Student Stories

James Alexander

PhD Candidate, Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Hometown: Marquette, MI

Mr. Alexander graduated from NMU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and earned his Master of Arts degree in Administrative Service with an emphasis in Public Administration from the Political Science Department at NMU. He is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in the Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors Program at Michigan Technological University.

Mr. Alexander is a two-time recipient of the King Chavez-Parks Future . . .

Kaitlyn Bunker

PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineering (2014)

Kaitlyn is currently working towards a PhD at Michigan Tech. She is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Her research goals are to enhance the technology used to control variable speed wind turbines and power electronics interfaces. Kaitlyn is focusing on creating solutions to challenges so that the clean, efficient energy in the wind can be used to generate more of our electricity.

Andrew Drees

PhD Candidate, Electrical Engineering (Spring 2014)

Andrew Drees received a BS degree in electrical engineering with a minor in historical studies in 2009 and a MS degree in electrical engineering in 2011 from Michigan Tech. He is currently working toward a PhD at Michigan Tech advised by Dr. Chee-Wooi Ten and Dr. Bruce Mork.

His main research area is distribution system applications of the smart grid. The smart grid is a next generation power system that installs intelligent real-time monitoring and control capabilities throughout the power system infrastructure. Andrew’s research focuses on creating solutions to challenges such as how to secure the vast increase in power system information that is now available.

Jennifer L. Fuller

PhD Candidate, Environmental Engineering

Jennifer L. Fuller is a native of Saginaw, Michigan where she graduated Salutatorian from Hemlock High School in 2007. Self-funded and the first generation in her family to attend college, Jennifer chose to attend an in-state public university with the aid of public and private scholarship. She enrolled at Michigan Technological University in Fall 2007. In her undergraduate career, Jennifer . . .

Amberlee S. Haselhuhn

PhD Candidate, Materials Science & Engineering (Spring 2015)
Hometown: East Jordan, MI

Amberlee Haselhuhn received a B.S. degree in materials science and engineering and a BS degree in biomedical engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2011. Advised by Dr. Paul Sanders, she is currently working to earn a PhD at Michigan Technological University in materials science and engineering. Her overall research goal is to understand mechanisms responsible for the stabilization of metallic foams and to manipulate this information to produce metallic foams with elongated pore formations that are stabilized with functional self-assembling colloidal particles. Her work is funded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant number NNX10AV37G.

Mark Hopkins

PhD Candidate, Mechanical Engineering (Spring 2014)

Mark Hopkins completed his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering at Michigan Tech in the summer of 2010. In the fall of 2010, Mark began work on his PhD in the Ion Space Propulsion Lab under Professor Lyon B. King. Mark’s research interest is the development of Hall-effect thrusters operating on magnesium propellant.

Hall thrusters are used for orbit transfer and deep space missions.

Michael Premer

PhD Candidate, Forest Science (Fall 2014)
Hometown: Shelby, MI

Michael Premer received a B.A. degree in Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University in 2009 and a Master of Forestry from Michigan Technological University in 2011. He is currently working towards a PhD at Michigan Technological University in Forest Science, co-advised by Dr. Robert Froese and Dr. Linda Nagel. His overall research goal is to assess forest ecosystem response to increased biomass utilization destined for biofuel production, in addition to the removal of merchantable timber products. This study seeks to evaluate the viability of woody biomass as an alternative feed stock while maximizing forest carbon sequestration potential and long-term forest productivity. This project is funded by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement and Plum Creek Timber Company.

Melanie L. Talaga

PhD Candidate, Chemistry (Fall 2015)
Hometown: Negaunee, MI

Melanie Talaga received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota Duluth in May of 2011. She is currently working towards her PhD at Michigan Technological University, under the supervision of Dr. Tarun K. Dam. Her doctoral research studies glycobiology, which is an exciting new field at the forefront of biochemistry. Glycobiology deals with the structures, biosynthesis and activities of . . .