August 27, 2025

Michigan Tech recently wrapped up an immersive summer learning experience that began with a gathering in the Upper Peninsula and extended to outreach in Detroit.

The Student Experience in Education and Discovery (SEED) program engaged about 30 middle and high school students each day of the four-day event, providing hands-on, STEM-based learning rooted in environmental science and real-world applications.

SEED is a place-based program designed to provide middle and high school students, particularly those from historically underserved communities, with free access to high-impact, experiential learning in STEM fields. A central aim is to nurture career awareness, environmental responsibility and leadership among the next generation of Great Lakes environmental stewards.

Learn more about the SEED program and the people who made it possible on the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science blog.

Purchasing textbooks can be a financial burden for students. In recognition of this challenge, the Van Pelt and Opie Library and Campus Store work together to identify course materials that are available in the library's collections. A list of textbook requests sent to the Campus Store for the fall 2025 semester was reviewed and compared to existing library collections to identify "accidental textbooks."

Accidental textbooks have been placed on Course Reserve and instructors have been notified of their availability. All materials currently placed on Course Reserve can be found in a special collection and on the Course Materials webpage, which can be searched by course code. Instructors are encouraged to share this information with their students.

Please note: The library is unable to purchase copies of every book assigned in Michigan Tech classes, but identifying "accidental textbooks" in the library's collections can help to make the Course Reserve system a valuable resource for our students.

Looking to shake up your courses and inspire your students? The IDEAhub: Innovation in Teaching and Learning collection is now available through the Van Pelt and Opie Library. The collection is packed with fresh ideas and practical strategies to help you do just that.

From crafting engaging curricula and implementing active learning techniques to exploring the exciting possibilities of teaching with artificial intelligence, these books offer a wealth of knowledge to refresh your approach in the classroom. Check out the collection to discover new ways to ignite curiosity and foster deeper learning!

Michigan Tech's chief financial officer and vice president for administration, Carlos Rodriguez, will hold office hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday during the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to schedule an appointment.

Appointments with Rodriguez can also be scheduled through a link on the Finance and Administration website. Click the Make an Appointment button located under the Office Hours heading.

Finance and Administration oversees and advises on all matters pertaining to the management and operation of the departments listed below, providing essential infrastructure, service and support to the Michigan Tech campus community.

• Administration
• Auxiliary and Business Services
• Facilities Management
• Financial Services and Operations
• Human Resources
• Information Technology

The Kaushal Molecular Intelligence and Drug Discovery (MIND) Lab in the Department of Applied Computing at Michigan Tech invites applications for a fully funded Ph.D. student graduate research assistant (GRA) position starting in spring 2026. Our computational lab focuses on cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, molecular design and functional drug discovery.

About the Project
You will work at the intersection of machine learning and cheminformatics to accelerate early-stage drug discovery. You will develop prototypes of generative and predictive models that could learn rich molecular representations, design from scratch state-of-the-art large language models for chemical modeling, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in academia and industry.

Required Qualifications:

• A demonstrated background in deep learning
• Proficiency in large language models (LLMs) and frameworks such as Hugging Face
• Strong experience in PyTorch for model implementation and training
• Robust understanding of convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
• Strong programming skills in Python

 Bonus Qualifications:

• Familiarity with cheminformatics concepts and tools (e.g., RDKit)
• Experience with graph neural networks (GNNs)
• Proficiency in experiment tracking using TensorBoard or Weights & Biases
• Background in computational chemistry, bioinformatics or related fields

Interested candidates can apply through the PhD Position in Kaushal MIND Lab - Spring 2026 application form.

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 28, in Fisher 329.

Assistant Professor Ze Feng Ted Gan will present "Acoustics of Multirotor Aerial and Marine Vehicles."

Like the automotive industry, arguably the greatest paradigm shift in the aviation industry is electrification. This includes the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, colloquially known as drones) and development of manned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These aircraft often use distributed propulsion for flight control, which introduces complex aerodynamic and acoustic interactions.

Adam Wellstead and Angie Carter (both SS) are co-authors of a chapter published in the book "Pensar fuera de la caja burocrática: Laboratorios de innovación pública en América Latina" (2025) edited by David Gómez-Álvarez and César Rentería Marín.

The chapter is titled "Laboratorios de innovación pública: pasado, presente y futuro."

Anat Gofen of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is also a co-author of the chapter.

The English translation of the book is "Thinking outside the bureaucratic box: Public innovation laboratories in Latin America." The English translation of the chapter is "Policy innovation lab scholarship: past, present, and the future."

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Adam Wellstead (SS) is a co-author of an article published in Policy Sciences.

The article is titled "Peak policy lab or chasing windmills? The overlooked issue of misaligned policy design."

Additional co-authors of the article are Sarah Geist of the Public Administration Institute of Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands; Ishani Mukherjee of Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore; Anat Gofen of the Federman School of Public Policy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; and Bryan Evans of the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada.

Trista Vick-Majors (BioSci) was quoted by the Detroit News in a story about a winter limnology and harmful algal bloom collaboration involving teams of researchers from across the Great Lakes region. The study is aimed at understanding the impact of changing winter conditions on the Great Lakes. Vick-Majors is coordinating the project with Gord Paterson (BioSci).

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Quang Tran (CEGE/MTTI) was mentioned by southwest Virginia's Roanoke Star in a story about Virginia Tech's Coalition for Smart Construction awarding its first five seed grants. Tran is a member of a funded research team working to develop real-time quality tracking for 3D-printed concrete.

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The Daily Mining Gazette quoted Michigan Tech students Thomas Atkinson (construction management) and Melia Austin (biological sciences) in a story about the first day of fall classes at Tech.

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Eos mentioned Michigan Tech's Pi Cloud Chamber in a story about research benchmarking cloud models against laboratory measurements to better understand aerosol-cloud interactions.

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Ann Arbor's 89.1 WEMU-FM mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a Washtenaw County Road Commission project testing rubberized asphalt made with scrap tires. The commission is working with Michigan Tech and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to monitor the new pavement's effectiveness on Ellsworth Road in Pittsfield Township.

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R&D World mentioned Michigan Tech in a profile of its 2025 R&D Leader of the Year: Thomas Lograsso '86 (Ph.D. Metallurgical Engineering). Lograsso, director of the Critical Materials Innovation Hub at Ames National Laboratory, was recognized for his leadership, mentorship and work in materials discovery, including co-inventing galfenol, an alloy of iron and gallium.

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Patch mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Niche's 2026 Best Colleges in America rankings. MTU ranked third among Michigan universities.

Arnold Air Society POW/MIA 5K Run

Get your running shoes ready! The Arnold Air Society, a Michigan Tech registered student organization, will be hosting the annual POW/MIA 5K Run on Sept. 13.

All proceeds will benefit the VFW in Hubbell to support local veterans in need.

The run will begin at the ROTC Building on Michigan Tech's campus. The route will take participants to the Portage Lift Bridge and back.

To preregister for the 5K, please contact seddy@mtu.edu to request a QR code. Registration will also be available on the day of the race from 8 a.m. until the race begins at 9 a.m. Registration cost is $20.

Bonus: The first 50 registrants receive a free T-shirt.

Mark your calendar and join us in honoring those who have served and sacrificed.

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Volunteers Needed for 2025 Parade of Nations

Faculty and staff are invited to volunteer for one of Michigan Tech's longest-standing and most beloved campus traditions — the Parade of Nations, happening Sept. 20. Volunteering is a great way to engage with the campus and local community while supporting a celebration of global cultures.

A wide variety of volunteer roles are available, including:

• Parade support marshals
• Banner and flag carriers
• Kids Corner supervisors
• Festival floaters
• Street barricade monitors
• Chinese Dragon participants
• Setup and cleanup support

Parade lineup begins at 10 a.m., and the parade steps off at 11 a.m. from the Van Pelt and Opie Library, ending at Dee Stadium. Volunteer shifts are available throughout the day — from early-morning setup to afternoon wrap-up.

Faculty and staff can sign up to volunteer on GivePulse. A volunteer link is also available on the Parade of Nations website.

For questions, email paradeofnations@mtu.edu. You can also follow the event @mtu.paradeofnations on Instagram for the latest updates.

Help us celebrate the multicultural community that makes Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw so special.

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Book Donations Sought for Quiz Bowl Club

The Quiz Bowl registered student organization at Michigan Tech is in need of gently used, good-quality books to give as prizes at the end of events. It is a much-beloved tradition at quiz bowl tournaments that the top-scoring individuals and winning teams receive books as a prize at the end of the day.

Quiz Bowl puts on two high school tournaments per year for regional high schools. In addition, the club hosts or competes in several collegiate tournaments each year, and members host general trivia events for their fellow students in collaboration with numerous other RSOs.

Preferred subjects include recent popular fiction, classic literature, science, history, poetry, art, nonfiction and biography. If you have books in good condition that you would like to donate, they can be dropped off at Career Services on the second floor of the Administration Building (Admin 220).

Have questions or need to coordinate a different drop-off? Contact Quiz Bowl advisors Jim Desrochers at jtd@mtu.edu or 906-487-3461, or Liz Fujita at liz@mtu.edu or 906-487-1161.

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Join the MLK Day Planning Committee!

The MLK Day Planning Committee is looking for faculty and staff to join the team for Michigan Tech's 2026 celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We're hoping to grow the committee and bring in new voices to help shape meaningful and engaging programming for the campus community.

If you or someone from your department is interested in serving on the committee, we'd love to have you involved. Our first meeting will take place during the first week of September, once the fall semester is underway.

Please reach out to Micah Vacco at mvacco@mtu.edu or 906-487-3056 if you're interested or would like more information.

Let's work together to make this year's events impactful and inclusive for all.

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Essential Ed Experience Community of Practice Starting This Fall

Calling all instructors planning to teach an Essential Ed Experience (E3)! Starting this fall, faculty will have the opportunity to meet every other week to brainstorm ideas, share resources and provide support to fellow E3 Instructors.

The E3 Community of Practice will meet in Library 243, alternating between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. The schedule and tentative topics are listed below.

Reach out to E3 Manager Cassandra Reed-VanDam at cmvandam@mtu.edu to join the E3 Community of Practice.

E3 Community of Practice Schedule:

• Wednesday, Sept. 3 — E3 Goal Setting
• Tuesday, Sept. 16 — Building & Maintaining Community Relationships
• Wednesday, Oct. 1 — Reflection & Reflective Assignments
• Tuesday, Oct. 14 — Building Off of Existing Courses
• Wednesday, Oct. 29 — Finding Students' Intrinsic Motivation
• Tuesday, Nov. 4 — Moving Through Community Partner Conflict
• Wednesday, Nov. 19 — ePortfolios
• Tuesday, Dec. 2 — Connecting to Scholarship
• Wednesday, Dec. 17 — End of Year Reflection

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CTL Technical Workshop: Building An Interactive Online Course Using DesignPLUS

Looking to make your online course more interactive and engaging? Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for a hands-on workshop to learn how to use DesignPLUS to build an interactive online course. We'll show you practical strategies and guide you through follow-along activities so you can start using these tools right away! Just be sure to bring your laptop.

The workshop is scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 10-11 a.m. in Library 243.

Register for the DesignPLUS Workshop.

Contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu with any questions about this workshop or to request accommodations.

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No Tech Today on Monday

Tech Today will not publish on Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Submissions for publication in Tech Today next Tuesday, Sept. 2, are due by noon on Friday, Aug. 29.

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

Oh! The Places You Came From!

Wednesday, August 27, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Library

Our students come from all over the world! Stop and put yourself on the map at our Digital Scholarship@VPOL display so we can see where you were before coming to MTU.

Library Origami Inquiry Quest

Wednesday, August 27, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Library

Explore the library in search of origami creatures. Scan their QR code to check out our library FAQs. Afterward, stop by the “Ask Us!” desk on the first floor to tell one of our Student Research Consultants something new you learned about the library in exchange for a prize.

Van Pelt & Opie Library New Student Orientation

Wednesday, August 27, 11:00–11:30 a.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room (1st floor)

Learn the basics of using library resources at MTU. Including how to locate and download materials, use interlibrary loan, and search within specialized databases. New graduate students are highly encouraged to attend but all are welcome—including transfer students, and students who have already started but want to upgrade their library searching skills. Registration reccommended but not required! Tuesday, August 26 from 1-2:30pm registration here Wednesday, August 27 from 11am-12:30pm registration here Tuesday September 2 from 4-5:30pm registration here

Come Over to Our House for Pizza

Wednesday, August 27, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | Alumni House

Come over to the Alumni House to meet our new Student Support and Mentorship department and all the great resources they are offering. Then hang out and enjoy some Domino's pizza and yard games.

Homecoming Info Session

Wednesday, August 27, 4 p.m.–4 p.m. | Memorial Union Building, Alumni Lounge

You have questions. We have answers. Join us for one of three info sessions about all things Homecoming. We'll review how to run for Homecoming Royalty, how to register for a team, what to expect during the week of Homecoming, and answer any questions the audience has.

Study Away Info Session

Wednesday, August 27, 4 p.m.–4 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Alumni Lounge A

Want an in-depth introduction to your opportunities to participate in a study away or study abroad program? Attend an info session to learn about our university partnerships and active MTU Faculty-Led programs. How do I find a program that suits my major? How do I compare and contrast between programs in terms of cost and experience? Attend a Study Away Info Session to learn more! If you are unable to attend, please feel free to schedule a 1-1 Study Away advising appointment. Schedule an in-person appointment | Schedule a virtual appointment

Join the Michigan Tech Dance Team For an Ice Cream Social!

Wednesday, August 27, 5 p.m.–5 p.m. | Walker Lawn

You're invited to connect with the Dance Team at our upcoming Ice Cream Social. This event is a great opportunity to meet current team members, learn about upcoming performance opportunities, and enjoy a delicious sweet treat. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sorority Life: Make a Pennant Flag With Us

Wednesday, August 27, 6:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Memorial Union Building, Commons (cafe area on the ground floor)

You're invited to a sweet time of sorority fun! Come peel back the layers of Greek Life while crafting your fruity pennant flag. Whether you’re grapeful for new friendships or just here to go bananas with creativity, this event is ripe for the picking. It’s going to be un-peel-ievable! 🍓🍌🍊🍇 Join us on the MUB Commons at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27. Email sororitylife@mtu.edu with questions about the event or recruitment.

Cheerleading Team Open Practice

Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m.–7 p.m. | Walker Lawn

The Cheerleading Team is hosting an open practice on Walker Lawn. Come learn new skills and stunts with us! No experience is required; we will teach you everything you need to know. Please wear athletic clothes and a water bottle. We would love to see you there!

Intro to Swing Dancing

Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | DHH Patio

Come join the Swing Club to learn the basics of swing dancing and get to know the club's members! We are starting with a lesson at 7 pm, followed by open dance from 8-9 pm. Bring a dance partner, some friends, or just bring yourself! All are welcome!

Main Meeting

Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | Wads G42W

Want to be trained in Righteouesness? Interested in developing more faithful work ethic? Building the Kingdom? Glorifying God? Come check out our main meeting where we are elaborating on some of the important parts of the Gospel, how it applies, and why without it, we are hopelessly lost.

Waterski & Wakeboard General Meeting

Wednesday, August 27, 7:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Chem Sci 102 (connected to H-STEM)

This is the FIRST general meeting for the club this year. We will be introducing the club and going over how it works and our plans for the year. If you are interested in any kind of skiing or having fun we highly recommend you join us. No experiences in required to join. any and all skill levels encouraged to join. We are always happy to teach you how to ski. Make sure to bring a friend with you. Hope to see you there!!!