June 17, 2022

George David Mendenhall, a former professor of chemistry at Michigan Tech, passed away June 9 in New York City, New York, at the age of 77.

Mendenhall taught and performed research at Michigan Tech from 1980 until his retirement in 2001. After retiring from teaching, he founded Northern Sources, a chemical manufacturing and research company based in Hancock. The company was renamed Eastern Sources after his move to New York.

Mendenhall had a lifelong fascination with chemical preparations. He is remembered in the chemistry department for his sharp intellect.

Read Mendenhall's full obituary.

Thank you to the members of the MTU Flex Team and its subcommittees for all of your hard work meeting the challenges of a pandemic response.

The MTU Flex Team was created at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to fill an immediate need. Their efforts were critical in sustaining the University during this time. Now, it is time to hand this healthcare issue back to the professionals.

With the widespread availability of vaccines and testing in the local community, as well as the advancement of public knowledge regarding the virus, this healthcare issue no longer requires the same level of caretaking as it did at the start of the pandemic. At the instruction of President Rick Koubek, and with his thanks, the MTU Flex Team is being dissolved.

It has been my privilege to serve with each of you. With your hard work and dedication, Michigan Tech was able to continue our institutional priorities of education and research while supporting community members’ individual needs. We also thank all University employees — instructors, faculty and staff — for their contributions to the University’s successes during these challenging times.

Job Postings for Friday, June 17, 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.

Manager of Payroll, Human Resources. Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22184, University Marketing and Communications (UAW posting June 17 to June 23, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22185, Merchandising Operations (UAW posting June 17 to June 23, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22186, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX (UAW posting June 17 to June 23, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Staff Engineer, Electrical and Computer Engineering. Apply online.

Research Associate, Chemical Engineering. 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.

Jonathan Robins' (SS) book on the global oil palm industry was reviewed in the London Review of Books. 

Reviewer Bee Wilson lauds Robins’ research as “so exciting that for a few weeks after reading his book I could hardly talk about anything else." 

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Charles Kerfoot (BioSci) was quoted by MLive in a story on the potential eco-disaster stamp sands pose to the Lake Superior coastline — and Buffalo Reef in particular.

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Adam Durant (adjunct, GMES) was mentioned in a Tech Market View article on funding sought for startup SATAVIA, which analyzes aircraft flight plans to forecast, prevent, quantify and offset aircraft contrails’ effect on global warming.

SATAVIA was the subject of a 2021 Q&A on Unscripted, Michigan Tech’s research blog.

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Nature World News and the Sacramento Bee mentioned Michigan Tech’s earthquake magnitude scale.

The former story reported on the status of Yellowstone National Park after it experienced an earthquake cluster and historic flooding. The latter covered a swarm of earthquakes off the Oregon coast.

Erika Vye (GLRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $77,041 other sponsored activities co-op/joint agreement from the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA.

The project is titled "Expanding Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for Rural Schools-Exploring the Geoheritage of Lake Superior Coastal Sites (Exploring Our Foundations)."

Lloyd Wescoat (CEGE/GLRC) and Amanda Gonczi (GLRC) are co-PIs on this potential 18-month project.

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Erich Petushek (CLS/HRI) is the PI on a project that has received a $37,007 other sponsored activities contract from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

The project is titled "Research and Quality Improvement Facilitation for MSU CHM Upper Peninsula Education Corporation."

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Yousef Darestani (CEGE/MTTI) is the PI on a project that has received a $154,787 research and development contract from the Federal Railroad Administration.

The project is titled "A Risk Informed Decision-Making Framework for Coastal Railroad System Subjected to Storm Hazards and Sea Level Rise."

Pasi Lautala and Pengfei Xue (CEGE/MTTI) are co-PIs on this potential three-year project.

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Pasi Lautala (CEGE/MTTI) is the PI on a project that has received a $211,519 research and development contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration.

The project is titled "Railroad Track Maintenance Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Development, Framework, Data, Tools, and Implications for Multi-Modal Transport Decisions."

Amlan Mukherjee and Robert Handler (CEGE/MTTI) are co-PIs on this potential three-year project.

Updated Operating Procedures for Payroll Services

As a reminder, 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.

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

Lily Pond Boat Wash

Friday, June 17, 12 p.m.–7 p.m. | Lily Pond Boat Launch

This summer, the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) is partnering with the National Park Service (NPS) to offer free boat washes at launch sites throughout...