July 1, 2025

Tim Wagner is the recipient of Michigan Tech’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the Assistant Professor/Assistant Teaching Professor category.

Wagner is an assistant teaching professor of mathematical sciences at Michigan Tech, and also serves as the course coordinator for Calculus 2, director of the Math Learning Center, and faculty advisor to Tech’s disc golf club. He studied mathematics at Bob Jones University and graduated in 2013 before coming directly to Tech, where he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in discrete mathematics in 2015 and 2021.

“I still have a lot of growing to do as a teacher, but this award encourages me that I’m making a positive difference for my students,” said Wagner. “Professionally, I feel emboldened to explore more ways of improving my teaching and the classroom experience for students.”

Wagner shares his insights on cultivating student curiosity in a Q&A at Michigan Tech News.

As part of continuous improvement efforts by Michigan Tech's Vice President for Research Office (VPR) team, VPR is happy to announce the promotion of Kelly Kallio to associate vice president for research, sponsored programs.

Kallio is highly qualified, with 17 years of experience on the University's Sponsored Programs team, working in both pre- and post-award support. In her new role, she will oversee pre-award operations in the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO), post-award operations in Sponsored Programs Accounting (SPA), grants and contracts, and the Sponsored Operations Office (SOO). Kallio will report directly to Vice President for Research Andrew Barnard.

Please join us in congratulating Kelly on her promotion!

As part of this transition, Jim Baker, senior associate vice president for research, innovation, will continue to act as an advisor for Sponsored Programs so the team can continue to benefit from his experience. Day-to-day operations will be passed to Kallio. This move is intended to provide Baker with the capacity to emphasize commercialization and innovation activities at Michigan Tech. In addition, the "innovation" portion of Baker's title refers to creating innovative solutions to complicated and nonrecurring research challenges. Baker will be helping researchers navigate the implementation of major research activities and helping campus leadership streamline financing and execution of large research opportunities.

"I'd like to thank Jim for his years of double duty in managing both Sponsored Programs and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization," said Barnard.

These changes are part of improvements made by VPR to continuously grow and adapt the research enterprise. View the VPR staff listing anytime on our Research Staff Page.

The Office of Naval Research has issued a provisional facilities and administrative (F&A) cost rate agreement for Michigan Tech, effective today, July 1. The provisional rates should be used on Sponsored Programs proposal budgets with a sponsor deadline on or after July 1, 2025.

In addition to the new rates, the rate agreement includes a change to the application of F&A rates on subawards. With this change, F&A rates will now be applied to the first $50,000 of each subaward.

For existing projects, including incrementally funded projects, the rates in effect at the time the project was awarded will continue to be charged. For new projects awarded under the provisional (temporary) rates, the provisional rate will be charged until the predetermined (final) rate agreement is finalized.

The new rates will apply to supplemental or additional proposals where funding is being requested for work beyond what was contained in the original agreement. When awarded, the supplemental or additional funding will generally be given a new index number in order to account for the different rates.

In accordance with the fiscal year 2026 provisional F&A rate agreement, the rates effective July 1, 2025, are as follows:

• 48.6% — On-Campus Research
• 57.4% — On-Campus Uncapped Research (DoD Contracts Only)
• 26% — Off-Campus Research
• 34.75% — Off-Campus Uncapped Research (DoD Contracts Only)
• 48.9% — On-Campus Instruction
• 26% — Off-Campus Instruction
• 31.9% — On-Campus Other Sponsored Activities
• 26% — Off-Campus Other Sponsored Activities
• 57.25% — On-Campus MTRI Research
• 91.25% — On-Campus Uncapped MTRI Research
• 26% — Off-Campus MTRI Research
• 60% — Off-Campus Uncapped MTRI Research

The provisional rates are temporary and the final rates are expected in the next few months. If the final rate agreement varies from the provisional rate agreement, a memo will be sent outlining any changes to active sponsored projects and Sponsored Programs proposal budgets.

Join us in showcasing global unity in the Keweenaw!

All ages are invited to carry a flag in this year’s Parade of Nations, coming to Houghton on Sept. 20. Participants can represent their home country or heritage, or a country they support. Flags and name signs can be picked up on the first floor of Michigan Tech's Van Pelt and Opie Library between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. before the parade.

Flags are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Request your flag using the Parade of Nations' 2025 Flag Request Form by Sept. 13.

Questions? Contact paradeofnations@mtu.edu or stop by Michigan Tech's International Programs and Services office on the second floor of the Administration Building (Admin 200).

In observance of Independence Day, the Campus Store and University Images will be closed on Friday, July 4.

Campus Store
The Campus Store will be closed Friday through Sunday, July 6, and will resume regular summer hours on Monday, July 7.
– Regular Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

University Images
University Images will be closed on Friday and Saturday, July 5, but will be open on Sunday, July 6, from 1-5 p.m. Regular summer hours will resume on Monday, July 7.
– Regular Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We appreciate your understanding and wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Job Posting for Tuesday, July 1, 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.

​Social Media Specialist, University Marketing and Communications. 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.

Shiyue Fang (Chem/HRI) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that received $583,025 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "Chemical Synthesis of Long Oligonucleotides."

Yinan Yuan (CFRES/HRI) is a co-PI on this potential three-year project.

The its June 26 Teaching Newsletter, the Chronicle of Higher Education quoted Maria Bergstrom (HU) in a section about summer reading recommendations. Bergstrom recommended “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters” by Priya Parker, highlighting its relevance for creating engaging and productive learning environments.

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Ypsilanti’s 89.1 WEMU-FM quoted Professor Emeritus/Dean Emeritus Terry Sharik (CFRES) in a story about efforts to remove invasive plant species from the Huron River Watershed in Ann Arbor.

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104.9 WNWZ-AM in Grand Rapids mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Michigan's directional universities, referencing the Keweenaw Peninsula as the home of Michigan Tech and noting the placement of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Facilities Management Billing Rate Adjustments

Facilities Management is adjusting billing rates for our technical staff, effective today, July 1.

Facilities Management receives an allocation from the University's General Fund on an annual basis to perform a wide range of routine services on campus. Nonroutine or nonfunded services require Facilities Management to recover costs by billing the campus department or organization requesting services. More information related to funded and nonfunded services can be found on the Facilities Management website.

Rate changes for specific technical staff classifications can also be found on our website.

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No Tech Today on Friday

Tech Today will not publish on Friday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Submissions for next Monday, July 7, are due by noon on Thursday, July 3.

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

PhD Defense: Palas Kamlakar Borkar

Tuesday, July 1, 9–9 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Advisor: Timothy Eisele IN-SITU REDUCTIVE BIOLEACHING OF MANGANESE ORES Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/s/83292312320

Master's Defense: Sophia Bollin

Tuesday, July 1, 12 p.m.–12 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 908

Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Vijaya Venkata Narasimha Sriram Malladi INVESTIGATION OF ACOUSTIC ATTENUATION METHODS AS A NOISE CONTROL DEVICE IN HYDRAULICS Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/87016870714