Month: July 2013

Alum Paul Jablonski Revolutionizes Stent Technology

Paul Jablonski
Paul Jablonski

The Washington Post published a profile of Michigan Tech alumnus Paul Jablonski ’87, a metallurgist with the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. His profile was part of a series on little-known federal workers whose work has a significant impact on society.

From Tech Today.

DOE metallurgist revolutionized coronary stent technology

The tiny scaffolding had to be strong, long-lasting and visible to an X-ray. It had to be able to hold open a human artery for extended periods of time to keep blood flowing. It had to be able to keep people alive.

That was the task put before Paul Jablonski, a metallurgist in the Process Development Division of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Albany, Ore.

Jablonski brought to bear his own metallurgical expertise as well as his creativity and innovation to make unusual prototypes of the material. There was some skepticism about the potential of these alloys, since their creation in some cases went against metallurgical theory.

Read more at the Washington Post.

Medical Daily on Drelich’s Copper Nanoparticles

Michigan Tech SmartZone
Michigan Tech SmartZone

Medical Daily, a medical news web site, reported on Professor Jaroslaw Drelich’s (MSE) research using copper nanoparticles mixed with vermiculate to prevent bacterial contamination of food.

From Tech Today.

Copper Nanoparticles Could Prevent Food Borne Illness, Viruses

A new inexpensive, effective material could revolutionize food safety.

Jaroslaw Drelich, a professor of materials science and engineering, is behind a new food protection method that relies on copper nanoparticles embedded in vermiculite – an inert compound found in mixtures such as potting soil.

“When you make a discovery like this, it’s hard to envision all the potential applications,” said Drelich. “It could even be mixed into that wad of dollar bills in your wallet. Money is the most contaminated product on the market.”

Drelich is now working with Michigan Tech SmartZone to commercialize the nanoparticle material.

Read more at Medical Daily, by John Ericson.

Michigan Tech Engineering Ranks 14th

New ranking: Mich. Tech engineering 14th in U.S.

Michigan Technological University has steadily ranked near the top 50 U.S. schools in terms of the quality of its engineering programs, but a recent ranking put Tech in the top 50 for quantity as well.

The College Database ranked Michigan Tech 14th among the top 50 U.S. colleges and universities for engineering, based on the number of different programs offered.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Stephen Anderson.

Carnahan Challenges Alumni

Robert Carnahan
Robert Carnahan

Class of 1953 Reunion Announcement and Challenge!

“Earlier this year, the plan was announced to convert the campus corridor to a mall, beginning to end West to East, the Alumni Way. It’s a splendid idea with a West End Gateway celebrating the history of the college and mining industry of the Keweenaw Peninsula.”

Read more at TechAlum Newsletter, Alumni Around the World, by Bob Carnahan, ’53.