September 23, 2020

High-brightness dyes developed by Michigan Tech researchers and StabiLux Biosciences, a Michigan-based health tech business founded by MTU faculty, offer the promise of greatly improving COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing methods. Their research was recently awarded a National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer (NSF STTR) Phase I grant.

“The primary goal of technology transfer is to achieve societal benefit from discoveries made by researchers,” said Jim Baker, associate vice president for research administration. “This recent support from NSF to investigate applications of our technology to address COVID-19 is a great example of the potential public benefit achieved through the commercialization of Michigan Tech research outcomes.”

Read the full story on mtu.edu/news.

Staff Council is honoring staff members who have reached a five-year anniversary of service to the University. Please join us in celebrating the employees in your department who have reached a milestone.

A big “THANK YOU” for your service and commitment to Michigan Tech to the staff members who will be honored for reaching a 5-year anniversary date this fiscal year.

Like most things on campus, Staff Service Awards will look a little different this year. Employees will receive their certificate and award in the coming weeks and the luncheon is planned for the summer of 2021 when we hope to celebrate safely in person.

Please be on the lookout for an invitation at that time. Refer any questions regarding this event to Laurie Stark or call 7-1081.

We are conducting a study to better understand how a 24-hour water-only fast influences blood pressure, heart rate, cerebral blood flow, and nerve activity. You are eligible to participate if you :

• Are between 18-40 years old
• Are not taking oral contraceptives
• are not pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Have not been diagnosed with diabetes, a respiratory illness, or hypertension
• Are not taking prescription stimulants or depressants 
• Able to not eat for 24 hours

There is monetary compensation for participation. Please send an email to set-up a brief zoom orientation. 

Interlibrary loan patrons may experience delays in receiving books and media ordered through MeLCat and Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Many libraries are not yet providing full interlibrary loan services, resulting in longer processing times and, in some cases, request cancellations for items with limited library holdings.

Quarantine periods have also been implemented for materials to allow for safer handling, and delays with some delivery services may also impact delivery times. As libraries continue to reopen their physical interlibrary loan services we anticipate returning to our normal service levels.

Thank you for your patience. Please contact ill@mtu.edu with any questions.

An in-depth look at the many facets of the COVID-19 pandemic will be presented every Thursday evening on the U.P. COVID-19 Town Hall Series.

Organized by the Health Research Institute at Michigan Tech, the 60-minute town hall broadcasts can be heard at 7 p.m. each Thursday through Dec. 3 on 97.7 The Wolf (WOLV-FM) and viewed through a Zoom Webinar.

Over the course of the series, moderated by Steven Elmer and Kelly Kamm (HRI/KIP), clinicians, public health officials, researchers and community experts will discuss a range of pandemic-related issues.

The Town Hall this Thursday (Sept. 24), will focus on "COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Vaccines.” Elmer and Kamm will be joined by Cecile Piret (Math), Dr. Zachariah DeYoung (Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center), Madelyn Morley (CDC Foundation) and Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI).

More information along with the Zoom link for the Town Hall Series can be found here. 

Seth Yanik from Fidelity is offering retirement counseling sessions via phone on the following days:

• Thursday, Oct. 1
• Monday, Oct. 5
• Wednesday, Oct. 21

To schedule an appointment with Fidelity, book online or call 800-642-7131.

Do you have questions about graduate school? Join Civil & Environmental Engineering faculty and graduate students as well as the MTU Graduate School in a virtual Grad. Info Night.

It will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 via Zoom. on Wednesday, October 7 at 6 pm via Zoom.

Learn about why to consider graduate school, the accelerated and online MS program, application process, financial aid, and much more. This event is sponsored by Chi Epsilon, The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the MTU Graduate school.

The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Student Chapter at Michigan Technological University has been selected as the 2020 AIPG Student Chapter of the Year.

Each year, AIPG recognizes the most outstanding student chapter for their activities, achievements, and contributions to the Institute. The award letter states, “the Student Chapter at Michigan Tech stood out among the AIPG Student Chapters in the nation this past year, and are highly deserving of this distinction and honor.”

The current chapter officers are:

• Elana Barth, President (Geology)
• Breeanne Huesdens, Vice President (Geological Engineering)
• Emilie Pray, Treasurer (Geology)
• Makala O'Donnell, Secretary (Geological Engineering)

The president and vice-president during the year of the award were Dustin Helmer (Geological Engineering) and Sienna Meekhof (Geology).

The charter, which has more than 50 members is advised by Chad Deering (GMES) and Michigan Tech Alumnus David Adler '82 BS geology, a Mannik Smith Group Certified Professional Geologist.

The next biological sciences seminar will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 24). This seminar and all biological sciences seminars will be virtual via Zoom and will be recorded.

Robert Larson (BioSci), will present "Targeting Cardiac Sensory and Sympathetic Nerves in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy,"

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disease and results in cardiac hypertrophy, myocyte disarray, fibrosis, and increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden death. Humans with HCM exhibit increased cardiac sympathetic tone in the absence of heart failure; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. To address this question, Larson and his team utilized a transgenic mouse model with cardiac-specific expression of mutated alpha-tropomyosin (Glu180Gly) known to cause HCM in humans. Specific aims of this study were to characterize cardiovascular and autonomic phenotypes, and explore the mechanisms contributing to increased cardiac sympathetic tone in HCM mice.

The results show that conscious HCM mice have a cardiac-specific increase in sympathetic drive, similar to humans with HCM. In addition, the researchers demonstrate that enhanced activity of chemosensitive cardiac afferent nerves and reduced activity of the neuronal norepinephrine transporter in efferent cardiac sympathetic nerves both contribute to a selective increase in cardiac sympathetic tone in HCM mice. 

The KIP Fall Seminar Series will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday (Sept. 25) via Zoom. The seminar is titled "Pushing the Limits of the Human Body to Explore the Moon, Mars and Beyond."

KIP faculty and students will present:

• How space affects the human body and what do we do about it
• Overall health, diet, sleep and exercise

Sit back, listen and learn as we celebrate Apollo's 50th Anniversary. 

Job Postings for Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available in Human Resources. For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Office Assistant 5 (12 months/ 40 hours/ 1st Shift) two positions, Human Resources. UAW Posting 9/23/2020 - 9/29/2020. External applicants will not be reviewed until after all internal applicants. 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 an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

The story "Michigan Tech Moves 'Involvement Zone' Event to Campus," by Daily Mining Gazette writer Garrett Neese, continues to be picked up by media outlets nationwide, including U.S. News and World Report, Conservative Review and the Derrick.com.

The story involves the "Involvement Zone," the virtual K-Day event to introduce students to the many registered student organizations on campus.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned in the article "Michigan tourism businesses worry about cold weather and COVID spikes," on CBS News, and MSN.

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

A reminder that no one is permitted to come to campus with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. All 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. 

 In addition, all visitors must fill out the Visitor Symptom Tracking Form each day before coming on campus. 

Bruce Lee (BioMed) and graduate student Pegah Kord Forooshani co-authored "Hydroxyl Radical Generation Through the Fenton-Like Reaction of Hematin- and Catechol-Functionalized Microgels," published in Chemistry of Materials.

This paper demonstrated that the adhesive molecule found in mussel adhesive proteins can be utilized to engineer portable biomaterials for antiviral and antimicrobial applications.

Students from the labs of Rupak Rajachar (BioMed), Caryn Heldt (ChE) and Lei Pan (ChE) also contributed to this publication.

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

2020 Fall Career Fair "Forged by Nucor" 

Wednesday, September 23, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Join us for the Fall 2020 Virtual Career Fair “Forged by Nucor”! Career Services has arranged for over 230 employers waiting to speak with you virtually on the Career Fair...

Study abroad with ISA

Wednesday, September 23, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Ready to explore the world? Learn about your study abroad options with International Studies Abroad (ISA), how to take the next step and find the program that's right for...

Stress Less Workshop

Wednesday, September 23, 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

Ready to lower anxiety and depression? Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices, this 4-week structured workshop will teach you skills to grow...

Husky Hour- Self-Care

Wednesday, September 23, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Learn ways and techniques to indulge in self-care even during the busiest times of the semester. Husky Hour presents "Self-Care" to make sure you remember to treat...

Study abroad with ISA

Wednesday, September 23, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Ready to explore the world? Learn about your study abroad options with International Studies Abroad (ISA), how to take the next step and find the program that's right for...

Virtual Study Abroad 101

Wednesday, September 23, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Attend a virtual Study Abroad 101, hosted by study abroad professionals, to learn where you can study abroad, how to make it happen, and how to fund it. You will also learn...

Hemlock Semiconductor Info Session

Wednesday, September 23, 5 p.m.–6 p.m.

Drop into our group room in the Career Fair Plus app from 5 pm to 6 pm on the 23rd to learn more about opportunities at Hemlock Semiconductor.

Introduction to Design Thinking

Wednesday, September 23, 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Teamwork and the design thinking process move you from an opportunity statement to an innovative idea. Developed at the Stanford d.school, design thinking is a tool to help...

USG Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, September 23, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | Online

It's the best time of the week! Our weekly meetings are open to all guests so everyone is more than welcome to stop on by. Whether you're there to bring us a...