October 24, 2025

Michigan Tech’s Center for Educational Outreach is excited to announce our annual Planning and Paying for College Conference. This free community event provides high school students and their families with information about how to navigate college admissions, financial aid processes, the selection of a “right fit” college, and more. The event will take place on Nov. 12 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Memorial Union Building on Michigan Tech’s campus.

We are currently seeking presenters to share their expertise at the conference. Our format will be 25-minute concurrent sessions on topics related to the following:

• College selection and admissions processes
• Effective application strategies
• Financial aid, scholarships and budgeting for college
• Time management and study skills for college success
• Navigating campus resources and seeking support services
• The transition to college and student life
• Special opportunities (such as internships, co-ops and study abroad)
• Stories of success, especially for first-generation college students

If you are interested in presenting, please submit a proposal for your topic by next Friday, Oct. 31, via our Proposal Submission Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to trio@mtu.edu.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our local youth in their educational journey!

The Commencement Team is seeking volunteers for Michigan Tech’s 2025 Midyear Commencement ceremony on Dec. 13. We need volunteers to help with pre-ceremony setup, serve as greeters and ushers, help coordinate graduate check-in, assist guests with special seating accommodations, and assist with bag checking and ticketing. More information regarding the ceremony can be found on the Commencement website.

Please sign up by Dec. 5 if you would like to volunteer. Contact Tiffany Jaeger at tiffanyj@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

This special event cannot happen without the help of our amazing Michigan Tech community!

Join the Michigan Tech campus community on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 2-4 p.m. in front of the Hamar House for the annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® event sponsored by registered student organization Sexual Assault & Violence Education (SAVE), Greek Life, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and the Title IX Awareness Committee.

This event wraps up October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A table with community and campus resources will be staffed outside of the Hamar House, where you'll have the opportunity to walk from the Hamar House to the Alumni Gateway Arch in a pair of heeled shoes. There is an old saying: "You can't understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes."

Since 2001, men, women and their families around the world have joined award-winning Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence.

This event is an opportunity to raise awareness in our community about the serious causes, effects and remediations to sexualized violence.

Please join us for coffee, tea and snacks at our second Genomic Technologies Themed Coffee Hour sponsored by the Ecosystem Science Center and the Great Lakes Research Center. The coffee hour will be held in the U. J. Noblet Forestry Building Atrium on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m.

All students, staff and faculty with an interest in genomic technologies and their applications are welcome! This is a great opportunity to socialize with colleagues across centers, institutes and colleges. We hope to see you there!

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Stephen Raiman, assistant professor, University of Michigan, today, Oct. 24, 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.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is pleased to invite you to attend two presentations given by Rachel Chaphalkar today, Oct. 24, as part of our Careers in Mathematics Seminar Series. Feel free to join us for either session — or both! Refreshments will be provided.

• Session 1: Workshop on Creating Job Application Materials
  Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. in Fisher 325
  
  The academic job market is tough! Not only do you have to apply for many positions all over the country, but there are also tons of documents you need to provide and a long interview process. In this talk, you’ll get ideas about how to make your CV, cover letter, teaching statement and research statement stand out in the tough market, especially for a teaching-focused institution. We’ll also talk about what happens when you land your campus interview and the things departments and committees are looking for but aren’t saying.
  
  
• Session 2: Careers In Mathematics Seminar
  Friday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. in Rekhi G005
  
  Do you enjoy your college classes? Are you wondering how to become an instructor at a college? Are you ever curious as to what other job responsibilities your instructors have? In this talk, Chaphalkar will share details about her path from an undergraduate mathematics major at MTU to becoming department chair at a four-year institution. The seminar will include many ideas regarding how to get involved as an undergraduate to set yourself up for this type of position as well as other typical requirements.

Michigan Tech’s Center for Artificial Intelligence, part of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems, will present the fourth MTU Artificial Intelligence Colloquium of the fall 2025 semester on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at noon in EERC 315.

Steven Senczyszyn, research engineer at the Great Lakes Research Center and Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, will be presenting "RL-STPA: Adapting System-Theoretic Hazard Analysis for Safety-Critical Reinforcement Learning."

Food and refreshments will be provided.

From the abstract:
As reinforcement learning (RL) deployments expand into safety-critical domains, existing evaluation methods fail to systematically identify hazards arising from the black-box nature of neural network enabled policies and distributional shift between training and deployment. This paper introduces Reinforcement Learning System-Theoretic Process Analysis (RL-STPA), a framework that adapts conventional STPA's systematic hazard analysis to address RL's unique challenges through three key contributions: hierarchical subtask decomposition using both temporal phase analysis and domain expertise to capture emergent behaviors, coverage-guided perturbation testing that explores the sensitivity of state-action spaces, and iterative checkpoints that feed identified hazards back into training through reward shaping and curriculum design. We demonstrate RL-STPA in the safety-critical test case of autonomous drone navigation and landing, revealing potential loss scenarios that can be missed by standard RL evaluations. The proposed framework provides practitioners with a toolkit for systematic hazard analysis, quantitative metrics for safety coverage assessment, and actionable guidelines for establishing operational safety bounds. While RL-STPA cannot provide formal guarantees for arbitrary neural policies, it offers a practical methodology for systematically evaluating and improving RL safety and robustness in safety-critical applications where exhaustive verification methods remain intractable.

Job Postings for Friday, Oct. 24, 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.

Maintenance Coordinator, Facilities Management.

Food Service Helper – First Shift (12 months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Oct. 24 to Oct. 30, 2025. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Administrative Aide (12 months, 40 hours), Sponsored Programs Office. (​UAW posting dates are Oct. 24 to Oct. 30, 2025. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​UAW posting dates.)

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.

eVTOL Insights, Newberry News and Vertical Magazine quoted Colin Brooks (MTRI) in stories about a new public-private partnership launching a drone operations center in Chippewa County. The Michigan Tech Research Institute will lead data analytics and performance evaluation for the project, which aims to advance near-border drone-based mobility solutions and airspace management.

*****

IEEE Spectrum quoted Yun Hang Hu (MSE/ChE) in a story about unconventional materials used to create supercapacitors, including his team’s recent work with plastic water bottles. Hu noted the potential for commercialization once collection and processing challenges are addressed. The story was picked up by AOL.

*****

TheStreet and 30 national outlets quoted Yu Cai (AC/CS/ICC) in stories about Disney and Hulu facing a higher rate of subscription cancellations. Cai commented on the role of price as a key factor in streaming subscription decisions.

*****

The Daily Mining Gazette quoted Kent Cyr (VPA) in a story about Michigan Tech Theatre’s Haunted Smelter event, “Descent into Madness.” Located at Quincy Smelting Works this year, the event is part of an annual collaboration between MTU, the Quincy Mine Hoist Association and the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission.

*****

My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech’s Young Americans for Freedom student organization in a story about their third annual military care package drive, which runs through Nov. 14.

*****

Traverse City’s Ticker mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center’s presence at the 2025 OCEANS Conference, noting Tech as one of the center’s key partners.

*****

WLUC TV6 and My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about the GLIAC preseason men’s basketball coaches poll, which placed the Huskies first for the 2025-26 season.

New Guidelines for Use and Storage of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Research

Michigan Tech has an increasing portfolio of research on or with stand-alone lithium-ion batteries and/or using research devices with larger-scale lithium-ion batteries. While these batteries offer unique research opportunities and exceptional energy storage capabilities, they also present unique safety challenges that require special handling protocols. Because of these challenges, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has collaborated with Research Integrity's Lab Inspections team to develop guidance on conducting this research safely.

Researchers conducting research on or with stand-alone lithium-ion batteries and/or using research devices with larger-scale lithium-ion batteries are directed to guidance in the form of a safety fact sheet for all research involving lithium-ion batteries. Go to Research Integrity Policies and Procedures and expand the “Other Policies and Procedures” drop-down to find the Lithium-Ion Batteries in Research Fact Sheet PDF.

These guidelines apply across all campus and University-owned properties and associated events where research using research device lithium-ion batteries is conducted and/or research on or with stand-alone lithium-ion batteries or battery packs is used, handled, charged, maintained, stored or collected for disposal.

Unlike traditional batteries, lithium-ion batteries can experience thermal runaway — a condition where the battery generates heat faster than it can dissipate it. This can lead to fire, explosion or the release of toxic gases. The risk increases when batteries are damaged, overcharged, exposed to extreme temperatures or manufactured with defects.

Research environments present additional challenges because experimental setups often involve custom configurations, modified charging protocols, or research device lithium-ion batteries and stand-alone battery packs operating outside typical consumer applications. These conditions can amplify existing risks or create new hazards that require careful evaluation.

Notable Safety Requirements
The new guidelines establish several non-negotiable safety requirements for research using research device lithium-ion batteries and/or research on or with stand-alone lithium-ion batteries or battery packs:

• Unattended Charging Policy: It is University policy that no research devices, stand-alone lithium-ion batteries, or battery packs be charged unattended in a vacant room. Exceptions can be granted after discussion and agreement with the Lab Inspections team, which can be contacted at labinspections@mtu.edu.

• Documentation and Planning: Before beginning battery-related research, investigators must obtain and review the battery manufacturer's safety data sheet, technical specification sheets, and/or other documents available. All safety data sheets must be uploaded to the University's SDS database. Additionally, researchers must perform a job hazard analysis to understand the various failure modes and hazards associated with their proposed configuration and develop written standard operating procedures that include methods to safely mitigate possible battery failures.

• Proper Disposal and Storage: At the conclusion of testing, battery assemblies must be disposed of properly or left in a safe condition for storage. Damaged or leaking batteries require special handling through the hazardous waste management program, while batteries that have reached the "end of life" or are no longer in service can be disposed of through the Facilities Battery Recycling program.

Best Practices for Safe Research
Beyond the mandatory requirements, the guidelines emphasize several best practices that can significantly reduce risks:

• Researchers should always follow manufacturer recommendations for charging, storage and usage parameters. Custom charging protocols or operating conditions outside manufacturer specifications require additional safety measures and risk assessment.

• Physical protection is equally important. Research device lithium-ion batteries and stand-alone battery packs should be shielded from physical damage, extreme temperatures and moisture. Research setups should include safeguards to prevent short circuits and provide adequate ventilation.

• Fire safety considerations are critical. Lithium-ion battery fires require specialized suppression methods, and researchers should ensure appropriate fire extinguishers are available and maintained in their work areas.

Support and Resources
For questions about implementing these guidelines or to request assistance with safety planning for your battery-related research, contact the EHS team at ehs-help@mtu.edu. Additional resources and the complete guidelines are available on the Research Integrity website under “Other Policies and Procedures.”

For researchers currently working with research device lithium-ion batteries or stand-alone lithium-ion battery packs, now is an excellent time to review existing practices against these new guidelines. Those planning future research should incorporate these safety requirements into their project planning from the beginning.

*****

CISR Research Discussion with Wei Wei

The Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) invites you to join us for a CISR Research Discussion with Wei Wei (MAE) on “Advanced Materials for Energy and Aerospace Applications” on Monday, Oct. 27, at noon in GLRC 201/202 and on Zoom.

Join the Discussion on Zoom.

Wei is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Technological University. Her research interests include advanced materials synthesizing, renewable energy conversion devices, photocatalytic processes for H2 generation, additive manufacturing, and mechanical properties of composite materials.

Advanced materials play critical roles in the development of energy devices and space applications. In this talk, Wei will discuss and highlight the efforts in her research group to develop novel materials for sustainable energy and space manufacturing, including 1) the design and synthesis of 2D nanomaterials and their applications for perovskite solar cells and other energy devices; and 2) additive manufacturing of high-temperature materials for aerospace applications.

Add the Discussion to Your Calendar.

We look forward to seeing you there!

*****

Banner Maintenance on Sunday

A Banner production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• apps.mtu.edu
• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• Aspire
• Course Tools
• Degreeworks
• Experience
• Fischer/mylogin.mtu.edu
• mtu.edu/tips
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• Papercut Printing
• Perceptive Content (Imagenow)
• Pinnacle
• Sunapsis
• Timeclock Plus
• TechTracks
• Titanium
• Prism
• MSSQL servers
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

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

*****

Volunteers Needed for 41 North Film Festival!

Be a part of the action and volunteer with 41 North Film Festival as we celebrate our 11th anniversary! This year’s festival will take place Nov. 6-9, and we need your help to make it happen! We welcome film enthusiasts, members of the campus community and local area residents. Individuals and groups are invited to join us as volunteers.

Our volunteers help us keep 41 North free and open to the public and are an integral part of the festival. Volunteers may assist with welcoming festival attendees, ushering, and answering general questions. Help is needed for all four days of the festival; volunteer for one film or for the whole festival — it’s up to you! Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt as a thank-you. We look forward to having you on our team!

What will I do when volunteering at 41N?
As a volunteer usher, you play a critical role in creating a joyful experience at arts events. With Rozsa and 41N leadership, you and fellow ushers work together to greet guests, admit folks into the theatre, assist with seating and wayfinding, connect guests to venue accommodations, and support effective crowdflow and emergency procedures. Usher roles will be decided on as a team at the beginning of your volunteer shift.

Will I do this alone or with other people?
Each show will have a 41 North volunteer coordinator, front of house lead, and six to eight volunteer ushers, so you will never be alone! You are always welcome to put together a group — friends, family or people from an organization — and enjoy the shared experience of bringing a production to life.

What do I wear and bring?
Wear clothes and shoes that you’re comfortable in! Please make sure they are free from stains and tears. Layers are encouraged. 41N volunteers will be provided with a smock and apron to wear during your shift(s). You are welcome to bring a water bottle, and we encourage you to leave valuables at home.

How do I prepare for the event?
No experience is needed. All the training you need will take place the day of the show, before guests arrive. Ensure you arrive at or before the shift start time, and check in with the volunteer coordinator in the Rozsa Lobby for a brief orientation.

The 41 North Film Festival spans four days and showcases award-winning independent films and filmmakers from around the region, country and world. Its mission is to provide Michigan Tech students and the surrounding community with an opportunity to critically engage films that are currently in distribution and under discussion, as well as the chance to interact with filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals about the art and business of cinematic storytelling.

Visit the volunteer registration page on GivePulse and search for 41N to sign up for individual volunteer shifts. Questions can be directed to our volunteer coordinator, Allison Neely, at alneely@mtu.edu or by phone at 906-487-2816.

*****

ChE Seminar Series with Caymen Novak

Caymen Novak will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series today, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 211 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Seminar on Zoom.

Novak will present "Fibrosis in 3D: Engineering Mechanobiological Models of Disease"

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

Caymen is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and is hosted by Maria Gencoglu.

*****

2025 MTU 3MT Competition – Cash Prizes Doubled!

The 2025 MTU Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition will take place on Nov. 4. The 3MT competition is open to all MTU graduate students, as it challenges you to present your research to a general audience within three minutes. Graduate Student Government invites you again to present your work at this exciting event.

Increased Prize Money
Great news! Cash prizes have doubled! The winner and runner-up will now receive cash prizes of $600 and $400, respectively, while the People’s Choice award winner selected by the event’s audience will be given a cash prize of $200. In addition, the winner of the local Michigan Tech competition will earn the opportunity to present at the regional 3MT competition.

Register for Three Minute Thesis. The deadline for registration is Thursday, Oct. 30.

For more information on the competition, please send an email to gsg-research@mtu.edu.

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

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

Friday, October 24, 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.

*****

PhD Defense: Grace Dykstra

Friday, October 24, 9–9 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Advisor: Yixin Liu Engineering Electrochemical Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Next-Generation Biosensing Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/89958349979?jst=2

*****

Career Workshop

Friday, October 24, 10–10 a.m. | Fisher Hall, 325

We are pleased to have Dr. Rachel Chaphalkar, PhD, as a speaker for a Career in Mathematics Workshop. Please join us on Friday, October 24 at 10AM in Fisher Hall 325. Dr. Chaphalkar is the Chair and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

*****

Fibrosis in 3D: Engineering Mechanobiological Models of Disease

Friday, October 24, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Caymen Novak Assistant Professor University of Michigan Dearborn Abstract Mechanical forces are essential regulators of cellular function, yet their influence on disease development is often overlooked. External forces are transmitted through the extracellular matrix (ECM), where resident cells sense, respond, and adapt to mechanical stimuli. The ECM not only provides structural proteins and attachment points, but its composition and architecture critically shape cell behavior. Importantly, both mechanical cues and sex as a biological variable influence disease susceptibility and outcomes, yet these factors are often understudied in traditional models. To fully understand how disease progresses, physiological in vitro systems are needed that can accurately reproduce dynamic mechanical stimulation and capture the combined impact of cellular, matrix, and sex-specific factors. My lab investigates the mechanobiological microenvironments of fibrosis with an emphasis on how the ECM and sex-based biology shape cellular and immune interactions. Using custom bioreactor designs and advanced 3D culture systems, our work examines the development and progression of fibrosis within the lung microenvironment and extends these principles to tumor models. Technical expertise in ECM characterization, 3D microenvironment construction, and mechanotransduction analyses allows us to connect physical cues to functional fibroblast and immune cell phenotypes. By integrating these approaches, our research identifies mechanisms by which dynamic stimuli and sex differences influence disease trajectories, while also revealing opportunities to reprogram maladaptive cellular responses. Bio Dr. Caymen Novak received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oakland University and her master’s and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Her postdoctoral research took place at The Ohio State University in the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Novak’s research focus on the mechanical microenvironment of fibrosis and how it influences the cell-cell interactions between stromal and immune components. Utilizing bioreactor designs and 3D model systems her lab studies the development and progression of fibrosis within the pulmonary and tumor microenvironments with a specific focus on sex as a biological variable. Dr. Novak’s technical expertise include: characterization and construction of 3D microenvironments, bioreactor design, pulmonary and tumor cell culture and mechanotransduction investigations. She is a recipient of the F32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award, the Momental Foundation Mistletoe Fellowship, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Marian Sarah Parker Prize, and the Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement.

*****

RTC Research Forum: Language and Artificial Understanding, Ronald Klingler

Friday, October 24, 12 p.m.–12 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, Petersen Library

Join us for our October edition of the RTC Research Forum! Ronald Klingler will be presenting "Language and Artificial Understanding: Stress Tests for the Uniqueness of Human Intelligence" at on Friday, October 24 at 12pm in the Petersen Library. Full Abstract: This essay concerns contributions made by David Braine in Language and Human Understanding (2014) and their bearing on contemporary discussions of artificial intelligence. The first is his proposal that human linguistic capacity has the shape of sense as understood by James J Gibson, where senses must be understood in their relation to the organism as a whole, and that organism must be understood in relation to its environment. The second is his understanding of Wilhelm von Humboldt’s famous line that "language makes infinite use of finite means,” where he takes the infinity to mean indefinite, contrary to the more common recursive interpretation. These contribute to a third regarding malleability and the brain, where its plasticity reaches such an extent that pragmatics and semantics begin to determine, rather than be determined by, neurological structures. Braine takes this malleability to be distinctively human. From the view of 2014, he argued “it will still never be possible for the statements of linguistic science to enable one to calculate or compute the linguistically public significance or sense of the utterances we make” (149). Here I assume Braine’s three contributions, but put pressure on his proposition of computational-impossibility in light of the advances in artificial intelligence in the years since. From the view of today, Braine’s account of malleability reads as anticipatory of LLMs. I argue that the primary intuition-pump he uses to explain malleability cannot differentiate what’s distinctly human from contemporary machine learning attempts. I question whether it matters whether the significance is computable, or if probabilistic attempts can approximate said significance to an arbitrary degree; I argue Braine’s view can defend against this. I also consider advancements in embodied and multimodal reasoning, and whether they can imitate the environmentally oriented nature of speech in Braine’s proposal; I consider this the strongest possibility for defending the uniqueness of language.

*****

Career in Mathematics Seminar Series

Friday, October 24, 1 p.m.–1 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, G005

We are pleased to have Dr. Rachel Chaphalkar, PhD, as a speaker in our Career in Mathematics Seminar Series. Please join us on Friday, October 24 at 1PM in Rekhi Hall G005. Dr. Chaphalkar is the Chair and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Title: Teaching-Focused University Instructor Abstract: Do you enjoy your college classes? Are you wondering how to become an instructor at a college? Are you ever curious as to what other job responsibilities your instructors have? In this talk, I’ll share about my path from an undergraduate mathematics major at MTU to becoming department chair at a four-year institution. I’ll share many ideas of how you can get involved as an undergraduate to set yourself up for this type of position, and other typical requirements.

*****

Women's Soccer at Ferris State

Friday, October 24, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. | Big Rapids, Mich.

Women's Soccer at Ferris State Big Rapids, Mich.

*****

Women's Volleyball vs Wayne State

Friday, October 24, 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Houghton, MI

Women's Volleyball vs Wayne State Houghton, MI

*****

Cultural Dance Night

Friday, October 24, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | MUB Ballroom

Join for a fun night of dancing and embracing the cultural communities here at Tech! Come learn some of the popular dances from around the world, and feel free to teach any dance moves you may have in your culture as well. Refreshments will be provided, so bring your friends to this night of fun or come make some new ones. We hope to see you there!

*****

Haunted Smelter: Descent Into Madness - Michigan Tech Theatre

Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. | Quincy Smelting Works, Quincy Smelter

MICHIGAN TECH THEATRE SERIES EVENT Michigan Tech Theatre creates entertainment events for the Keweenaw, sharing the creative and scholarly work of students and faculty from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Each fall Michigan Tech Visual and Performing Arts Department partners with the Quincy Mine Hoist Association and the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission to create a haunted experience for all ages. Things to know DATE | Thursday-Saturday, October 23-25, 2025 TIME | Thursday - Friday 7-10:30 p.m. & Saturday 6-10:30 p.m. with tours starting approx. every 15 mins. LOCATION | Quincy Smelting Works - 48991 Maple St, Hancock, MI 49930 EST. RUN TIME | 25 minute walk-through tours SEATING | General Admission PUBLIC TICKETS | Tickets will be available through the Quincy Mine Hoist Association at quincymine.com CONTENT GUIDANCE | Children under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees should expect a few steps, uneven ground, flashing lights, and jump scares. Close-toed shoes and warm clothes are recommended. A hard hat is required and provided. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Theatre Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Performers Meet the cast, creative team, and production team in the event's digital program. Programs are published at least one day prior to the event. About the Presenter Michigan Tech Theatre creates live entertainment events for the Keweenaw, sharing the creative and scholarly work of students and faculty from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Performances range from traditional stage plays and musicals–performed in the McArdle Theatre or on the Rozsa stage–to haunted houses, interactive museum displays, and fashion shows. 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 Theatre Series Events. Related Events Haunted Mine - Michigan Tech Theatre Thursday-Saturday, October 23-25, 2025 | 7 p.m. Men on Boats - Michigan Tech Theatre Tuesday-Friday, November 18-21, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. Proof - Michigan Tech Theatre Thursday-Saturday, February 19-21, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. Museum Explorations - Michigan Tech Theatre Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11, 2026 | TBA time Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Theatre 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.

*****

Men's Ice Hockey vs Ferris State

Friday, October 24, 7:07 p.m.–9:07 p.m. | Houghton, MI

Men's Ice Hockey vs Ferris State Houghton, MI

*****

Backstage Jazz: Big Bands and B-Sides - Michigan Tech Jazz

Friday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Backstage

MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC SERIES EVENT Friday: Join the R&D Big Band for a night of fresh, fun big band jazz, directed by legendary Michigan Tech Professor Emeritus Mike Irish. JazTec, Michigan Tech’s top small jazz group, and the Video Game Music Ensemble, a student-led ensemble dedicated to arranging and performing music from popular video games, open the concert. Saturday: Join the Jazz Lab Band for an exciting night of big band compositions by Pontiac, Michigan-born trumpeter, composer, and arranger Thad Jones. Directed by Drew Kilpela, Lab Band will perform Jones’ classic arrangements for his own group, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, alongside seldom heard selections from his time in the Count Basie orchestra, arrangements he wrote for trumpeter Harry James in 1963, and a daring vocal arrangement of the standard “Bye Bye Blackbird” written for R&B singer Ruth Brown. Workshop Brass Band kicks off the night with high-energy New Orleans brass band music. (Earplugs and dancing shoes recommended!) Things to know DATE | Friday-Saturday, October 24-25, 2025 TIME | 7:30 p.m. each night LOCATION | Rozsa Backstage EST. RUN TIME | Approx. 90 mins. with intermission SEATING | General Admission PUBLIC TICKETS | Pay As You're Able Tickets ($20 Full Fee) What is Pay As You're Able? MICHIGAN TECH STUDENT RUSH TICKETS | Request from the Rozsa Box Office in advance or walk up What is Student Rush? CONTENT GUIDANCE | Loud music. Earplugs available by request. Rozsa Lobby is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Seating begins a half hour prior to the event start time. View Rozsa Box Office Hours. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Music Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Performers Michigan Tech Jazz, led by Director Jazz Studies Adam Meckler and Drew Kilpela, brings the Keweenaw a wide range of jazz experiences performed by students, local performers, and national names. Its diverse ensembles transform the Rozsa backstage into an intimate jazz club and blow off the roof with the annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Festival. Meet the performers, creative team, and production team in the event's digital program. Programs are published at least one day prior to the event. About the Presenter The Michigan Tech Music Series unites students, faculty, and community members for a vibrant season of live music in the Keweenaw. Enjoy the commanding Keweenaw Symphony and experience Michigan Tech Jazz as it transforms the Rozsa and McArdle Theatre into Orchestra, stirring Michigan Tech Choirs, and inventive New Music events. Feel the dynamic energy of the Superior Wind Symphony, Campus Concert Band, and iconic Huskies Pep Band, intimate jazz clubs. 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 Music Series Events. Related Events Backstage Jazz: Small Groups - Michigan Tech Jazz Saturday-Sunday, January 24-25, 2026 | 7:30 and 3 p.m. Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Celebration - Michigan Tech Jazz Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 6 p.m. Don Keranen Jazz Festival - Michigan Tech Jazz Friday-Saturday, March 27-28, 2026 | 7:30 and 10 p.m. Workshop Brass Band Gospel Service - Michigan Tech Jazz Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 3 p.m. Video Game Music Ensemble Concert - Michigan Tech Jazz Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Music 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 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.

*****

Telescope Viewing

Friday, October 24, 8:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | EERC 508

This weekend, the Optics and Photonics Society at MTU is excited to be working with the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society of Sturgeon Bay, WI to bring you a Telescope Viewing Event from the comfort of campus! Join us for a night of astronomical wonders as we explore galaxies, nebulas, and more. We look forward to seeing you there! Sign up Here: https://forms.gle/LrPo3jo3PRt25jpp6 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/ZA6eyfqR