Q&A with Engineering Unleashed Fellow Jonathan Leinonen

Jon Leinonen stands outside the College of Business at Michigan Tech.

Jonathan Leinonen (COB) is a 2021 Engineering Unleashed Fellow.

This year, 27 individuals from higher education institutions across the country have been named fellows by Engineering Unleashed (EU). The designation recognizes leadership in undergraduate engineering education. The honor, which encompasses research plus funding, will go far in continuing to differentiate Michigan Tech’s business program for its business-STEM interface.

In this Q&A, Leinonen describes the opportunity, his work and what the EU fellowship means for business students, Michigan Tech and the region. Read it on mtu.edu/news.

Thursday is Research Day 2022

Faculty and staff researchers and scholars are encouraged to join in Research Day 2022, which is this Thursday (Jan. 6). This event, held each year the Thursday before the start of the spring semester, brings researchers and scholars together to network, share ideas and learn from each other, and celebrate achievements of the past year.

The theme of the 2022 event will be "Scaling Up." A full agenda with Zoom links is posted on the Research Day 2022 web page.

As previously announced, Research Day 2022 will be held entirely in a virtual format. If you would like calendar invites and have not received them, or if you have any other questions, please contact rd-l@mtu.edu.

Give to the Campus Cultural Events Fund

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) is seeking departments to contribute to the Campus Cultural Events Fund. The fund, administered through a collaborative committee, was instituted in 2018 in an effort to support cultural events and programs hosted by student organizations.

The fund's purpose is to increase the campus community's knowledge and appreciation of diversity and/or inclusion by providing financial support for student-driven events and activities.

If you would like to contribute to the fund, please use the Michigan Tech Giving form for the Cultural Events Fund.

Giving to the fund ensures that the activities and events it supports continue now and into the future. Once on Michigan Tech's Giving form, please designate your gift to "The Cultural Events Fund" in the space provided. Please direct questions to culturalevents@mtu.edu.

Job Posting

Job Postings for Monday, Jan. 3, 2022

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. 

Director of Athletic Partnerships and Ticket Sales, Athletics. 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.

Reminders

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 on Campus

Testing on Michigan Tech's campus concluded for the fall 2021 semester on 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.

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GLAS Spring 2022 Appointment Schedule Now Available

Graduate Language Assessment and Support (GLAS) is a free program designed for international graduate students who wish to improve their English communication and cultural skills.

Through small-group conversations that matter, students gain experience participating in class discussions, responding to questions and listening effectively. GLAS coaches work with students to help them better understand U.S. university expectations and gain insight into what students and instructors expect from each other in the classroom. GLAS students who are already teaching can practice lectures or lab presentations with their coach.

All international graduate students are welcome to attend and participate in the program.

The GLAS Spring 2022 appointment schedule is now available! Visit us in the Administration Building (Admin) Room 405A to sign up for a weekly recurring appointment.

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Banner Production System Maintenance

A Banner production system maintenance window will take place today (Jan. 3) from 10 to 11:59 p.m.

The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

Banner
Banweb
MyMichiganTech
ASPIRE
Course Tools
Housing Apartments Wait List
OAP Rental System
Oracle Reports
UC4/Appworx
Virtual Cashiering
WebFocus

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

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Spring 2022 I-Corps Workshop Registration Open

Are you interested in taking your innovative idea, technology or processes commercial? Husky Innovate is hosting a spring 2022 Innovation Corps (I-Corps) National Science Foundation (NSF) workshop series designed to help participants advance their research ideas toward additional funding or outside adoption.

Entrepreneurially minded graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community teams are invited to join the I-Corps Michigan Tech Site Program’s Lean Startup spring cohort. The site program is structured around lean startup teaching methods and principles used by NSF's National I-Corps program, which fosters entrepreneurship based in technology commercialization.

Michigan Tech and affiliate institution teams who complete the five-week workshop and customer discovery process are eligible for a $2,500 mini grant for continued customer discovery and prototyping supplies, as well as continued participation in the I-Corps program, which includes $50,000 in funding and additional training. Participation in the workshop can lead to qualification for research and other funding from several granting agencies, including the NSF I-Corps and SBIR/STTR/PFI programs and various state and regional programs.

Past participants have reported that they saved time and money by better understanding potential applications of their technology, experienced improved engagement with teams and improved their ability to receive add-on funding.

Our spring cohort will meet online via Zoom on the following dates:

  • Jan. 31 — 4-7:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 7 — 4-6 p.m.
  • Feb. 21 — 4-6 p.m.
  • Feb. 28 — 4-7:30 p.m.

To participate, please register online. After registration is complete, a Zoom link will be sent via a Google Calendar invite.

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Request for Proposals: Advanced Materials MTRAC

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.

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UMC Online Photo Database Upgrade

University Marketing and Communications' (UMC's) online photo database Cumulus will be upgraded tomorrow (Jan. 4). The system will be unavailable from 10 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m.