Graduate School Newsblog

Geology Graduate Student Honored

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Graduate student Patrick Manzoni (GMES) received the platinum corporate sponsor award for his outstanding student abstract at the 54th annual meeting of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, held in Anchorage, Alaska.

Manzoni was selected as one of the three awardees based on his abstract, “Slope Stability Analysis of the Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala, Using Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element Method.” A review committee of three AEG members selected Manzoni’s abstract from more than 30 student abstracts. The fieldwork forming the basis of the research was conducted as part of the Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) project.

Published in Tech Today

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Tech Reseachers Honored for Great Lakes Research

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The International Association for Great Lakes Research has honored five Michigan Tech faculty members and students.

The Chandler-Misener Award for the outstanding article published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research (JGLR) in 2010 was given to coauthors Professor W. Charles Kerfoot, PhD student Foad Yousef (Biological Sciences), Professor and Chair Sarah A. Green (Chemistry), former faculty member Judith W. Budd (GMES), and David J. Schwab and Henry A. Vanderploeg of NOAA.

Their paper, “Approaching Storm: Disappearing Winter Bloom in Lake Michigan,” documented the disappearance of a “doughnut” of phytoplankton in southern Lake Michigan associated with the proliferation of quagga mussels.

The award was presented to Kerfoot at the 54th International Conference on Great Lakes Research in Duluth, Minn. The Chandler-Misener Award acknowledges the most notable paper based on originality, contribution and presentation.

Cory McDonald, a recent PhD graduate in environmental engineering, received the JGLR/Elsevier Young Student Award. This award is given to “emerging young scientists with a JGLR article ranked in the top 10, as determined by the IAGLR Chandler-Misener Review Committee.” Recipients receive a complimentary one-year IAGLR membership and a $750 cash prize.

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Tech-trained Teacher Meets President Obama

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Lorentyna Baldus, a science teacher in Grand Rapids who went through special training with Michigan Tech faculty and graduate students in a National Science Foundation-funded program MiTEP (Michigan Teaching Excellence Program), was laid off this summer by Grand Rapids Public Schools. After being recommended by Graduate School Dean Jacqueline Huntoon, Baldus was chosen by the National Science Teachers Association to meet President Barack Obama and tell her story.

“I was able to stand on the steps of the Rose Garden during President Obama’s speech!” she wrote to Huntoon. “What an experience to meet the president and vice president!”

The dean, who described Baldus as “awesome,” said that MiTEP promotes not only better science education, but leadership among teachers.

Michigan Tech’s $4 million grant was one of only four awarded nationwide to establish math and science teacher institutes. The institutes are part of a larger NSF program called Math and Science Partnership.

Baldus said she is hoping to be called back to work soon.

by Jennifer Donovan, director of public relations
Published in Tech Today

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Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program

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The civilian sector of the Department of Defense (DoD) is now accepting applications from master’s level graduate students for the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program

The PMF is a two year internship program open to graduate students in their final year of study that will allow them great experience and the opportunity to become a full-time employee of the federal government upon completion of the fellowship. The application is open only to those graduate students in their final year of study and the fellowship begins after graduating.

The deadline for applications is September 25th and for nominations is September 30th!

More information about the application process, including: eligibility, timeline and the selection process is available on their official website, www.pmf.gov.  If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Rhea-Ann Moses at rhea-ann.moses@cpms.osd.mil

Contact Information:

Rhea-Ann L Moses
Michigan Technological University STAR Representative
Recruitment Assistance Division
Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service
Phone: (703) 501 – 9673

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Prestigious Scholarships Workshops/Informational Meetings Announced

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A series of workshops and informational sessions for prestigious scholarships are free and open to students and faculty. Here are the details:

  • Who am I? Writing about yourself on essays.
    5 to 6 p.m., today, Sept. 20, Fisher 125
    Bring your resume.
  • The Fulbright Scholarship
    3 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, Fisher 132
    US citizens and permanent residents only.
  • Writing the Essays
    7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, Fisher 101
    Either bring one you’re working on or sample questions will be provided. Bring paper and pencil/pen.
  • Reference Letters
    Noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 12, ME-EM 405

For more information, contact Associate Professor Mary Durfee (SS) at 487-2112, or at mhdurfee@mtu.edu .

Published in Tech Today.

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Panel Reviewer Tips on the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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Sponsored Program Enhancement will be hosting the following panel session, Panel Reviewer Tips on the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program on Thursday, September 22nd from noon to 1:00 in Ballroom 3 of the Memorial Union. Panel speakers include:

Dr. Michele Miller, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Dr. Linda Ott, Computer Science

Dr. Aurenice Oliveira, Electrical Engineering Technology

Drinks and dessert will be served.  Registration for the panel session is available at: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/research/vpr/registration/index.php?session_id=57.  Please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) with any questions.

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Tech among Four Michigan Schools Named Top National Universities

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Michigan Tech joins three other Michigan schools ranked among the top universities in the nation in US News & World Report’s 2012 edition of “Best Colleges.”

In addition to Michigan Tech, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University were all included in US News’ list of the nation’s top national universities. Now ranked 115, Michigan Tech continues its climb on the list, a spot it shares with Washington State University, Howard University in Washington, DC, and the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

“We can’t infer too much from a small change in our ranking, but it is going in the right direction, from 121 in 2010, to 117 in 2011, to 115 today,” said Max Seel, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are making progress toward our goal of becoming a premier technological research university.” Among the nation’s public universities, Michigan Tech was ranked 57, the same as in 2011.

Also, Michigan Tech joins Michigan State and the University of Michigan on the “Best Colleges” list of top US engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate. Tech was ranked 66, up from 74 in 2011. “We’re in very good company,” said Dean Tim Schulz (COE). “It’s gratifying to be recognized by our peers as one of the leading engineering programs, both within Michigan and nationwide.”

In addition, Tech was included among the “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” a category comprising top-quality universities that also admit a significant proportion of students with ACT scores between 20 and 30. “This speaks to the attention our undergraduate students are receiving,” said Seel. “It highlights the level and quality of our education and is an important indicator of student satisfaction.”

Rankings don’t tell the whole story, he added. “While we appreciate the recognition from US News, we know that the best measure of our success is the success of our graduates,” Seel said. “Employers recognize the value of a Tech education. We already have 225 companies signed up to recruit our students during the upcoming fall Career Fair, up from 160 a year ago, so we can expect to surpass last year’s placement rate of 87.5 percent.”

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Spring 2012 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

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Nominations for spring Finishing Fellowships are now open. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 4pm on October 26th.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Must be a PhD student.
  2. Must expect to finish in spring.
  3. Must have submitted no more than one previous request for funding.
  4. Must be eligible for Research Only Mode in spring.

Previous recipients of a Finishing Fellowship are not eligible.

Please see our application page for details on the application procedure. Please direct any questions you have about the application or review process to Debra Charlesworth.

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AAHHE/USDA-NIFA/TAMUCC Outstanding Thesis Competition

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This competition is open to any Hispanic who has completed a thesis that focuses on Food and the Agricultural Sciences, between December 2010 and August 30, 2011.  Theses are eligible if they are in domains related to the USDA priority areas, including

  • Food Safety
  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Childhood Obesity

The top three winners will be invited and sponsored to attend the 7th Annual AAHHE National Conference (March 8-10, 2012) in Costa Mesa, California to present their theses and receive their award, as well as participate in a Career Preparation Institute. The first place winner will receive an award of $3,000, the second place winner will receive $2,000, and the third place winner will receive $1,000.

Deadline to submit a thesis abstract for the competition:  September 30, 2011, 5pm CST.

For additional details concerning the requirements and regulations, please refer to the AAHHE website.

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Tech’s Enrollment Tops 7,000

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With well over 7,000 students, enrollment is at its second-highest point since 1983.

Data reported to the State Budget Office on Wednesday, Sept. 7, show total enrollment at 7,031, a 1 percent increase over fall 2010’s official figure of 6,976.

Female enrollment is up for the sixth straight year to an all-time high of 1,837, or 26.1 percent of the student body.

Graduate enrollment increased approximately 5 percent, with a record 1,303 students seeking master’s and PhD degrees, up from 1,256 in fall 2010. “We broke through 1,300 for the first time and processed 3,000 applications, another record number,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “Graduate enrollment continues to increase in accordance with our strategic-plan goal of having 3,000 grad students by 2035.”

“Of our on-campus enrollment, growth is strongest among international students, and we are very pleased that students are drawn here from all over the world to pursue a graduate degree,” she said. Many are self-supporting or are supported by their employers or home countries, she noted. “They provide an economic boost both to the University and to the local community.”

Another area of growth is distance learning. The number of students seeking a graduate degree online is up markedly, from 58 to 106.

Undergraduate enrollment is up as well, with 5,728 students compared to last year’s 5,720. The number of new first-year students grew from 1,115 to 1,161, an increase of approximately 4 percent. The freshman class will also include more women: 288 as compared to 273 in 2010.

In addition, the academic credentials of the entering freshman class are up for the sixth straight year, with a record-setting average ACT composite score of 26.4, compared to last year’s 26.1.

“Smart, adventurous students want to study with other smart, adventurous students,” explained John Lehman, assistant vice president of enrollment services.

The enrollment count also reflects the fact that more students are staying at the University. The retention rate from undergraduates’ first to second year of study has risen to 83.3 percent, approximately 2.5 percent higher than 2010’s 80.9 percent.

The COMPASS program employs a variety of strategies to improve student retention. “Our orientation program helps new students acclimate to the community and learn about the resources that can make them successful,” said Director Susan Liebau. The office offers special services for transfer and commuter students, along with the ExSEL program, which combines leadership development with tips for improving academic performance.

In addition, the University tracks first-year students’ mid-term grades and has stepped up efforts to reach out to those who are struggling. “That’s been one of our most effective efforts to ensure the success of students,” Liebau said.

Published in Tech Today
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer

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