November 11, 2021

The Graduate School at Michigan Tech has just become an AmeriCorps' School of National Service. 

Schools of National Service recognize that individuals who serve in AmeriCorps bring tremendous value to higher education and other post-secondary experiences. The partnership benefits both post-secondary institutions and the AmeriCorps alumni they enroll. 

AmeriCorps alumni are a valuable asset to the academic community. The Schools of National Service program seeks to reward students who choose to serve by incentivizing and providing benefits for their education. In return, institutions receive community-minded students who are trained in leadership and driven to make a difference in the world.

Michigan Tech is proud to count among its graduate student body a number of students who have contributed extraordinary service to the United States through AmeriCorps. These students add much to the culture of Michigan Tech through their strong values and commitment to service. 

For info on aid available to AmeriCorps alumni through the Graduate School at Michigan Tech, visit MTU’s School of National Service profile on the AmeriCorps website.

Caleb Grulke, an engineering management major in the Michigan Tech College of Business, is the No. 1-ranked Army ROTC cadet in the nation.

As battalion commander of the 1st Arctic Warriors Battalion of the Michigan Tech Army ROTC, Cadet Lt. Col. Grulke credits the multidisciplinary nature of his major — business blended with engineering — and the guidance of his cadre for the opportunity. “The lessons I’m learning in the College of Business apply to every task at hand, even military tasks,” says Grulke, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

This year, 3,762 ROTC cadets from 260 ROTC programs were selected to be assessed for active duty in the U.S. Army. Grulke’s 4.0 GPA, superb performance at summer training, participation in extracurricular activities and leadership ability were factors contributing to his ranking.

Read the complete story on the College of Business Newsblog.

This weekend, you are invited to McArdle Theatre for Michigan Tech's first play in 18 months and to the Rozsa for a world premiere:

• The Arsonists — Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.
  McArdle Theatre in Walker Arts and Humanities Center
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  Firebugs have been setting homes aflame. Will businessman Biedermann be prepared for the cunning arsonists at his door? This dark political satire, written in the 1950s about the spread of communism, is reimagined in modern times by director Kristy Dodson.
  Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for youth. Michigan Tech students can attend for free and bring a friend with the Experience Tech Fee.
  
  
• Anchorage World Premiere — Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
  James and Margaret Black Performance Hall in the Rozsa
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  Inspired by the spectacular wilderness of the Keweenaw, a New York choreographer and London composer created this unique performance exploring the things that make us feel anchored and whole in our lives.
  Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Michigan Tech students can attend for free and bring a friend with the Experience Tech Fee.

Note: Face coverings are required for volunteers, staff and audience members at these events. Please visit the Rozsa COVID-19 Policies for the most up-to-date information.

Tickets are available by phone at 906-487-2073, online and in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex. The Rozsa Box Office will also be open for ticket purchases two hours prior to performances.

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering candidate Gita Deonarain (ME-EM) will present their master's defense tomorrow (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m. in the R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), Room 1021.

Deonarain's defense is titled "Defect Detection Using Dynamic Analysis for AM Parts."

M.S. candidate Tessa Steenwinkel (BioSci) will present their master's defense tomorrow (Nov. 12) at 9:30 a.m. This virtual defense will be presented online only. Attendance is invited via Zoom. 

Steenwinkel's defense is titled "The Effect of Nutrition on Longevity and Fertility in Diverse Drosophila: A TOR-Mediated Process."

From the abstract:
Nutrition and growth are strongly linked, but not much is known about how nutrition leads to growth. To understand the connection between nutrition through diet, growth and/or proliferation, we need to study the phenotypes resulting from the activation and inhibition of central metabolic pathways. Here I use the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (D. mel.) and three non-model Drosophila species with different dietary needs, Drosophila guttifera (D. gut.), Drosophila deflecta (D. def.), and Drosophila tripunctata (D. tri.), to study the effects of dietary amino acid availability in these diverse flies on fecundity and longevity. In addition, I inhibited the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway to test how inhibition interplays with the nutritional stimuli in these four fruit fly species. 

Junqiao Qiu (CS) will present a Computer Science department lecture next Friday (Nov. 19) at 3 p.m. in Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall (Rekhi), Room 214.

Qiu's research focuses on parallel computing, programming systems, and compiler optimization. The title of the talk is "Unleashing the Power of Parallelism: Extracting Fine-grained SIMD Parallelism from Data-intensive Computations."

Read the abstract on the Computing News Blog. 

The next speaker in the Biological Seminar Series will be Meghan Duffy, who will present today (Nov. 11) from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom.

Duffy's presentation is titled "Interactions between Daphnia parasites: effects of arrival order, spore dose, and host age."

From the abstract:
Most populations host multiple parasites. These co-occurring parasites interact within individual hosts and at the host population scale. This has consequences for host and parasite fitness, as well as for community-level host-parasite dynamics. A current challenge is to uncover the mechanisms driving these interactions between parasites, which will allow us to understand and predict the dynamics of host-multiparasite systems. In this talk, I will present the results of studies on Daphnia and two of their common parasites in which we considered three factors that can influence interactions between parasites.

As graduate students, managing finances is important and oftentimes difficult. We are delighted to bring you guest speaker Mike Kolasa, certified financial planner and advisor and vice president of the Marquette Trust and Investment Service Office, for an informative seminar on financial management today (Nov. 11) from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), Room 112.

Kolasa opened the Marquette Trust and Investment Service Office in 2012 and has 24 years of financial and legal experience. As a longtime resident of the Marquette area, his primary focus is on financial, tax and estate planning, as well as account investment management for clients in Upper Michigan and beyond.

Please register to attend.

Topics covered during the seminar will include:

• Managing cash flow
• Negotiating your job contract
• Renting or buying
• Retirement planning
• Ensuring life options

Questions are welcome, and we hope to see you there!

Having trouble deciding when you need to cite a source? Not quite sure whether you should quote that paper you're reading or summarize it? Join us for a discussion and advice on avoiding plagiarism and citing your sources.

This workshop will be held today (Nov. 11) from 2-2:30 p.m. in the Van Pelt and Opie Library, Room 244, and is open to all faculty, staff, students and community members.

Please register to attend.

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will be held jointly with the Department of Chemistry at 3 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 15) in the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), Room 202.

Diana S. Aga, the Henry Woodburn Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, will present "Lessons Learned from Two Decades of Research on Uncovering Emerging Contaminants and their Ecological Impacts."

All are welcome.

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

This afternoon (Nov. 11), the MTU Pharma Initiative Seminar Series will feature a talk by Longqin Hu of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Hu's talk, titled "Small Molecule Approaches to the Inhibition of Protein-Protein Interactions and the Prevention of Kidney Stone Formation," begins at 4 p.m. on Zoom.

From the abstract:
Our laboratory is interested in the discovery and development of small molecule probes and drug leads for disease prevention and treatment through a combination of screening, structure-based drug design, organic synthesis, and various lead optimization approaches. In the first part of the seminar, I will focus on the small molecule approaches we are taking to discover inhibitors of protein-protein interactions (PPI), specifically Keap1-Nrf2 PPI and PD-1/PD-L1 PPI. ... In the second part of the seminar, I will discuss an approach we use to discover crystallization inhibitors for the prevention of kidney stone formation, specifically in cystinuria patients.

Michigan Tech women's basketball was selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division in the league's preseason coaches' poll.

The Huskies begin the regular season as defending GLIAC North Division and conference tournament champions with three returning starters, including GLIAC Player of the Year Ellie Mackay.

The team opens the regular season with a pair of games in the Northern Michigan Invitational this week. The Huskies play Lewis University on Saturday (Nov. 13) at 11 a.m. and take on William Jewell Sunday, (Nov. 14) at noon.

Read more and find ways to tune in at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

In their preseason poll, GLIAC coaches selected Michigan Tech men's basketball to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this season.

The Huskies begin the regular season as defending North Division champions with four of five starters returning, including CoSIDA All-American combo guard Owen White.

The team opens with a pair of games in the Lewis Tournament at Neil Carey Arena this week. The Huskies play McKendree tomorrow (Nov. 12) at 7 p.m. and tip off against Lewis on Saturday (Nov. 13) at 4 p.m.

Read more and find ways to tune in at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech soccer team fell 2-1 to Northern Michigan in the GLIAC quarterfinals on Tuesday (Nov. 9).

With the loss, the Huskies fall to a 12-7 record for the season. 

"Our team gave everything that they had and they played their hearts out. We just fell a little short," coach Turk Ozturk said. "We are disappointed, but we will see if there is a shot to get in the NCAA tournament."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

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

Assistant, Associate or Senior Research Scientist or Research Engineer, Great Lakes Research Center. Apply online.

Coordinator – Student Transition and Success, Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success. Apply online.

Public Relations Specialist, University Marketing and Communications. Apply online.

Food Service Helper (nine months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #21304, Dining Services (AFSCME posting Nov. 11 to Nov. 17, 2021 — internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). 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.

Face Coverings Required Indoors on Campus

While Michigan Tech is at Health and Safety Level Two, face coverings must be worn indoors. This applies to all students, employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Michigan Tech strongly recommends that all employees and students continue with handwashing and hand-sanitizing practices, especially in light of the virulence of the COVID-19 delta variant. Please be aware that if you are exposed to COVID-19, quarantine guidelines vary depending on vaccination status. 

In Level Two, students and employees are not required to monitor their symptoms daily prior to coming to campus. But, individuals should be mindful of their own symptoms. A useful monitoring tool is available from the CDC. 

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On-Demand COVID-19 Testing Available on Campus

Walk-in, on-demand COVID-19 testing is available to Michigan Tech students and employees during the fall 2021 semester.

Testing is located in the Datolite Room at the MUB on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

Read more COVID-19 Testing Information on the MTU Flex website.

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Human-Centered Computing Research Expo is Today

The Institute of Computing and Cybersystems' (ICC's) Human-Centered Computing (HCC) research group is hosting its fourth annual HCC Research Expo today (Nov. 11) in conjunction with World Usability Day 2021.

Presented by the ICC and the HCC research group, the expo showcases the interdisciplinary HCC research happening across campus and provides a forum for Michigan Tech students to explore HCC research opportunities, tour labs and engage in virtual discussions.

A keynote lecture from cybersecurity expert Rick Wash of Michigan State University will take place at 2 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is titled "How People Detect Phishing Messages: Using Email in the Presence of Adversaries."

An expert on the human aspects of cybersecurity, Wash is an associate professor in the Department of Media and Information at MSU.

Join the virtual keynote lecture.

Also during the day-long event, participants can visit VR-Huskies, an exciting virtual social platform that leverages 360-degree panorama technology. Projects, brief research talks and lab tours will be available on demand for attendees to browse at leisure.

Read more on the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems Blog.

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Physics Colloquium

Moritz Linkmann of the University of Edinburgh will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium.

Please join the presentation today (Nov. 11) at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

Read the abstract and Linkmann's bio at the University Events Calendar.

Register in advance to attend this colloquium. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

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This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu for Thursday (Nov. 11):

Chicken Chilindron (Gluten Free)
Tortilla Espanola aka Spanish Omelet (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)
Spanish Rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Classic Spanish Chickpea Salad (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Catalan Tomato Bread (Vegetarian)

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today (Nov. 11) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge, Room 107. All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created by executive chef Eric Karvonen and prepared by Karvonen and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $12 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office, Room 101. You can submit C-Cubed feedback using this Google form. To join the C-Cubed Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

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Advocates and Allies Workshops

Two workshops offered this week at Michigan Tech will explore the impact of gender and race on female faculty members' experiences and encourage and equip male faculty members to serve as effective allies for gender and racial equity in university settings.

The workshops will be held in MUB Ballrooms A and B, and both have two sessions available to accommodate your busy schedules: today (Nov. 11) from 10 a.m. to noon; and tomorrow (Nov. 12) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 

• Gender and Higher Education: Exploring Women’s Experiences — Led by Christi McGeorge (Human Development and Education, North Dakota State University).
  This workshop explores the impact of gender and race on women faculty members’ experiences of university campus climate. Through small group activities, a review of the existing research and large group discussions, this session will seek to shift the dialogue from individual problems and solutions experienced by women faculty to seeking to acknowledge and identify institutional challenges and solutions related to gender and racial inequity in higher education.
  Please note: This workshop is for those who identify as women, nonbinary, and other gender. RSVP to attend. 
  
  
• Men Allies for Gender and Racial Equity — Led by Roger Green (Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Dakota State University) and Robert Gordon (Psychology, Auburn University), who have conducted ally workshops at universities throughout the country since 2009.
  This workshop is a two-hour interactive workshop that encourages and equips men to serve as effective allies for gender and racial equity in university settings. The workshop is structured as an interactive conversation with opportunities to learn, ask questions and practice skills through scenario-based exercises.
  Please note: This workshop is for individuals who identify as cisgender men. RSVP to attend.

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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker

The next ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker presentation will be held at 4 p.m. today (Nov. 11) in Fisher Hall, Room 135, or via Zoom.

At this seminar, Amitabh Narain will present "A Combined Active and Passive Enhanced Micro-nucleation Flow- boiling Approach that Enables Development of New Science and its Applications."

Narain is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Tech.

Please register to attend. In the registration questionnaire, the "student enrolled in MEEM 6000 in Fall 2021" option is intended for students enrolled in MEEM 6000. The "visitor" option is for all other internal and external attendees.

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

HCC Research Expo 2021

Thursday, November 11, 8:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m.

The ICC’s Human-Centered Computing group (HCC) will host its 4th annual HCC Research Expo, November 11, 2021, in conjunction with World Usability Day 2021. Presented by the...

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The Misinformation Edition Exhibition

Thursday, November 11, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Glass Room: Misinformation Edition explores how social media and the web have changed the way we read information and react to it. It exposes new types of influencers, the new...

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UP & Moving Aerobic Exercise, Agility, and Balance Workout

Thursday, November 11, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

We are a group of Michigan Tech graduate students who are focused on improving the health of our community. We are contributing to the COVID-19 response by providing health...

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Gender and Higher Education: Exploring Women’s Experiences

Thursday, November 11, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom A1

You are invited to attend a session that explores the impact of gender on women faculty members’ experiences of university campus climate. Through small group activities, a...

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Men Allies for Gender Equity

Thursday, November 11, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

You are invited to attend a two-hour interactive workshop that encourages and equips men to serve as effective allies for gender equity in university settings. The workshop is...

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Folding of the American Flag

Thursday, November 11, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Walker Lawn

Come learn from some of Michigan Tech's Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets how to properly fold the American flag

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Avoiding Plagerism Workshop

Thursday, November 11, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, LIBR 244

Having trouble deciding when you need to cite a source? Not quite sure whether you should quote that paper you're reading or summarize it? Join us for a discussion and advice...

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HCC Speaker Series: Rick Wash, Michigan State

Thursday, November 11, 2 p.m.

Dr. Rick Wash, Michigan State University, will present a keynote lecture on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., via Zoom online meeting. An expert on the human aspects...

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ICC Human-Centered Computing Keynote Lecture: Dr. Rick Wash

Thursday, November 11, 2 p.m.

Dr. Rick Wash, Michigan State University, will present a keynote lecture on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., via Zoom online meeting. An expert on the human aspects...

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Biological Science Seminar Series - Dr. Meghan Duffy

Thursday, November 11, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

Dr. Meghan Duffy Professor University of Michigan Interactions between Daphnia parasites: effects of arrival order, spore dose, and host age. Abstract: Most...

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A Combined Active and Passive Enhanced Micro-nucleation Flow- boiling Approach that Enables Development of New Science and its Applications

Thursday, November 11, 4 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 135

ME-EM Virtual Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Prof. Amitabh Narain , PhD Michigan Technological University Abstract High heat-flux cooling advantages of...

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Physics Colloquium - Dr. Moritz Linkmann

Thursday, November 11, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Dr. Moritz Linkmann of University of Edinburgh will be presenting at this week's physics colloquium. Please join the presentation on Thursday, November 11th at 4:00pm via...

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Stress Less Workshop

Thursday, November 11, 4 p.m.–5 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 mindfulness. ...

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Open Rock Climbing

Thursday, November 11, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multipurpose Room Climbing Wall

All ages (we can allow all ages to climb as long as we have the proper fitting equipment). No need to sign up, just stop by the Climbing Wall between 6 and 8 pm Monday through...

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Summer Youth Programs Hiring Information Session 1

Thursday, November 11, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Alumni Lounge

Spend a summer in Houghton and get paid!! Each year Summer Youth Programs (SYP) employs approximately 60 students (undergraduate and graduate) to help run our Summer Youth...

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Celebrating Our Veterans

Thursday, November 11, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | Fisher 135

Come and celebrate our veterans during freedom week. Retired US Air Force Sergeant John M Weirauch Retired US Army Captain Michelle Kovachich Retired US Army Sergeant First...

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Range Day

Thursday, November 11, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | SDC Shooting Range

Students are allowed to come down to the range to either use their own firearms or the firearms provided by the club.

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The Arsonists

Thursday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. | McArdle Theatre

View Digitally Published Program. Firebugs have been setting homes aflame. Will businessman Biedermann be prepared for the cunning arsonists at his door? Director Kristy...