the Research Development team and the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) for a VPR Research Series interdisciplinary discussion about the impact of...

Master's Defense: Edward Sandy

Wednesday, April 2, 3–4 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 875

Civil Engineering Advisor: Raymond Swartz DEVELOPING INEXPENSIVE SENSORS THAT CAN DETECT ROOF COLLAPSE FROM SNOW LOADS

Dr. Sarah Bell - "The Voice Synthesis Mixtape: A History of Singing Machines in Eight Songs"

Wednesday, April 2, 3:30–5:00 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

MTU’s own Dr. Sarah Bell (Associate Professor, Digital Media) is set to give the keynote talk of the Art in Silico event series! Author of Vox ex Machina: A Cultural History...

SoundGirls General Meeting!

Wednesday, April 2, 5–6 p.m. | Walker 210

Join us in Walker 210 at 5pm every Wednesday for our general meeting!

Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, April 2, 5–6 p.m. | Fourth Floor of the MEEM

We meet on the fourth floor of the MEEM to discuss plans for the week and work on on going projects. All are welcome to attend.

Board Game Night

Wednesday, April 2, 6–8 p.m. | Wadsworth Annex (G11)

Join Jim Grider and our student staff in the Wads Annex to connect with others at Board Game Nights! Spend time practicing intentional self-care while destressing from...

Creative Mines Forged Program Presentation

Wednesday, April 2, 6–7 p.m. | Fisher Hall (Building 15), 325

Come join the Creative Mines Forged team on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6:00 PM! Learn more about who we are, what we do, and the career opportunities we offer. Join us for a...

How can I be Saved?

Wednesday, April 2, 6–7 p.m. | 1st Floor, Opie Van Pelt Library

A bible study geared towards the salvific work of Christ on the Cross

Meet with Mercury Marine

Wednesday, April 2, 6–7 p.m. | Academic Office Building (AOB, Building 5), 101

Hosted By the American Society for Engineering Management. All majors welcome.

2025 Indoor Triathlon

Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), SDC Pool and Multipurpose Room

You don't have to win, you just have to TRI! Michigan Tech Recreation is hosting an indoor triathlon for MTU students and SDC Access Pass Holders (minimum 1-month) that are 16...

Do Not Comply with Will Witt

Wednesday, April 2, 7–9 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry & Wood Products Building - G002

Come join TPUSA in welcoming Will Witt to Michigan Tech! Will Witt is a world renowned conservative comedian who is known for his love of a good conspiracy theory. Come have a...