December 20, 2021

The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) program has opened a request for proposals for the upcoming 2022 year cycle.

The mission of the MTRAC Innovation Hub at Michigan Tech is to advance materials-based technologies that address poorly met market needs into commercial development. Examples of desirable translational research goals and outcomes include achieving specific milestones on the path to commercializing systems, materials, processing technologies or devices which serve a well-documented market need.

Proposals may address demonstration projects, prototype development or process scale-up necessary to attract follow-on funding from third parties. Michigan Tech welcomes projects related to:

• Novel materials;
• Novel applications of conventional materials; and
• Equipment or processes that enable the application of either: A) novel materials, or B) conventional materials for novel purpose.

The proposal window closes at 5 p.m. March 31. For more information, please visit Michigan Tech's MTRAC web page or contact Nate Yenor at nryenor@mtu.edu.

Applications are being solicited for the Faculty Fellow Program, sponsored by the Vice President for Research Office.

The program:

1. Expands familiarity with sponsored program administration and strategic planning among the faculty;
2. Develops leadership capacity among the faculty; and 
3. Improves sponsored programs administration and strategic planning through faculty input.

For the 2022-23 academic year, there are four possible appointment areas:

• Faculty Fellow, Sponsored Programs (e.g., pre- and post-award processing and administration)
• Faculty Fellow, Research Integrity (e.g., IRB, IACUC, laboratory safety and misconduct)
• Faculty Fellow, Research Development (e.g., proposal development, building teams for large proposals, etc.)
• Faculty Fellow, Commercialization (e.g., innovation, technology de-risking, proprietary projection strategy, business model development, customer discovery, opportunity and market assessment).

Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. Feb. 17 and must be submitted electronically per the guidelines. For additional information, see the Faculty Fellow Program web page.

Benefits eligible employees, don’t forget to complete your Husky Health Checklists with the activities you completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, to earn up to $450.

Jan. 10, 2022, is the last day to submit your Husky Health Checklist for the reporting period of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, to receive your Husky Health payout incentive in early 2022.

Check out the Husky Health website or follow us on Facebook at Michigan Tech Wellness for more information about Husky Health, Lunch and Learns, wellness tips and fitness programs that count toward the Husky Health incentive.

Find out more about Husky Health and other wellness benefits online.

Questions? Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@mtu.edu or 906-487-2517.

In observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, and of the University seasonal days Dec. 27-29, the last Tech Today newsletter of the calendar year 2021 will be published Wednesday (Dec. 22).

Tech Today will resume Jan. 3. To be included in the Jan. 3 newsletter, items must be submitted by noon Dec. 22 using our Submit a Story form. 

Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a weeklong exploration of cybersecurity and computers in the scenic Upper Peninsula of Michigan this summer. 

Michigan Tech plans to host a beginner-level, face-to-face GenCyber summer camp for 50 students. The camp will last a week, from June 27 to July 1, and will be offered at no cost to all participants. Eligible students will be entering grades 8-12 in fall 2022. The application deadline is March 1.

The theme of the camp is Cybersecurity + Artificial Intelligence (AI), as AI is redefining every aspect of cybersecurity. 

The camp covers fundamental knowledge in cybersecurity and AI. Camp activities include hands-on exercises, interactive lectures, discussions, games, career exploration and campus tours. Also included will be various pre-camp and post-camp activities during the school year.

Topics will include: 

Ethics | Phishing | Python Coding | AI Intro | Machine Learning | Applying AI to Cybersecurity | Building Robust, Trustworthy AI

Students can apply for a live-in or commuter seat in the camp. There will be 20 live-in seats (intended mainly for nonlocal participants) and 30 commuter seats (intended mainly for local participants).

For more information and to apply, visit the GenCyber Camps website.

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum is proud to announce we have reached over 1,000 followers on our Facebook page!

We started the page in March 2021 and have posted many intriguing and beautiful mineral photos and updates about our gift shop activities.

Thank you to everyone in the Michigan Tech community who has supported our page, shared photos or commented!

If you would like to follow us on Facebook, visit our page and click the Follow button.

A team of graduate students in the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP) have created a short video titled "Staying Healthy & Safe During COVID-19" to share with campus and community members.

The video provides:

1. Updates on latest COVID-19 trends;
2. Recommendations on how to stay safe;
3. Travel tips; and
4. Strategies to maintain physical and mental health.

The video has been posted on the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, Copper Country Strong, UP COVID-19 Town Hall and Frontline UPdates social media pages.

Watch the video on YouTube and read the full story on the KIP Newsblog.

Michigan Tech volleyball team member and senior Laura De Marchi has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Division II Volleyball First Team for the second straight season.

De Marchi holds a 3.79 GPA in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering. She is the fourth Michigan Tech volleyball player to be named an Academic All-American and the second to be named to the first team.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Posting for Monday, Dec. 20, 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 Professor – Mathematics, Data Science and Related Areas, Mathematical Sciences. 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.

Amy Marcarelli (BioSci/GLRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $300,000 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "Emergent linkages between DOM composition, microbial assemblages and respiration in streams."

Stephen Techtmann and Evan Kane (BioSci/GLRC) and Laura Brown (CS/GLRC) are co-PIs on this two-year project.

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. 

*****

On-Demand COVID-19 Testing on Campus

Testing on Michigan Tech's campus has concluded for the fall 2021 semester. The last day of testing was Dec. 16.

For COVID-19 testing during winter break, please reach out to a local health care provider to schedule a test. You do not need to have a preexisting relationship with the health care provider in order to get tested.

Local sites offering COVID-19 testing can be found using the state of Michigan's Find a Test Site web page.

More COVID-19 Testing Information for the Michigan Tech community is available on the MTU Flex website.

*****

Holiday Sale Continues at the Mineral Museum

Visit the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum to take advantage of our annual Holiday Sale!

The gift shop is currently offering 15% off on minerals, home décor, books and select jewelry.* The sale ends Wednesday (Dec. 22).

The museum gallery and gift shop are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mention this Tech Today post to receive a free gift with any purchase (one gift per customer).

*Cannot be combined with other discounts.

*****

Minimum Wage Increasing Jan. 1

Effective Jan. 1, 2022, minimum wage will increase from $9.65 to $9.87 per hour. Therefore, all employees who currently fall below this new hourly rate will see an automatic increase. Department-generated EPAFs will not be needed.

For jobs starting after Jan. 1, use the minimum wage of $9.87 per hour. This change will have an impact on departments that pay students and temporary employees less than this amount.

*****

UPS/FedEx Package Delivery Over Break

Central Receiving will be open limited hours during the winter break for UPS and FedEx deliveries. We are unable to accept packages for departments that are closed during this time. We recommend contacting the shipper to adjust the delivery date for when your office reopens.

Our winter break operating hours are as follows:

• Dec. 20-22 — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 23-26 — Closed
• Dec. 27-29 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 — Closed

We will return to regular operating hours on Jan. 3.

We would like to remind the campus community that personal packages should be specifically addressed to go directly to your department if you choose to have them shipped to campus. You can help keep our response time for delivering University packages consistent during this high-volume season and year-round by having personal packages delivered directly to your department (or your home).

To ensure timely delivery of packages directly to your department by the shipper, please ensure that you clearly provide the following information when placing your order:

• Your Complete Name
• Building Name
• Room Number
• 1400 Townsend Drive
  Houghton, MI 49931

Please contact Central Receiving at centralreceiving-l@mtu.edu should you have any questions or need assistance with special receiving or shipping needs.

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

(Men's Basketball) Winona State vs. Michigan Tech

Monday, December 20, 1 p.m.–4 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Men's Basketball: Winona State vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.