May 31, 2022

Developed at Michigan Tech, a new global weather station-based dataset named dulSD is enabling long-term, large-scale monitoring of the dust cycle.

As wind shapes the surface of the Earth, it pulls dust from dry, exposed land surfaces into the atmosphere. Xin Xi (GMES) uses observations and models to study the sources, transformation and transport of dust to assess its impact on climate and air quality.

“Airborne dust aerosols impact the Earth in a myriad of ways,” he explained. “Mineral dust interacts with the global energy budget, ocean biogeochemistry, air quality and agriculture.”

Satellite remote sensing, a major source of information to study global dust variability, lacked the specifics Xi needed. He revisited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Integrated Surface Database and set out to create a new dataset for evaluating global dust, which he named duISD.

How much dust is there? Read more on Unscripted, the University's research blog.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for June 12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

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If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 7-1111.

The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is proud to announce its funding awards for spring 2022. The Center awarded a total of $13,945 to 15 students to conduct research and a total of $12,000 to 16 students for travel to either give a talk or present a poster at a professional conference.

ESC congratulates the following recipients:

Student Research Grant Awards

• Swapan Chakrabarty (CFRES, advised by Carsten Külheim) for
  “Genomic adaptation of two oak species in drought condition.”
• Ellie Connett (BioSci, advised by Amy Marcarelli) for
  “Heavy Metal Transfers by Aquatic Prey to Riparian Spiders in the Keweenaw Waterway.”
• Natalie Howard (CFRES, advised by Carsten Külheim) for
  "Variance Components and Phenotypic Plasticity of Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) in a Replicated Common Garden Experiment.”
• Michelle Kelly (BioSci, advised by Amy Marcarelli) for "Quantifying whole-stream denitrification and nitrogen fixation with integrated modeling of N2 and O2 fluxes."
• Sam Kurkowski (CFRES, advised by Rod Chimner) for “Mapping, Identification, and Conservation of Vernal Pool Characteristics at Voyagers National Parks in the Great Lakes Region.”
• Shelby Lane-Clark (CFRES, advised by Tara Bal) for "Bioturbation by Non-native Earthworms as a Potential Catalyst for Changes in Maple Sap Composition in Northern Hardwood Forests in the Great Lakes Region."
• John McCall (BioSci, advised by Gord Paterson and Kristin Brzeski) for "Quantifying the genetic contributions of Buffalo Reef spawned fishes to Lake Superior fisheries."
• Hailee Petosky (BioSci, advised by Erika Hersch-Green) for "Determining whether nutrient enrichments and plant genome size influences biodiversity patterns of insect communities."
• Peng Quan (CFRES, advised by Xinfeng Xie) for “Desulfurization of Kraft Lignin Using Hyrdrogen Peroxide.”
• Ryne Rutherford (CFRES, advised by David Flaspohler, for "Ecological and anthropogenic factors associated with the occurrence of southern disjunct fauna isolated in warm refugia."
• Kath Schneider (CFRES, advised by Tara Bal and Kristin Brzeski) for "Examining Silviculture Impacts on Coleopteran Diets (Families Silphidae and Carabidae)."
• Abraham Stone (BioSci, advised by Sigrid Resh and Tara Bal) for "Developing and Measuring Deployment of a Natural Myco-Biological Control In a More Liquid Medium.”
• Tessa Tormonen (BioSci, advised by Kristin Brzeski) for “Using DNA Metabarcoding to Evaluate Resource Partitioning Among Two Sympatric Tilefish.”
• Jasmine Terry-Shindelman (CFRES, advised by Sarah Hoy) for "Can near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy be used as a rapid and cost-effective method of monitoring plant secondary metabolite profiles of Balsam fir."
• Joanna Walitalo (CFRES, advised by Molly Cavaleri) for “Comparing Wood Species and Wood Preparation for Use in Pyrography.”

Student Travel Grant Awards

• Michael Arkwright (CFRES, advised by Tara Bal) to present “Oak Wilt Even Further North? Examining Vectors and Spread Risk across Upper Michigan and Canada” at the 2022 Society of American Foresters National Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Mattison Brady (CFRES, advised by Tara Bal) to present “Collaborative Assessment of Sugar Maple Dieback in the Upper Great Lakes” at the 2022 Society of American Foresters National Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Swapan Chakrabarty (CFRES, advised by Carsten Küelheim) to present “Using the Eucalyptus polybractea genome improved genetic variant identification compared to using a pseudo-reference” at the Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference in Pacific Grove, California.
• Chinmoyee Das (CFRES, advised by Xinfeng Xie) to present “Electrically Conductive Biochar filled PA 12 composites and the effect of filler morphology on composite properties” at the Forest Products Society International Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Lulu Ferrer (CFRES, advised by Jared Wolfe and Kristin Brzeski) to present “Avian Malaria Prevalence, Diversity, and Distribution in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula” at the American Ornithological Society in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Michelle Kelly (BioSci, advised by Amy Marcarelli) to present “Habitat Heterogeneity Promotes Linked C and N Cycling in Streams” at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Emily Lindback (CFRES, advised by Molly Cavaleri) to present “Northern red oak growth, phenology, and physiology across a latitudinal gradient” at the Ecological Society of America and CSEE Joint Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
• John McCall (BioSci, advised by Gord Patterson and Kristin Breski) to present “Evaluating genotoxicity of mine tailings (“Stamp Sands”) on two game fish in a spawning reef in Lake Superior (MI)” at the Ecological Society of America and CSEE Joint Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
• Samuel Mensah Opoku (CFRES, advised by Andrew Burton) to present “Estimating carbon derived from deadwood in soil pools over eight years of wood decomposition” at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
• Melanie Ottino (CFRES, advised by Kristin Brzeski and Carsten Küelheim) to present “Optimizing Fecal Metabarcoding Methodology for Diet and Population Structure Analysis of Overwintering White-Tailed Deer” at The Wildlife Society Annual Conference in Spokane, Washington.
• Peng Quan (CFRES, advised by Xinfeng Xie) to present “Natural Wood-Based Metamaterials for Highly Efficient Microwave Absorption” at the Forest Products Society International Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Eileen Reeves (CFRES, advised by Andrew Burton) to present “Limited Microorganism Recovery Three Years Post-N Deposition Cessation” at the Ecological Society of America and CSEE Joint Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
• Katherine Schneider (CFRES, advised by Tara Bal and Kristin Brzeski) to present “Bridging knowledge systems in insect research: Exploring human-insect relationships through Traditional Ecological Knowledge and beetle research” at the ESA/ESC/ESBC Joint Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Abraham Stone (BioSci, advised by Tara Bal and Sigrid Resh) to present “Natural Solutions: Development and deployment of a local polypore as a myco-biocontrol on invasive buckthorn sprouts” at the 2022 Natural Areas Conference in Duluth, Minnesota.
• Madalyn Tudor-Duncan (CFRES, advised by Molly Cavaleri) to present “Fine root respiration of Quercus rubra across a latitudinal gradient in the Midwest” at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
• Rob Tunison (CFRES, advised by Molly Cavaleri) to present “Tropical wet-forest understory plants have limited ability to acclimate photosynthesis to higher temperatures and have lower photosynthetic capacity under experimentally warmed conditions in Luquillo, Puerto Rico” at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office for Coastal Management has announced the second cohort of 2022-24 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellows.

Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering candidate Kenny Larsen is among those selected.

The Davidson Fellowship offers students enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program the opportunity to conduct research within a National Estuarine Research Reserve. Each two-year project employs the tenets of collaborative research, including engaging end-users, incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives and ensuring outcomes that are applicable to local coastal resource management needs and decision-making. This fellowship honors the legacy of Margaret A. Davidson, a true visionary and pioneer in the field of coastal resource management.

Job Posting for Tuesday, May 31, 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.

Assistant Professor, Assistant Teaching Professor or Professor of Practice, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology. 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.

Steve Techtmann (BioSci) was a guest on the Voices from DARPA podcast, in an episode titled "The Future of Food: Meals from Microbes."

Techtmann discussed his BioPROTEIN project, which successfully converted plastic waste into edible protein powder. The project was highlighted in Michigan Tech's 2022 Research Magazine.

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The Michigan Tech Trails were mentioned by Lake Superior Magazine in a preview of weekend events. Saturday (May 28), the Trails hosted a guided group bike ride in the Copper Harbor Trails Club’s Ride the Keweenaw event.

University Staff Service Awards

The annual University Staff Service Awards will be held next Wednesday (June 8) in the MUB Ballroom. The University president and Staff Council chair will present awards for five-year increments of service to more than 100 staff members this year. Recent staff retirees are also recognized. Thank you to the President’s Office for their continued support and funding for the Staff Service Awards luncheon and awards.

Congratulations to our amazing staff members who will be honored for reaching a five-year anniversary date this fiscal year. Thank you for your service and commitment to Michigan Tech.

This year’s luncheon will feature a soup and potato bar luncheon (including vegetarian and gluten-free options). Tickets are $10 (cash or check only) and must be purchased by Thursday (June 2). Please note: There is no reserved seating; it is first come, first served. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. If you have any special dietary requirements or have questions about the service recognition awards, please contact a Staff Service Awards Committee member.

Visit one of these people to purchase tickets:

• Madeline Mercado Voelker — Human Resources, Lakeshore Center
  7-3681, mmercado@mtu.edu
• Judy Zei — Michigan Tech Campus Bookstore (textbook area), MUB, 7-2784, jlzei@mtu.edu
• Karen Wade — Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Hamar House, 7-2920, kawade@mtu.edu 

If you are unable to attend the lunch, you may join the awards presentation beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Staff Service Awards Committee members are:

• Jennifer Biekkola (Annual Giving) — 7-1056 or jrbiekko@mtu.edu
• Joanne Chalgren (Human Resources) — 7-2416 or jrchalgr@mtu.edu
• Madeline Mercado Voelker (Human Resources) — 7-3681 or mmercado@mtu.edu
• Mechelle Normand (UMC) — 7-2360 or mnormand@mtu.edu
• Paige Short (OVPDI) — 7-1599 or prbeyers@mtu.edu
• Laurie Stark (Library) — 7-1081 or ldstark@mtu.edu
• Judy Zei (Bookstore) — 7-2784 or jlzei@mtu.edu 

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Updates to Payroll Services Operating Procedures

Due to a transition period in Payroll Services, off-cycle weeks will be used only for reallocations and leave adjustments. Missed pays or corrections to pays will be processed during the next available pay cycle week.

Additionally, the Payroll Services email, payroll@mtu.edu, will only be used to collect paper timesheets, reallocations, deduction forms or timekeeper designation forms. In order to provide more effective customer service, the Payroll Services main telephone number will be redirected to the Human Resources main line, 906-487-2280. Questions regarding payroll can be directed to 906-487-2280 and will be responded to within one business day.

Tax forms must be sent to Payroll Services via campus mail or hand-delivered to the Lakeshore Center, as email is not secure.

Payroll Services and Human Resources appreciate your patience and understanding.

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PhD Defense: Zhihong Wang, BioSci

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences candidate Zhihong Wang will present their doctoral defense today (May 31) from 2-3 p.m. This virtual defense will be presented online only. Attendance is invited via Zoom.

Wang's defense is titled "MicroRNA-483 Protects Pancreatic Beta-Cells by Targeting ALDH1A3."

From the abstract:
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes hyperglycemia in patients. Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction is central to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. New evidence indicated that altered β-cell identity due to β-cell dedifferentiation is believed to be a new mechanism for β-cell dysfunction and loss during the development of T2D. However, the precise mechanisms involved in β-cell dedifferentiation are still under investigation. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a group of small non-coding RNAs known to negatively regulate target gene expression in response to metabolic changes in pancreatic islets. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been associated with pancreatic islet dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Our previous studies have shown that miR-483 expression is much higher in β-cells than α-cells. Elevated miR-483 is also observed in the islets of prediabetic db/db mice, indicating that miR-483 plays an important function in β-cells.

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

PhD Defense: Reihaneh Samsami

Tuesday, May 31, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Civil Engineering Advisor: Amlan Mukherjee A Framework for Active Construction Inspection and Visualization Using UAS Attend Virtually:...

PhD Defense: Zhihong Wang

Tuesday, May 31, 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

Biological Sciences Advisor: Xiaoqing Tang Microrna-483 Protects Pancreatic Beta-Cells by Targeting ALDH1A3 Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/86979849709

Women's League Fun Day

Tuesday, May 31, 5:30 p.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

Women's League Fun Day *Some events and times may change