September 12, 2025

Michigan Tech's College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) is delighted to partner with the Baraga County Historical Society (BCHS) to open the Alberta pump house to the public as the Historic Ford Welcome Center and celebrate the preservation of the historic Ford Alberta sawmill.

"It's really important that the Baraga County Historical Society has a physical presence on the Alberta campus," said Mark Rudnicki, Ford Center and Forest director and a professor of practice in forest biomaterials. "They've played a leading role in fundraising for the sawmill restoration to date and I very much look forward to seeing their continued success."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the pump house at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 12, marking a significant achievement in preserving and honoring the location's rich history. The ceremony will feature remarks from Michigan Tech and BCHS leaders as well as special guest Todd Bryan, president of the Henry Ford Heritage Association.

Read more about this collaborative preservation effort at the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science blog.

As a reminder, the Fall 2025 Career Fair Forged by Nucor is coming up on Sept. 23, with Interview Day the following day on Sept. 24.

Career Services is currently collecting available office and room spaces on campus where our industry partners can host interviews. If you have any rooms available, please submit them using our Rooms for Interview form as soon as possible.

Over a thousand interviews are typically conducted on Interview Day, and your support helps make this possible!

If you have any questions, please contact us at CareerFair@mtu.edu.

Thank you for helping us provide a great experience for our students and employer partners!

Please join the Department of Psychology and Human Factors (PsyHF) on Monday, Sept. 15, from 3-5 p.m. for the grand opening of our new home in the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M).

Guided tours, cake and coffee will provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Event Details:

• What: Department of Psychology and Human Factors Grand Opening
• When: Monday, Sept. 15, from 3-5 p.m.
• Where: M&M Third Floor (enter the M&M through the door on the north side of Cliff Drive, then take the elevator down to the third floor)

Michigan Tech's 2025 Midyear Commencement ceremony will take place on Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. in the SDC Varsity Gym.

Faculty are cordially invited to participate in the faculty procession to support students in their department at the ceremony. Faculty presence means a great deal to the students and their families. Members of the procession wear regalia, march in the procession, and sit as a group to show support for the graduates.

To participate in the ceremony on Dec. 13, please submit the Commencement Ceremony Participation Form by Oct. 17.

Faculty may order caps and gowns through the Campus Store's Graduation Information page before noon on Oct. 6 to receive the lowest price. Expedited shipping fees will apply to all orders placed after Oct. 6. Orders placed after noon on Nov. 10 are not guaranteed to arrive before Midyear Commencement.

We hope you will join us!

Tech Forward 2.0 has entered an active scoping phase, with eight Themes and Threads currently developing their directions through campus input. The conveners of the Critical Resources for the Future theme come from a diverse academic background with interests in space exploration, critical minerals and materials, battery technology, forest ecology and management, and electric power resilience and solar energy, and are seeking your diverse viewpoints through a questionnaire.

Based on input from the questionnaire and a campus conversation later this fall, the Critical Resources for the Future conveners will propose campus activities and investments intended to position the University to lead on this theme.

Please share your input and help ensure that this theme is well represented in Tech Forward 2.0 investments. The questionnaire takes 15-20 minutes to complete.

Feel free to contact any of the conveners with questions: Ana Dyreson (MAE), Luke Nave (CFRES), Lei Pan (ChE) and Paul van Susante (MAE).

Voting is a critical aspect of civic engagement in democratic societies. Many Michigan Tech students will vote for the first time on Nov. 4. Yet voting as a college student (away from home) can be complicated and requires information and planning in advance. A group of MTU faculty and staff created a Canvas module that is available for instructors to download into any Canvas course via the Canvas Commons (search "MTU vote").

The module is designed to provide the information necessary for every eligible student at Michigan Tech to register and vote, along with optional assessment activities. The module could be a great addition to any course that addresses civic engagement, democracy or government. It could also work for student organizations and student leadership programs to share information.

The module covers basic information about voter engagement for Michigan Tech students, including MTU student voter participation rates over time, registering to vote, options for casting your ballot, and where to find information about elections and candidates.

Starting Sept. 22, as part of Michigan Tech's transition from Banner 8 to 9, the Self Service functions available on Banweb will move to Experience.

These functions include:

• Employee Self Service: Leave balances, pay stubs, timesheets and time approvals

• Finance Self Service: Approving and viewing documents and requisitions

• General Self Service: Updating personal contact information (off-campus email, phone number, address) and emergency contacts

• Student Self Service: Student profile, account details, financial aid

• Student Registration Self Service: Schedule planning, class registration, class search, view schedule

• Faculty and Advisor Self Service: Student lookup, class rosters, schedules, grading, advising

Experience, along with the upgraded Banner Self Service, is now live and accessible. We encourage you to begin using Experience and update your bookmarks for the services you access regularly.

Resources are available for help with Experience and Self Service:

• Experience Knowledge Base Article for more information on how to use Experience
• Banner Self Service Knowledge Base Articles for more information on Faculty Self Service and Student Self Service
• What is Experience? for more information on Employee Self Service

If you have questions, we can help. Email IT or call 906-487-1111.

The Aging, Cognition, and Action Lab at Michigan Tech is seeking healthy older research participants. We conduct behavioral studies dedicated to learning about and improving adult development and quality of life.

If you are between 60 and 85 years of age and are interested in participating in paid research, please give us a call or email to learn more. You must be free of medical conditions or injuries that impact the movement of your arms or hands. You must also be free of conditions that impact cognition (for example, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, recent concussion, etc.).

If you choose to participate, you will be asked to perform an arm reaching task that will give us information about how people learn to reach for objects in their environment. You will also take part in several paper-and-pencil tests that assess cognitive function. These tests will measure things like memory, attention and cognitive flexibility (how easily you can switch between different tasks or thoughts). These tests will help us understand the connection between how your brain works and how well you can learn motor tasks, like reaching. The entire study will be completed in 90 minutes.

If interested in participating in our paid research, please email us at agingcognitionlab@mtu.edu or call and leave a message at 906-487-2378.

Jen Shaud, a Ph.D. student in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors, is seeking faculty members from all colleges at MTU to participate in a study about faculty and student perceptions about disability accommodations in higher education and whether these perceptions impact student willingness to request accommodations.

Faculty members will be asked to complete a 15-minute survey and send a link to a student survey to all students in the classes that they currently teach.

The student survey will include questions for students with disabilities that ask them to share whether their perceptions about their accommodations, their perception of their classmates' attitudes about accommodations, and their perception of your feelings about accommodations contributed to their willingness to request accommodations.

This study may impact the best practices for faculty and student disability services at the beginning of each semester. It will take place during late September and October 2025.

Please complete the Perceptions Study Interest Form to indicate your willingness to participate.

For centuries, humanity has been fascinated with the microscopic world. Through advancements in technology, visually investigating this hidden landscape has become increasingly possible. One of these devices, the Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), allows us to see the microscopic surface of things more clearly than ever before.

The Rozsa Art Galleries located in the lower level of the Rozsa Center are proudly hosting a juried exhibition of photographs taken by the Hitachi SEM during its residency at Michigan Tech. Titled "Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World," this exhibition is truly collaborative and emphasizes how powerful the relationship between science and the arts can be.

Gallery Reception: Friday, Sept. 26, from 5-7 p.m.
Mark your calendars and join us for the gallery reception for "Nanowonder" in the Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space. Meet the artists and Rozsa Art Galleries Director Terri Frew, enjoy refreshments, and hear the artists speak about their vision and inspiration for this exhibit.

The Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope will be on location at the Rozsa Art Gallery A-Space for the reception. All are welcome to bring a small (approximately 1-by-1 inch) dry, flat sample to be scanned by the microscope technicians for free. 

Learn More About the Exhibit.

The "Nanowonder" exhibit was made possible by cooperation between the MTU Applied Chemical Morphological Analysis Laboratory, MTU Department of Visual and Performing Arts, Rozsa Center, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, MTU Department of Biomedical Engineering, MTU Department of Materials Science and Engineering, MTU College of Sciences and Arts, and Hitachi.

Professor Tadeusz Stacewicz from the University of Warsaw, Poland, will present a three-part lecture series as part of the Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena (CQP) Distinguished Lecture Series next week in Fisher 131.

Stacewicz's lecture series is titled "Laser-based investigation of water and other atmospheric constituents."

Dates/Times:

• Lecture 1 — Monday, Sept. 15, from 3-4 p.m.
• Lecture 2 — Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 3-4 p.m.
• Lecture 3 — Friday, Sept. 19, from 3-4 p.m.

From the abstract:
Measuring trace amounts of atmospheric constituents is an essential field of science. Researchers actively use its achievements in industry, agriculture, medicine, and environmental protection projects. Recently, optical methods of atmospheric monitoring have been rapidly progressing, especially the laser methods. This progress was possible due to the rapid developments in optoelectronics. I intend to introduce the audience to these methods during three lecture series.

In the first lecture, Stacewicz will discuss the properties of laser radiation and basic optical phenomena (absorption, fluorescence, Rayleigh, and Raman scattering) used in trace gas detection. He will describe how they can be applied to measure the amount of water in human breath.

The second lecture will be about advanced optical methods: wavelength modulation, photoacoustics, multi-pass, and cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Students will learn how to use them in ultrasensitive hygrometry and other gas detection.

The third lecture will cover remote as well as cumulative detection methods. Stacewicz will discuss lidar technologies and their application in air research. He will provide details about the experiments he conducted in laboratories at the University of Warsaw using the abovementioned methods.

Stacewicz is a professor in the Department of Physics, University of Warsaw, Poland. His scientific interests are in the field of optics, laser spectroscopy, methods for trace matter detection, laser-generated plasma and lidar techniques. Presently, his work is focused on disease biomarkers detection in breath with optical methods. Among the laboratory techniques he uses in his research are ultrasensitive laser absorption methods, like CRDS and multi-pass spectroscopy. His list of publications contains about 140 scientific papers, 187 conference communications and 33 invited conference talks, as well as five books and four patents.

Haiying Liu (Chem) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $576,493 research and development grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The project is titled "Ratiometric Near-Infrared Probes Utilizing BODIPY Dyes for Viscosity and Protein Aggregation Sensing in Live Cells."

Rudy Luck (Chem) is a co-PI on this potential three-year project.

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Robert Larson (BioSci/HRI) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $589,998 research and development grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The project is titled "Cardiac Sensory and Sympathetic Nerve Dysregulation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy."

Zhiying Shan (KIP) is a co-PI on this potential three-year project.

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Michelle Jarvie-Eggart (EF/ICC) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $99,745 other sponsored activities grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "Workshop to Identify Research on Research Security (RORS) Needs in Higher Education."

Leo Ureel (CS), Matthew Hellman (VPR), Gregory Odegard (MAE) and Wayne Weaver (MAE) are co-PIs on this potential one-year project.

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Fengying Dang (ECE/GLRC) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $199,820 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "ERI: Understanding Flow Dynamics to Improve Dead Reckoning Accuracy."

This is a potential two-year project.

Bruce Lee (BioMed) and his research team are co-authors of a paper published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia.

The paper is titled "Chlorocatechol-functionalized gelatin nanoparticles as a hemostatic agent with antimicrobial properties."

The paper describes a new powder-based hemostatic agent that can rapidly stop bleeding and is antimicrobial to prevent wound infection. The material consists of biocompatible nanoparticles functionalized with mussel-mimetic adhesive molecule. The material can be applied directly to the wound as a dry powder and immediately transition into a wound-covering adhesive film when it come in contact with blood.

Other co-authors of the paper include former MTU Ph.D. students Fatemeh Razaviamri, Kan Wang and Zhongtian Zhang.

NASA’s Earth Observer mentioned Laura Bourgeau-Chavez and Dana Redhuis (both MTRI) in a story summarizing the 11th and final Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) Science Team Meeting. The article highlighted collaborative research on wildfire impacts, permafrost change, and youth education in the Northwest Territories, as well as ABoVE’s decade-long work.

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WLUC TV6 quoted Carsten Külheim (CFRES) in a story about this year’s fall color season. Külheim said some trees are showing color a little earlier than usual due to cool nights, but predicted there’s still a good chance for vibrant colors across the Upper Peninsula this fall.

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WLUC TV6 quoted Kyle Rubin (URE) in a story about fall enrollment at U.P. universities. Rubin highlighted that Tech’s total enrollment is now more than 7,400 students, with this year’s incoming class up 6% from last year and carrying the highest GPA in University history at 3.86.

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The Cool Down mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a new solvent-based recycling process that “deep cleans” plastics for reuse. The technology, known as STRAP, preserves polymer quality and can process multiple types of plastic. A pilot-scale plant is set to launch at Tech in 2026, with the ability to recycle up to 55 pounds of plastic per hour.

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The Daily Mining Gazette featured Michigan Tech alum Jon Ahola ’95 (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) in a story about his appointment as chief of staff for Northern Arizona University men’s basketball.

POW/MIA Memorial 5K Run

Don't forget to come out tomorrow, Sept. 13, for the Annual Pow/MIA Memorial 5K Run. On-site registration starts at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. Registration is available in front of the ROTC Building on Michigan Tech's campus. The cost of the run is $20 and cash or Venmo will be accepted.

The 5K route will start at the ROTC Building, go to the Portage Lift Bridge and then return. Following the run, there will be a prize for first place and a raffle for other prizes. The first 50 participants registered will receive a T-shirt.

The Arnold Air Society, a Michigan Tech registered student organization, sponsors this event to honor and remember our nation's prisoners of war and those missing in action. This event also raises awareness and support for the men and women who have bravely served our country.

Participants of all ages and fitness levels are encouraged to join — whether you run, jog or walk, or are there just to cheer everyone on, your presence helps carry forward the spirit of remembrance and gratitude.

All the proceeds raised from the event will go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Copper Ingot Post No. 4624 in Hubbell and will be used to help local veterans in need.

If you have any questions, please contact mlbouche@mtu.edu.

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Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar with Greg LeFevre

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, in GLRC 202. Attendance is also invited via Zoom.

Join the Seminar on Zoom (use password 856499).

Greg LeFevre, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, will present "Plant Uptake and Transformation of Emerging Contaminants: Implications for Nature-based Remediation and Human Exposure."

Read LeFevre's abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

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MSE Seminar with Stephen Raiman

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Stephen Raiman, assistant professor, University of Michigan, today, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. in M&M 610.

Raiman will present "The Forge and the Fume Hood: Making and Breaking Materials to Help Build Better Nuclear Reactors."

From the abstract:
The new age of nuclear power is finally upon us. As our energy-hungry world recognizes the need for reliable and clean baseload, nuclear is suddenly in vogue again.

However, new nuclear is not without its challenges, especially for materials. The environments in nuclear reactors can present corrosive environments, ionizing radiation, high temperatures, mechanical stresses, and often a combination of all of these at the same time. As reactor designers challenge the limits of material performance, corrosion scientists work on controlling material and environmental properties to meet these challenges and ensure long economic service times.

This talk will discuss recent research showing how corrosion science and radiation materials science are used to address challenges with current light water reactors and enable next-generation molten salt reactors. I will discuss flowing experiments in both high temperature water and molten salt, along with effects of radiation, fission products, and stress corrosion cracking. I will also present our recent work on manufacturing and processing power-metallurgical materials using hot isostatic pressing. I hope to link the work we do in our lab to actionable engineering knowledge that can be deployed to help current and future nuclear power plants last longer, and run cleaner, safer, and more efficiently.

Raiman is an assistant professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at the University of Michigan, with an appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where he is the principal investigator of the Materials in High Temperature Extreme Environments (MiHTEE) Lab. He is interested in understanding corrosion and degradation of materials in extreme environments. Prior to joining U-M, he was an assistant professor of nuclear engineering and materials science at Texas A&M University, and before that he spent four years as a staff researcher in the Materials Science and Technology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He graduated from U-M in 2016 with a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences with a concentration in materials. He also holds a B.S. in Physics from the University at Buffalo. He likes riding bikes, dislikes driving cars, and is pretty good at making pizza.

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ChE Seminar with Fernando Lima

Fernando Lima will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series today, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 211 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Seminar on Zoom.

Lima will present "A Process Systems Framework for Design, Optimization and Control of Modular Energy Systems"

Read Lima's abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar. 

Lima is a professor at West Virginia University and is hosted by Rebecca Ong.

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

☕ RD Network Coffee Chat

Friday, September 12, 8:00–7:50 a.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, Library Cafe

This is a casual coffee hour ☕ on campus to chat about things on our plates, capture additional ideas for the RD Network, and have a little face-to-face time with each other. This event is open to those who support research development efforts across campus.

Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Friday, September 12, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT For centuries, humanity has been fascinated with the microscopic world. Through advancements in technology, visually investigating this hidden landscape has become increasingly possible. One of these devices, the Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope, allows us to see the microscopic surface of things more clearly than ever before. The Art Galleries at MTU’s Rozsa Center are proudly hosting a juried exhibition of photographs taken by the Hitachi SEM during its residency at Michigan Tech. Titled Nanowonder, this exhibition is truly collaborative and emphasizes how powerful the relationship between science and the arts can be. See beyond the surface of your stuff for free! The Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope will be on location at the gallery reception on Friday September 26, 5-7pm. The reception is free, open to all, and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome to bring a small (approx 1"x1"), dry, flat sample to be scanned by the microscope technicians. Support for this event provided by Hitachi, ACMAL (Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory) at Michigan Tech, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech Visual and Performing Arts Department, Michigan Tech Biomedical Engineering Department, Michigan Tech Materials Science and Engineering Department, and Michigan Tech College of Sciences and Arts. Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | September 12-November 7, 2025 RECEPTION | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. ADMISSION| Free and open to the public CONTENT GUIDANCE | none Plan your visit with information about parking, accessibility, and more. Rozsa Art Galleries are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed during academic recesses. Contact the Rozsa Box Office for more information. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Presenter Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations. The Michigan Tech Art Series offers dynamic programming that supports Michigan Tech students and our wider community. Part of the the annual Rozsa Season, the Michigan Tech Art, Music, and Theatre Series are presented by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Through these series, students from across campus, community members, and faculty create art that connects us to the world. With majors in audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and entertainment technology, and nine minors, the department fosters creativity, self-motivation, and the development of practical and artistic skills. Everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone. View all Michigan Tech Art Series Events. Related Events Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries September 12-November 7, 2025 Reception | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Artful Intersections: Fall Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries November 21-December 2, 2025 Reception | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Through the Quiet Hours: Night Sky Photography Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 16-23, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Women's Rights are Human Rights Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 30-March 28, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries April 10-14, 2026 Reception | Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Art Events. Plan Your Visit to the Rozsa Rozsa Box Office InformationAccessibility Services Find a Digital ProgramPlan your Parking​ Get Involved Volunteer to UsherDonate to Support the RozsaMeet Our DonorsGet Updates via Email View All Upcoming Events Personal Responsibility Statement Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. The Rozsa Center provides content guidance to alert audience members to common potentially sensitive or distressing material. Guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with each event in order to make informed decisions prior to attending an event. Views Expressed Statement The views, information, thoughts, or opinions expressed in this program or event are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Rozsa Center or Michigan Technological University. Effective Date: 2025/26.

Poster Sale

Friday, September 12, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | MUB Superior Room

MUB Board is hosting a poster sale, powered by Poster Invasion! Deck out your dorm and spice up your space with these exclusive artist prints! Find us on the bottom floor of the MUB, in the Superior Room. Sept. 8-12th 9-5 PM

A Process Systems Framework for Design, Optimization and Control of Modular Energy Systems

Friday, September 12, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Fernando Lima Professor West Virginia University Abstract This presentation will focus on the development of a process systems framework to enable the design and operations of modular energy systems. Specifically, a novel operability-based approach for process design and intensification of nonlinear energy processes will be introduced toward facilitating the realization of the concept of modular manufacturing. The developed operability methods are based on nonlinear optimization and computational geometry concepts and explore the nonlinear process mapping relationships between key input/design and output variables. To address the dimensionality challenge that may arise due to process complexity, the incorporation of bilevel and parallel programming approaches as well as machine learningbased methods into the classical process operability concepts will be discussed. For the operation of modular systems under uncertainties, the interface between the design and control tasks is analyzed. In particular, a dynamic operability mapping is developed to find a feasible region for advanced control applications. To perform the operability mapping computations, Opyrability, a Python-based opensource software package, is introduced. This package opens an avenue for collaborations between process systems engineering researchers and others in communities that would benefit from direct/inverse mapping calculations, such as in computational catalysis and materials science. The implementation of the framework to address modular system candidates will be presented, including a catalytic membrane reactor for direct methane aromatization and a cyber-physical power system part of the HYbrid PERformance (HYPER) project at National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Bio Dr. Fernando V. Lima joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at West Virginia University (WVU) in 2013. He has been promoted to Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in 2024. Dr. Lima is also Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He received his B.S. degree from the University of São Paulo and his Ph.D. from Tufts University, both in Chemical Engineering. Upon completion of his Ph.D., he was a Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Minnesota. His research interests are in the areas of process systems engineering, energy, and sustainability, including process design and intensification, advanced control and dynamic optimization, modular energy systems, and techno-economic and life cycle analyses. Among his awards are the Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from National Science Foundation (NSF-CAREER), the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS-PRF) Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) Award, and the WVU Statler College of Engineering Excellence in Research Awards (2). He is currently serving as 2023-2025 Director of the Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) Division of AIChE. Dr. Lima is a member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Process Control and is one of the Conference Chairs for FOCAPO/CPC 2027

Women's Volleyball vs Barry University

Friday, September 12, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | St. Cloud, MN

Women's Volleyball vs Barry University St. Cloud, MN

Cookies & Coloring

Friday, September 12, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | Alumni House

Take a break and unwind at Cookies and Coloring! Stop by the Alumni House basement on Friday, September 12th between 2-4pm for some free cookies and coloring! Enjoy tasty treats while you relax with some coloring—it’s a perfect way to de-stress and recharge.

Lipid Nanoparticles for Overcoming Biological Barriers to RNA Delivery

Friday, September 12, 3 p.m.–3 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 102

Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar Michael J. Mitchell, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania Abstract Recent years have witnessed tremendous developments and breakthroughs in the field of RNA-based therapeutics and vaccines. The distinct mechanisms of exogenous RNAs and analogs, including messenger RNAs, small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, and antisense oligonucleotides, have brought them unprecedented potential to treat a variety of pathological conditions. However, the widespread application of RNA therapeutics and vaccines is hampered by their intrinsic features (e.g., instability, large size, and dense negative charge) and formidable host barriers. Development of safe and efficient vectors is key for successful delivery and translation of RNA therapeutics and vaccines. In this talk, I will discuss our efforts towards the development of new lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that enable the delivery of RNA therapeutics and vaccines to target cells and tissues in vivo. Furthermore, I will describe new therapeutic strategies utilizing these LNPs for (i) mRNA delivery to solid tumors for cancer immunotherapy, and (ii) in vivo reprogramming of immune cells for in situ CAR T cell engineering. Bio Michael J. Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery Systems Group Leader at the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. He received a BE in Biomedical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2009, a PhD in Biomedical Engineering with Prof. Michael King from Cornell University in 2014. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Engineering with Prof. Robert Langer at MIT from 2014-2017, prior to pursuing his independent career at University of Pennsylvania in 2018. The Mitchell lab’s research broadly lies at the interface of biomaterials science, drug delivery, and cellular and molecular bioengineering to fundamentally understand and therapeutically target biological barriers. Specifically, his lab engineers new lipid and polymeric nanoparticle platforms for the delivery of different nucleic acid modalities to target cells and tissues across the body. His lab applies their research findings and the technologies developed to a range of human health applications, including the engineering of CAR T cells for cancer immunotherapy, mRNA vaccines, genome editing, cardiovascular disease, and in utero therapeutics to treat disease before birth. Mitchell has received numerous awards as an independent investigator, including the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award, the Rising Star Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Career Award at the Scientific Interface from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the Research Scholar Award from the American Cancer Society. In 2022 Mitchell was named “Emerging Inventor for the Year” by Penn’s for Innovation in recognition for his lipid nanoparticle technologies and received the Young Investigator Award from the Society for Biomaterials, the T. Nagai Award from the Controlled Release Society, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. In 2023 he was named a Young Innovator in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, and in 2024 he received the Controlled Release Society Young Investigator Award. He was named a Top 1% Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics, and received the Kabiller Rising Star Award from Northwestern University in 2025. He is a co-founder and serves on Scientific Advisory Board of numerous biotechnology companies focused on developing non-viral delivery technologies for genetic medicines, including Liberate Bio and Capstan Therapeutics.

Women's Volleyball at St. Cloud State

Friday, September 12, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | St. Cloud, MN

Women's Volleyball at St. Cloud State St. Cloud, MN