Prospective Students Resources
Thank you for your interest in Michigan Technological University's Graduate School. We are a premier research university of international stature, delivering education, new knowledge, and innovation to meet the needs of our technological world. Michigan Tech graduates have the skills and knowledge that allow them to create the future and change the world.
Below, you will find information and resources that will help you as you apply to Michigan Tech. You can also contact the Graduate School staff directly if you have a specific question that you need answered.
Student Stories See More
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.
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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 . . .
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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 . . .
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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 . . .
Alumni Focus More Alumni
Brian Murphy PhD
'90, '92, '96Starting Companies Comes Naturally to Alum
“I used to fish at Cole’s Creek,” says Brian Murphy ’90 ’92 ‘96. “I’d eat half my sandwich on the way out there, fish for thirty minutes, and finish my sandwich on the way back to my lab to continue my research.”
That mix of nature and technology forms the core of Murphy’s environmentally focused career. The Tech grad first worked for large companies before starting a number of his own ventures. With his former boss and mentor . . .
Alumni Focus More Alumni
Dr. John Uhrie
'91, '96After earning his PhD, he joined Phelps Dodge Mining Company (now Freeport McMoRan) in the newly formed Process Technology Center. In that industrial R&D role, he developed new bio heap and tank leaching technologies. Many of these flow sheets are now standard practice throughout the corporation. He has since operated . . .
Alumni Focus More Alumni
Allan M. Johnson
'67, '65Al Johnson received an Associate Engineering Degree from Muskegon Community College before being drafted into the U.S. Army. While in the army, he became a Master rifleman and won two legs towards a Distinguished Riflemans Badge, the highest honor for a rifleman.
After his honorable discharge, he attended Michigan Tech and graduated with a B.S. in Geological Engineering in 1965, an M.S. in Geological Engineering in 1967, and a Ph.D. in Geology in 1971. Beginning part time as a . . .
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Richard J. Robbins
'56, '96Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Atlas-Copco Robbins, Inc.
Richard J. Robbins graduated from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (MCM&T) in 1956 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Since 1958, Dick has been a major contributor and a prominent influence in the mining and tunneling industry.
In 1958, Dick joined The Robbins Company—established by his father, James S. Robbins, a 1933 MCM&T mining engineering graduate. The Robbins Company has prospered and employs over 330 workers worldwide. The Robbins Co. became part of the . . .
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Randall E Isaacson
'88, '86Randall E. Isaacson graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1986 with a BS in Biological Sciences and an MS in Rhetoric and Technical Communication in 1988. His master's thesis studied language patterns in small group communication during simulated scientific problem solving.
He began his career as a medical copywriter at Roche Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey, and later joined VICOM/FCB, a medical advertising agency in New York. After moving to Chicago in 1990, Randy worked as a copy . . .
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Donald Daavettila
'56, '58Daavettila began his career as a scientist at Argonne National Laboratory for more than five years. He then became a nuclear test engineer at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Plant in Monroe, Michigan, before joining Michigan Tech's nuclear engineering program in 1964. He became an assistant professor in the . . .
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Kathy L. Hayrynen
'93, '89, '86Technical Director
Applied Process, Inc.
AP Technologies Division
BS EMY 1986, MS EMY 1989, PhD EMY 1993
Graduated with BS, MS, & PhD in Metallurgical Engineering in 1986, 1989, and 1993, respectively. Presently Technical Director at Applied Process, Inc., in Livonia, Michigan. Applied Process has been a technology leader in the heat treating industry since 1978. AP and its affiliated companies use properly applied Austempering technologies to solve tough engineering problems.
Current member of department’s External Advisory Board and contributes to MY4130 Principles of Metal . . .
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Dr. Octave Du Temple
'48, '49, '96Octave Du Temple, a native of the Copper Country, received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 1948 and 1949. His studies were interrupted by military service during World War II, when he taught flying and navigation. He also studied at Northwestern University, where he earned a master's degree in business administration in 1955.
Du Temple worked at the Argonne National Laboratory for several years, and in 1958 he was appointed executive director of . . .
Alumni Focus More Alumni
Brenda Helminen
'83, '88After graduating in 1983 with a BS in Computer Science, Brenda Helminen began her career as a programmer with IBM Corporation in Rochester, MN. She returned to the Copper Country later that year to work for the Department of Computer Science at Michigan Tech. While working, she completed her Master’s degree in Computer Science in 1988. She continued her career with the University as a Senior Systems Programmer in the Center for Experimental Computation followed by a . . .
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Tom Irwin
'63, '66Tom Irwin: Wisdom, Wealth, and Work
Tom Irwin, soft-spoken and thoughtful, has “taken a leave of absence” from income-producing activities and redirected his energy to such pursuits as fly-fishing in the West, golf in the South, and travel around the world—when not tending to his volunteer duties on various boards and committees.
The outdoor pursuits are not surprising because Irwin, who was from Detroit, came to Michigan Tech in part because of its proximity to the Porcupine Mountains. “We hunted there,” . . .
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Dianne M Marsh
'86, '92Dianne Marsh earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Michigan Tech in 1986 and a master’s degree in 1992.
Dianne started her career in 1987 as a Software Engineer for LECO Corporation in Michigan and then worked for AEG-Mictron and Candid Logic before returning to Michigan Tech to earn her master’s degree.
From 1992 to 2000 she worked for several different companies as a Software Engineer, Independent Consultant and Technical Lead/Software Architect before realizing her dream of starting her own . . .
