June 12, 2025

Early this year, Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) served as a test site for Seatrec, a California-based innovator in thermal energy harvesting solutions. The Keweenaw’s Arctic-like environment provided a test site for Seatrec’s prototype Arctic Power Station. During Seatrec’s visit, researchers recorded an air temperature of minus 29 degrees Celsius (negative 20.2 Fahrenheit) and a water temperature of zero degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit).

“With harsh winter temperatures often dropping well below freezing, along with the vast waters and extensive ice cover of Lake Superior, our region provides an unparalleled testbed for Arctic technologies,” said Pengfei Xue, GLRC associate director and professor of water resources in Michigan Tech’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering. “By leveraging our Frozen Marine Testbed, we offer an exceptional environment to validate technologies like Seatrec’s power station in an accessible yet Arctic-like environment, reducing risks before deployment in the high Arctic.”

Read more about Michigan Tech’s winter research advantages at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech's Summer Session Orientation brings new students and their families to campus for essential Orientation activities this month. We're asking for your patience and support as we welcome our incoming Huskies.

June Summer Session Dates:

• Sunday and Monday, June 22-23
• Thursday and Friday, June 26-27

During these 1.5-day sessions, incoming students will learn about the Essential Education program, meet with advisors and faculty from their academic colleges, and begin building their Michigan Tech community.

Campus Impact
Please be patient with increased foot traffic and parking congestion during Orientation days. Our new students and their families will be navigating campus for the first time, and your understanding is greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Opportunities
We need campus volunteers to help create a welcoming experience for our incoming students:

• Sunday, June 22 — Traffic and check-in assistance needed. Volunteer for a two-hour shift between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Monday, June 23 — Support needed from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. directing visitors around the MUB and DHH.
• Friday, June 27 — Support needed from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. directing visitors around the MUB and DHH.

Sign Up to Volunteer.

Your involvement helps ensure our new Huskies feel welcomed to the Michigan Tech community from day one.

Questions? Contact orientation@mtu.edu.

Looking Ahead: July Summer Session dates are July 13-14 and July 17-18.

The Vice President for Research Office (VPR) has updated the graduate student tables for budgeting stipends and tuition for graduate research assistantships (GRAs). These rates are to be used immediately in proposal budgets to external sponsors.

The tuition rates per credit differ between Non Engineering/Computer Science and the Engineering/Computer Science disciplines. Remember to take this into account when budgeting for 1 credit.

The updated stipend and tuition tables can be found on the VPR forms page at:

• GRA Stipend Rates (PDF)
• GRA Tuition Rates

The Student Development Complex will be closed on June 21 and June 22 due to essential repairs to our main water line. We will resume our regular summer hours on June 23.

You can view our facility hours online.

We appreciate your patience during these necessary repairs.

Job Posting for Thursday, June 12, 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.

​Budget and Planning Analyst, Financial Services and Operations. 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.

Michigan State University's Department of Forestry mentioned Adrienne Keller (CFRES) in a story about a new project funded by the Fred Russ Endowment Fund to develop a demonstration site showcasing climate adaptive silviculture techniques to foster carbon resiliency. The site will be located in the Fred Russ Experimental Forest in Cass County.

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WLUC TV6 and the Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech’s Student Development Complex in stories about this year’s Houghton County VetFest, held yesterday, June 11, at the SDC.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned former Michigan Tech hockey player Raymond Brice in a story about the second year of the BR.ICE Hockey Development program at Michigan Tech's John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The program aims to sharpen skills for young hockey players.

Funding Available for Summer Visiting Scholars

Do you have potential faculty, scholars or research collaborators coming to Michigan Tech’s campus this summer? The state of Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Visiting Professor Program (VPP) offers funds to offset the costs to departments. The funds can be used for visits completed through Sept. 30.

University departments or units are encouraged to apply for financial support to bring visiting scholars who provide underrepresented perspectives in their field of expertise to Michigan Tech’s campus. Visitors do not need a terminal degree or a faculty position to qualify for support. While on campus, visiting professors are to interact with faculty and students in the classroom, in seminars, in group discussions, or while teaching a session during a summer semester.

Applications should be received three weeks before a proposed visit for pre-approval by the state of Michigan. Funding requests can be made for up to $1,500. However, the department(s) or unit(s) must provide a minimum 1-to-1 match to covered expenses of KCP funds.

Learn more about the Visiting Professor Program, including its purpose, requirements and application process, on the program’s website. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Shannon Vairo in the provost's office.

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KISMA Introduces 'Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities' Community-Based Approach to Invasive Species Management

Glossy buckthorn, one of the Keweenaw’s most aggressive invasive species, is currently taking over portions of our favorite local trail networks. Luckily, the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) and the Swedetown Trails Club are partnering with local volunteers and working to stop the spread of invasive buckthorn this summer.

The botanically inclined may recognize glossy buckthorn as the rapidly growing, shrubby tree that is trying to take over local trail networks, such as the Swedetown Recreation Area in Calumet. However, many recreationists don't even notice the buckthorn as they ride, ski and hike through these trails. We think it's time to pay attention to the health of the woods around us.

You see, glossy buckthorn is highly invasive in our northern forests, especially in wooded areas that have soggy soils, lots of human traffic and a history of land disturbance. These European shrubs cause a myriad of ecological problems. Spreading rapidly, they suppress the growth of our native shrubs that are important food sources for nesting birds. While buckthorn makes loads of berries, they lack the important protein and fats that our fruit eating birds require, and these shrubs don't support native caterpillars for our carnivorous birds to eat either.

To make matters worse, these thick understories of buckthorn can completely smother forest regeneration. A forest with an aging canopy and an invaded understory slowly loses its mature trees without the recruitment of new ones to take their place. What’s left in the end is a short, shrubby forest, almost entirely composed of invasive buckthorn. This is why a hike through pockets of forest invaded by buckthorn lacks the diversity and beauty of our native forests. More importantly, these are wounded ecosystems that need our help to heal.

To address these problems, the Swedetown Trails Club is partnering with KISMA and local outdoor enthusiasts like yourself to help remove buckthorn and restore the forest. As part of our new volunteer-based management program, “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities,” the club and KISMA are hosting weekly volunteer days at the Swedetown Trails. Starting in June, these family-friendly and educational events will be held every Friday from 1-3:30 p.m. We would love to see you there — and we will need all the help we can get in cutting, pulling and snipping buckthorn, and hauling it out of the woods and into our trailer to be burned!

Learn about this important restoration and conservation work while getting hands-on experience managing invasive species. Tools and equipment will be provided. This is a great way to give back to your local community, and the Earth as well. We hope to see you there!

For questions, contact info@swedetowntrails.org or KISMA.up@gmail.com, or visit the KISMA Projects webpage.

Event Details:

• What: “Healthy Forests Healthy Communities” Weekly Volunteer Days
• When: Every Friday, June 6 to Aug. 15, from 1-3 p.m.
• Where: Meet at the Swedetown Trails Chalet

Authored by KISMA Assistant Coordinator August Camp (CFRES) and KISMA Coordinator/MTU Research Assistant Professor Sigrid Resh (CFRES).

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Training Opportunity: Enterprise Risk Management

The Department of Public Safety and Police Services, in partnership with the manager of the Office of Risk Management and Compliance, invite all Michigan Tech faculty and staff members to attend a free one-day training focused on risk management.

This specialized Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) course, conducted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services (TEEX), is an opportunity for participants to gain the critical skills needed to better navigate their area’s risk landscape.

What makes this training different from others?

• Custom-Built for Higher Ed: This training is specifically designed to address the intricate landscape of the education sector, giving participants relevant, actionable insights.

• A Holistic Perspective: Learn to see the bigger picture, understanding how different risks and opportunities interlink across the entire University. This integrated view empowers participants to make smarter, more impactful decisions that drive their department's and the University’s missions.

• Empower Your Leadership: By the end of this course, participants will be fully equipped to conduct insightful annual risk assessments, providing invaluable guidance that will steer their respective area toward compliance and safety.

This free training has no prerequisites and is perfect for all faculty and staff members who want to learn how they can assist their areas in formulating risk management plans. It will also assist in meeting risk management requirements for research grants and other funding sources.

If any MTU faculty or staff members have any questions about the training, please contact Reid DeVoge at rdevoge@mtu.edu.

Training Details:

• What: "Enterprise Risk Management: A Collaborative Community Mitigation Effort"
• When: Thursday, July 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Where: Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center Community Room
• Registration: Register for the July 24 session on TEEX’s website. A free TEEX account is required to register.

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Strength and Conditioning : Summer Middle School Program

Thursday, June 12, 10–10 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-Purpose

Lead by the MTU Strength and Conditioning Staff, this 8-week summer program is for athletes looking to improve their performance and fitness level to prepare for the upcoming season. Program includes (3) sessions per week in a varsity collegiate setting and SDC membership access for the duration of the program.

Strength and Conditioning : Summer High School Program

Thursday, June 12, 11–11 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-Purpose

Lead by the MTU Strength and Conditioning Staff, this 8-week summer program is for athletes looking to improve their performance and fitness level to prepare for the upcoming season. Program includes (3) sessions per week in a varsity collegiate setting and SDC membership access for the duration of the program.

PhD Defense: Austin DePottey

Thursday, June 12, 1 p.m.–1 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 610

Materials Science and Engineering Advisor: Paul Sanders DESIGN OF ALUMINUM-COPPER ALLOY WITH SCANDIUM IN SOLUTION FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/7940069827