December 2, 2021

Michigan Tech alum Nelson Sommerfeldt ‘04 (ME-EM) returned to Tech as a visiting scholar to find out if solar heat pumps are a viable winter heating method in colder U.S. climates. He teamed up with Tech’s solar photovoltaic experts on the project — and the researchers have published two new studies that show how heating without gas or propane is good for the environment, and the Upper Peninsula’s wallet.

Learn more about the research — and why you should save the propane for your grill — at Michigan Tech News.

Editor's note: This series of Unscripted guest blogs highlights the pandemic's impact on campus community members.

The pandemic’s impacts on our campus research ecosystem are many and varied. In her guest blog, librarian Annelise Doll shares a tool that the pandemic made available.

"I work as a scholarly communications librarian at the Van Pelt and Opie Library and I am the repository administrator for Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech, the University’s institutional repository," writes Doll. "The repository exists as a way to highlight the incredible research happening at Michigan Tech and increase access to the University community’s scholarly output. During the pandemic, I was able to alpha test and fully implement a crucial new feature of the repository in a way I’m not sure would have been possible under normal circumstances."

Read Doll's guest blog on Unscripted, the University research blog.

Michigan Tech employees (including student employees) who have not yet submitted proof of vaccination in order to comply with the federal contractor vaccination mandate, please be aware that the federal government has changed the date by which you must be in compliance. The new compliance date is Jan. 18, which is later than the Jan. 4 date previously communicated.

Information on how to submit proof of vaccination or apply for an exception is available on the Vaccination for Federal Contractors web page on the MTU Flex website.

Financial Services and Operations will not be processing payments from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2.

If payments will be needed during this time, please submit check requests to Accounts Payable by Dec. 15.

Registration for Michigan Tech’s Spring 2022 Career Fair and CareerFEST Days has launched! To best accommodate students and our corporate partners for the upcoming recruiting season, we will be offering a hybrid approach, hosting an assortment of both in-person and virtual events.

Next semester, the Spring Career Fair will be hosted virtually on CareerFair Plus from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 16. Additionally, CareerFEST Days will return for in-person recruitment opportunities, hosted at the Memorial Union Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb. 7.

Students can begin registering for time slots to meet with company representatives on Feb. 11 on Career Fair Plus. We encourage our first-year students to check out the group meetings at the fair, which are similar to company information sessions.

In preparation for our hybrid recruiting season, Career Services will be hosting a number of prep workshops for students, advisors and employers throughout January and February. More details will be sent soon via Handshake and email.

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host speaker Joel Suss, assistant professor of psychology at Wichita State University, at the next Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors forum.

The presentation, titled "Trials and tribulations of doing research with police agencies,” will be held from 2-3 p.m. Monday (Dec. 6) via Zoom only.

Suss will present stories and insights of his research from a National Institute of Justice grant about police decision making.

Michigan Tech women's basketball was ranked No. 23 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II National Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Tech grabbed a pair of wins at Northern State's Dakotah Bank Classic last weekend.

The Huskies are 5-1 overall and begin play in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) on Saturday (Dec. 4) at Northwood.

Following their GLIAC opener, they'll face Northern Michigan on Monday (Dec. 6) at 5:30 p.m. in the SDC Gym.

See the full season schedule at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Tickets for the 56th Great Lakes Invitational are now available through the University of Michigan ticket office and Michigan State University box office.

Michigan Tech will play at Yost Ice Arena against the Wolverines on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. The Huskies then head over to Munn Ice Arena on Dec. 30 to play the Spartans. A game time at MSU has not yet been set.

Tickets at Yost Ice Arena are $30 each, plus a $5 service charge per order. To purchase tickets in a Michigan Tech block of seats, use promo code MTU.

Tickets at Munn Ice Arena are $25 for reserved chair-back seats and $20 for bench seats.

See the full season schedule at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech opens up its Nordic ski season this weekend (Dec. 4-5) at the Grand Avenue Nordic Center in Duluth, Minnesota, as part of the Duluth SuperTour.

Husky skiers will compete in freestyle individual sprints on Saturday and 5K and 10K distance races on Sunday.

Saturday will be the sprint races, with the men going at 9:30 a.m. CT with the women to follow. Quarterfinal races will begin at noon. Sunday will be the distance races with the women racing in the 5K at 10 a.m. CT and the men racing in the 10K at 12:30 p.m.

"Our biggest goal for the team this weekend is to learn how to race fast," coach Tom Monahan Smith said. "It's great to allow the student-athletes to go through their different routines for pre-race warmups, setting their strategies for how they want to execute their pacing during the race, and having to make tactical adaptations during the race."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Thursday, Dec. 2, 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. 

Research Engineer / Scientist I – Radar Research Scientist, Michigan Tech Research Institute. Apply online.

Research Engineer / Scientist I – Statistical Signal Processing, Michigan Tech Research Institute. Apply online.

General Manager and Senior Golf Professional, Portage Lake Golf Course. Apply online.

Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office. Apply online.

Parking Enforcement Agent, Transportation Services. 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. Regular testing hours are 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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MS Defense: Collin Diedrich, BioSci

M.S. candidate Collin Diedrich (BioSci) will present his master's defense at 3 p.m. today (Dec. 2) in the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building (Dow), Room 743. Virtual attendance is also invited via Zoom. 

Diedrich's defense is titled "Spatial and Temporal Comparison of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Boardman River."

From the abstract:
Dam removal is a critical part of river and stream remediation projects around the world. Frequently dams are associated with impoundment ponds containing sediments that can act as a sink of various persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can pose risks for human and aquatic wildlife. In this study, we deployed semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) at multiple locations along a 25-mile stretch of the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan to passively sample POP concentrations in this area that has recently undergone dam and impoundment pond sediment removal. 

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MS Defense: Isaac Bigcraft, BioSci

M.S. candidate Isaac Bigcraft (BioSci) will present his master's defense at 10 a.m. today (Dec. 2). This virtual defense will be held online only. Virtual attendance is invited via Zoom. 

Bigcraft's defense is titled "From Thermal Springs to Subway Benches: Exploring the Diversity of Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenases Through Metagenomes, Phylogenetics, and Machine Learning."

From the abstract:
Carbon monoxide is well known as a toxic gas but can also be an important input and intermediary for microbial metabolisms. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODHs) serve as key enzyme complexes for a variety of microbial carbon monoxide (CO) utilization pathways. Despite the flexibility of CODH enzymes, the use of carbon monoxide is generally believed to be a fringe metabolism. In this study we expanded the known diversity, distribution, and phylogeny of CODH catalytic subunit proteins by searching an expansive dataset of over 50,000 metagenome assembled genomes. We additionally constructed a machine learning model to extract functional predictions and information using a sequence-only approach.

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COVID-19 Community Town Hall

Join us tonight (Dec. 2) from 7-8 p.m. for the COVID-19 Community Town Hall. Town Hall moderators Steven Elmer and Kelly Kamm (HRI/KIP) will be joined by several guests who will provide information on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, vaccines and boosters, mental health and well-being, historical and future impacts, and general health recommendations.

Organized by the Health Research Institute at Michigan Tech, the 60-minute town hall broadcast can be heard live at 7 p.m. on local radio station 97.7 The Wolf (WOLV-FM) and viewed through a Zoom webinar and Facebook Live. The town hall can also be viewed on ABC 10 on Sunday (Dec. 5) at noon.

For more information, past broadcasts and webinar links, visit the COVID-19 Town Hall Series website.

Guests will include:

1. Dr. Timothy LaBonte, UP Health System-Portage
2. Jessica Bessner and Anna Kempke, Aspirus and UP Health System-Portage
3. Siddharth Chandra, Michigan State University
4. Dr. Jason Bombard, Aspirus
5. Elise Bur, Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health

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This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Menu for Thursday (Dec. 2):

• Chicken Korma (Gluten Free)
• Vegetable Korma (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Basmati Rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Flat Bread (Vegetarian)
• Roasted Masala Cauliflower (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Cabbage Raita (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today (Dec. 2) 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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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker

The next Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar will be held at 4 p.m. today (Dec. 2) in Fisher Hall, Room 135.

Hoda Hatoum (BioMed) will present “Future Valve Designs to Mitigate Valve Thrombosis: Lessons from flow dynamics.”

Hatoum's research focuses on structural heart biomechanics, patient-specific cardiovascular model development and in-vitro testing, prosthetic heart valve engineering, structure function relationships of the heart in health and disease at the pediatric and adult stages, and turbulence in blood flow in relation to blood damage.

Hatoum obtained her B.S. in mechanical engineering from the American University of Beirut and her Ph.D. from Ohio State University.

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New Ski Movie: 'The Stomping Grounds'

The MTU Alpine Ski Club presents a new movie from Matchstick Productions: "The Stomping Grounds."

The movie will be shown Dec. 11 in the MUB. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 (cash only).

There will be door prizes and swag for attendees!

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Health & Society Film Discussions

Students in Introduction to Sociology are hosting virtual film discussions focusing on health and society. We welcome the MTU and broader community to participate! Watch the film on your own, then come to the Zoom discussion. Find links and descriptions at the Health & Society Film Festival web page.

Remaining films and discussion dates include: 

• "How to Survive a Plague" | 110 minutes | 2012 | Documentary. Covers social activism, AIDS epidemic. Discussion is today (Dec. 2) at 7 p.m.
  
  
• "The Good Death" | 82 minutes | 2018 | Documentary. Covers end-of-life, terminal diagnosis, physician-assisted suicide. Discussion is Saturday (Dec. 4) at 5 p.m.
  
  
• "Requiem for a Dream" | 101 minutes | 2000 | Psychological drama. Covers drug addiction and treatment. Discussion is Saturday (Dec. 4) at  5 p.m.
  
  
• "For Colored Girls" | 134 minutes | 2010 | Drama. Covers experiences of women of color, racism, sexism. Discussion is Monday (Dec. 6) at 7 p.m.

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

Master's Defense: Diana Bullen

Thursday, December 2, 9–10 a.m.

Geology Advisor: Nathan Manser Utilization of Paenibacillus polymyxa in the Recovery of Lithium Bearing Minerals Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/7130809052

UP & Moving Aerobic Exercise, Agility, and Balance Workout

Thursday, December 2, 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...

Master's Defense: Isaac Bigcraft

Thursday, December 2, 10–11 a.m.

Biological Sciences Advisor: Stephen Techtmann From Thermal Springs to Subway Benches: Exploring the Diversity of Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenases Through Metagenomes,...

Master's Defense: Emily Tom

Thursday, December 2, 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

Materials Science and Engineering Advisor: Jaroslaw Drelich Investigation of Novel Mg-Zn-Ca Alloys for Bioresorbable Orthopedic Implants Attend Virtually:...

Master's Defense: Collin Diedrich

Thursday, December 2, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 743

Biological Sciences Advisor: Gordon Paterson Spatial and Temporal Comparison of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Boardman River Attend Virtually:...

Future Valve Designs to Mitigate Valve Thrombosis: Lessons from Flow Dynamics

Thursday, December 2, 4 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 135

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Dr. Hoda Hatoum, PhD Michigan Technological University Abstract Blood flow through an aortic heart valve is...

Meet/Tour the Life Outreach Center

Thursday, December 2, 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Life Outreach Center

The Life Outreach Center (LOC) is located at 300 B Quincy St. in Hancock. They provide free pregnancy tests, information on adoption and abortion, childcare supplies (diapers,...

Open Rock Climbing

Thursday, December 2, 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...

West Michigan Chapter Monthly Gathering

Thursday, December 2, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Schmohz Brewery

Michigan Tech cordially invites you to enjoy a casual evening out and network with fellow Michigan Tech alumni and friends. The West Michigan Chapter will host this event at...

The Social Dilemma

Thursday, December 2, 8:30 p.m.–10:15 p.m. | Fisher 135

Tech experts from Silicon Valley sound the alarm on the dangerous impact of social networking, which Big Tech use in an attempt to manipulate and influence.