Opportunities for Engineering Students and Postdocs

Category: Resources

Upcoming Library and Design Expo Workshops at Michigan Tech

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Prepare for Design Expo and other term-end presentations the right way — with peer support, pizza and help from dedicated library and writing center staff! You’re invited to four instructional work sessions to help you create compelling videos, visuals and pitches for the projects you have dedicated so much time to. Pizza will be provided at each session so you can grab a quick meal while you fine-tune your work!

Faculty and instructors are highly encouraged to send students working on large final projects to these workshops.

All sessions will be held:

  • Where: Library’s East Reading Room
  • When: 2-3 p.m.

Please register for the sessions that interest you so we don’t order too much, or worse, too little pizza!

  • Explain Your Project to Anybody — Wednesday, March 15
    Practice talking about your design in a concise, easy-to-understand way. This will help you solidify content for your video and develop a short elevator pitch that you can share at your booth the day of the Expo. Come prepared to talk about your design and answer a few questions about it! Register for this work session.
  • Video Creating & Editing — Thursday, March 23
    We’ll provide basic info on recording, available tools and tricks to make your production more professional and accessible. The last 40 minutes of the hour will be devoted to questions and open work time. Handouts and a compilation of resources will be available to take with you! Register for this work session.
  • Communicate with Images & Visualizations — Wednesday, March 29
    Co-hosted with the Michigan Tech Writing Center! We’ll cover principles you can use to ensure your images and data are readable and appealing, and run through tools you can use to design supporting images. The second half of the session will be devoted to questions and open work time. Pick the brains of staff from the writing center and library as you think through how to best share your research. Register for this work session.
  • Explain Your Project to Anybody — Thursday, April 6
    A skill so important we are holding the session twice! Join if you cannot make the first one or still want to workshop your elevator pitch. Register for this work session.
  • Final Countdown — Wednesday, April 12
    Work on the last details of your project and video with company! Snacks and refreshments provided. Register for this work session.
    • by Van Pelt and Opie Library
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Applications Sought: Sustainability and Resilience Education Innovations at Michigan Tech

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The Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience (ISR) at Michigan Tech invites applications for educational innovation projects that increase student exposure to sustainability and resilience in formal coursework. The ISR seeks to incentivize the creation of new sustainability curricula through new and existing coursework so more students across Michigan Tech learn about sustainability, resilience and the connection of each to their domain expertise.

Applications for Educational Innovation support will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis between now and March 31, with notification of awards planned by April 15.

Proposals may include support for hourly student work, summer salary or materials/supplies to develop new courses, revamp existing courses or host workshops for educating faculty and/or staff on sustainability education. Proposals may also include funds to support or incentivize participation from students, faculty and/or staff, and/or materials or supplies for coursework innovation.

Faculty, graduate students and staff are all eligible to apply. Applications can be submitted by individuals or teams; graduate students are encouraged to collaborate with a faculty member to submit an application.

We anticipate most awards will be in the range of $3,000 to $5,000, but encourage budgets that meet the project needs. Potential applicants are encouraged to reach out with questions about their potential budget.

Submitted proposals should be no more than two pages. Each proposal should include:

  • A narrative description of the proposed educational innovation. This description should include at least one stand-alone paragraph that clearly describes how this educational innovation aligns with the broader goal of ensuring all students at Michigan Tech are exposed to sustainability and resilience through the curricula, including how many students are likely to be impacted by this innovation and how this innovation will be maintained in the curriculum.
  • A detailed budget and a proposed project timeline. Project work should take place no later than spring 2024; the implementation timeline is flexible but should be described in the proposal.
  • A list of deliverables to be provided to ISR at the end of the project period, such as a completed syllabus, a new course proposal prepared for submission, a workshop report, etc., to be determined and described by the applicant.
  • Separate from the proposal document, we are also asking for confirmation from relevant department chairs that they have reviewed the proposal and are supportive of the proposal plans, especially if the proposal involves creation of a new course. This can be in the form of an email to Robert Handler. 

If you have any questions about a potential project proposal, please reach out to ask! The ISR Working Group (ISR WG) will review applications and contact applicants regarding decisions. For questions and to submit your application, please email Robert Handler at rhandler@mtu.edu.

By Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience.

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Writing Center Offers Michigan Tech Student, Classroom and Project Support

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Send your students over to us at the Writing Center! All undergraduates are welcome to come by for a scheduled or walk-in face-to-face appointment with one of our peer coaches. Our coaches offer advice on brainstorming, revision, aligning ideas, research incorporation, citations and grammar, just to name a few topics. Please promote the Writing Center to your students and encourage them to visit.

We are located in Walker 107 and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday. Your students can access the appointment system via the Michigan Tech Writing Center website.

If you would like a writing coach to visit your classroom to promote the center, or to schedule additional support during a class for a writing project or revision day, or have any other ideas of how we can support your classroom and projects, please contact Claire Helakoski at chelakos@mtu.edu or M. Bartley Seigel at mbseigel@mtu.edu. We are also happy to brainstorm with you over particular assignments or classroom support ideas to find ways to enhance your course and engage with your students on writing topics.

By Claire Helakoski, Assistant Writing Center Director, Humanities.

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MTU Finance Your Innovation Workshop: Registration Open

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Interested in competing at this year’s New Venture Challenge (NVC)?
Getting ready to try to raise capital for your start-up business?

Presented by Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Visser with the MTEC SmartZone, our local business incubator, this online workshop will cover founder capital fundraising strategies and choices including bootstrapping, angel investment, venture capital investment and growth capital financing.

This workshop is open to all students. Those interested in the New Venture Challenge (in April) will find this workshop helpful when applying to NVC and should plan to attend.

Join us Feb. 15 from 4-5 p.m. for this virtual workshop. Register by next Monday (Feb. 13) to receive the Zoom link.

By Husky Innovate, Pavlis Honors College.

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MTU Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium Submissions Deadline Approaching

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Michigan Tech’s Pavlis Honors College invites undergraduate researchers and scholars from all colleges to participate in the 2023 Michigan Tech Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium (URSS). We are pleased to feature the work of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows, the DeVlieg Foundation Fellows and the Portage Health Foundation Fellows at this year’s event, and we would also love to feature your students!

The URSS is a great opportunity to highlight the work of our undergraduate students, present posters describing completed or ongoing research and receive feedback from faculty judges. This year’s event will take place March 24, and research submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 7).

This year, in addition to the poster sessions, the URSS will also feature a panelist discussion and a networking social event leading up to the announcement of the event’s award winners. Our menu for the panelist discussion and the networking social will consist of French-roast coffee, petit fours and Lac La Belle apple cider.

Additionally, we have teamed up with the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library to offer a poster creation session on March 14 from 10-11 a.m. to assist your students in preparing for the URSS. If they’d like to get started before then, the Library has templates to assist them.

Please pass this information to students who you think would benefit from this opportunity and encourage them to apply! Questions can be directed to Chris Hohnholt at cahohnho@mtu.edu.

By Pavlis Honors College.

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Career Planning Workshop at Michigan Tech

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Join Graduate Student Government (GSG) and the Van Pelt and Opie Library in learning why planning your career is more than just choosing a company or industry.

Melissa Baird, graduate director of the Department of Social Sciences, will walk through the steps to take you down the path to the career you want. This short workshop will take place in the Library East Reading Room from 12-12:30 p.m. next Tuesday (Jan. 31). Light snacks will be provided!

Sign up for the Career Planning Workshop.

By Graduate Student Government.

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Submission and Formatting 101: Master the Dissertation, Thesis and Report Process at Michigan Tech

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Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents and submitting their documents. In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion! Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend. Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.

  • When: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2-4 p.m. (see a detailed schedule on our blog)
  • Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission.
  • Where: Virtually via Zoom (please register to attend online and receive participation instructions) and in person in Admin 404 (room capacity is 35). 
  • Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

If you are unable to join us, the event will be taped and available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.

Information on submitting, formatting and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

By Debra Charlesworth, Graduate School.

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NSF I-Corps Program Registration Now Open at Michigan Tech

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Are you interested in taking your idea, technology or process commercial? Entrepreneurially minded faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, alumni and local community teams are invited to attend the Great Lakes Region Hub National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Program hosted by Husky Innovate at Michigan Tech.

Course Description
The NSF I-Corps lean startup program spans six weeks. Using the scientific process, customer discovery and the business model canvas, teams will work to validate key business hypotheses and develop a scalable business model.

Course Benefits
Upon completion of the workshop and the customer discovery interviews (30), you or your team may be eligible for a mini grant of up to $1,000 for continued customer discovery.

Teams who complete the program may become eligible for the NSF I-Corps National Team Program and a $50,000 grant. Participation in the workshop can lead to qualification for research and other funding from several granting agencies, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and various state and regional programs.

Past participants have reported that they saved time and money by better understanding potential applications of their technology and improved their ability to receive add-on funding.

Our spring cohort will meet online via Zoom on the following dates:

  • Monday, Jan. 23 — Workshop No. 1: Kickoff, 4-7 p.m.
  • Monday, Jan. 30 — Workshop No. 2, 4-6 p.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 6 — No meeting, continue customer discovery, meet with your mentor
  • Monday, Feb. 13 — Workshop  No. 3, 4-6 p.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 20 — No meeting, continue customer discovery, meet with your mentor
  • Monday, Feb. 27 — Workshop No. 4: Wrap-Up, 4-7 p.m.

Register using the Spring 2023 Michigan Tech I-Corps 

By Husky Innovate, Pavlis Honors College.

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Michigan Tech Library Orientations for New Students

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New students: The Van Pelt and Opie Library is here to help you succeed! At our Library Orientation for New Students, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library’s electronic and physical resources. After that, we’ll tour the library so you can find your favorite study room, check out a GoPro, take a peek at the 3D printers and learn where to get research help once the semester has started.

This event will take place in the Library East Reading Room. Enter the library through the main doors and walk straight ahead. Walk all the way down the central area; the East Reading Room will be to your left and signs will highlight the event.

Orientations are taking place today (Jan. 9) from 1-2:15 p.m. and tomorrow (Jan. 10) from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Registration is required. Please register for today’s event or register for tomorrow’s event.

By Van Pelt and Opie Library.

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Michigan Tech Innovation Week 2023 Talks and Events: Registration Is Open!

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Husky Innovate is hosting five innovation-themed events during Week 2 (Jan. 17-20) of the spring semester. Innovation Week celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship by hosting speakers and events to inspire and support innovation and entrepreneurship. These events are a great way to connect with alumni, students, faculty and the community.

Check the Innovation Week webpage for full event descriptions. Pre-registration is required for each event. Join us for one event or several!

  • Keynote Speaker: Leading Innovation with Charles Nwatu
    Tuesday, Jan. 17, 4-5 p.m. via Zoom
    Our keynote speaker, Charles Nwatu, head of security technology assurance and risk at Netflix, will kick off Innovation Week by discussing how diverse perspectives lead to innovation. He will share his journey as an intrapreneur developing innovative solutions within a company, and how his mindset has led to an impactful Silicon Valley career at LinkedIn, Twilio, Stitch Fix and now Netflix. 
    Register now — Deadline: Jan. 13
  • New Venture Creation with Eric Roberts
    Wednesday, Jan. 18, noon to 1 p.m., MUB Ballroom A 
    Eric Roberts, MTU alum and executive director of Traverse City business incubator 20Fathoms, has spent a long, diverse career innovating in spaces from Silicon Valley tech start-ups to mobile giants like Motorola and Blackberry. He will talk entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, and share experiences with launching new ventures (both successful and unsuccessful). Tips and strategies will be offered for all types of innovators. 
    Register now — Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Reverse Pitch Presentation with Nate Yenor
    Thursday, Jan. 19, noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom 
    Nate Yenor, director of tech business incubation with the Office of Innovation and Commercialization at Michigan Tech, will report on applied research’s top teams poised to launch their innovation into a start-up. Teams may be looking for talent, champions and industry-specific advice during this reverse-pitch event. Interesting and valuable for innovators, entrepreneurs and MTU community members who want to know what’s new and innovative at Tech. Make connections and support our innovation and entrepreneurship community!
    Register now — Deadline: Jan. 17
  • 15th Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition
    Thursday, Jan. 19, 5-7:30 p.m., MUB Ballroom A 
    Michigan Tech graduate and undergraduate students will pitch their business model for a chance to win cash prizes. This legacy event is a tribute to late Professor of Practice Bob Mark. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community are invited to attend in person or virtually. Refreshments will be served and a pre-event mixer will begin at 4:30 p.m.
    Student contestants: Register now — Deadline: Jan. 13
    Virtual attendees: Register now to attend remotely
  • Financing Your Venture Panel Discussion
    Friday, Jan. 20, noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom
    Hear what investors look for when deciding whether to invest in your company — during both early-stage commercialization and late-stage buy-outs. Experts will share real-world experiences and insight into how investment decisions are made. This talk is helpful for anyone interested in commercializing their venture or for investors who want to hone their skills. Panelists John Rockwell (CEO and president, Accelergy Corporation) and Jeff Helminski (co-founder and managing partner, Auxo Investment Partners) are both Tech alumni and successful venture capitalists, and they 

By Husky Innovate, Pavlis Honors College.

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