December 5, 2022

Michigan Tech has received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help students from underrepresented groups earn undergraduate degrees, enroll in graduate programs and obtain doctorates.

The five-year grant — $261,888 each year — funds the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at Michigan Tech, also known as the McNair Scholars Program. McNair scholars receive summer research experience with faculty mentors, opportunities to present at research conferences, assistance with preparing for graduate school and professional development toward completing a Ph.D.

Read more at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech Advancement and Alumni Engagement is pleased to announce the hiring of two assistant directors for major gifts. Patricia Link ‘84 and Patrick Mikesch ‘97 will both begin their duties next Monday (Dec. 12).

Link has spent the last 11 years working at Central Michigan University as a corporate underwriting representative for WCMU Public Media, where she generated $1.8 million in funding. Prior to that, she founded and ran Media Link Plus Inc., an advertising consultant firm. Link, who earned a bachelor’s in business administration from MTU in 1984, will work to secure major gifts for the College of Business.

Mikesch, a Hancock native, earned a bachelor’s in business administration in 1997. He will work to secure major gifts for the College of Computing and Michigan Tech Athletics. Mikesch has a vast network of connections with alumni and friends from across campus from his four years as a hockey student-athlete and seven seasons as assistant hockey coach at Tech. He has also served on several boards, including the Keweenaw Community Foundation Board, where he assisted donors with their philanthropic goals.

Adult Huskies Aquatics Program registration for spring 2023 will open Wednesday (Dec. 7) at 8 a.m. Two programs will be offered:

• 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 levels in a group setting. Each session is programmed with a warm-up and variations of a workout for the beginner, intermediate and advanced swimmer. Participants will be provided coaching and guidance to meet their individual swimming goals!
  
  
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons
  Provides aquatic education for the beginner to intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the fundamental four strokes.

Program Dates and Cost:

• Session 1 — Jan. 10 to Feb. 2 (registration closes Jan. 6 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Session 2 — Feb. 7 to March 2 (registration closes Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Session 3 — March 7 to April 6 (registration closes March 3 at 11:59 p.m., no class March 14 and 16)

Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday from 5-5:50 p.m. at the SDC Pool. Cost is $100 per session. A discount is available for SDC members.

For more information, visit Michigan Tech Recreation's Adult Huskies Aquatics page.

Today (Dec. 5), the Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) will be hosting our annual Summer Youth Programs Staff Reunion. This year's reunion features a chili cook-off. We invite all former staff members to come join us in Admin 217, across from Career Services, for chili tasting, games and familiar faces.

Festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. and the cook-off winner will be announced at 4:30 p.m. To RSVP to bring chili to enter, please fill out the RSVP form.

Thick as Thieves Student Gallery Showcase — Ends Tomorrow (Dec. 6)
Rozsa Art Galleries
Presented by Michigan Tech Art

Join us for an end-of-semester showcase featuring works of art from students in sculpture and design classes. Students from many campus disciplines are represented!

Learn more.

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Songs for the Moon — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
Presented by Michigan Tech Music
Performed by the Michigan Tech Choirs

Join the Michigan Tech Choirs for a concert that celebrates the beauty of moonlight and wintertime. The concert will include performances by the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers.

Get your tickets online, at 906-487-1906 or at the Rozsa Box Office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
Presented by Michigan Tech Music
Performed by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra performs an eclectic array of British symphonic music, Black Sabbath metal arranged by KSO Director Joel Neves, and the world premiere of a piece by Jazz Professor Emeritus Mike Irish. Featuring Adam Meckler on trumpet and flugelhorn. Headlined by history’s most romantic piano concerto: Rachmaninoff’s Second with Lindsay Garritson as soloist.

Get your tickets online, at 906-487-1906 or at the Rozsa Box Office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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TUBACHRISTMAS — 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11
Rozsa Lobby
Presented in collaboration with Michigan Tech Music

This annual December event occurs around the world in honor of the first truly great tuba virtuoso, William "Bill" Bell, who was born on Christmas Day. Tubists gather yearly in mass numbers around the globe to play songs of the season in performances free to the public. TUBACHRISTMAS concerts are presented with permission from the Harvey Phillips Foundation.

There are no tickets for this free event, and all are welcome to join the fun!

MonsterComp is an unofficial name for a uniquely designed and facilitated “incarnation” of UN1015 Composition. In addition to introducing students to college writing in a diverse and highly collaborative environment, MonsterComp serves as an introduction to college teaching for the Department of Humanities' graduate teaching assistants.

The MonsterComp students will present posters in a dynamic poster symposium model to talk about their semester's research in relation to the ROBOT101 theme. Come join us and learn about their research!

Details:

• What: MonsterComp Student Poster Presentations
• When: 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 7
• Where: In person in the U. J. Noblet Forestry Building Atrium

Michigan Tech Assistant Professor Hassan Masoud (ME-EM) will be presenting at the next Physics Colloquium.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 8) in Fisher 139.

Masoud's presentation is titled "Marangoni Surfing: From Theory to Application."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Shishir Chundawat will present as a part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series on Friday (Dec. 9) at 10 a.m. The presentation will be given virtually via Zoom.

Chundawat will present "Glycoengineering for a Cleaner, Healthier, and Sweeter Future."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Chundawat is an associate professor with the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Job Postings for Monday, Dec. 5, 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.

Laboratory Technician, Chemical Engineering. Apply online.

Assistant, Associate, or Senior Research Engineer or Scientist, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems. 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.

John Jaszczak (Physics/Museum) presented a talk titled "Minerals! - A Gateway to a Love of Science" during the online joint symposium of the Geological Curators Groups and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals on Dec. 1.

The talk introduced the audience to the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum and described the status of its educational project working with teachers to develop curricula for K-12 students visiting the museum.

A profile of former Husky Garrett Lord, co-creator of the Handshake app, was the Dec. 1 daily cover story in Forbes.

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Fox News and Yahoo! News referenced Simon Carn’s (GMES) comments in a NASA Earth Observatory story about the eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

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Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI) was quoted multiple times by Technology Networks in an article about the growth of chromatography in the production of vaccines.

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Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) was quoted by Fox 5 New York in a story about his research project BioPROTEIN, which recycles plastic waste into edible protein.

The research was highlighted in Michigan Tech’s 2022 Research Magazine.

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Steve Elmer (KIP) was quoted by the Keweenaw Report in coverage of the Michigan Tech Health Research Institute’s Dec. 1 U.P. Community Health Town Hall on mental health and well-being. A recording of the town hall can be watched on YouTube.

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Joe Shawhan (ATH) was quoted at length by the Daily Mining Gazette in a preview of the CCHA series between the Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan hockey teams. The series was also previewed by the Mining Journal.

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Undergraduate Joseph Pickens was quoted and Trish Helsel (VPA) was mentioned by WLUC TV6 and the Keweenaw Report in previews of Michigan Tech Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol,”  which ran Dec. 1-4 at the Rozsa Center. Pickens played Scrooge in the play and Helsel was the production’s director.

Lake Superior Magazine also mentioned “A Christmas Carol” in “Around the Circle This Week” on Dec. 1, alongside the Superior Wind Symphony concert “Hygge - Music of Scandinavian Composers.” The “Hygge” concert, held Dec. 3, was also previewed by WJMN Local 3.

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Ph.D. students Soufia Bahmani (computer science) and Emma Wuepper (industrial heritage and archaeology) and two other students were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in coverage of a rally held by Iranian students at Michigan Tech in solidarity with protests over the treatment of women in Iran.

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Michigan Tech hockey goaltender Blake Pietila was mentioned by NHL.com as a contender for this year’s Mike Richter Award, given to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division 1 hockey. 

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The Iron Mountain Daily News ran a guest editorial describing Michigan Tech alum Justin Mondeik ’19 (B.S., mechanical engineering) as “one of the Midwest’s brightest and most talked about upcoming stars” of late model stock car racing.

VPR Research Series: Update on Federal Research Funding and NSF Organizational Changes

Join us as we present the next session of the VPR Research Series: a virtual presentation led by Federal Science Partners (Michigan Tech’s Washington, D.C., based policy advocates) and the Office of the Associate Vice President for Research Development. The session will be held tomorrow (Dec. 6) from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.

The session will provide an overview of the current levels of research funding across various federal government agencies of interest, with a look at how these funding adjustments might affect opportunities for Michigan Tech researchers now and in the near future.

In addition, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has traditionally been one of Michigan Tech’s top research sponsors and the agency to which we submit the most proposals each year. The talk will discuss NSF's new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate, as well as a general update on the NSF budget and organizational changes.

A Q&A session will follow the presentation for attendees to ask questions and engage with the presenters to dig deeper into specific topics of interest.

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Toys for Tots Donations Now Being Accepted

The Registrar's Office is again participating in the annual Toys for Tots Campaign sponsored by the local Marine Corps League Detachment.

While you are out shopping for the holidays, consider purchasing a toy that will benefit a local child. Donations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9).

The program will accept new, unwrapped items for children up to age 16. The donation box is located on the first floor of the Administration Building, across from the elevators. If you have any questions about the program, contact the Registrar's Office at 7-2319 or visit the Toys for Tots website.

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Husky FAN In Need of Pantry Donations

Help the Husky Food Access Network (FAN) make sure no Husky is hungry this holiday season. Studies have shown that as many as half of college students in the U.S. experience food insecurity. The pantry has distributed over 1,820 pounds of food since the start of the semester, and there's no sign of slowing down!

Keep the Michigan Tech community fed by donating any nonperishable food items or toiletries. Donations can be made at any time by leaving items outside the pantry (in the Fisher Hall alcove across from Fisher 135).

The pantry is particularly in need of:

• Soup and canned pasta (Chef Boyardee or similar)
• Canned meat and fish
• Canned beans
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Snack foods
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Uncooked pasta and rice

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Talk: Balancing Autonomy and Supervision in Marine Robotic Vehicle Operations

Val Schmidt, principal research project manager with the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Joint Hydrographic Center at the University of New Hampshire, will give a talk today (Dec. 5) at 4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

Schmidt's presentation will highlight lessons learned from seven years of balancing autonomy and supervision of marine robotic vehicle operations.

From the abstract:
Since 2015, the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire has routinely operated autonomous (robotic) surface vehicles (ASVs) for marine science and hydrographic survey. Initial operations have been from smaller, two-person portable, battery-operated systems in inland areas or in distant locations not easily accessible or unsafe to crewed vessels. More recently, operations have involved diesel-powered, sea-going vessels, including the C-Worker 4 (ASV Global) and DriX (iXblue/exail) vehicles, capable of sustained operations for several full work days. The Center has deployed these larger systems from NOAA Ship Fairweather (2018), Exploration Vessel Nautilus (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 x3), NOAA R/V Shearwater (2017), and NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson (2019 and 2022). The Center has also deployed ASVs from shore in NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (2019 and 2021), and countless other day deployments from our own vessel and from shore off the New Hampshire coast. This talk will sprinkle sea-stories with a compendium of our lessons learned as we develop new technologies and operational modes to make the use of marine robotics for production science operations practical for NOAA and other operators.

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EPSSI Seminar: 'Molecular Modeling from the Mantle to Mars'

Join the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) from 4-5 p.m. today (Dec. 5) as we hear from James Kubicki, department chair and professor of earth, environmental and resource sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Kubicki will be presenting "Molecular Modeling from the Mantle to Mars" in the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building, M&M U113.

Kubicki will talk about methods of molecular modeling with classical and quantum techniques, with a focus on applications to a variety of problems. Beginning with work on modeling melts and melting in the mantle, the utility of computational techniques for expanding upon the range and detail of high P and T experiments will be explored.

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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Learn to Skate Program Registration Opens Today

Learn the basics of ice skating with Learn to Skate! Michigan Tech Recreation's Learn to Skate program offers fun, challenging and rewarding beginning skating classes for all ages and abilities. Students learn at their own level with others in their age group; classes are available for preschool-age children (3-6 years) and children age 7 years and older.

Sign-Up Info:

• Session dates: Jan. 15 to March 19, 2023 (no class March 5 and 12)
• Registration opens: Monday, Dec. 5, at 8:30 a.m.
• Registration closes: Monday, Dec. 26, at 11:59 p.m. (or when capacity is full for a specific class level)

Cost:

• Group Lessons
  Session: $108 per participant
  Session + Skate/Helmet Rental Package: $148 per participant
  
  
• Chaperone Practice Pass*
  Session: $40 per chaperone
  Session + Skate/Helmet Rental Package: $80 per chaperone
  * Only available to chaperone of beginner-level session skaters (Sam 1, Basic 1, Hockey 1). Chaperones must be 18 years or older. The practice pass is nontransferable.

For more information, visit Michigan Tech Recreation's Learn to Skate page.

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Seeking Input from Senior Design, Enterprise Teams and Advisors

Students in the Scientific and Technical Communication Practicum class are looking for ways to help Senior Design and Enterprise teams access resources and develop skills for the presentation and video portion of Design Expo. Their proposed solution is an optional Canvas course with a variety of different topics and information, as well as an optional monthly checkpoint and incentive system. The student team is seeking input on their project from current Senior Design and Enterprise students and advisors.

Students and advisors are invited to fill out a short survey form about the Design Expo presentation and video elements (the survey will remain live through Wednesday, Dec. 7).

Thanks for helping our team improve the Design Expo experience!

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Late Open Enrollment Available

If you missed Open Enrollment and want to make changes to your benefits, there will be a $25 late fee. This grace period will end Wednesday (Dec. 7) at 5 p.m.

Employees who did not complete the Open Enrollment process will default into a plan automatically. Please be aware that this may not be the plan you have chosen in previous years; therefore, it's highly encouraged that you complete the Open Enrollment process to assure you get the coverage you desire.

If you have any questions about benefits, eligibility and/or annual Open Enrollment changes, contact the Benefits Office at 7-2517 or benefits@mtu.edu.

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ChE Seminar: 'Glycoengineering for a Cleaner, Healthier, and Sweeter Future'

Shishir Chundawat will present a virtual seminar Friday (Dec. 9) as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series. This seminar can be viewed via Zoom.

The seminar is titled "Glycoengineering for a Cleaner, Healthier, and Sweeter Future."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Chundawat is an associate professor at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University, New Jersey. His multidisciplinary research works with carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), protein modeling and engineering, carbohydrate chemistry, biomanufacturing, and developing novel analytical techniques for characterization of glycans and protein/CAZymes-glycan interactions.

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W-2 and 1095-C Form Preparation for Employees

All employees, especially those who will receive paper W-2 and 1095-C forms, are encouraged to review their address in Banweb.

Electronic Delivery
Employees who have not already done so are strongly encouraged to consent to electronic delivery of their W-2 and 1095-C forms.

Benefits of electronic delivery include:

• Eliminating any chance that your forms and the sensitive information they contain will be lost or stolen during delivery.
• Accessing your forms earlier.
• Accessing your forms at any time, from any device with internet service.
• Contributing to cost and natural resource savings (paper, printing and postage).

To consent to electronic delivery, navigate to the Employees tab in Banweb, select Tax Forms and choose the Electronic Consent link. Check the boxes to consent to receive your forms electronically and submit your request.

Each year in January, notifications will be sent via email and posted in Tech Today when forms are available on Banweb.

Mail Delivery
Paper W-2s and 1095-Cs will be mailed to the W-2 address on file. If a W-2 address is not on file, forms will be sent to the mailing address. If neither a W-2 or mailing address is on file, forms will be sent to the home address.

To view/update current addresses, navigate to the Personal Information tab in Banweb and select Update Address(es) and Phone(s). Follow directions to update an existing address or add a new address type.

Paper forms will be mailed by Jan. 31, 2023. Please note: Requests for duplicate W-2s must be in writing and will be processed on or after Feb. 15, 2023.

Please contact Payroll Services at payroll@mtu.edu or 906-487-2130 with questions regarding W-2s. Questions regarding 1095-Cs can be directed to Benefit Services at benefits@mtu.edu or 906-487-2517.

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

Huskies Group Swim Lessons and Huskies Swim Clinic

Monday, December 5, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash with us! Registration for the following Spring 2023 Session 1 programs opens Wednesday, December 7th at 8:00am! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim...

Session 1 Spring 2023 Huskies Swim Clinic and Huskies Learn to Swim

Monday, December 5, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash with us! Registration for the following Spring 2023 Session 1 programs opens Wednesday, December 7th at 8:00am! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim...

ROBOT101: Poster Session 1

Monday, December 5, 9 a.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, Atrium

ROBOT 101 will present two in-person student poster sessions in December. These are the final ROBOT101 events. The posters have been prepared by first-year students in the...

Master's Defense: Benjamin Mohrhardt

Monday, December 5, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

Environmental Engineering Advisor: Daisuke Minakata The Photo-Transformation of Free Methionine in the Presence of Surrogate and Standard Isolate Dissolved Organic Matter...

Removing PFAS from Drinking Water: Performance, Cost, and Management of Residual Streams

Monday, December 5, 3 p.m.

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar/CEGE Alumni Speaker Series Thomas Speth, PhD, U.S. EPA Treatment performance and cost data are needed for compounds that go...

EPSSI Seminar: Dr. James Kubicki, Department Chair & Professor, Earth, Environmental & Resource Sciences, Univ. of Texas El Paso

Monday, December 5, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), Room U113

Molecular Modeling from the Mantle to Mars Abstract: Modeling geochemical reactions can be a versatile tool for understanding Earth's processes. This talk will briefly cover...

Monday Study Sessions!

Monday, December 5, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall 232

Get together with your peers to work on professional, personal and academic activities with help from undergrad and grad physics buddies! When: Every Monday evening from 5:30...

SAE Aero Design Weekly Meeting

Monday, December 5, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | SAE Aero Lab, MEEM 703

SAE Aero Design aims to offer valuable experience to Michigan Tech students of all majors interested in an extracurricular engineering & design opportunity. Come join our...

Connecticut 2022 Alumni Holiday Party

Monday, December 5, 7 p.m. | New England Brewing Co

Celebrate the season with us! Michigan Tech alumni & friends are invited to a holiday party at New England Brewing Co on Monday, December 5, 2022, from 7-9 p.m. The venue is...

Adult and Youth Huskies Tennis Lessons

December 5, all day | Gates Tennis Center

Youth Tennis Lessons: After school and weekend Youth Huskies Group Tennis Lessons are back this fall! Join by age group and level for some fun on the tennis courts! October 24...