Category: Research

Interdisciplinary Health Research Engineered to Benefit Communities

Published November 13, 2024

Caryn Heldt in front of the Husky Statue. — Caryn Heldt and other researchers at Tech are working on cross-disciplinary approaches to achieve impactful breakthroughs for improved public health. This photo was taken before completion of the new H-STEM Complex on campus, which has further accelerated opportunities for collaboration.

Chemical Engineering Professor Caryn Heldt exemplifies how research at Michigan Tech crosses disciplines—and crosses the globe. The James and Lorna Mack Chair in Continuous Processing, Heldt is also an affiliate professor in biological sciences at Michigan Tech, and directs the University’s Health Research Institute.

Aside from the benefit to communities, internships and similar collaborations benefit Michigan Tech researchers, said Heldt. “International partnerships are really key to expanding your research network, research ideas, and to be able to have your research out into industry and be applied.”

In this video, come into the Heldt Bioseparations Laboratory to see how the team is collaborating to apply its work in ways that can be adapted for best use in countries throughout the world. For example, on the African Continent there’s an urgent need for adequate quantities of vaccines that can be produced quickly and affordably using a relatively small manufacturing plant. Hear from Bellicia Kamwanya, a research biologist in the Democratic Republic of Congo who teamed up with award-winning MTU researcher Vaishali Sharma in Heldt’s lab as part of the US-Africa Frontiers fellowship program.

International Fellowships Help Michigan Tech Engineer Real Health Solutions

About the College of Engineering

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering offers more than 15 bachelor of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil, environmental and geospatial engineering, electrical and computer engineering, engineering fundamentals, geological and mining engineering and sciences, manufacturing and mechanical engineering and technology, materials science and engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Our engineering graduate degree options include master’s and PhD programs, along with robust online certificate programs for busy professionals. Follow Michigan Tech Engineering on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for the latest happenings.

College of Engineering Welcomes New Faculty Members

Published November 7, 2024

By Coby-Dillon English

Dean Michelle Scherer in a group with the sixteen new faculty. — Earlier this semester, Dean Michelle Scherer welcomed 16 new faculty members to the College of Engineering.

The Michigan Tech College of Engineering is pleased to welcome 16 new faculty members across eight departments this year. These new faculty members bring a wide range of specializations in robotics, geomechanics, cancer tissue engineering, snow hydrology, and more. These brilliant educators and researchers join us from all over the world, including five Michigan Tech College of Engineering alumni. Welcome Huskies!

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Sunyoung Ahn, Instructor

Sunyoung “Sunny” Ahn is an instructor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering specializing in biostatistics. Sunyoung Ahn has previously taught courses in calculus, biostatistics, and statistical methods for biomedical engineers.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fengying Dang, Assistant Professor

Fengying Dang is an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering specializing in robotics sensing, perception, and control. Before joining Michigan Tech, Dang received his PhD in electrical and computer engineering from George Mason University and was a postdoctoral research associate with the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Xiang Li, Assistant Professor

Xiang Li is an assistant professor in the Department of Geological Mining Engineering and Sciences specializing in geological and geotechnical modeling. Li received his PhD in geotechnical engineering from Northwestern University. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, Li served as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and Physics.org, as well as being recently published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Department of Chemical Engineering

Aytug Gencoglu, Assistant Professor

Aytug Gencoglu is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering specializing in microfluidics, electrokinetics, and cell sorting and identification. Gencoglu received his PhD in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 2012 and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Gencoglu has returned to Michigan Tech after working as an engineer at Bio-Rad Laboratories.

Maria Gencoglu, Assistant Professor

Maria Gencoglu is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering specializing in cancer tissue engineering and cellular processes. Gencoglu received her PhD in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 2014 and was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Gencoglu has returned to Michigan Tech after working as a member of the Clinical Diagnostics Group at Bio-Rad Laboratories, where she worked on developing molecular diagnostics products using PCR technologies.

Robert Handler, Assistant Professor

Robert Handler is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering specializing in sustainability assessment, sustainable water and energy systems, and life-cycle thinking. Handler received his PhD in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Iowa in 2009 and went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher with the Michigan Tech Sustainable Futures Institute. Handler is also an affiliated assistant professor with the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, the Department of Social Sciences in the College of Sciences and Arts, and serves as faculty advisor for Green Campus Enterprise.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals

Alden Adolph, Assistant Professor

Alden Adolph is an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Engineering Fundamentals and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering specializing in snow, firn, and ice physics and snow hydrological processes. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, Adolph received her PhD in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College and previously worked as an associate professor of physics at St. Olaf College.

Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Anis Fatima, Assistant Professor

Anis Fatima is an assistant professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology specializing in digitization of manufacturing processes, sustainable manufacturing, and human factors engineering. Fatima received her PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Manchester in 2015.

Amna Mazen, Assistant Professor

Amna Mazen is an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology and the Department of Applied Computing in the College of Computing. Mazen specializes in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and machine learning. She received her PhD in robotics from University of Detroit Mercy in 2024.

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

John Bean, Associate Teaching Professor

John Bean is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering specializing in geodetic control engineering, structural and environmental monitoring, and spatial analysis. Bean received his MS in civil and structural engineering from the University of Connecticut. His work has taken him to Antarctica, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Mojave Desert, among other places. John is currently involved in geospatial activities supporting coastal erosion research in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska.

Sai Sandeep Chitta, Assistant Professor

Sai Sandeep Chitta is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering specializing in granular mechanics, bio-mediation techniques for soil improvement, and bio-inspired geotechnic. Chitta received his PhD in civil engineering from the City University of Hong Kong. Before joining Michigan Tech, Chitta was a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University, where he co-led industry-sponsored projects focused on field-scale calibration of DEM models and contributed to biocementation techniques for coastal dune protection, funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Zach Fredin, Associate Teaching Professor

Zach Fredin is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering specializing in road and rail design, bridge design, and bridge load rating. Fredin received his MS in civil engineering from Michigan Tech. Prior to his new role with the College of Engineering, Fredin was a research engineer for Michigan Tech, serving as project lead and lead engineer for bridge design and load rating projects for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Yi Zhu, Assistant Professor

Yi Zhu is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering specializing in adaptive and reconfigurable structures, computational mechanics, and origami engineering. Zhu received his PhD in civil engineering and structural computing from the University of Michigan, where he also served as a research fellow.

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Chloe He, Assistant Teaching Professor

Chloe He is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering specializing in heat transfer, chemical surface treatment techniques, and microfluidic devices. Chloe He received her PhD in mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics from Michigan Tech. Chloe He is currently highly interested in and actively working on engineering implementation on human health, especially in improving the treatment and care of Type 1 Diabetes.

Fei Long, Assistant Professor

Fei Long is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering specializing in sustainable manufacturing, waste characterization and recycling, and nano materials. Long received his PhD in biomedical engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 2011 and joined the College of Engineering in 2013, first as a research associate, and then as an assistant teaching professor. In 2021, he received the Mechanical Engineering Teacher of the Year Award, an honor given by Michigan Tech mechanical engineering students.

Wei Wei, Associate Professor

Wei Wei is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering specializing in additive manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing and design, and advanced materials for electrochemical applications. Wei received her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Michigan Tech in 2017. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, she was an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University.

About the College of Engineering

Taking Tech Farther North: GMES Alum Caleb Kaminski on His Journey to Alaska

Published November 5, 2024

By Coby-Dillon English

Caleb Kaminski in a parka with a knit hat and sunglasses outside in the snow. — Caleb Kaminski, geological engineering alumni, outside Utqiagvik, Alaska during an Arctic research expedition.

It all started with a geology course. After graduating high school, Michigan Tech alumnus Caleb Kaminski wasn’t sure what to study, but he knew it would be STEM-related. While working towards his associate’s degree at West Shore Community College, Kaminski tried it all, from aquacultural science to computer science to physics. “But everything clicked when I stumbled upon an introductory geology course,” says Kaminski. “I was hooked instantly!”

Even then, Kaminski knew he wanted his academic career to include more than just geology. “When I discovered Michigan Tech offered a degree in geological engineering, I was sure I found the right path to embark on. It combined my newfound love for geology with the challenging engineering component I was eager to be challenged by. And just like that, I found my perfect academic match!”

That perfect match led to Caleb Kaminski receiving his bachelor’s degree in geological engineering in 2021 and his master’s degree in geophysics in 2022 from Michigan Tech. Kaminski describes his years at Michigan Tech as transformative. “Michigan Tech gave me a fresh perspective and allowed me to see the world more objectively, paving the way for successes I had never imagined,” says Kaminski. “I feel a wave of emotion when I think about how the university has molded me.”

Kaminski credits much of his success to becoming involved with the Michigan Tech community. Early on in his days at Tech, he landed a job at the front desk of the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering Sciences. “This role introduced me to many faculty and students, making me feel even more connected and engaged with my peers. Before I knew it, I was diving into various research projects during my undergrad,” he says.

Kenneth Hinkel and Caleb Kaminsi in parkas standing outside in the snow. — Kaminski with Kenneth Hinkel, GMES research professor, in the tundra outside Utqiagvik, Alaska during an Arctic research expedition.

During his time at Tech, Kaminski collaborated with Chad Deering on sediment analysis using scanning electron microscopy, worked with Thomas Oommen on early warning railroad systems, and explored paleomagnetic analysis in the magnetism lab with Aleksey Smirnov. Kaminski also served as a teaching assistant for Jeremy Shannon’s Field Geophysics and again with Smirnov for his Fundamentals of Geophysics class for multiple semesters. Kaminski teamed up with Paul van Susante on NASA’s LuSTR research and collaborated with the Geo-Institute and the Federal Highway Administration. Kaminski says he’s thrilled with where his academic journey has led him. “These experiences enriched my knowledge, ignited my passion, and helped me see the world in a more profound way.”

And the journey continues. While in graduate school, Kaminski joined Kenneth Hinkel’s team to study permafrost in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska.

“Living there for a week, I got to immerse myself in the local culture and learn from world renowned scientists, which was truly enriching,” says Kaminski. Alaska would become more than just a research trip destination; now, it’s home. Since graduating, Kaminski has moved to Anchorage, which he describes as a nature lover’s paradise.

“I’ve joined the PND Engineers, Inc. team as a staff engineer. They recognize and value my expertise in geophysics, so now I spearhead geophysical surveys that take place across Alaska for the company. It’s truly an exceptional opportunity for me to grow more professionally,” he says.

Time-Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) survey equipment in the tundra. — Researchers from Michigan Tech and the University of Wyoming conducting a Time-Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) survey in the tundra outside of Utqiagvik, Alaska.

Looking forward, Kaminski is interested in emphasizing geophysical applications within the realm of geo-engineering. “I dream of establishing my own engineering consultancy or innovating the latest geophysical technology.”

When asked what advice he would give prospective geological engineering and geophysics students, Kaminski recommends making the world your classroom. “Embark on nature excursions, hunt for hidden waterfalls, discover unique minerals, marvel at intriguing rock formations, and interpret the earth’s stories etched into its landscapes. When you apply classroom knowledge in such tangible ways, it sticks with you, making learning seamless and captivating.”

About the College of Engineering

Machine Learning Model Aims to Break Cubic Scaling Barrier of Quantum Mechanics

Published September 12, 2024

By Cyndi Perkins

Susanta Ghosh, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is co-author on a paper titled Electronic structure prediction of multi-million atom systems through uncertainty quantification enabled transfer learning, which was published August 12 in npj Computational Materials.

Ghosh and his then-PhD students Shashank Pathrudkar and Ponkrshnan Thiagarajan collaborated with Shivang Agarwal and Amartya S. Banerjee of UCLA to develop a new machine learning model that aims to break the cubic scaling barrier of quantum mechanics. The findings, detailed in the paper, are a result of research conducted by Ghosh’s group at Michigan Tech and Banerjee’s at UCLA.

Ghosh, who heads the Computational Science and Machine Learning Lab at Michigan Tech, served as faculty advisor for both Thiagarajan and Pathrudkar. Thiagarajan is currently a postdoctoral fellow at John Hopkins University, and Pathrudkar is now a senior engineer at MathWorks.

More information on the research will be featured in the upcoming issue of MAE magazine, the annual publication highlighting notable news and developments in the Michigan Tech College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

About the College of Engineering at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering offers bachelor of science degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil, environmental and geospatial engineering, electrical and computer engineering, engineering fundamentals, geological and mining engineering and sciences, manufacturing and mechanical engineering and technology, materials science and engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Our engineering graduate degree options include master’s and PhD programs, along with robust online certificate programs for busy professionals.Follow Michigan Tech Engineering on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for the latest happenings.

Multidisciplinary Team Publishes on Self-Disinfecting Coating

Published June 10, 2024

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces cover.

Professors Bruce Lee (BioMed) and Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI) are co-authors of a new paper published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

The paper is titled “Utilizing Rapid Hydrogen Peroxide Generation from 6-Hydroxycatechol to Design Moisture-Activated, Self-Disinfecting Coating.”

The paper describes the use of a novel biomimetic coating that could be activated to generate disinfectant when wetted, such as by moisture found in respiratory droplets. This moisture-activated coating was demonstrated to disinfect various strains of bacteria and viruses and can potentially be used as a self-disinfecting coating to limit the spread of various types of infections.

Ph.D. student Fatemeh Razaviamri (biomedical engineering) is the lead author of this paper. Additional co-authors are Sneha Singh ’23 (M.S. Chemical Engineering), postdoctoral researcher James Manuel (BioMed), Ph.D. student Zhongtian Zhang (biomedical engineering) and laboratory technician Lynn M. Manchester (ChE).

Fatemeh Razaviamri, Sneha Singh, James Manuel, Zhongtian Zhang, Lynn M. Manchester, Caryn L. Heldt, and Bruce P. Lee
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 21, 26998–27010
Publication Date: May 15, 2024
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c00213

Spring 2024 REF Awards Announced

Published May 23, 2024

The Vice President for Research Office (VPR) announces the Spring 2024 Research Excellence Fund (REF) award recipients. Congratulations to each of the awardees.

The REF team also wishes to thank the individual REF reviewers and review panelists, as well as the deans and department chairs, for their time spent on this important internal research award process.

The principal investigators of the awarded projects include:

Research Seed Grants:

Dylan Gaines (CS)
Jiehong Guo (CEGE)
Yixin Liu (ChE)
Erich Petushek (CLS)
Bhisham Sharma (ME-EM)
Richard Canevez (HU)

Chris Middlebrook to Discuss MTU Semiconductor Learning Opportunities as Panelist for UPEDA Meeting

Published May 10, 2024

Christopher Middlebrook (ECE) was a panelist at a meeting on May 9 hosted by the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance (UPEDA). The event took place at Northern Michigan University. Distinguished leaders from universities and community colleges in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula discussed innovations in the higher education landscape of the U.P. Panel discussions will explore challenges and collaborative opportunities with the workforce.

Middlebrook, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will discuss the new semiconductor-focused curriculum and learning paths now being developed at Michigan Tech — both for traditional undergraduate engineering students, and for other individuals interested in short-term, flexible training to jump-start career paths for in-demand job roles in the semiconductor industry in Michigan.

A wide range of students will be eligible to participate in the new semiconductor learning programs at Michigan Tech, including high school students, University students, community college students, job seekers and veterans. Learning will occur online, on campus at Michigan Tech and on-site at industry partner locations. Scholarships, transportation, child care and other wraparound services will be available to support students. Much of the new curriculum will kick off in fall 2024, said Middlebrook, with further details to be announced. To receive updates via email, add your information to the Michigan Tech Electronics Hub sign-up form.

Some opportunities for high school students will be happening this summer through Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP). The week of July 21-26, students in grades 9-11 can attend NEXT Scholars: Semiconductors, a weeklong exploration offered on campus. Full sponsorship of the cost is available for 12 students for the program. “This will allow students to attend at no cost, which is very exciting and such a wonderful opportunity,” noted Middlebrook.

In addition, students who take part in two additional SYP sessions, Women in Engineering (June 16-21) and Engineering Scholars (June 23-28), will have opportunities for hands-on semiconductor fabrication activities and field trips to nearby Calumet Electronics.

MTU has received grants totaling $970,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to support a major expansion of semiconductor education and training programs for workforce development in Michigan. The amount includes $770,000 for the semiconductor curriculum work and $200,000 for the Michigander Scholars Program.

“Our overall goal is to form a talent pipeline to meet Michigan’s increased demand for skilled engineers and technicians in the semiconductor industry, where jobs are projected to grow at least 11% in the next five years,” said Middlebrook.

At Michigan Tech, Middlebrook teaches courses in electrical and computer engineering, with active research in electrical and optical interconnects and platforms. He serves as the faculty advisor for the IPC-Electronics student chapter at Michigan Tech, and directs the Plexus Innovation Center, a professional-grade, electronics-focused makerspace.

2024 World Water Day: GLRC Student Poster Award Winners

Published April 4, 2024

22 March World Water Day 2024 Water for Peace banner.

Congratulations to the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) Student Poster Award winners, in recognition of World Water Day 2024.

The GLRC winner for the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium coordinated by the Pavlis Honors College on March 22 was:

Cailin Bishop — Environmental Engineering, advised by Noel Urban

A big thank-you to our graduate student judges: master’s students Hunter Roose and Ryan Heines (both Biological Sciences) and Cassandra Reed-VanDam (Applied Ecology).

The GLRC winners at the Graduate Student Government (GSG) Graduate Research Colloquium on March 26 placed as follows:

First Place: Cassandra Reed-VanDam — Applied Ecology, advised by Valoree Gagnon
Second Place: Hunter Stoddard — Chemical Engineering, advised by Rebecca Ong
Third Place: Ayush Chutani — Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, advised by Ana Dyreson

Thank you to all the student participants and their GLRC-affiliated advisors.

By the Great Lakes Research Center.

Michigan Space Grant Consortium Awardees for 2024–2025

Published March 8, 2024

NASA Lunabotics experiment with moon dust.

A diverse, multitalented group of Michigan Tech students and faculty have been awarded fellowships and grants totaling an impressive $71,728 from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) for its 2024-25 cycle.

The MSGC, which consists of 52 consortia, is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The MSGC promotes awareness, research and education in “space-related science and technology in Michigan.” To achieve this goal, the organization not only funds fellowships and scholarships for students pursuing STEM careers but also financially supports curriculum enhancement and faculty development.

Michigan Tech Undergraduate Students Who Received $4,000 for Faculty Led Fellowships

Grace Hoeppner (biomedical engineering): “Effects of Microgravity on Predisposing Factors for Atrial Fibrillation Thrombosis Risk”
Grace Murray (social sciences): “Cultivating Healthy Communities: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Female Eponyms in Heirloom Plant Varieties and their Impacts in Community Food Networks”

Michigan Tech Graduate Students Who Received $5,000 Graduate Fellowships

Alexander Apostle (Chem): “Improved Synthesis and Application of Human Telomeres”
Matthew Beals (ME-EM): “Advancing Adaptive Aerostructures: Utilizing Steady-State Traveling Waves for Drag Reduction and Sustainable Aviation”
Grady Boyle (CFRES): “Using High Resolution Multitemporal Imagery for Ash Inventory and EAB Invasion Mapping in the Upper Great Lakes Region”
Jacob Jackson (BioMed): “Cell-Specific Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation in the Subthalamic Nucleus of a Parkinson’s Rat Model”
Benjamin Mohrhardt (ECE): “Investigating and Predicting the Formation of Toxic Nitrogenous Byproducts from Phenolic Compounds in the Presence of Nitrate under Far-UVC Irradiation from KrCl* Excilamps”
Ian Norwood (Physics): ”Constraining Frictional Charging on Coarse-Mode Atmospheric Dust Particles”
Eleanor Serocki (CFRES): ”Estimating Trace Gas Flux Dynamics in Boreal Wetlands”
Tanner Sether (Physics): ”Toward a Deep Learning Approach for Fast Galaxy Catalog Generation”
Matthew Sisson (MSE): ”Micromagnetism of Self-Assembled FeSi2 Nanoislands”
Caitlyn Sutherlin (SS): ”Community- and Nature-Led Adaptation in El Salvador”
Kyle Wehmanen (KIP): ”Human Powered Locomotion on Variable Terrain: a Continuing Investigation for how to Move on Mars”

Michigan Tech Faculty and Staff Members Who Received $5,000 or More for Hands-On NASA-Oriented Experiences for Student Groups (HONES) or Research Seed Grants

Paul van Susante (ME-EM): HONES — “NASA Lunabotics Competition”

The Graduate School is proud of these students for their outstanding scholarship. These awards highlight the quality of students at Michigan Tech, their innovative work, their leadership potential and the incredible role played by faculty in students’ academic success.

MTU Undergraduate Student Miranda Meyers Presents at DMC 2023 in Nashville

Published December 18, 2023

Michigan Tech ECE student Miranda Meyers

Miranda Meyers, an electrical engineering undergraduate student at Michigan Technological University, recently presented at the 2023 Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, which took place December 11-14. Her presentation was titled “Embedded Component Circuit Design.”

Meyers has spent the past few years working on campus as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Christopher Middlebrook, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

“I am always completely thrilled after a participant comments ‘Your graduate student did a fantastic job presenting her research. How long has she been in grad school?,'” says Middlebrook. “I love the smile on their faces when I tell them ‘thank you, but she is still an undergraduate student.'”

DMC is the nation’s annual forum for enhancing and leveraging the efforts of engineers, managers, technology leaders, scientists, and policy makers across the defense manufacturing industrial base. About 1,000 attendees are primarily government and industry participants, with a smaller complement from academia.

Michigan Tech electrical engineering undergraduate student Miranda Meyers presents at DMC in Nashville, Tennessee, last week.

As an undergraduate researcher, Meyers works to develop, design and manufacture circuit boards using UV laser technology. She uses Altium circuit design software to create unique and specific circuit boards, and analyzes results using MATLAB and Mathematica. She also assists in teaching a PCB manufacturing class.

Meyers is also a member of MINE, the Michigan Tech Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise, a team of students who design, test, and implement robotic technologies for extracting and using local resources, construction, and characterization in extreme environments.

The DMC is jointly conducted by the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP) and coordinated through the event organizer, ARCTOS. The JDMTP, executed under the authorities outlined in title 10 of U.S. Code § 4842 serves to ensure coordination and collaboration across the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology (DoD ManTech) Program. The service and agency ManTech programs primary purpose is to further the national security objectives outlined in title 10 of U.S. Code § 4841.

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