Graduate School Newsblog

Reminder: Abstracts Due for the Eighth Annual ESC/BRC Student Research Forum

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This is a reminder that the abstracts for the poster competition are due Friday, Feb 24.

The Ecosystem Science Center, the Biotechnology Research Center and the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science invite graduate and undergraduate students conducting research related to ecology, the environment or biotechnology to submit titles and abstracts for poster presentations at the 8th Annual ESC/BRC Student Research Forum.

The event will be held on the afternoon of Friday, March 30, in the Atrium of the UJ Noblet Forestry Building.

The forum allows students working in these fields an opportunity to present their research to their peers and faculty. Graduate and undergraduate researchers participate in separate divisions.

The forum provides valuable experience for students preparing for poster sessions at regional or national meetings, as well as gives them recognition for their work. The forum also is a setting for students to showcase new results and see what others are doing.

We invite student participants to present their advanced or preliminary research findings as a research poster. Cash prizes will include one grand prize and up to four merit awards for each center in the graduate student division and one grand prize for each center in the undergraduate student division. Each student may present only one paper but may be included as a coauthor on others.

For more information, see Forum, or contact Jill Fisher, program manager for ESC, at 487-3564 or at jhfisher@mtu.edu or Mary Tassava, program manager for BRC, at 487-2959 or at mltassav@mtu.edu .

Published in Tech Today

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Bechtel Becomes First Corporate Partner to Sponsor an Interview Room on Campus

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There was a small doings with large implications at Career Services Monday.

Bechtel Corp., a long-time recruiter of Tech graduates, stepped forward to sponsor an interview room: the first corporation to do so and the first of what Career Services hopes will amount to 19 others doing the same thing.

A gift of $10,000 earned the company on-demand use, for two years, of a prominent, personalized room to interview students for jobs.

Monday’s gathering was a salute to Bechtel for its close ties to Michigan Tech. The ceremony coincided with the firm’s visit to campus for today’s Career Fair.

Their interview space will be put to good use. A Bechtel official said the firm has hired about 60 Tech graduates over the last five or six years.

Jim Turnquist, director of Career Services, said that Bechtel’s interest in hiring Tech graduates matches other companies’ interest: solid academics, hands-on experience in internships and co-ops, a solid work ethic, and an ability to work in teams—all hallmarks of a Tech education.

Anthony Santi, who graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2009 and a Master of Business Administration in 2011, now works for Bechtel. A native of Kingsford, he was on hand at the ceremony and says of his education. “I couldn’t be happier. This place is tough, but definitely worth it. You get that extra step. It prepares you exactly for what happens at work.” He said he especially learned time management and teamwork at Tech as he juggled work, classes, football and the Senior Design Program.

Bechtel’s interview room will be called the Bechtel Directors Suite. Julie Way, assistant director for Career Development Education, guides the initiative to have companies sponsor interview rooms. As well, she oversees efforts to coach students how to conduct an effective interview, write a resume, learn dining etiquette and more.

The funds raised will support more programs to help students get jobs. That effort begins with first-year students, Way said. “The sooner the better.”

Internships and co-ops, she added, are “the diamond on a resume,” and companies hire students for part-time employment in these programs as soon as the beginning of their sophomore year.

She adds about Career Services: “Ultimately we’re here for the students. We pay attention to companies so they pay attention to our students. Everbody wins.” The interview rooms, she concludes, promote a company’s recognition on campus and its brand.

Turnquist said that Bechtel’s relationship with Tech “has helped our students tremendously.” He added, “They have made a difference in the lives of many students.”

President Glenn Mroz summed up the collaboration succinctly. “We thank Bechtel for continuing to be a partner with Michigan Tech in hiring our students and spreading the word that Michigan Tech is a great place to find great employees.”

Published in Tech Today

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Spring 2012 Professional Development Seminars

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The Graduate School is pleased to announce it’s spring series of Professional Development Seminars held during the noon hour.  These seminars are open to undergraduate and graduate students as indicated below.  Seating is limited.  Please register online to reserve your seat and confirmation of the location.

Spring 2012 Professional Development Seminar Series

February 24

Use a LaTeX Template

March 23

Graduate Degrees

  • Opportunities, expectations, advantages, and potential drawbacks
  • Learn more about graduate education
  • Open to undergraduate students
  • Register online to reserve a seat

April 18

Get FUNDED, Get PAID, Get RECOGNIZED

  • Going to Graduate School as a DOD scholar, NSF fellow, or EPA STAR
  • Learn how to go to graduate school on a prestigious external fellowship/scholarship award
  • Open to undergraduate and graduate students
  • Register online to reserve a seat
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Nominations open for Dean’s Fellowships

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Nominations are now open for the Dean’s Fellowships. The primary goal of the Dean’s Fellowship program is to support Michigan Tech’s strategic plan goal of being an inclusive and welcoming campus for faculty, students, and staff who bring rich, diverse perspectives to our teaching, learning, and research.

Dean’s Fellowships provide partial support for the recipient’s first year in a PhD program. The support includes a stipend of $2,000 per academic-year semester (fall and spring) as well as full summer support (stipend plus minimum full-time tuition and fees).

Please see our web page for full details on eligibility and nomination procedure

Nominations are due no later than 4pm, March 15th.  Programs and students will be notified by April 2nd of their status.

Contact Debra Charlesworth for more information.

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NCAA Research Committee – Research Grant Program

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The NCAA Research Committee is pleased to announce the 2012 NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant Program. The program’s goals are:

  1. to stimulate research on college athletics;
  2. to foster contributions to the empirical research on college athletics;
  3. to provide financial support to graduate students interested in engaging in high-quality research related to college athletics, and
  4. to assist NCAA-member colleges and universities and the general public in gaining access to new and outstanding research and researchers in this field.

Research grants are available for graduate students only and are intended to support the student while conducting research to be used for a doctoral dissertation, master’s thesis, or external publication. Awards for these research grants are set at a maximum of $7,500 for one-year projects.

Research topics may include but are not limited to:

  • the impact of participation in intercollegiate athletics on the academic or social experiences of the student-athletes
  • best practices for academic advisement of student-athletes
  • the relationship between athletic time demands and academic success
  • student-athlete integration into the campus community
  • finances of intercollegiate athletics
  • student-athlete satisfaction with the college experience
  • diversity and inclusion issues in intercollegiate athletics
  • analytic philosophical/historical accounts of intercollegiate athletics
  • and student-athlete health and safety issues.

The deadline to submit an application is April 15, 2012.

Full details on the applications procedure are found online. Contact Tiese Roxbury, 317/917-6811 or troxbury@ncaa.org, if you have questions regarding the application or submission process.

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EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards

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The EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards support innovative research in energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering recent PhD recipients the opportunity to conduct applied research at universities, national laboratories, and other research facilities.  The objective of the EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards is to create the next generation of scientific leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy by attracting the best scientists and engineers to pursue breakthrough technologies.

More information and application materials can be found at
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/postdoctoral

Application deadline is May 1, 2012.  Benefits include:

  • Yearly stipend
  • Research and travel allowance
  • Health insurance
  • Relocation travel
  • Two years of support
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Scholarship Opportunities for Engineering Applicants

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The Michigan Tech Sustained Support to Ensure Engineering Degrees (SSEED) program (funded by NSF S-STEM) is in its second year of four. In 2011-12, the program  awarded five fellowships of $8,000 each to first-year engineering graduate students. The purpose of the graduate fellowships is to improve the recruitment of women and minorities to graduate study in engineering.

In 2012-13, the program will again award up to five graduate fellowships. The program also features mentoring and professional development opportunities. The application deadline is March 15 for undergraduate scholarships and May 1 for graduate fellowships. Share this information with qualified students.

For more information, see SSEED, or contact Michele Miller at 487-3025 or at mhmiller@mtu.edu.

Published in Tech Today.

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New Network Addresses Needs of Pregnant and Parenting Students

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More than 25 people gathered in mid-January for the inaugural meeting of the Pregnant and Parenting Students Network, a new campus resource.

Organizers are seniors Jen Van Domelen and Raeanne Madison, both of the scientific and technical communications program. Since becoming mothers three and four years ago, both women have celebrated, and lamented, the responsibilities involved in parenting while attending Michigan Tech. They recognized that the experiences of students with children are often unique compared to traditional students.

Van Domelen and Madison approached Don Williams, director of Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS), with the idea of creating a group for pregnant and parenting students. He was agreeable, and Erica Thompson, a graduate intern at CWS, helped to coordinate the formation of the group.

“We were relieved that Counseling and Wellness Services was so open and supportive of our idea,” Madison says. “Before, we always felt alone and anomalous, but now we know that there are many parents here who need support. We are happy to be able to reach out to others through this effort.”

At the first meeting, parents and their families connected with each other (often for the first time); were introduced to community resources that could help them; and offered ideas on how to improve the experiences of parents at Michigan Tech.

Van Domelen and Madison hope to continue working with the University to bring awareness of the needs of these students–and help make their University experience enjoyable and successful.

The network meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Daniell Heights Community Room. The next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 14; special Valentine’s Day activities will be provided for children. All meetings are free and open to students and their families.

For more information, contact CWS at 487-2538.

The initiative is being supported by the Michigan Tech Parents Fund and Housing and Residential Life.

submitted by Counseling and Wellness Services
Published in Tech Today

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PhD Internship Opportunities with Proctor and Gamble

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Procter & Gamble’s Doctoral Recruiting Program is currently accepting applications for a limited number of internship opportunities for students pursuing PhDs in most Engineering (all disciplines), Chemistry (all disciplines), Life Sciences (all disciplines), Mathematical Science, Material Science, Veterinary Science, and Nutrition.  The program is a paid, full time summer internship at our Cincinnati, OH or Boston, MA research facilities. The preferred period for the 10 to 12 week internship is June 1 to September 1. At P&G, Intern sessions are considered temporary employment, with a predicted ending point.  No full-time employment commitments are made; however, depending on satisfactory completion of certain criteria, candidates may be considered for full-time positions upon obtaining their PhD.

To Apply:

  1. Please go to www.experiencepg.com
  2. Click on Search Jobs
  3. Enter Job #RND00002218
  4. Click Apply
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