Posts Tagged ‘Environmental Engineering’

The Ecosystem Science Center and the Biotechnology Research Center announced award recipients of the Ninth Annual ESC/BRC Student Research Forum, held March 27.

For the graduate students, two Grand Prize Awards and six Merit Awards were presented. They were selected from among the 59 posters and abstracts submitted by graduate students conducting research related to ecology, the environment and biotechnology at Michigan Tech.  Posters will continue to be on display in the atrium of the Forestry building through April 12.

Graduate Research
$500 Grand Prizes
Biotechnology Research Center
Ramkumar Mohan (SBL) for, “miR-483, a Novel MicroRNA Expressed in Pancreatic Beta Cells but not in Alpha Cells,” Advisor: Xiaoqing Tang

Ecosystem Science Center
Adam Coble (FFS) for, “Comparison of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) Leaf Morphology in a Closed-canopy and Canopy Gap,” Adviser: Molly Cavaleri

$100 Merit Awards
Biotechnology Research Center
Komal K. Bollepogu Raja (IBMB) for, “The Role of Toolkit Genes in the Evolution of Complex Wing, Thorax, and Abdominal Color Patterns in Drosophila guttifera,” Advisor: Thomas Werner

Maria Tafur (ECM) for, “Reduction of Porcine Parvovirus Infectivity in the Presence of Protecting Osmolytes, ” Advisor: Caryn Heldt

Ecosystem Science Center
Brian Danhoff (SBL) for, “Manistee River Tributaries as Potential Arctic Grayling Habitat,” Advisor: Casey Huckins

Anthony Matthys (SBL) for, “Estimating Physical Habitat Characteristics and Fish Habitat Preference within Streams: A Tool for Restoration Monitoring,” Advisor: Casey Huckins

James Olson (SBL) for, “Evaluating the Impact of Culvert Designs on Hydrologic Connectivity and Nutrient Uptake in Northern Wisconsin Streams,” Advisor: Amy Marcarelli

Julie Padilla (EEN) for, “An Evaluation of the Proposed MDEQ Water Quality Standard for Copper in the Upper Peninsula Using Two Multimetric Approaches,” Advisor: Noel Urban

Published in TechToday

By Jennifer Donovan

Four Michigan Technological University graduate engineering programs rose in the latest US News & World Report graduate school rankings, released today.

Chemical engineering’s graduate program moved up to 60th in the nation, from 91^st last year.  Electrical engineering’s ranking rose from 102^nd to 89^th.  Computer engineering was ranked 80^th this year, compared to 91^st last year.  And Materials engineering rose to 50th from 51^st.

“Chemical engineering is definitely a program on the rise and it’s nice to get the external recognition we deserve,” said Komar Kawatra, chair of chemical engineering.

Dan Fuhrmann, chair of electrical and computer engineering was pleased with the higher rankings of both his programs. “We are delighted to see that our graduate programs in electrical and computer engineering are receiving this recognition,” he said. ” It is a reflection of our deliberate efforts over the past decade to increase the size and improve the quality and visibility of our graduate and research activity.  In particular, we are seeing renewed interest at the master’s degree level in our power programs, which have always been excellent.”

The new graduate school rankings place Michigan Technological University’s graduate engineering programs overall in the top 100 nationwide. The magazine’s latest rankings, released today, list Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering graduate programs at 89^th

“This year’s rankings of Michigan Tech’s programs will help some of our programs get the national attention and recognition they deserve,” said Jackie Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “The increased ranking of chemical engineering and electrical and computer engineering are particularly notable. These rankings, while dismissed by some as highly imperfect measures of quality, are important because students and their families use the rankings to estimate the potential return on an investment in a Michigan Tech education.“

Michigan Tech’s other engineering programs are ranked as follows in the new report:

• Environmental engineering — 42^nd
• Mechanical engineering — 49^th
• Civil engineering — 56^th

Tech’s Biomedical engineering graduate program was not ranked.

“We’ve seen some success in the short time that I’ve been here, and I’m glad for that,” said Bill Worek, dean of the College of Engineering. “The increase in some of the disciplines is encouraging, but there is more work to be done to further enhance the visibility of our graduate programs.”

US News says its rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence and statistical measures of the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. Graduate programs are reviewed annually in engineering, business, law, medicine and the sciences. This year, 199 engineering schools that offer graduate degrees were evaluated.

Statistical data considered includes the ratio of students to faculty, acceptance rate, average Graduate Record Exam score, the school’s total research expenditure and research expenditure per faculty member, graduate enrollment and number of PhDs granted.

Peer assessment data comes from deans of engineering schools, program directors and senior engineering faculty.

The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library from the following programs:

• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Policy
• Geology
• Industrial Archaeology
• Mathematical Sciences
• Mechanical Engineering
• Rhetoric and Technical Communication

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The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library from the following programs:

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Mathematical Sciences
• Rhetoric and Technical Communication

(more…)

AEG announces student scholarships for 2013

To apply for the AEG student scholarships: https://www.aegfoundation.org:16450/applications/index.php

Two teams from Michigan Tech have been chosen to join in the Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge. Twenty-seven teams were chosen from 71 teams that applied from across the state. Through the challenge, teams will learn the skills needed to start a successful company, through classroom and hands-on learning. The teams will also meet regularly with their on-campus mentors and venture capitalists and have access to a micro-grant program offering up to $2,500 for each team to move their business forward.

The Tech teams are GreenedIt!, a web-based application for energy auditing, and Aquaponics, for healthy, local food in urban communities.

GreenedIt! team members are physics students Travis Beaulieu, an undergraduate, and graduate student Abhilash Kantamneni. The team traveled to East Lansing for their initial training this past weekend. “The training we received through the challenge was incredibly useful,” said Beaulieu. “The whole point was to try and get young entrepreneurs into the mindset of finding a customer need and forming the idea around the customer’s feedback. Thankfully this training worked for our team, and we had a complete pivot during the weekend.”

The other team, Aquaponics, features indoor farming using water instead of soil, with a fish tank providing nutrients to plants. Team members include Robert Handler, post-doctoral environmental engineer in the Sustainable Futures Institute; Josh Krugh, economics undergraduate; and Jacob Bray, chemical engineering undergraduate. “Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics,” Handler said. “And we want to examine the potential for this type of agriculture to expand as a business opportunity in urban communities throughout the state.”

On the final day of the venture challenge, all participating teams will present their results, and a few teams will be awarded additional prizes and investments totaling $50,000 or more. The six-month challenge is run by the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.

Published in Tech Today.

The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library from the following programs:

• Applied Natural Resource Economics
• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Policy
• Forest Ecology and Management
• Forestry
• Mechanical Engineering

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Taile Leswifi, a graduate student from South Africa, has been named a winner of an American Association of University Women (AAUW) international fellowship.

The prestigious fellowship is highly competitive. International fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. The overwhelming majority return to their home countries to become leaders in government, academia, community activism, the arts and science.

Studying environmental engineering at Michigan Tech, Leswifi is researching new ways to produce a sustainable, renewable, low-cost source of hydrogen energy from water and sunlight–energy that does not add to the pollution of the environment. She is also preparing herself to teach at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, where she plans to work with a South African Fulbright group to take the promise of success through education to children in remote reaches of her country.

“In a graduate school filled with interesting and hard-working students, Taile Leswifi stands out as a leader,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “While she has been active in promoting civic-mindedness on campus, her dedication doesn’t stop there–she can often be seen volunteering time and talent for community programs. Whether on or off campus, her passion for research, global stewardship and education is beyond impressive–it is inspirational. Taile Leswifi is a strong female role model who will undoubtedly return to South Africa and be a leader in shaping new initiatives in academia, community activism and science.”

The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses and dissertations are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library from the following programs:

• Applied Ecology
• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Forest Ecology and Management
• Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
• Geology
• Mathematical Sciences
• Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

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The Graduate School is pleased to announce Finishing Fellowship recipients for the fall and spring semesters. Finishing fellowships  provide support to PhD candidates who are close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in The Michigan Tech Plan.

Recipients for fall 2011 were:

• Irfan Ahmed, PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering
• Surendar R. Dhadi, PhD candidate in Biological Sciences
• Neluka K. Dissanayake, PhD candidate in Engineering Physics
• Shu Wei Goh, PhD candidate in Civil Engineering
• Amber M. Roth, PhD candidate in Forest Science

Recipients for spring 2012 are:

• Zeyad T. Ahmed, PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering
• Kefeng Li, PhD candidate in Biological Sciences
  Charles L. Lawton Endowed Fellowship
• Saikat Mukhopadhyay, PhD candidate in Physics
• Zhiwei Peng, PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering
  Doctoral Finishing Fellowship
• Lindsey M. Shartell, PhD candidate in Forest Science
  Neil V. Hakala Endowed Fellowship

Nominations are currently open for summer 2012 finishing fellowships.  Materials are due no later than 4pm, March 14th.  See complete details online about the application and review procedure.