June 5, 2026

It was just another ordinary day at his desk for computer science PhD student Josh Dafoe. But everything changed when he heard that the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) results had been released. Dafoe, a researcher in cybersecurity expert Bo Chen’s Security and Privacy Lab, logged into the portal to find he had won the prestigious award, leaving him “surprised, grateful, and incredibly honored.”

“GRFP was one of the first NSF programs, indicating the importance of supporting early-career researchers. Being selected for this fellowship feels like a vote of confidence that my current and future research aims are worth supporting,” he said. “It both motivates and enables me to pursue more impactful research throughout my career.”   

Get an insider’s view of Chen’s lab, where the overall goal of the research is to safeguard people and their digital assets against malicious cyberthreats, find out how Dafoe was able to find a place there his very first year at Tech, and see how the NSF GRFP opens doors to deeper research opportunities — full story in the latest Computing News Blog.

Congratulations to College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Associate Professor Carsten Külheim on his paper being recognized as a top viewed article in the Journal of Systematics and Evolution, a premier journal dedicated to understanding biological diversity, published by John Wiley & Sons.

Külheim’s research, titled “Perianth evolution and implications for generic delimitation in the eucalypts (Myrtaceae), including the description of the new genus, Blakella” ranked within the top 10% of most-viewed papers published in the journal in 2024. The study used molecular methods developed by Külheim’s lab to simultaneously sequence 100s of molecular markers and identify relationships between 100s of species in the genus Eucalyptus.

The recognition highlights the impact and visibility of Külheim’s research within the molecular genetics community. We are proud to celebrate this outstanding achievement and the continued contributions of our faculty to advancing research and discovery.

The following 2026 fiscal year-end deadlines are coming up next Friday, June 12. Please refer to the Closing Schedules found on the Controller’s Office webpage for additional information.

Friday, June 12:

• General Fund and Non-General Fund Transfers
• • Questions? Contact kmmattil@mtu.edu or 906-487-1801
• Requests for Invoices to Accounts Receivable
  • Questions? Contact mtuar@mtu.edu or 906-487-2243

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

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

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

• GRA Stipend Rates (PDF)
• GRA Tuition Rates

Job Posting for Friday, June 5, 2026

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.

Merchandising Coordinator, Merchandising Operations.

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.

Anusha Kannan '24 '26 (M.S., Ph.D. Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors) is the co-author of an article published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 

The article is titled "In-vehicle multimodal alerts near active highway-rail grade crossings and their effects on driver behavior."

Additional co-authors include Elizabeth Veinott (PsyHF) and Pasi Lautala (CEGE/MTTI), as well as Gayoung Ban, Abhraneil Dam, and Myounghoon Jeon from Virginia Tech.

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about newly funded projects through the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). The article highlighted a Michigan Tech-led project to develop a continuous vector purification system aimed at increasing yield while reducing cost, labor and analytical complexity.

The Hockey News mentioned Michigan Tech hockey in a story ranking the best rivalries in college hockey. The Huskies’ rivalry with Northern Michigan University was ranked No. 9.

PR Newswire and 97 national outlets mentioned Michigan Tech alum Chris Fultz ’01 ’07 (B.S., M.S. Electrical Engineering) in stories about leadership changes at CMS Energy and Consumers Energy. Fultz was named senior vice president and president of electric supply at Consumers Energy.

The Daily Mining Gazette featured former Michigan Tech hockey forward Randy McKay ’89 in a story about a new children’s book he co-authored with his wife, Amy. The book, “Lessons on the Rink,” highlights themes of family, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Hamar House Demolition and Lot 14 Expansion

Michigan Tech will begin demolition of the Hamar House in early June. All building occupants have been relocated, and environmental abatement work has already been completed.

Following demolition, site work will begin to expand Parking Lot 14, adding 53 new parking spaces for faculty and staff. Lot 14 expansion is expected to be completed in August.

Once demolition begins, Transportation Services will temporarily close Lot 14 and will notify permit holders with detailed parking instructions. During construction, nearby academic buildings may experience unavoidable noise and vibrations from heavy equipment and demolition activities. Traffic flow around the area will also be temporarily affected.

Pedestrian access outside the immediate parking lot area is expected to remain largely unaffected. However, pedestrians are encouraged to please remain alert when traveling through or near construction zones, to respect barricades and to follow all posted safety instructions on signage.

If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact facilities@mtu.edu.

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Celebration of Life for Professor Roger Held

A celebration of life will be held in June for Roger Held, a beloved Michigan Tech professor, director, artist and friend who passed away last August. He was a retired faculty member and former chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

The celebration will take place at the Marsin Nature Area & Retreat, 52864 Red Brick Rd. in Houghton, at 2 p.m. tomorrow, June 6.

Please mark your calendars. Friends, colleagues and former students from the Michigan Tech community are invited to join us as we gather to honor the life of a man we truly cherish and miss every day.

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

Master's Defense: William Kennedy

Friday, June 5, 10–11 a.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Biological Sciences Advisor: Gordon Paterson A LANDSCAPE COMPARISON OF MERCURY BIOACCUMULATION AND STABLE ISOTOPES AMONG LAKE SUPERIOR SEA LAMPREY (PETROMYZON MARINUS) Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/88054632845

Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities: Community Glossy Buckthorn Removals at Swedetown Trails

Friday, June 5, 1:00–3:30 p.m. | Swedetown Trails Club Main Trailhead & Chalet

Join KISMA and the Swedetown Trails Club to volunteer in removing invasive glossy buckthorn that is impacting local forests and trail systems, while learning more about the health of the forest around you!