Sustainability: Research Centers and Institutes

Several research centers and institutes at Michigan Technological University are engaged in sustainability related research. Please feel free to browse through this page or click directly on one of the links in the dashed box on the right.

Sustainable Futures Institute (SFI)

Director: John Sutherland, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
jwsuther@mtu.edu, 906/487-3395
Deputy Director: David Shonnard, Chemical Engineering
drshonna@mtu.edu, 906/487-3468
Operations Manager: Qiong (Jane) Zhang,
qiong@mtu.edu, 906/487-3612

Mission: to create and disseminate new methods and processes for generating scientific knowledge and engineering products in support of sustainability decisions and education.

SFI will assimilate the multiple skills and capabilities required to support a new metadiscipline of Sustainability Science, including: (1) the fundamental physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics needed for environmental assessment; (2) basic economics incuding economic input-output analysis; (3) industrial ecology and design at the process, plant, firm, regional, national and global scale; (4) information technology for real-time monitoring of processes, remote sensing of the environment, and geographical information systems; (5) human and environmental impact modeling and risk assessment; (6) social and behavioral research tools, and (7) professional and K through Gray educational programs, including assessment of their impacts on choices made by design engineers, policy makers, and consumers. By advancing this metadisciplinary endeavor, the Institute will combine information and insights across multiple disciplines and perspectives.

Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC)

Director, Carl Anderson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
cander@mtu.edu, 906/487-2378
Director, Jeff Naber, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
jnaber@mtu.edu, 906/487-2378

Mission: To develop critical technologies for clean, efficient, and sustainable power systems.

Purpose: The purpose of the Advanced Power System Research Center is to create a multidisciplinary organization that will foster large, collaborative, research efforts in the areas of clean, efficient, and sustainable Power Systems technologies. This Center will develop both fundamental and applied knowledge that is required for the next generation of low-emission, high-efficiency vehicles. The Center will seek to bring together and coordinate a large number of MTU researchers already working in the area of I.C. engines, spray formation, combustion modeling, combustion and mixture controls, torque converters, alternative fuels (including ethanol, bio-diesel, and hydrogen), hybrid powertrains, fuel cells, and powertrain noise. The result will be an interdisciplinary Power Systems research organization that will be responsive to the economic needs of the State and the energy needs of the Nation.

Biotechnology Research Center (BRC)

Director, Chandrashekhar P. Joshi, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science
cpjoshi@mtu.edu, 906/487-3480

"The Biotech Research Center fosters interdisciplinary research at Michigan Tech."

Biotechnology encompasses the applications of various science and engineering disciplines for industrial utilization of living organisms or their products. The mission of the Biotechnology Research Center (BRC) at MTU is to promote education and research in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology at both the graduate and undergraduate levels for the benefit of society and the environment.

The multidisciplinary nature of the BRC is reflected in the diverse expertise of the BRC faculty. Participation includes faculty from the Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, and Forest Resources and Environmental Science departments. Faculty, staff and students are open to collaborating on research projects and joining together for research symposiums, seminars and conferences. Working together helps to achieve their common goal: the advancement of biotechnology.

Ecosystem Science Center (ESC)

Director, David Flaspohler, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science
djflaspo@mtu.edu, 906/487-3608

Mission: To promote understanding of ecosystem function through education and research at Michigan Technological University.

The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes. The Center's two main objectives are to: (1) foster ecosystem research; and (2) improve Michigan Tech's ability to educate graduate and undergraduate students in the area of ecosystem science. These two objectives will be met through collaboration among faculty, staff and students interested in ecosystem science.

National Institute for Climatic Change Research (NICCR)

Director, Andrew J. Burton, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science
ajburton@mtu.edu, 906/487-2566

The National Institute for Climatic Change Research (NICCR) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), which is part of the DOE's Office of Science. The goal of NICCR is to mobilize university researchers, from all regions of the country, in support of the climatic change research objectives of DOE/BER.

The NICCR will periodically solicit proposals for research projects to be funded by DOE through the four NICCR Regional Centers and one Coastal Center. The Midwestern Region housed at Michigan Tech will support work in the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oaklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Research solicitations will be posted at http://niccr.mtu.edu/.

Scientific research topics being pursued by the NICCR are (a) the effects of potential climatic changes on important U.S. terrestrial ecosystems and (b) potential feedbacks from U.S. terrestrial ecosystems to the climatic system.

Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)

Co-Director, Robert Shuchman, 734/913-6860
Co-Director, Nikola Subotic, 734/913-6859

Mission:

  • Be a recognized leader in the research, development and use of Information Technology to support solution of critical problems in national security, infrastructure, bioinformatics, earth sciences and environmental processes.
  • Be acknowledged nationally and internationally as an innovator for the marriage of phenomenological understanding and implementation of the mathematically rigorous algorithms to build information from data in support of sponsor needs.
  • Provide visibility and outreach for Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) in Southeastern Michigan.
  • Establish collaborations with Michigan Tech academic departments, institutes, and centers to increase funded contract revenues for all organizations involved.
  • Maintain a creative environment that rewards and encourages innovation.

MTRI is a recognized leader in the research, development and practical application of sensor and information technology to solve critical problems in national security, protecting and evaluating critical infrastructure, bio informatics, earth sciences and environmental processes.

Materials in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (MiSTI)

Director, Thomas VanDam, Civil & Environmental Engineering
tvandam@mtu.edu, 906-487-2524

Established in the fall of 2006 through TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century), MiSTI activities are focused on the identification and use of naturally occurring, industrial byproduct, and/or recycled materials in the design and construction of a more sustainable transportation infrastructure. Focus materials include soils, unbound aggregates, hot-mix asphalt and portland cement concrete. MiSTI programs and activities include:

  • New research initiatives and collaborations
  • Curriculum development for undergraduate and graduate programs at Michigan Tech
  • Sustainability awareness
  • Outreach initiatives for students and teachers in grades K through 12, and
  • Professional development for practicing engineers

The Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI)

Director, Lawrence Sutter, Michigan Tech Transportation Institute
llsutter@mtu.edu, 906-487-2268

MTTI is an umbrella organization bringing together the cross-disciplinary centers and principle investigators conducting transportation related research and education initiatives that address national and global needs. Recent initiatives include the Rail Transportation Program, which will provide education programs to support the rail industry’s need for an expanded workforce, and research products that address the quickly advancing technology of the rail transportation system. Sustainability is central to all MTTI efforts regarding transportation and Michigan Tech researchers are leaders at applying sustainability concepts to transportation problems. Currently, researchers from the Departments of Mathematical Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Social Sciences, along with the School of Forestry and Environmental Resources are collaborating through MTTI within six focused theme areas:

  • Transportation Structures including bridges, pavements. Other related areas include geo-technical, construction, and nanotechnology related to sensors. This group includes the Center for Structural Durability (CSD).
  • Transportation Materials including concrete, asphalt, steel, wood, and aggregates. Other related areas include construction, geo technical, , and nanotechnology related to sensors and materials. This group includes the University Transportation Center (UTC) for Materials in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (MiSTI), the Transportation Materials Research Center (TMRC), and the Center for Aggregate Research (CAR).
  • Transportation Systems including waterways, traffic/safety, construction, rail, air, public transportation, freight, intelligent transportation systems, vehicle infrastructure integration, nanotechnology related to sensors, and radio frequency identification devices.
  • Transportation and the Environment includes environmental impacts, energy, carbon dioxide and other pollutants, fugitive dust, wildlife, flora and fauna, and carbon credits.
  • Transportation and Society includes policy, planning, human factors, history, economics, and archeology.
  • Transportation Technology Transfer includes all outreach, management systems, and workforce development programs. This group includes Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Technology Development Group (TDG).

The Transportation Materials Research Center (TMRC)

Director, Thomas Van Dam, Civil & Environmental Engineering
tvandam@mtu.edu, 906-487-2524

The TMRC is a research center funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The mission of the TMRC is to provide expertise and facilities to support MDOT’s materials research and investigations by maintaining a highly qualified technical staff and certified laboratories. The specific focus areas include the behavior, performance, and sustainability of portland cement-based materials, asphalt-based materials, unbound granular materials, and soils. In addition to supporting technical staff, the center also relies on student research assistance. As future engineers, these students learn both the value and limitations of applied research, developing hands-on skills that will serve them in their future careers. They also develop a much greater understanding of the importance that transportation materials play in the sustainability of infrastructure preparing them to make better choices when selecting and using these materials in future projects.

The Center for Structural Durability (CSD)

Director, Theresa Ahlborn, Civil & Environmental Engineering
tess@mtu.edu, 906-487-2625

The CSD focuses on extending the service life of the built environment through sustainable solutions for transportation systems.. The center conducts research and training, and provides technical assistance in the area of durable highway systems through its highly qualified faculty, technical staff and students. Research emphasizes sustainable solutions for concrete structures, including introducing new materials and addressing the repair of existing structures. Systems cover bridge decks, superstructures, foundations, post-tensioning, and pretensioning systems. Education is a primary component, offering several workshops and seminars for students and professionals, as well as employing up to 20 students per year for research related activities.

Power and Energy Research Center (PERC)

Director, Bruce Mork, Electrical & Computer Engineering
bamork@mtu.edu, 906/487-2857

Increased focus on alternate and renewable energy, development of new energy technologies, and deregulation of the utility industry are redefining the role of the Power Engineer and creating a wealth of technical and educational challenges. Environmental issues and restructuring of the power industry have expanded the scope of interest to include public policy and economic and social concerns. A multidisciplinary Research Center, operating within the ECE Department, shall thus be formed. Its main purposes are as follows:

  • Establish long-term research goals.
  • Enable multi-disciplined collaboration within Michigan Tech.
  • Help us compete/collaborate with other universities for industry and agency funding.
  • Enable more industry and university research exchange.
  • Provide more continuity of graduate student support.
  • Enhance graduate and undergraduate education and recruit and retain students.

Remote Sensing Institute (RSI)

Director, Will Cantrell, Physics
cantrell@mtu.edu, 906/487-2356

The Remote Sensing Institute (RSI) is an institute aimed at facilitating and promoting research and education in remote sensing and related areas by bringing together individuals and groups separated by departmental and/or college boundaries. Remote Sensing comprises not just instrumentation or measurement tools, but represents a perspective that employs a broad morphology of disciplines and demands interdisciplinary breadth. For example, current members collaborate on projects spanning imaging science, atmospheric science, data/signal processing, data visualization and remote sensing instrumentation. These are typically applied to a specific problem in earth system science, ecosystem studies, limnology/oceanography, global change, and a host of other areas. At least nine different departments currently have faculty members participating in RSI.

RSI's goals are to work by consensus to promote remote sensing and related topics on the Michigan Tech campus through (1) Interdisciplinary coursework and programs, (2) Group funding efforts for equipment and research, (3) Interdisciplinary seminars and short courses, and (4) Development of a campus culture that actively supports transdisciplinary activities.

Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center (LaSER)

Director, W. Charles Kerfoot, Department of Biological Sciences
wkerfoot@mtu.edu, 906/487-2769

The Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center (LaSER) is an interdisciplinary center and its three main goals are 1) to promote and strengthen ecological research and graduate programs at Michigan Tech through developing and applying technological advances to ecological problems; 2) to advocate an ecosystem perspective for studying aquatic and terrestrial portions of the Lake Superior watershed; and 3) to become a resource center for basic information on watershed and lake properties.

Center for Environmentally Benign Functional Materials (CEBFM)

Director, Gerard Caneba, Chemical Engineering
caneba@mtu.edu, 906/487-3161

Mission: The mission of the CEBFM is to increase and then sustain research activities into the synthesis, characterization, and analysis of materials that are capable of performing multiple functions in a wide variety of applications. CEBFM brings together researchers and will create a knowledge-base that can assist in further development of technologies for challenging applications critical to the growing technological needs of the US and the world. The Center will promote and foster an environment that will cross the traditional departmental and disciplinary boundaries to advance knowledge and support the overall mission of the University.

Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society (MTCWS)

Director, Alex Mayer, Geological & Mining Engineering & Sciences
asmayer@mtu.edu, 906/487-3372

Mission: The mission of the MTCWS is to support research, education, and outreach in all disciplines at Michigan Tech related to water issues. The goal is to establish Michigan Tech as a state, regional, national and international leader in these disciplines and, in particular, in interdisciplinary approaches to solving water-related problems. The objectives of the MTCWS are:

  • to serve as a focal point for instructional and research activities in water-related fields and water-related outreach activities across the Michigan Tech campus;
  • to provide an organizational structure that supports continuing growth in water-related fields and outreach activities and encourage interdisciplinary projects;
  • to support interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate education and research in water related fields; and
  • to pursue external funding opportunities to support these objectives and to facilitate MTCWS participating faculty to obtain external support.

Multi-Scale Technologies Institute (MuSTI)

Director, Craig Friedrich, Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
craig@mtu.edu, 906/487-1922

Multi-scale technologies are those that bring together functional elements to form systems where the relative size of components within the system spans from the nano through the micro and into the macro domain. The systems-focus of MuSTI emphasizes the challenges associated with integrating technologies that have relative feature sizes orders of magnitude apart and operating characteristics that are size dependent. This presents many problems that must be addressed by interdisciplinary teams of researchers using specialized equipment. Research focuses on engineered systems and components such as nanoelectronics, nanosensors and systems, and associated materials. MuSTI is home to interdisciplinary nano and microtechnologies education programs such as an interdisciplinary minor in Nanoscale Science and Engineering. The establishment of MuSTI is based on Michigan Tech.s focus on applied research, established practices of interdisciplinary research, capabilities in testing, and strong engineering and science programs.