GMES Faculty Candidate Presentation with Xiang Li

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) assistant professor candidate Xiang Li will give a presentation Monday (March 4) at noon in Dow 610. All are welcome to attend. Virtual attendance is invited via Zoom.

The presentation is titled "Integrating Satellite Remote Sensing and Geotechnical Modelling: A New Frontier to Predict Geosystem Failure."

From the abstract:
In recent years, severe storms driven by climate change have become more frequent globally, presenting significant threats such as triggering heavy floods and risking infrastructure safety. Meanwhile, remote sensing techniques such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) have been developed to a stage where they are capable of effectively measuring ground deformation with high precision, down to millimeter-scale resolution. This advancement offers valuable opportunities to interpret the hydromechanics of earthen materials, thereby aiding in the prediction of ground failures. In this talk, I will present a modeling framework to investigate the interaction between the hydraulic and mechanical behaviors of earthen materials and their impact on geosystems. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of geotechnical modeling and InSAR remote sensing techniques to simulate the velocity changes in slow-moving landslides and to further explore their potential to exhibit catastrophic acceleration.

Xiang Li is a postdoctoral scholar at the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science & Engineering of the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his Ph.D. in 2022 in civil engineering from Northwestern University. His primary research interest is geotechnical modeling, with an emphasis on the study of landslide dynamics triggered by precipitation. At UCLA, he has broadened his expertise by guiding the development of geomechanics theory on the basis of large datasets acquired via InSAR remote sensing. This approach not only allows him to obtain large-scale ground deformation data to train and improve the geotechnical models but also offers opportunities for future applications in soil-structure interaction, infrastructure resilience and earthquake engineering.

Sign Up for Virtual Workshop on Practical Problem Solving

The Office of Continuous Improvement is offering a virtual workshop, "Practical Problem Solving: Leveraging the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle," Thursday (March 7) from 9 a.m. to noon.

In this workshop, you’ll explore different problem-solving methods to experiment your way to your goals. Problem-solving in a continuous improvement culture is highly participative, focusing on the problem, not the person, and involving the people who actually do the work. We’ll use some online tools that will enable us to work as a team to solve a problem together.

To see the workshop description and register, complete our Upcoming Michigan Tech Lean Courses form or visit our website. Once registered, we'll add you to a calendar event for the course.

This workshop will be taught virtually using Zoom and Miro. There will be a couple of brief activities to demonstrate application of concepts before and after the workshop, then you'll receive a certificate. There’s no cost to Michigan Tech employees.

This stand-alone workshop is part of the Lean Basics workshop series. It can be taken independently, or, if you complete all five workshops in the series, we’ll award you a Lean Yellow Belt certificate! For more information, email improvement@mtu.edu.

Blake Pietila Named CCHA Goaltender of Month (Again)

Michigan Tech hockey goaltender Blake Pietila is the CCHA Goaltender of the Month for February. It's the second time this season and the eighth time in his career that he has been named the conference goaltender of the month.

Pietila went 3-2-1 during February with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. He earned one shutout and stopped over 25 shots four times, with three 31-save games: a 7-0 shutout win at Bowling Green on Feb. 23, a 3-1 win over Minnesota State on Feb. 9 and a 3-3 tie with Northern Michigan on Feb. 3.

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Hockey Wrapping Up Regular Season, Hosting St. Thomas

Michigan Tech hockey is hosting St. Thomas in the Huskies' regular-season finale this weekend.

The Huskies and Tommies will meet for the second time this season tonight (March 1) at 7:07 p.m. and tomorrow (March 2) at 6:07 p.m. at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. Both games will be livestreamed on FloHockey (a subscription is required — discounts are available for students).

Senior Night
The Huskies' eight seniors will be honored Saturday on Senior Night. Tyrone Bronte, Arvid Caderoth, Ryland Mosley, Blake Pietila, Jed Pietila, Logan Pietila, Blais Richartz and Levi Stauber will be recognized after playing their final regular-season home game.

Family Day
Saturday is also Vollwerth's Family Day. Fans can purchase a four-pack of tickets (two adult, two youth) for $60. The tickets come with four Vollwerth hot dogs and four sodas.

Read the preview at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Posting

Job Posting for Friday, March 1, 2024

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

General Manager, Transportation Services. 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 humanresources@mtu.edu.

In Print

Katie Sullivan (VPOL) is the author of a horror short story published in the most recent issue of the online literary journal "Grim & Gilded."

Sullivan's short story, titled "The Woodshed," is set during a blizzard on the shore of Lake Superior.

In the News

Nancy Langston (SS/CFRES) was quoted by Michigan Public in a story about the impacts of climate change on Michigan winters and the residents whose identities and livelihoods are tied to the winter season. The story was picked up from Bridge Michigan.

*****

Resilience.org mentioned Michigan Tech in a story advocating for the restoration of wolves to their historic ranges. The story referenced a 2023 MTU study assessing how changing gray wolf genetics impacted the Isle Royale National Park ecosystem over two decades. The study describes the genetic impact of a single wolf, “The Old Gray Guy,” whose story was featured on Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

Reminders

March Deadline for Michigan Tech Fund Endowment Check Requests

Please remember to submit check requests for disbursements from Michigan Tech Fund Endowed Funds to mtfchecks@mtu.edu by next Friday (March 8) to meet the deadline for the March 27 payment date.

*****

1095-C Forms Available on Banweb

The electronic Form 1095-Cs are now available on Banweb for all Michigan Tech employees who have consented to an electronic copy. Paper copies of the Form 1095-Cs were mailed out Wednesday (Feb. 28).

Form 1095-C is an annual reporting form of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that provides information about the health coverage offered by your employer.

If you would like to receive an electronic copy of your 1095-C, it's not too late:

  • Log in to Banweb
  • Select "Employees"
  • Select "Tax Forms"
  • Select "Electronic Consent (W-2 and 1095-C)"
  • Click both check boxes
  • Click "Submit"

*****

Finance Your Innovation Workshop: Registration Ends Today

Are you working on your business pitch or getting ready to raise capital for your startup business?

Join us Tuesday (March 5) from 4-5:15 p.m. on Zoom for a Finance Your Innovation Workshop presented by Patrick Visser, chief commercial officer at the MTEC SmartZone.

This workshop will cover startup company capital fundraising planning with an overview of strategies such as bootstrapping, angel, venture capital and growth capital financing. Additionally, Visser will cover the importance of milestones-based planning, reality checks, strategies and developing financial projections (pro forma).

This workshop is open to the community. Register to attend by the end of today (March 1).

*****

New Student and Temporary Employment Hiring Process, Form I-9 Requirements

Human Resources is updating the process for hiring all student and temporary employees. Beginning Monday (March 4), departments wishing to hire students or temporary employees must email hr-help@mtu.edu or visit the HR Support Center. New hires must provide original documentation regarding Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. No new hires will be allowed to work without providing the required documentation.

Detailed steps for the updated hiring processes can be found on the Student Hiring and Short Term/Casual/Seasonal Hiring websites.

Today's Campus Events

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

Simple Machines: Poetry, Letterpress, and the Art of the Little Magazine Presented by Michigan Tech Art

Simple Machines is a two-edition, international, letterpress poetry magazine founded and edited by Michigan Tech’s M. Bartley Seigel, funded through a Research Excellence...

*****

Graduating and Still Looking? Walk In for Coffee and a Chat

Are you graduating soon and need help finding a job? Come in for a coffee and chat with one of our career advisors. We can help tailor your search, review your resume, bounce...

*****

(Men's Ice Hockey) St. Thomas vs. Michigan Tech

Men's Ice Hockey: St. Thomas vs. Michigan Tech