February 24, 2022

Matthew Songer ’79 (biological sciences) and Laura Songer ’80 (biological sciences) have generously donated funds to the College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) to support a research project competition for undergraduate and graduate students. This is the fifth year of the competition.

Students may propose an innovative, medically oriented research project in any area of human health. The best projects will demonstrate the potential to have broad impact on improving human life. This research will be pursued in consultation with faculty members within the CSA. Awarded in spring 2022, the Songers' gift will support one award for undergraduate research ($4,000) and a second award for graduate research ($6,000). Matching funds from the College will allow two additional awards. The research will be conducted over summer 2022 and/or the following academic year.

Any Michigan Tech student interested in exploring a medically related question under the guidance of faculty in the CSA may apply. Students majoring in any degree program in the College, including both traditional (i.e., biological sciences, kinesiology, chemistry) and nontraditional (i.e., physics, psychology, social science, bioethics, mathematics) programs related to human health, may propose research projects.

Students are encouraged to propose original, standalone projects with expected durations of 6-12 months. Preference is given to proposals that are student-initiated ideas, not merely a continuation of advisor’s work. The committee also encourages applications from CSA students who seek to continue research projects initiated through other campus mechanisms, such as the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, Pavlis Honors College activities or the Graduate Research Forum (GRF).

Funds from a Songer Award may be used to purchase or acquire research materials and equipment needed to perform the proposed research project. Access to and research time utilizing University core research facilities, including computing, may be supported. Requests to acquire a personal computer will be scrutinized and must be fully justified. Page charges for publications also may be covered with award funds, as will travel to appropriate academic meetings. This award may not be used for salary or compensation for the student or consulting faculty.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file to the Office of the College of Sciences and Arts by 4 p.m. on April 4. Applications may be emailed to djhemmer@mtu.edu.

Full details of the application and review processes are available on the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog. Any questions may be directed to David Hemmer at djhemmer@mtu.edu.

Midterm grades are due by noon on Monday (Feb. 28) for all first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits. Midterm grades are for full-semester courses only. Grades not turned in by the deadline will have an M (missing) grade assigned. Once the grade process has been completed, electronic grade submission is no longer an option for midterm grades and instructors should notify the students as to how they are doing in the course.

Electronic Grade Submission
Grade submission to Banner opened at noon Feb. 21 and will close at noon on Monday (Feb. 28). Satisfactory grades (A-C) should be entered as “SA” and Unsatisfactory grades (CD-F) as “UN”.

Instructors have two options for electronic grade submission. They may submit grades via Banner Self-Service by going directly into Banweb, entering grades and then clicking submit. Those with larger class sizes where grades have already been totaled in Canvas may submit grades via Canvas by going to CourseTools and using the Grade Wizard to first extract them from Canvas and then submit them to Banner.

If grades are submitted using Banner Self-Service, only the students who require a midterm grade will appear. For those who submit their grades via Canvas, a first-year student column has been added to identify these students in your course grade book.

The Michigan Tech Archives is currently accepting applications for its annual Travel Grant Program.

The travel grant, which is returning after a brief hiatus, brings scholars and researchers to Michigan Tech to work with the archives’ collections. Financial support for the program is provided by the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library. Grants are awarded for up to $1,000 to defray the costs of travel to visit and conduct research in Houghton. In addition, graduate students applying to the program may request up to an additional $200 (furnished by the Archives) to help defray any duplication costs incurred during a qualified research trip.

The Michigan Tech Archives houses a wide variety of historical print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the Copper Country and Michigan Tech. Subject coverage is vast and includes University and campus life, regional towns and cities, local industries and businesses, social organizations, events and personalities of the Copper Country and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Primary topical research areas include the western Upper Peninsula, industrial history (particularly copper mining and its ancillary industries), social history, community development along the Keweenaw Peninsula, transportation and the environment.

Finding aids for some of the collections can be found on the Michigan Tech Archives website.

To apply for funding, please visit the Travel Grant Program website.

Applications are due March 25. Award recipients will be notified by late April. The successful candidate must complete their travel by Dec. 9, 2022. Electronic submission of applications is required.

For further information, please contact University Archivist Lindsay Hiltunen at 906-487-3209 or copper@mtu.edu.

This semester, the Michigan Tech Finance Club is hosting a stock competition open to all College of Business majors and minors.

The contest kicked off Feb. 1 and goes through April 12. Each participant received $100,000 in virtual dollars to use on the Investopedia simulator and will research and strategize their way to a winning portfolio. Cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 will be given to the three students with the highest portfolio values.

At the conclusion of competition, the group will come together to report out, learning from peers and gaining even more investment insight.

Professional editing services are available to all members of the Michigan Tech community through the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

• Any academic document (proposals, reports, journal articles, dissertations, etc.).
• Editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, flow and readability.
• All via email and with quick turnaround.

Editing services are provided by highly qualified English language instructors with expertise in grammar, writing and language instruction. Rates are $25 per hour.

Email ekastamo@mtu.edu to get an estimate and free sample edit. Visit the CTL's Editing Services webpage for more information.

Modern Languages is showing the second film of the Modern Languages Film Series, an Argentinian film in Spanish from 2021. The film will be shown in Fisher 135 with English subtitles. The screening is free and open to everyone — bring a friend!

Tonight's Film:
The film series continues at 7 p.m. tonight (Feb. 24) with "Desequilibrados" (Unbalanced), an Argentinian film by Julio Baldana.

Synopsis: Isolated during COVID-19 lockdown in Argentina, Rodo becomes obsessed with finishing his book on the work of German activist and economist Silvio Gessel, who theorized the utopian possibilities of a world without money.

Last Film:

• Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. — "Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu" (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), a French film by Céline Schiamma.

Upper Peninsula high school science teachers and parents/guardians: We would like to invite your students and children to compete at the 2022 Chemistry Olympiad (Online).

Chemistry Olympiad 2022 will be an online chemistry competition open to all high school students from any U.P. school or home school. Participation is free! Sign up using our Google form by Monday (Feb. 28).

The competition will be held online March 14 from 6:30-8:20 p.m. 

All participants will receive a participation gift and a participation certificate (upon request) and be put into a drawing for prizes.

Top scorers receive a medal and a prize, and have the opportunity to participate in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (a hybrid, online and in-person event).

The U.P. Chemistry Olympiad is hosted by the American Chemical Society and Michigan Technological University. Please contact coordinator Momoko Tajiri at mtajiri@mtu.edu with any questions. 

Get your tickets for the closing weekend of the Michigan Tech Theatre one-acts festival, "An Evening of One Acts." Tonight’s (Feb. 24) performance of Show B includes:

• "I Hope..." written by Shannon Harper and directed by David Brown.
  This show is a Black scream at PWIs*. This tightly written show is serving up “Black girl magic” as college students, Tyleah and Karena, call the audience in to face what it means to be at a PWI institution as Black womxn. (*predominately white institutions)
  
  
• "Shaped By You" written by Diana Pierangeli and directed by Laurel Schmidt.
  A young woman named Alex, who has gotten an internship at the Louvre, is a visual artist in the process of doing her own thesis body of work. Venus de Milo is a living character in this dynamic show chosen for its heightened reality and embrace of magical realism. This show deals with sexual abuse and power dynamics.

Details:
Shows will be performed in the McArdle Theatre in Walker Arts. Face coverings are required. 

Closing Weekend Showtimes:

• Show A — Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
• Show B — Thursday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 26, at 7:30 p.m.

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.

The next Mathematical Sciences Weekly Colloquium will take place at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Feb. 25) via Zoom (use passcode 038185).

Our guest speaker will be Yiran Wang of Emory University.

Wang's presentation is titled "Mathematical Problems in Cosmological X-ray Tomography."

Guest speaker Ashley Bosa, Ph.D. student in geosciences from Boise State University, and Gustavo Bejar Lopes, Ph.D. student from GMES, will be presenting a geoseminar at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Feb. 25) in Dow 610 and via Zoom.

The seminar is titled "Geophysical Monitoring and Characterization of Lahars in Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala."

From the abstract:
Lahars, or volcanic mudflows, are one of the most devastating natural volcanic hazards. This seminar presents analyses of several secondary rain-triggered lahar events at Volcán Fuego in Guatemala with seismo-acoustic sensors, time-lapse cameras, and a network of weather stations deployed along the Las Lajas ravine on the southeast side of the volcano. Here, we will explore some methodologies used to quantify and assess changes in energetics, velocity, and stage height over the duration of these flows, as well as their occurrence and tools for monitoring.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) will have a seminar at 12:30 p.m. today (Feb. 24) via Zoom with speaker Michael Lynch, the Forest Stewards Guild's Lake States Region manager. 

Lynch will provide an overview of the Forest Stewards Guild, discuss current projects and programs, and highlight opportunities for Michigan Tech students on the guild-owned lands in Houghton County.

Join the Zoom seminar.

The Michigan Tech Archives workshop “Archives and Questions of Truth,” originally scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight (Feb. 24) has been canceled.

Individuals interested in investigating the workshop topics, visiting the Michigan Tech Archives or conducting research are encouraged to contact the archives at copper@mtu.edu or 7-2505.

We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to assisting all members of the campus and local community with their archives needs.

Michigan Tech women's basketball came up short 79-70 at Saginaw Valley State on Tuesday (Feb. 22) at James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena.

Sara Dax and Alex Rondorf tallied 18 points apiece, but the Huskies couldn't catch the Cardinals, who never trailed and used a fast start to even the season series 1-1.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech goaltender Blake Pietila has been named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey since 2014. 

Of the 35 award nominees, the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced 11 semifinalists. 

Pietila is one of three candidates who are semifinalists for the second straight year. He is also a Hobey Baker candidate for the second season in a row.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech's Anabel Needham is competing for Team USA this week at the U23 World Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway.

Needham will race in the 10K classic today (Feb. 24), the skate sprint Saturday (Feb. 26) and possibly the U23 mixed relay Sunday (Feb. 27).

"This is going to be an incredible experience for Anabel," Tech Nordic ski coach Tom Monahan Smith said. "This is her first international championship, but she couldn't be more ready to compete with the outstanding season she has had to prepare her for these championships."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Thursday, Feb. 24, 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.

Operations Coordinator, University Relations and Enrollment. Apply online.

Building Mechanic III (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22049, Facilities (AFSCME posting Feb. 24 to March 2, 2022 — 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.

Michigan Tech alumnus Chaitanya Bhat was profiled in Asphalt Magazine. Bhat is the Asphalt Institute's first sustainability engineer. He completed his Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2020 advised by Amlan Mukherjee (CEGE).

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 make choices to protect themselves, such as getting vaccinated, wearing high-filtration face coverings, and practicing enhanced sanitation and physical distancing where possible — especially in light of the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 omicron 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 spring 2022 semester.

Testing is available every week in the Rozsa Center basement Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

The consent form is now online and can be completed anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the day of your visit.

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

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TechMBA and Master's in Engineering Management Information Session

The campus community is invited to join representatives from the College of Business and the Graduate School to learn about the TechMBA and master's in engineering management from 5-6 p.m. today (Feb. 24) in AOB 101.

Complimentary pizza provided.

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Graduate Students Present Research Progress

Physics graduate students Jeff Kabel (advisor Yoke Khin Yap) and Neerav Kaushal (advisor Elena Giusarma) will present their research progress at this week's Physics Colloquium at 4 p.m. today (Feb. 24) in Fisher 139.

The event offers a hybrid format. Attend in person or participate via Zoom. Please register in advance to attend virtually; you'll receive a confirmation email containing details to join the session.

Find more information, including the students' presentation titles and abstracts, on the University Events Calendar. 

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Seminar: Climate Change in the Arctic

Melissa McKinney, Canada research chair (Tier 2) in ecological change and environmental stressors and assistant professor at McGill University, will present a seminar from 3-4 p.m. today (Feb. 24) via Zoom.

McKinney's presentation is titled "Climate change effects on contaminants in Arctic biota."

From the abstract:
Climate change is disproportionately impacting Arctic species, both through physical changes to the environment and through changing interactions between species. Altered predator-prey interactions are thought to be particularly important and may also have downstream impacts for exposure to other environmental stressors, such as contaminants. A series of studies will be presented that highlight climate-driven species redistributions in the Arctic, as documented by monitoring predator diets via chemical tracers, and that illustrate a range of subsequent consequences for contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine mammals. Findings underscore the need to consider multiple interacting stressors facing wildlife in a changing polar environment.

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Menu for Today's C-Cubed Luncheon

• Deconstructed Greek Salad with Lamb Burgers
• Fresh Toppings: Tzatziki Sauce, Feta Spread, Garlic Aioli

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today (Feb. 24) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 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, MUB 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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COVID-19 Community Town Hall

Join us tonight (Feb. 24) from 7-8 p.m. for the COVID-19 Community Town Hall. Town Hall moderators Steven Elmer and Kelly Kamm (HRI/KIP) will provide information on mental health and well-being during the pandemic and beyond.

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 stations 97.7 The Wolf (WOLV-FM) and Q107 (WMQT-FM) or viewed through a Zoom webinar and Facebook Live. The town hall can also be viewed on ABC 10 on Sunday (Feb. 27) at noon.

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

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

Interview Prep

Thursday, February 24, 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

VPR Research Series: Creating BioSketches with SciENcv

Thursday, February 24, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health require personnel biographical sketches to be submitted in a particular format. The format and specific...

CTL Technical Workshop- Gradescope Exams

Thursday, February 24, 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

CTL Technical Workshop: Gradescope Exams https://mtu.libcal.com/event/8867731

Metal Foundry in a Box

Thursday, February 24, 2 p.m.–4 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), U109

Happy National Engineers Week, aka Eweek! Not an MSE but still want to try your hand in the Michigan Tech Foundry? Join the students of Materials United here at Michigan Tech....

Biological Science Seminar Series - Dr. Melissa McKinney

Thursday, February 24, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

Dr. Melissa McKinney Canada research chair (Tier 2) Ecological Change and Environmental Stressors Assistant Professor McGill University Climate change effects on...

Physics Colloquium - Graduate Student Presentations

Thursday, February 24, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Thursday, February 24th @ 4pm – Fisher Hall 139 & Zoom Hybrid-Mode: The students will give their talks in Fisher Hall 139. Please join in-person or by zoom. Jeff Kabel...

Stress Less

Thursday, February 24, 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 and...

Youth Indoor Rock Climbing Spring 2022 Session 2

Thursday, February 24, 4:00 p.m.–4:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Climbing Wall

Is your child looking for a new challenge? Sign up now for the OAP Youth Indoor Rock Climbing Class and let them climb our wall! We try to meet each participant at their level...

TechMBA® and Master's in Engineering Management Information Session

Thursday, February 24, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | Academic Office Building (AOB), AOB 101

Join representatives from the College of Business and the Graduate School to learn about the TechMBA® and Master's in Engineering Management. Complimentary pizza provided....

West Michigan Chapter Monthly Gathering

Thursday, February 24, 5 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...

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2022 Session 2

Thursday, February 24, 5:30 p.m.–6:20 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to the intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the...

Adult Huskies Swim Training Spring 2022 Session 2

Thursday, February 24, 5:30 p.m.–6:20 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

The Lode - Weekly Meeting

Thursday, February 24, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Fisher 126

Join the Lode (Michigan Tech's student newspaper) for our weekly general meeting! This is a great way to see if the Lode is a good fit for you. We are always looking for...

HuskyLEAD: Strategic Doing

Thursday, February 24, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | MUB Superior Room

Strategic Doing teaches people how to form collaborations quickly, move them toward measurable outcomes and make adjustments along the way. Strategic Doing enables...

Monthly General Meeting _ Spring 2022

Thursday, February 24, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Chem Sci. 211

Hi folks, This mail serves to notify us that we will be having our monthly general meeting on the last Wednesday of the month 6 - 7 PM at Chem Sci. 211 or via Zoom. Feel...

Open Rock Climbing

Thursday, February 24, 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...

W. Michigan Chapter Monthly Gathering

Thursday, February 24, 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...

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein "Black Feminist Technoscience in the Cosmos"

Thursday, February 24, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

The Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture, partnered with the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, the Michigan Tech Vice President’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion,...

(Men's Basketball) Michigan Tech at Ferris State

February 24, all day

Men's Basketball: Michigan Tech at Ferris State, Jim Wink Arena - Big Rapids, Mich.

(Women's Basketball) Michigan Tech at Ferris State

February 24, all day

Women's Basketball: Michigan Tech at Ferris State, Jim Wink Arena - Big Rapids, Mich.