Q&A with College of Computing Dean Dennis Livesay

Increase enrollment. Promote diversity and inclusion. Grow the research portfolio. Michigan Technological University’s newly arrived College of Computing Dean Dennis Livesay shares present priorities and future goals.
In the midst of settling in and setting up — from his campus office to the large portions of his home dedicated to Lego, Livesay (pronounced Lev-eh-see), shares the journey that brought the inaugural Dave House Dean of the College of Computing to this point in life and career and the journey he expects current and incoming students will embark on as he guides the future of the College of Computing (CC).
“One of the things that has struck me the most during my time at Tech so far is the passion and dedication of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Everyone is dedicated to achieving the promise of the College of Computing, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of that,” he said. Read the full Q&A on Michigan Tech News.

Far-UVC Disinfector Robot A Promising, Safe Tool to Reduce Spread of Pathogens

In timely covid-related research, Nathir Rawashdeh, (AC), has developed a safe, intelligent Far-UVC mobile robot disinfector with the help of a seed grant from Michigan Tech alumnus Paul Williams ’61 EE.

“Continuous very low dose-rate Far-UVC light in indoor spaces is a promising and safe tool to reduce the spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases," Rawashdeh said. “And Far-UVC light has a been shown to be incapable of penetrating the outer dead-cell layer of human skin or the tear layer in the eye, so it’s not a human health hazard."

Rawashdeh is looking to develop this idea further and is searching for collaborators, such as those studying human-centered computing and intelligent algorithms. And he’s looking for public facilities interested in helping test the Paul-222 robot, including libraries, grocery stores, and health clinics.

Watch a video of the robot in action here. Read more about this promising avenue of product development on the College of Computing news blog.

MTU to Host Mobility Events with National, State and Regional Leaders

Mobility is a vast topic spanning multiple disciplines including engineering, computing, robotics, social sciences, humanities, and others. Looking forward, how can Michigan Tech contribute towards a future where Mobility is more sustainable, equitable, and best supports the well-being of our region and beyond?

To help us begin to answer these questions, we are hosting two virtual Mobility events, starting with a panel discussion at 3 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 6. This event will feature an exciting group of national leaders in mobility, transportation, community leadership, public policy, and economic development who will share their unique perspectives on Mobility.

National Mobility Panelists:

  • Doug Lynott, Director, Economic Development Integration (EDI), US EDA
  • Catherine Barrett, Chief Counsel, Legislative Director, Senator Gary Peters’ Office
  • Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan
  • Marlene Connor, Principal/Manager, Marlene Connor Associates, LLC
  • John Soyring, Investor and Retired IBM Senior Executive
  • John Norquist, former CEO of Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) and former mayor of Milwaukee

We hope you’ll join us as we initiate this important discussion and consider how national issues intersect with the unique challenges and opportunities of small cities and rural communities like those here in the Upper Peninsula. The goal is to make this event as interactive as possible and will feature an opportunity for participants to join the discussion during a live Q&A. This event is free to attend but registration is required and space is limited, so register today!

Our second panel discussion will be held one week later at 3 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 13. The discussion builds upon the first by bringing together a panel of community leaders and innovators from across the U.P. to discuss Mobility-related challenges and opportunities in our region. For more information and registration for both events, please visit http://www.mtu.edu/mobility.

MBA/MEM Information Session, April 8

There will be an MBA/MEM Information Session from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 via Zoom.

By blending business and technology, the Tech MBA® and the MEM degrees can accelerate your career path. Join the College of Business to learn more about opportunities in the Master's of Business Administration and Master’s of Engineering Management programs, including the one-year accelerated option, and ways to leverage Senior Rule.

Please join the Zoom Session (meeting ID 860 6469 5916) or contact the MBA/MEM ambassadors Austin Arenz or Ian Blair for further information.

Robin Wall Kimmerer to Present "Justice for the Land" Tonight

Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of "Braiding Sweetgrass" will speak at 7 p.m. tonight (March 30) via Zoom Webinar, as part of IPEC's "Justice in Transition" series.

Wall's presentation, "Justice for the Land" will address how the meaning of land colors our relationship to the natural world in ecology, economics, and ethics. Indigenous knowledge frameworks dramatically expand the conventional understanding of lands — from natural resources to relatives, from land rights to land responsibilities. We will consider what enacting justice for the land might look like, through restoration, reparations, and Rights of Nature.

Valoree Gagnon, Director of University-Indiginous Community Partnerships at the Great Lakes Research Center will host a discussion and Q&A with Kimmerer after her presentation.

To learn more about Kimmerer, click here.  To register for tonight's webinar presentation, click here. The "justice in Transition" virtual speaker series is presented by the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture partnered with the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and the Portage Lake District Library.

The series will run at 7 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday through April 15.

SRC-Squared April Event on Resilience

The Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability & Resilience invites you to the April meeting of the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Social network & Research Collaborative (SRC-Squared)!

The April SRC-Squared event will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 Zoom (call information below). The meeting will focus on “Resilience: What is it and how can we research it?”

At this, event, we will hear from several colleagues who are involved in a diverse range of research topics associated with resilience, including:

  • Dan Dowden (CEE)
  • David Watkins, (CEE)
  • Yousef Darestani (CEE)
  • Chris Webster (CFRES)
  • Rob Handler (ChE)
  • Ana Dyreson (ME-EM)
  • Richelle Winkler (SS)

Join us and come prepared to ask questions and share your ideas about resilience and how to research it. If you have questions or would like to be added to the calendar invitation, please contact Chelsea Schelly, 

SRC-Squared April Event:

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android, or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 876 9923.

Meeting ID: 895 2740 3143.

Zero Shades of Gray Tomorrow

Join us for the perfect blend of education and empowerment for Title IX compliance and sexual assault prevention in the event "Zero Shades of Gray" at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (March 31) via Zoom.

"Zero Shades of Gray" helps students understand that this isn’t a victim problem, it’s a problem on all levels. Check out more on the Zero Shades of Gray website.

There will be a Michigan Tech counselor, a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team from Dial Help, and an advocate from the Barbra Kettle Women's Shelter available for resources after the event.

This event is open to anyone to attend and is sponsored by Late Night Programming, Residence Education and Housing Services, Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Title IX, Order of Omega, Public Safety and Police Service Sexual Assault Response Team, and SAVE.

We hope to see you and your friends there! This will be an empowering start to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For other events and resources, please check out the Title IX website.

NIH Proposal to Improve Existing GPU Computing Capabilities for Health Related Research

The Center of Biocomputing and Digital Health is cordially inviting investigators to join a Zoom discussion session for a potential NIH instrumentation proposal aiming at improving the existing GPU computing capabilities, particularly, for health-related research.

The Zoom meeting is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. today (March 30). Please join through this link.

The NIH funding mechanism is known as S10. If you have questions, please feel free to contact JJ Jiang (BioMed) or Jinshan Tang (COC).

Nordic Skiers Honored for Academics

The Nordic ski teams had 18 Huskies named to the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association (USCSCA) All-Academic Team.

The list of Huskies includes every member of the men's team. The teams combined for a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average with 10 skiers earning 4.0s during the fall semester.

To qualify for the award, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA. In 2021 because membership in the three conferences spans all divisions in the NCAA and not all institutions competed in winter sports due to the pandemic, the normal requirement of participation in one of three NCAA Regional competitions was waived.  

  • Patrick Acton, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Josh Albrecht, Mechanical Engineering
  • Brad Baas, Mechanical Engineering
  • Johanna Craig, Business
  • Mitch DeLong, Management
  • Reid Goble, Biological Sciences
  • Tres Green, Accounting
  • Cedric Keller, Management Information Systems
  • Olivia Laven, Engineering Management
  • Aleksi Leino, Mechatronics
  • Anabel Needham, Environmental Engineering
  • Mark Ousdigian, Mechanical Engineering
  • Skylar Patten, Engineering Management
  • Somer Schrock, Mechanical Engineering
  • Henriette Semb, Engineering Management
  • Henry Snider, Mechanical Engineering
  • Aiden Truettner, Chemical Engineering
  • Adam Witkowski, Economics

A record 428 student-athletes from 28 institutions that compete in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association, the Central Collegiate Ski Association and the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association were named to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team Tuesday by the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association.

Tech Providing Free Stream of Boy’s Basketball Regional Semifinal

Michigan Tech Athletics and Recreation have partnered with Auto Pro Glass and Tire to provide a free video stream of today's MHSAA Region 25 semifinal boy's basketball game between Chassell and Bessemer.

 

Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. at the SDC Gym.

 

Visit Michigan Tech's Huskies Live portal or click here for a direct link to the game.

Job Posting

Job Postings for Tuesday, March 30, 2021  

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available in Human Resources. For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.  

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted. 

Administrative Aide 8, Center for Educational Outreach. UAW internal and external posting 3/30/21 – 4/5/21. External applications will only be reviewed after internal applications. Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.   Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

In the News

Michigan Tech's UP and Moving program in the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, was featured in the story "MTU among 153 campuses honored worldwide," in the Marquette Mining Journal.

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A clip from the KIP radio podcast "Obesity, lack of activity contributing to COVID-19," was featured in a story on The Keweenaw Report.

Reminders

Fill Out the COVID-19 Symptom Tracking Form Before Coming to Campus

If you are working on campus while the University is at Health Safety Level Three, remember that no one is permitted to come to campus with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Employees are required to monitor their symptoms daily before coming to campus. The Daily Symptom Tracking Form is a short form that will help you determine if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

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Biomedical Engineering Seminar Tomorrow

There will be a Biomedical Engineering Seminar at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 31 via Zoom (Passcode: 227381). Zhengwei Li, will present "Emerging Bioinspired Systems: From Biomimetic 3D Curvy Electronics to Biohybrid Living Machines." Li is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University.

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Feminists Reading Feminists Tonight

Join us for the 12th annual Feminists Reading Feminists event hosted by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), the Humanities Department, and the Women's Leadership Council (WLC). Help us pay homage to the contributions of diverse feminist scholars and activists who have inspired us and continue to shape our evolving world. The event will be held at 6 p.m. today (March 30) via Zoom.

We encourage you to sign up through our Google Form ahead of time (or submit a video/picture through the Google Form if you cannot attend) and at our virtual event via Zoom, be prepared to share a chosen passage from your favorite text, your favorite video/audio clip, or simply participate by listening and engaging with those that are sharing. Read the full Tech Today story.

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2020 Flexible Spending Account Claims Deadline is Tomorrow

The deadline for employees to submit claims for their 2020 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is tomorrow (March 31). Health care and Dependent care claims during the 2020 calendar year are eligible if the date of service was in 2020. Any money remaining in the account after this date is forfeited per IRS regulations.

The claim form can be found at FSA Claims. Dependent care claims require an invoice or receipt from the provider. All medical, dental and optical claims should be processed through your insurance plans before submitting them to your health care reimbursement account.

Attach the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or a claim summary from your insurance plan to the claim form when submitting a claim. For expenses not processed through insurance, submit the itemized receipt.

Due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, you can use your FSA funds to buy over-the-counter medications without a prescription.

For questions, contact Benefit Services or call 7-2517.

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Biological Sciences Seminar Today

There will be a Biological Sciences Seminar from 1 to 2 p.m. today (March 30) via Zoom (password: 279942

Lihua Ye will present "How Do Bacteria Regulate 'Gut Tasting?'" Ye is a Research Associate Senior in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Duke University -School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.”

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This Week in the Lode

Featured this week in the Michigan Tech Lode:

News

Pulse

Opinion

Tech

Check out our website to see past articles and more.

 

Today's Campus Events

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

DENALI: Artists Respond to Music Inspired by Wilderness

Friday, Jan. 22 - Saturday, April 17. Art and music inspired by Alaska's wild places. This gallery exhibit features new musical compositions and works created in response to...

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Bio. Sci. Seminar - Dr. Ye

Here is the link to see the recorded seminar of Dr. Ye Link:...

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CTL Instructional Award for Large Classroom Teaching: Kette Thomas

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 3:30PM https://mtu.libcal.com/event/7587582

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How to Help a Friend Workshop

Want to learn how to be a 'better' friend? Are you the person people always turn to for advice? Are you dealing with friends who have mental health issues, lots of drama, or...

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Youth Huskies Group Tennis Lessons Spring Session 2

Youth Huskies Group Tennis Lessons are now being offered all spring. The second session is 6 weeks, February 23 - April 3. Options for participating 1 or 2 days a week. Our...

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Diverse Dialogues: 12th Annual Feminists Reading Feminists

12th Annual Feminist Reading Feminists Join us for the 12th annual Feminists Reading Feminists event hosted by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) and the Humanities...

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UP and Moving - High Intensity Interval Training "HIIT"

Michigan Tech students in the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology are offering an "UP and Moving" initiative for campus and community members. UP and Moving...

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Adult Huskies Swim Clinic Spring Session 3

Adult Huskies Swim Clinic provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

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Robin Wall Kimmerer: "Justice for the Land"

The Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture is presenting "Justice in Transition," a virtual speaker series in March and April. Robin Wall Kimmerer will speak on Tuesday,...

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NIH Instrument Proposal Discussion

NIH Proposal to Improve Existing GPU Computing Capabilities for Health Related Research The Center of Biocomputing and Digital Health is cordially inviting investigators to...

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Open Log Rolling

Looking for something new to stay active? Sign up now for the OAP Open Log Rolling and test your skills on the log! Instruction and materials provided. We will be in the...

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DENALI: Music and Art Inspired by Wilderness

What do you get when you set nine composers loose in Denali National Park? You get nine great pieces of music! Give this music to artists as inspiration and you get eighteen...

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Info Session #2: CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program

An exciting scholarship opportunity has been announced for Michigan Tech students who wish to pursue cybersecurity-related degrees and work for government agencies after...