Sustainability and Materials at Michigan Technological University

Overview

Everything that is manufactured or constructed, from the nano- to macro-scale, is produced from materials. This theme focuses on increasing the sustainability of material acquisition, utilization, and disposal/reuse, necessitating advanced research to better understand impacts and to mitigate negative effects. This is a very active area of research at Michigan Tech, spanning multiple departments, colleges/schools, and institutes. In the last three years, almost 1000 proposals have been submitted by 200 investigators in materials-related research, culminating in over 300 awards in excess of $30M. The main areas of emphasis in this theme include nanotechnology, smart/active materials, biotic and abiotic materials, advance metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, foams, forestry products, innovative construction materials, and composites.

Major Initiatives

Power and Energy Research Center (PERC) is spearheading the creation of a new initiative in photovoltaics. This initiative spans from material fabrication and characterization to manufacturing, system design, and operation. The research and development capabilities for photovoltaic materials reside with faculty in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Physics. The research group is presently developing external partners within industry and other universities. The Center for Environmentally Benign Functional Materials is developing novel materials that have low environmental impact, and thus a high potential for inclusion in sustainable designs. A current emphasis is the development and deployment of benign polymer foams that increase the functionality of traditional mechanical systems. The Multiscale Technologies Institute (MuSTI) has several major multidisciplinary materials initiatives focused on improving sensor technologies. A general theme is the combination of biotic and abiotic materials to create hybrid multifunctional materials for use in sensor design. In one program nanoparticle polymer network materials are being developed, in conjunction with model-based optimal design strategies, to create highly sensitive MEMS chemical sensors. This effort combines concepts of electrical and mechanical engineering as well as polymer chemistry. The University Transportation Center (UTC) for Materials in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (MiSTI) focuses on developing improvements and alternatives to conventional construction materials that result in the creation of a more sustainable transportation infrastructure. Current research is focused on ultra-high performance concrete, material resistance to extreme environmental conditions, low-energy alternatives to conventional paving materials, and the effective use of waste and industrial residuals. The Institute of Materials Processing (IMP) is an innovative, multi-disciplined, industrially oriented research and development center holding over 60 patents. The Institute of Materials Processing provides entrepreneurs and industry with the resources to study minerals, environmental concerns and the processing of materials.

Opportunities

We are seeking motivated new faculty to explore new areas of study, building on existing strengths while reaching across disciplines to advance the overall theme of sustainability. Faculty should apply who have specific materials expertise, a desire to work across disciplines, and the ability to apply sustainability concepts and systems analysis to evaluate the economic, environmental, and societal impacts regarding materials extraction, processing, application, and reuse. Opportunities extend across many areas of study and disciplines including Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, and Physics.

Contacts

Thomas J. Van Dam, Ph.D., P.E., UTC-MiSTI, tvandam@mtu.edu, 906-487-2524, Bruce Mork, Ph.D., PERC, bamork@mtu.edu, 906-487-2857, Craig Friedrich, Ph.D., MuSTI, craig@mtu.edu, 906-487-1922.