October 20, 2022

In recent months, Mail Services has received billing statements for shipments not made through the centralized shipping account for Michigan Tech. We have discovered that many personal/individual FedEx accounts have been opened and are being used for both outbound shipments and return shipping charges. Purchasing and Mail Services would like to remind members of the campus community that only authorized individuals in Mail Services, Purchasing and Central Receiving may open shipper accounts on behalf of the University.

To assist with your shipping needs, University-wide FedEx and UPS accounts are in place to benefit all departments. Unlike an individual account, these Michigan Tech accounts include negotiated discounts — most of which result in substantial savings to your budgets.

When a shipment is not properly prepared through the University shipper account, FedEx randomly selects an account connected to the University, even if the individual who opened the account is no longer affiliated with Michigan Tech. Due to FedEx policy, Mail Services staff are unable to assist with these cases because we are not named on the individual account(s). As a result, the department affiliated with the individual account is responsible for any charges incurred — regardless of whether the shipment was on behalf of that department.

Faculty and staff who have an individual shipper account are strongly encouraged to contact the shipping company and close the individual accounts. Simply discontinuing use will not resolve the issue and may result in future charges.

Mail Services staff are available to assist with shipping options and are also happy to assist in preparing the proper paperwork for shipments to ensure you receive the best possible rate.

Contact Mail Services at mail-services-l@mtu.edu or 906-487-2348 with questions or for more information.

Conflict Resolution Day was conceived in 2005 by the Association for Conflict Resolution to:

1. Promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful means of resolving conflict.
2. Promote the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, governments and the legal system.
3. Recognize the significant contributions of (peaceful) conflict resolvers.
4. Obtain national synergy by having celebrations happen across the country and around the world on the same day.

The third Thursday of October has become a time to promote and celebrate peaceful conflict resolution practices worldwide. Dedicated dispute resolution practitioners are helping to educate the public about mediation and other innovative conflict management processes.

Michigan Tech's Conflict Resolution Network is working to raise awareness of the importance of mediation and conflict resolution. The network has a number of faculty and staff who are trained as mediators and/or facilitators to assist individuals with resolving interpersonal conflicts.

For more information, check out the Conflict Resolution Network at Michigan Tech.

The Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience has three funding opportunities to announce!

1. The Sustainable and Resilient Communities Faculty Research Fellowship is intended to provide support for faculty to buy out one or more courses for a semester (fall 2023 or later) to focus on external funding proposal development and contributing to the growing research community focused on sustainability and resilience at Michigan Tech.
   Please access the fellowship info document or email Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu for more information.
   
   
2. The Sustainable and Resilient Communities Early Career Award is intended to provide support for early-career researchers on campus (assistant professors or research staff in the first five years) who have already used their start-up funding or who have limited access to start-up funds as seed funding to support sustainability and resilience research. Please access the award info document or email Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu for more information.
   
   
3. The Sustainable and Resilient Communities New Directions Research Award is intended to support researchers on campus who are not eligible for the early-career award mentioned in No. 2 above, but who are interested in pursuing a new direction in their work, associated with sustainable and resilient communities.
   Please access the award info document or email Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu for more information.

Applications for all three of these awards are due via email to Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu by Jan. 27. You are encouraged to reach out via email with questions and to discuss your ideas!

The Faculty Research Fellowships are expected to occur in the fall 2023 or spring 2024 semesters; the Early Career Award and New Directions Award should include budgets with planned expenditures before July 1.

To celebrate Open Access (OA) Week, we’ve been highlighting the capabilities of the Digital Commons repository platform that Michigan Tech uses as its institutional repository. Today, we’d like to highlight one author who shared her story of how she’s benefitted from having her dissertation available OA on Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech. 

Michigan Tech alum Rebecca Frost ’15 (Ph.D., rhetoric, theory, and culture) shared with the Graduate School that in 2016, she was contacted by an editor at McFarland who had located her dissertation, “Identity and Ritual: The American Consumption of True Crime,” and was interested in supporting future publications. Frost went on to publish four titles with the publisher which, in turn, have led to appearances on the History Channel and international podcasts.

Frost’s story doesn’t end there. When an interview service hired by a streaming service located her dissertation, they asked to consult her for future true crime documentaries. Additionally, author Alicia Thompson sought out Frost to research a character in her recent novel, "Love in the Time of Serial Killers," a woman writing a dissertation about true crime.

“Alicia told me mine was the only such real dissertation she could find, so we spent a lot of time writing back and forth about my experience and my work,” said Frost. In addition, popular entertainment and news platforms Mashable and Bustle have shared the dissertation. 

Frost’s story is just one example of how publishing Open Access can lead to increased citations and career opportunities. The Graduate School and Van Pelt and Opie Library are proud to support Michigan Tech graduates in making their works accessible worldwide so that all student authors have the opportunity to similarly benefit.

The Graduate School is seeking facilitators for our Orientation to Graduate Studies and Research online training. This training fulfills the basic Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training required for all graduate students by the America Competes Acts.

Facilitators will interact online with a group of graduate students beginning Jan. 6 and ending approximately Jan. 13. These students have been accepted into research-based graduate programs, so this is an excellent opportunity for faculty to meet their new students or for senior Ph.D. students to welcome them into the program.

We will hold a Zoom orientation to highlight your responsibilities Jan. 4 from 2-3 p.m.. Please register online to participate.

Please contact Debra Charlesworth at ddc@mtu.edu with any questions.

Sigma Pi and Theta Chi Epsilon's 35th Annual Haunted Haus is scheduled to scare the Houghton area next Friday and Saturday (Oct. 28 and 29) from 7 p.m to midnight. It will be held at the Sigma Pi Fraternity House at 1206 College Ave., Houghton.

Tickets go on sale for $7 in Fisher Hall and the Van Pelt and Opie Library from Monday to Friday (Oct. 24 to 28) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or for $10 at the door.

Raffle tickets will be sold at the door of the Haunted Haus for $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5. Enter for a chance to win gift cards and other prizes! All proceeds will go to the Dial Help and Pigs-N-Heat foundations.

Randall E. Winans of the X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, will be presenting the next seminar in the Chemistry Seminar Series.

Winans' seminar is titled "Using X-ray Scattering and Spectroscopy to understand the Chemistry of Energy Issues."

The seminar will be held tomorrow (Oct. 21) at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 101.

Winans was elected to the Michigan Tech Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1997. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from MTU in 1971.

The next speaker in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics' (ME-EM's) next Graduate Seminar will present at 4 p.m. today (Oct. 20) in MEEM 112.

Wayne Gersie will present “Characteristics of a 21st Century Scholar Innovation, Research and DEIS.”

As the inaugural vice president for diversity and inclusion at Michigan Tech, Gersie is responsible for providing vision, strategic leadership and thoughtful change management for campus diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging (DEIS) initiatives.

Are you currently teaching or planning to teach an online course? Do you have questions about how to start the course development process, how to prepare for a course review or how to improve an existing online course? If this sounds like you, then make plans to join your colleagues and the online design team from the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for a Coffee Chat on Nov. 1 at 3:45 p.m. in the Van Pelt and Opie Library's East Reading Room.

Learn about course development best practices, including the recommended development schedule and resources the CTL can offer, and get answers to your unique challenges as you begin your development efforts. You’ll also hear from two Michigan Tech instructors who have gone through the development process and are ready to share their experiences with you.

Register to attend the CTL Coffee Chat featuring our online design team.

Please also take a moment to complete the short pre-event survey.

Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series tomorrow (Oct. 21) at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 211 or virtually via Zoom.

Lapizco-Encinas will present “Nonlinear Electrokinetics for Microscale Bioparticle Analysis."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Lapizco-Encinas is a professor and a founding faculty member at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her research is focused on the development of electrokinetic-based microdevices that answer the needs for clinical/biomedical applications, food safety and environmental monitoring.

Michigan Tech hockey's Blake Pietila has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week.

Pietila backstopped Tech to a nonconference series sweep at Alaska over the weekend. The Howell, Michigan, native broke Michigan Tech's record with his 11th career shutout Thursday (Oct. 13) in a 2-0 victory, stopping 33 shots. In the Huskies' 6-2 win Friday (Oct. 14), he made 23 saves.

Pietila ranks sixth in the nation with a .952 save percentage and ninth with a 1.35 goals-against average.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech volleyball's defensive specialist Carissa Beyer is the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight time.

Beyer was named to the Midwest Region Crossover All-Tournament Team after she helped lead the Huskies to a 2-1 record last weekend, anchoring the defense with 6.36 digs per set while also adding 12 assists and five aces. She tallied 20 digs in a 3-0 loss to Ashland and added 33 digs in a 3-2 win over Indianapolis on Friday (Oct. 14). Beyer went on a streak of four matches with over 20 digs. In the Huskies' sweep of Cedarville on Saturday (Oct. 15), Beyer dug up 17 balls.

The Appleton, Wisconsin, native ranks third in the GLIAC at 4.83 digs per set and is second on the team with 19 service aces. She has hit double figures in digs 19 times this season, with five matches over 20 digs and two over 30.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech soccer goalkeeper Gracie VanLangevelde has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

VanLangevelde helped the Huskies in a weekend sweep against Parkside (2-0) on Friday (Oct. 14) and Purdue Northwest (2-0) on Sunday (Oct. 16). The Spring Lake, Michigan, native totaled five saves en route to her seventh and eighth shutouts of the season.

This is VanLangevelde's second Defensive Player of the Week honor, with her first coming on Oct. 4.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Thursday (Oct. 20)
• Apex Legends vs. Various, 7 p.m., Phase One Fall Series
• Super Smash Brothers: Ultimate vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 7 p.m., NACE Starleague 
• Overwatch 2 vs. Central Michigan, 7 p.m., NACE Starleague
• League of Legends vs. Maryville, 7 p.m., NACE Starleague 

Friday (Oct. 14)
• CSGO vs. Old Dominion, 7 p.m., NACE Starleague
• Overwatch 2 vs. Lafayette, 7:30 p.m., Activision-Blizzard Collegiate
• Overwatch 2 vs. Stephen F. Austin, 9 p.m., Activision-Blizzard Collegiate

Times are subject to change. Check Twitter @MTUEsports for updates.

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Esports News
Read more in the MTU Esports weekly update.

Job Postings for Thursday, Oct. 20, 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, Electrical and Computer Engineering. Apply online.

Assistant Professor – Infectious Disease Biology, Biological Sciences. Apply online.

Food Service Helper (12 months/ part-time, no base/ shifts vary) #22301-22308, Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates Oct. 20 to Oct. 26, 2022 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Food Service Helper (nine months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22298-22300, Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates Oct. 20 to Oct. 26, 2022 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, 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.

Elizabeth Veinott (CLS/MTTI) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $69,701 research and development contract from Virginia Tech.

The project is titled "Multi-Site Simulation to Examine Driver Behavior Impact of Integrated Rail Crossing Violation Warning (RCVW) and In-Vehicle Auditory/Visual Alert (IVAA) System."

Pasi Lautala (CEGE/MTTI) is a co-PI on this potential 2.5-year project.

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Simon Carn (GMES/EPSSI) is the PI on a project that has received a $13,274 research and development grant from NASA.

The project is titled "Enhanced DSCOVR/EPIC SO2 and ash products for volcano science applications."

This is a potential three-year project.

Erin Smith (HU) was quoted by Radio Results Network in a story about the upcoming 41 North Film Festival, taking place Nov. 3-6 at Michigan Tech’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

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Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) was quoted by Packaging Insights in a story about his lab’s research project, BioPROTEIN, which recycles waste plastics into edible protein powder and lubricants — “food and fuel,” per Techtmann — using bacteria.

The research was the subject of a story in Michigan Tech’s 2022 Research Magazine.

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Escanaba’s Daily Press published a feature on recent Husky graduate Sarah Anderson ’22 (M.S., accounting). 

According to the story, Anderson was the second student in University history to successfully complete all four CPA exams before graduating. She is currently employed by CliftonLarsonAllen — the eighth-largest accounting firm in the U.S.

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WNMU-FM mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about UP Pathways to Employment, a program aimed at supporting the demand for advanced manufacturing talent in the Upper Peninsula. 

The University’s mobile lab will support the initiative by providing both outreach and training offered by Michigan Tech. The lab, based in a 53-foot semi-trailer, was called a “key asset” to the effort.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about state grants awarded to several Copper Country organizations by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. Tech’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts was listed as one of the grant recipients.

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StudyFinds picked up WalletHub’s “Best Colleges and Universities for 2023,” which ranked Michigan Tech at No. 177 nationally among the top 500 U.S. institutions included on the list.

Open Forum on University Senate Meeting Times

Would you like University Senate meetings to be at a different time? Do you feel strongly that they should stay the way they are?

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Evaluate the Timing of Senate Meetings is hosting an open forum to discuss the challenges our constituents face regarding the timing of Senate meetings and solicit input on the subject. The Senate currently meets on alternating Wednesdays beginning at 5:30 p.m. with no set ending time.

The forum will be held Friday (Oct. 21) from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.

If you are unable to make the meeting and want to share your opinion, or if you would like to join the committee, please email senate-meeting-time-evaluation-l@mtu.edu.

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Physics Colloquium: 'Materials Science with 2D Atomic Layers'

Pulickel Ajayan of Rice University will be presenting at the next Physics Colloquium.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. today (Oct. 20) in Fisher 139.

Ajayan's presentation is titled "Materials Science with 2D Atomic Layers."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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Pajama Day!

Please Join the Wadsworth Hall Student Association and Residence Education staff in wearing pajamas on campus tomorrow (Oct. 21). This is to raise awareness and promote healthy sleep habits on campus — and prove that Tech students do sleep!

We encourage you to take time tomorrow to talk to students about sleep and what your healthy sleep habits are.

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This Week’s C3 Luncheon

 Menu for Thursday (Oct. 20):

• Chicken Tandoori (Gluten-Friendly)
• Yellow Lentil Dal (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)
• Zucchini Panchmael (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)
• Saffron Rice (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)
• Garlic Naan (Vegan)

Dining Services presents this week's C3 Luncheon, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C3 lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by executive chef Michael Landini 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 C3 feedback using our Google form. To join the C3 Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

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

The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque

Thursday, October 20, 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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Women in the Academy Fall Social

Thursday, October 20, 8:30–10:00 a.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Women in the Academy (WIA) is pleased to host a fall social to welcome new faculty to campus, rekindle connections and social interactions that have been on hold over the past...

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Robot101 - Historical influences on Čapek's R.U.R.

Thursday, October 20, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

As part of the Robot101 initiaitve this fall (robot101.mtu.edu), join us to hear Jindrich Toman from the University of Michigan exploring the historical influences on Karel...

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What does a USDA Forest Service Research Ecologist actually do?

Thursday, October 20, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, G002

The Ecosystem Science Center welcomes invited guest Dr. Erik Lilleskov, Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service and Adjunct Professor in the College of Forest...

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CDI Resource Tour - Pavlis Honors College

Thursday, October 20, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Hamar House Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Lobby

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion is planning the CDI Resource Tour for this coming semester. Join to be entered to win one of our weekly prizes, including gift cards,...

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Characteristics of a 21st Century Scholar Innovation, Research and DEIS

Thursday, October 20, 4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), 112

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Wayne Gersie, PhD Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Michigan Technological University Abstract This...

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LEED Green Associate Program Training

Thursday, October 20, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Who: Open to MTU Students and Employees Dates: The class will be held on five Thursdays, starting October 13, 2022. Time: 4–6 p.m. Location: Chem Sci 211 Instructor: Joe...

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Physics Colloquium - Professor Pulickel Ajayan

Thursday, October 20, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Pulickel Ajayan of Rice University will be presenting at the next Physics Colloquium. Please join the in-person presentation at 4:00 PM EST Thursday (October 20) in Fisher...

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Study Away Faculty-Led Info Session

Thursday, October 20, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 120A

Do you have spring break or summer plans? Consider participating in a faculty-led study AWAY program next spring and/or summer to earn Michigan Tech Credit and travel with...

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Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Fall 2022 Session 2

Thursday, October 20, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 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...

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Adult Huskies Swim Training Fall 2022 Session 2

Thursday, October 20, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 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...

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HTX Alumni Social

Thursday, October 20, 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Houston, TX

Reconnect with Houston-based alumni with a social gathering on Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 5-7 p.m (CT) at Brass Tacks. Traveling to this event will be students, faculty,...

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Yoga

Thursday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Wads Annex (G111W)

Come hang out with our team and spend an hour doing a beginner's yoga session as a part of our Mental Health Awareness Month. During this week, we will be focusing on the...

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Pumpkin Carving

Thursday, October 20, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | MUB Commons

Get into the Halloween Spirit with us and come carve pumpkins! Test your artistic ability and see what creations you can come up with. Will it be a perfect rendition of the...

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Michigan Tech Sound and Michigan Tech Theatre Present: R.U.R.

Thursday, October 20, 7:30 p.m. | McArdle Theatre

MICHIGAN TECH SOUND AND MICHIGAN TECH THEATRE PRESENT R.U.R. by Karel Čapek Adapted for Audio Drama by Lee Eric Shackleford The seating for this show is general admission....