September 30, 2022

The Graduate School proudly announces the recipients of our Fall 2022 Finishing Fellowships. Congratulations to all nominees and recipients:

• Vishnu Chakrapani Lekha — Geological Engineering
• Shobhit Sanjeev Chaturvedi — Chemistry
• Emily Shaw — Environmental Engineering
• Parth Parimalbhai Bhatt — Forest Science
• Jiachen Zhai — Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
• Rasoul Bayaniahangar — Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
• Jessica R. Bruning — Integrated Physiology
• Peng Quan — Forest Science
• Donna Susan Mathew — Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture
• Sushree Shrabani Dash — Applied Physics
• Xuebin Yang — Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
• Jacob J. Blazejewski — Mathematical Sciences

Read more about the awardees on the Graduate School Newsblog.

The 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is prepared by the University in order to be in compliance with federal law. The law also requires the University to give timely notice of the existence and location of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

You can find the Michigan Tech 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report online or in printed form at any of the following campus locations:

• Dean of Students Office — Admin 130
• Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being — Admin 301
• Residence Education and Housing Services — Wads 153
• Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX Office — Admin 308
• Human Resources — Lakeshore Center 214
• Public Safety and Police Services — Widmaier House

The report includes four important sections that all members of the University community should be familiar with:

• The Annual Security Report, which includes information about how to report a crime, crime prevention and the Michigan Tech campus crime statistics over the past three years.
• The Michigan Tech Sexual Misconduct Policy, which explains issues of confidentiality, mandated reporting requirements, options for victims, rights of the victim and the accused, and University regulations concerning student behavior and sexual misconduct.
• The Michigan Tech Alcohol and Drug Policy, which contains University regulations concerning the use and abuse of alcohol, illegal use of drugs, guidelines for use of alcohol at social events and disciplinary action taken when faculty, staff or students violate the policy. The policy also explains the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse in the University environment and it refers readers to helpful services on campus and in the local community.
• The Fire Safety Report, which provides details of all fires reported in residential facilities, fire safety systems and fire safety education training.

If you have any questions in relation to this report, please contact either:

• Brian Cadwell, director and chief, Public Safety and Police Services
• Wallace Southerland III, vice president for student affairs and dean of students

This week, we showcase a blog post that suggests how women who are talented and capable can be undermined by gendered biases. The blog revisits incidents in which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been publicly slighted by men in power. A particularly well-publicized moment was dubbed “Sofagate” after European Council President Charles Michel left von der Leyen without a seat at a televised photo op and discussion among leaders. Later he suggested that failing to redress the omission was necessary because interrupting the photo op might have unsettled international negotiations.

This illustrates how individuals may try to justify not altering or addressing everyday sexism by creating huge stakes. The point is that seemingly small slights — ”etiquette breaches, missteps, even miscommunications” — remain prevalent and embedded in civil behavior and are often framed as "justified" even when they affect women whose accomplishments and status are celebrated. The ADVANCE Allies & Advocates program explicitly addresses the need for colleagues who are ready to recognize and assist in the face of sexist and biased treatment and for policies that rectify commonplace sexism and other forms of discrimination.

Today’s feature was shared with us by the ADVANCE team. If you have an article you think we should feature, please email it to advance-mtu@mtu.edu and we will consider adding it to the ADVANCE Weekly Roundup.

The ADVANCE Weekly Roundup is brought to you by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to improving faculty career success, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion. Past articles are available on the ADVANCE Newsblog.

To learn more about our featured topic, our mission, programming efforts, and to check out our growing collection of resources, contact us or visit our website.

The film "After Yang" will be presented at the Rozsa Center on Tuesday (Oct. 4) at 7 p.m. Following the film, Alexander Weinstein of Siena Heights University will discuss his short story, “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” which was the inspiration for the movie.

"After Yang" relates the story of a father searching for a way to repair his daughter’s beloved companion, an android named Yang. In the process, he reconnects with his wife and daughter across a divide he didn’t know was there. The film mixes heartfelt drama with science fiction and stars Colin Farrell.

Most ROBOT101 events are held both in person and via Zoom webinar. Find more information and register for the webinars at the ROBOT101 website.

ROBOT101 events are supported by:

Institute of Computing and Cybersystems | College of Computing | College of Sciences and Arts | College of Engineering | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science | Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences | Department of Computer Science | Department of Engineering Fundamentals | Department of Humanities | Department of Social Sciences | Department of Visual and Performing Arts | 41 North Film Festival | Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture | Pavlis Honors College

On Wednesday (Oct. 5) at noon in the Van Pelt and Opie Library, Alexander Weinstein of Siena Heights University will discuss his short story, “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” and how speculative fiction can help us make sense of our dystopian realities and the dangerous allure of robots and AI. Weinstein is a professor of creative writing and recipient of the Sustainable Arts Foundation Award.

Most ROBOT101 events are held both in person and via Zoom webinar. Find more information and register for the webinars at the ROBOT101 website.

ROBOT101 events are supported by:

Institute of Computing and Cybersystems | College of Computing | College of Sciences and Arts | College of Engineering | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science | Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences | Department of Computer Science | Department of Engineering Fundamentals | Department of Humanities | Department of Social Sciences | Department of Visual and Performing Arts | 41 North Film Festival | Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture | Pavlis Honors College

Scott Atlas will be giving a presentation titled "The SARS2 Pandemic: Will Trust Return?” at 8 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 4) in Fisher 135. The public is encouraged to attend.

Atlas is the Robert Wesson Senior Fellow in health policy at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. He is also a senior scholar and founding fellow of Hillsdale College’s Academy for Science and Freedom, and co‐director and co‐founder of the Global Liberty Institute in Switzerland.

 Atlas investigates the impact of government and the private sector on access, quality and pricing in health care, global trends in health care innovation, and key economic and civil liberties issues related to technology and other health policies. He is a frequent policy advisor to policymakers and governments in the United States and other countries. He has served as senior advisor for health care to several candidates for president and members of the U.S. Congress. From July to December 2020, he served as a special advisor to the president and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Before his health policy appointment at Hoover Institution, he was professor and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center for 14 years. His publications and interviews have appeared worldwide. He is the author of numerous books, including “A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America,” "In Excellent Health: Setting the Record Straight On America’s Health Care" and "Restoring Quality Health Care: A Six‐Point Plan for Comprehensive Reform at Lower Cost." He is also the editor of "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine," which has been translated into several languages and is in its fifth edition.

Atlas has received many awards and accolades from leading institutions and societies all over the world in recognition of his leadership in policy and medicine. He was awarded the 2021 Freedom Leadership Award, Hillsdale College’s highest honor, “in recognition of his dedication to individual freedom and the free society.” He also received the 2011 Alumni Achievement Award, the highest career achievement honor for a distinguished alumnus from the University of Illinois in Urbana‐Champaign.

In the private sector, Atlas is a frequent advisor to start‐up entrepreneurs and companies in life sciences and medical technology. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago School of Medicine.

Turning Point USA at Michigan Tech, Young Americans for Freedom at Michigan Tech, and Huskies for America are hosting the event.

Congratulations to Amlan Mukherjee (CEGE) on his appointment to the prestigious U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee.

Mukherjee is currently the Green Building Initiative (GBI) chair-elect. According to GBI's press release, in his role on the committee, Mukherjee will assist in providing expertise and counsel to the GSA as they seek innovative solutions to acquisition policy and ways to address the highest-priority federal acquisition challenges.

“We at GBI are thrilled that the GSA will get a chance to know the incredible level of expertise, experience, and commitment to sustainability and climate improvement that Amlan brings to every role," said Vicki Worden, president and CEO of GBI. "His work and support for GBI has been invaluable, and we know GSA will significantly benefit from his input.”

On Sept. 20, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) hosted its annual Evening with Industry (EWI). The event brought together over 115 students and sponsors from 23 companies. The highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Carrie Struss from Milwaukee Tool, who discussed career development and tips from her career journey.

The section would like to thank all who attended and participated in making the evening a success. “EWI has been held for 34 years. Its success is due to the involvement and commitment of the SWE Section and our EWI Committee,” said Gretchen Hein, the section's advisor.

The EWI Committee comprised four students: Alli Hummel (civil engineering), Natalie Hodge (electrical and computer engineering), and Maci Dostaler and Kathleen Heusser (biomedical engineering).

The SWE section works closely with Career Services to ensure the sponsor registration and support runs smoothly. The section thanks the sponsors for their support and input. They are truly part of the Michigan Tech learning community. These corporate representatives visit with the students during EWI and guide the students through the transition from student to professional. These interactions greatly help students learn how to advocate for themselves and others as they begin their careers.

Many students commented about the benefits of EWI:

• “I got to know the recruiters before Career Fair and was able to get an interview.”
• “I talked with Gerdau after EWI and they pulled me aside, went through my resume, and did a mini interview!”
• “The Textron recruiter I talked to was very excited about me coming to the Textron booth at Career Fair. I'm definitely applying to a company (CWC Textron) I hadn't considered before today!”
• “Last year, I stepped into a one-on-one meeting with Stellantis on a whim which led to a successful internship with them, changing my whole career direction!”

SWE has begun planning the 2023 EWI event. If you are interested in learning more about it, please contact us at SWEEWI@mtu.edu.

As part of its Distinguished Lecturer Series, the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) will present a virtual talk by Zahra Motamed, McMaster University, at 3 p.m. next Friday (Oct. 7).

Motamed’s interests are in the areas of translational and basic cardiovascular mechanics. In her interdisciplinary research, she collaborates extensively with engineers, clinical scientists, surgeons and cardiologists in Canada, the United States and Europe.

Join the Zoom meeting.

Find out more about Motamed and read the abstract on the ICC Blog.

Michigan Tech volleyball will wrap up a five-match road trip at Lake Superior State today (Sept. 30) and at Ferris State tomorrow (Oct. 1).

The Huskies' first serve against the Lakers is 5 p.m. today. Tomorrow, Tech and Ferris will meet at 3 p.m.

Tech is 9-5 overall and 3-4 in the GLIAC.

Read match previews at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech football heads to Grand Rapids to play Davenport tomorrow (Oct. 1) in their first conference action of the 2022 regular season.

Kickoff is at noon. The game can be heard on 920 AM and 107.3 FM WMPL.

Last season, the Huskies defeated the Panthers comfortably 31-7 on Homecoming, but DU remains undefeated heading into the weekend at 3-0.

Read the game preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

No. 20 Michigan Tech hockey begins the season tomorrow (Oct. 1) with an exhibition game against Lake Superior State at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies and Lakers will meet for the first of five times this season at 2:07 p.m.

The Huskies will then host Lakehead University on Monday (Oct. 3) in another exhibition game. The puck drops against the Thunderwolves at 6:07 p.m.

Read game previews at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

A team including Department of Chemistry Ph.D. students Shobhit Chaturvedi (lead author), Bathir Sathik and Sodiq Waheed, and undergraduate students Jon Wildey (chemical engineering) and Cait Warner (biological sciences), and led by Christo Christov and Tatyana Karabencheva-Christova (Chem), has published an article in JACS Au.

The article is titled “Can Second Coordination Sphere and Long-Range Interactions Modulate Hydrogen Atom Transfer in a Non-Heme Fe(II)-Dependent Histone Demethylase?”

Christopher Schofield of the University of Oxford, U.K., is also a co-author of the article.

This research is supported by NIH grant GM139118.

The study reveals how residues in the second coordination sphere and beyond drive and control the reactivity of the non-heme iron(iv)-oxo complex of the histone demethylase PHF8 to perform the key hydrogen atom abstraction reaction in its catalytic mechanism.

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Ph.D. student Sodiq Waheed (chemistry) and Christo Christov (Chem) are participants in a collaborative experimental/computational study led by Nicolai Lehnert at the University of Michigan which was published in Chemistry – A European Journal.

The study, titled "YfeX – A New Platform for Carbene Transferase Development with High Intrinsic Reactivity," focuses on a redesign of YfeX enzyme as a platform for carbene transferase reactions. 

Victor Sosa Alfaro (lead author) and Hannah Palomino of the University of Michigan and Anja Knorrscheidt and Martin Weissenborn of Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, are co-authors of the manuscript.

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Ph.D. student Anne Linja (applied cognitive science and human factors) is the lead author of a journal article published in Multimodal Technologies and Interaction.

The article is titled "When Self-Driving Fails: Evaluating Social Media Posts Regarding Problems and Misconceptions about Tesla's FSD Mode."

Co-authors on the publication are Ph.D. student Tauseef Mamun (applied cognitive science and human factors) and Shane Mueller (CLS).

The article is available online.

Rick Koubek, University president, was quoted by Michigan Senate Republicans in a story on Senate Bill 78, which was passed by a Senate subcommittee Sept. 27. 

The bill provides planning authorization for projects at many of Michigan’s universities and community colleges, including MTU. It will now go before the Senate Committee on Appropriations for consideration.

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John Lehman, vice president for university relations and enrollment, was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story on the latest meeting of the Houghton Planning Commission. Lehman spoke to the commission about the University’s campus plan, which the University’s Board of Trustees will be asked to approve at their meeting next Friday (Oct. 7).

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Charles Wallace (CS) was quoted by the Keweenaw Report in a story on Michigan Tech’s ROBOT101 events planned for October. 

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azcentral mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the federal government’s new Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee. The committee’s 28 members are experts in sustainable purchasing from across the nation, with 24 from nonfederal sectors—including an academic from Michigan Tech.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about plans for a new residential neighborhood near Marquette, citing a University study on the Upper Peninsula’s housing shortage.

KIP September Seminar: Autonomic Control of Circulation

Please join us today (Sept. 30) at 3 p.m. in ATDC 101 for the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology's (KIP's) September Seminar.

Ida Fonkoue of the University of Minnesota, who holds a medical degree in addition to a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences earned at Michigan Tech, and Audrey Stone of the University of Texas-Austin, who holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, will present as part of a symposium on "Autonomic Control of Circulation for Health and Disease."

The seminar theme this semester is "Women in Health Science, Medicine, and Physiology." The schedule includes a great lineup of local-, regional- and national-level speakers.

More information about the seminar and speakers can be found on the KIP Newsblog.

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Services for Max Seel

The family and friends of former Michigan Tech Provost Max Seel will celebrate his life during the following services:

• Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, from 5-8 p.m. at O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock.
• Funeral Mass: Saturday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Albert the Great University Parish in Houghton.
• Memorial Reception: Saturday, Oct. 1, from 5-7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom at Michigan Tech.

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Lan Zhang, Jun Dai Presenting ICC/CC Lecture

Faculty members Lan (Emily) Zhang (ECE) and Jun Dai (COB) will present a lecture today (Sept. 30) from 3-4 p.m. in person in MEEM 403 and virtually via Zoom. (Please note the change of location from Rekhi 214.)

The lecture is part of the new faculty lecture series presented by the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) and the College of Computing (CC).

Zhang's research interests span the fields of distributed machine learning, wireless communications and cybersecurity in various cyber-physical systems (CPS) and Internet of Things applications. Dai's research interests lie in applying new technologies such as blockchain, Industry 4.0 and data analytics in the auditing profession.

Join the Zoom meeting.

Read more on the ICC Blog.

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Film Board Presenting 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'

This week, the Film Board is presenting "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," which is rated R.

Summary: In this action-packed comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, channeling his iconic characters as he's caught between a superfan (Pedro Pascal) and a CIA agent (Tiffany Haddish).

Showings:

• Friday, Sept. 30 — 5:30 p.m.*, 8:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 1 — 5:30 p.m.*, 8:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.

* 5:30 p.m. showtimes will be shown with subtitles!

Located on Michigan Tech's campus in Fisher 135.

Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1. We hope to see you at the movie this weekend, and have a great day.

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

The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque

Friday, September 30, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

THE ROZSA GALLERIES PRESENT ARABESQUE AN ART EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF CLEMENT YEH AND TOMAS CO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022 GALLERY HOURS: M-F 8...

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Advances in Membranes and Monoliths for Biopharmaceutical Product Capture and Purification

Friday, September 30, 10–11 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Chemical Engineering Research Seminar Dr. Ruben G. Carbonell Director, Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science NC State University Abstract In the last few...

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The Rozsa Presents: Movement of Joy - Lunch & Learn

Friday, September 30, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. |

THE ROZSA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS MOVEMENT OF JOY LUNCH AND LEARN Free

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Scaling Up Your Research from Single PI Grants to Multi-Institution Centers

Friday, September 30, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Health Research Institute Seminar Dr. Ruben Carbonell Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University Bio Ruben G. Carbonell is the...

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The Rozsa and Michigan Tech Music Present: Dr. Samantha Ege, Speaker

Friday, September 30, 2 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Backstage

THE ROZSA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC PRESENT SAMANTHA EGE, SPEAKER "Samantha Ege's work on the music of Florence Price has already been...

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Faculty Lecture: Lan Zhang and Jun DaI

Friday, September 30, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), 403

Faculty members Lan (Emily) Zhang, ECE, and Jun Dai, CoB, will present a lecture on Friday, September 30, 2022, from 3-4 p.m. in ME-EM 403, and via virtual meeting. Please...

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Negotiations

Friday, September 30, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

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Weekly Workshop

Friday, September 30, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | MEEM 0402

A weekly workshop to dive in and discuss the various concepts underlying LEAN and Continous Improvement. The workshop typically begins with assigning different concepts and...

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Film Board Presents: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Friday, September 30, 5:30 p.m.–7:15 p.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Nick Cage staring as Nick Cage in the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent at Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website...

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Michigan Tech Music Presents: The Jazz Problem - Duke Ellington and Percy Granger

Friday, September 30, 6 p.m. | Bring Your...

MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC PRESENTS THE JAZZ PROBLEM DUKE ELLINGTON AND PERCY GRANGER PERFORMED BY THE SUPERIOR WIND SYMPHONY PROGRAM Run Time TBD

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(Women's Soccer) Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan

Friday, September 30, 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

Women's Soccer: Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan

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Film Board Presents: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Friday, September 30, 8:30 p.m.–10:15 p.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Nick Cage staring as Nick Cage in the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent at Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website...

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Film Board Presents: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Friday, September 30, 11:30–1:15 a.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Nick Cage staring as Nick Cage in the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent at Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website...

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(Women's Tennis) Michigan Tech at Ashland

September 30, all day

Women's Tennis: Michigan Tech at Ashland, Ashland University Doubles Invitational

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(Women's Volleyball) Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State

September 30, all day

Women's Volleyball: Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State