Research Archives | Page 2 of 28 | College of Engineering Blog

REMADE Institute Grant Supports MTU, UW-Madison, and Braskem America for Circular Re-use of Multilayer Plastic Waste

Published November 20, 2023

The REMADE Institute, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) public-private partnership, will provide $600K in funding for a new recycling process technology to extract pure polypropylene (PP) from multilayer plastic packaging waste.

The project is a partnership between Michigan Technological University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Braskem America, all of which are providing additional foundational project funding to develop new Solvent Targeted Recycling and Precipitation (STRAP) technology.

At Michigan Tech, Ezra Bar-Ziv, a professor of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, is now working to develop the pilot scale application of STRAP.

“We are excited to design, build, and operate a unique STRAP plastic recycling pilot plant that will be used to produce larger quantities of high-quality recycled resins so that we can validate our resins in several downstream applications,” he said. “We expect to use this system to analyze a wide range of feedstocks and de-risk STRAP technology.”

STRAP was pioneered at the UW-Madison by George Huber and a team of engineers at Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics (CUWP.org), a multi-university center funded by the US Department of Energy.

STRAP: Solvent Targeted Recycling and Precipitation was developed under the direction of George Huber at University of Wisconsin-Madison. At Michigan Tech, Ezra Bar-Ziv and his research team are developing the pilot -scale application of STRAP.

“Sustainability is a collaborative effort. It is critical that the companies in the plastic industry work together with academia and government agencies to bring innovative recycling technologies to the market,” said Huber.

The U.S. Department of Energy and REMADE selected 14 projects in October 2023 with a combined total of $9.8 million in research and development funding. Since the Institute’s founding in 2017, REMADE has launched or selected nearly 100 R&D projects, representing a total combined value of nearly $100 million.

“We are honored to have this innovative plastic recycling project recognized by the REMADE Institute, an organization that is dedicated to investing in technology that is vital for the future of manufacturing,” said Ana Camilo, Specialist Researcher, Braskem. “This funding will enable Braskem, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to revolutionize the circular re-use of multilayer plastic and potentially create a pathway to divert hard-to-recycle plastic waste from landfills into valuable new material feedstock sources.”

The REMADE Institute enables the early-stage applied research and development of key industrial platform technologies that could dramatically reduce the embodied energy and carbon emissions associated with industrial-scale materials production and processing.

“We are excited to design, build, and operate a unique STRAP plastic recycling pilot plant that will be used to produce larger quantities of high-quality recycled resins so that we can validate our resins in several downstream applications.
Professor Ezra Bar-Ziv, Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

By focusing its efforts on the technical and economic barriers that prevent greater material recycling, recovery, remanufacturing, and reuse, the REMADE Institute seeks to motivate industry investments to advance technology development and support the U.S. manufacturing eco-system.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem U.S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with five production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and a New Renewable Innovation Center in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials.

Revolutionary Plastic Recycling Makes Sense and Cents

Published November 14, 2023

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From shoes to pen caps to meat wrappers—90 percent of plastics end up in the trash. Michigan Tech Professor Ezra Bar-Ziv and his research team have joined a multi-university regional effort to do something about it. They’re hard at work scaling up a process development unit that will prove the commercial viability of STRAP: solvent targeted recovery and precipitation.

STRAP targets plastics that cannot be recycled because they’re contaminated—with other plastics, dyes or inks, fillers, and other materials. Developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the direction of George Huber, Richard L. Antoine Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, STRAP can restore contaminated plastics, including food-grade materials, to their original state for reuse. Some restored plastics, especially multilayer films, are expensive to produce and will be valuable once recovered.

“There is a lot of value in plastic waste. Money is thrown away in the form of plastic each day.”
Ezra Bar-Ziv

A mechanical engineering professor with a PhD in Chemical Physics, Bar- Ziv joined forces with Huber after recognizing common interests in their published research. Now, they network globally with others focused on plastic recycling—and this past year, they jointly raised over $10 million for STRAP research.

Bar-Ziv has received over $7.4 million in federal, state, and private funding, including $549,953 from the National Science Foundation; $320,685 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and $4.25 million from the US Department of Energy. Other donors include Batelle/INL ($399,314), REMADE ($600K) and others, including from Sabic and Convergen Energy. An additional $2.995 million US Department of Energy grant is also pending.

STRAP’s test process development unit (PDU) was designed and built at Michigan Tech. It produces 55 pounds per hour of recycled resins from flexible and rigid plastics found in municipal waste. A much larger PDU, about two stories tall, is under construction. “We’re going from a lab scale, all the way to a ton per hour,” said Bar-Ziv. When the PDU is functional and approved, it will anchor the first commercial plastic recycling system in Wisconsin’s Green Bay area, operated by Convergen Energy, with plastics coming from local municipal solid waste. “That’s what we’re trying to do at Michigan Tech, and we are doing it in strong collaboration with the Madison crew,” said Bar-Ziv, who’s aware of only three entities in the world able to recycle plastic at plant scale.

The effort is all-consuming, but the long hours bring Bar-Ziv great joy. “I can’t wait to get to work each day,” he said. Decades of teaching and research culminate in this project—and others aimed at recycling municipal waste to develop clean, renewable energy.

MTU Engineering Welcomes 18 New Faculty Members

Published November 9, 2023

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The College is honored to welcome 18 new faculty members this fall. They bring a range of expertise among seven multidisciplinary research areas: Energy and Sustainability, Advanced Manufacturing, Autonomy and Mobility, Engineering Infrastructure, Engineering for Health, Space and Aerospace, and Navigating our Environment.

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Dr. Quang Tran joins the faculty as an assistant professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from Harvard Medical School, Harvard affiliated hospitals, and the UIUC Bioacoustics Research Lab, where he dedicated three years to postdoctoral research. Dr. Tran earned a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, an MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering at California State University, Fullerton, and a BS in Industrial and System Engineering at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology, Vietnam. His research focuses on non-invasive ultrasound for material characterization applications in civil engineering and biomedical fields, diagnosing and monitoring the health of infrastructures and humans.

Dr. Ishi Keenum joins the faculty as an assistant professor. She comes to Michigan Tech from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she completed postdoctoral research. She earned a BS in at the University of Michigan, and an MS and PhD at Virginia Tech, all in Environmental Engineering. Keenum serves as the lead of the bioinformatic working group for the International Microbiome and Multi’Omics Standards Alliance (IMMSA). Her research is focused on the dissemination and treatment of antibiotic resistance through wastewater and water systems, and the microbiology of water systems.

Dr. Bo Xiao joins the faculty as assistant professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he worked as a research assistant professor. He earned a BEng in Civil Engineering at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology in China, an MS from Concordia University in Canada, and a PhD at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research seeks to advance the digital transformation of the construction industry by adopting automated technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and digital twinning, for modular construction, as well as visual monitoring of construction sites.

Dr. Mazi Erfani joins the faculty as an assistant professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a PhD in Civil Engineering. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering and MSc, in Construction Engineering and Management at the University of Tehran in Iran. His research interests include data-driven infrastructure management, Smart construction, equity and diversity, risk management, text analytics and natural language processing, and AI modeling.

Kerri Sleeman joins the faculty as a professor of practice. After working in the automotive and construction industries as an engineer she joined Michigan Tech staff, directing MTU Facilities Management. She earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Engineering, both at Michigan Tech. Sleeman brings strong industry experience to students in the Construction Management Program, and will increase sustainable construction course offerings for students.

John Bean joins Michigan Tech as a visiting professor of practice in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering. He earned an MS in Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Connecticut and a BS in Civil Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. He also earned a graduate certificate in Surveying Engineering at the University of Maine. His focus for teaching includes surveying, mapping and database support to engineering field-based research projects. He has over 40 years of experience in surveying, civil engineering, and GIS, both in teaching and in practice. His work has taken him to Antarctica, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Mojave Desert, among other places.

Jennifer Miller joins the faculty as a professor of practice. She earned a Master’s in Business Administration at Central Michigan University and a BS in Civil Engineering at Michigan Tech. Her teaching interests focus on construction management. She has more than 20 years of construction experience, including working for General Contractors, Specialty Contractors, design firms, and governmental entities including Michigan Department of Transportation.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Anna Stuhlmacher joins the faculty as an assistant professor. She comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Michigan. She earned a BS at Boston University and an MS and PhD at the University of Michigan, all in electrical engineering. She interned at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and grew up in the Chicago area. Her research explores optimizing and controlling distributed energy resources (like solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles) in the power grid to provide flexibility in the transition to more sustainable and reliable energy systems.

Department of Engineering Fundamentals

Dr. Gabriel Draughon joins the faculty as an assistant teaching professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Michigan, where he earned an MS and PhD in Civil Engineering (Intelligent Systems). He earned a BS in Biosystems Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research and teaching interests involve Smart Cities, and how sensing technologies in urban settings help better understand how people move through, interact with, and derive benefits from social infrastructure.

Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Kaiwu Huang comes to Michigan Tech from Virginia Tech, where he worked as a research associate in the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering. He earned a BS in Mining and Minerals Engineering at China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing, and an MS and PhD in Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research focus is on sustainable mining, including mineral processing, mineral flotation, solid/liquid separation, carbon ore beneficiation, rare earth extraction, and copper concentration.

Dr. Luis Manzano comes to Michigan Tech from Monterrey, Mexico, where he earned an MS and PhD in Biotechnology at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM). He earned his undergraduate degree in Biotechnology Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca. His research focuses on the sustainable purification of PEG-modified proteins/enzymes (PEGylated), used as biopharmaceuticals in the treatment of disease and potentially in the recovery and purification of anticancer, low-molecular weight compounds such as flavonoids.

Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Rachel Store joins the faculty as an assistant teaching professor. She earned a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering, both at Michigan Tech. Her research focus is on friction stir processing and Lean and Quality manufacturing. Her teaching and research interests include additive manufacturing, forming processes, and materials manufacturing with friction stir processing.

Department of Material Science and Engineering

Dr. Alexandra Glover joins the faculty as an assistant professor. She comes to Michigan Tech from Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she worked as a research and development engineer with Sigma Division. Glover earned an MS and PhD at the Colorado School of Mines in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and a BS in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech. Her research interests include mechanical behavior of materials, strengthening mechanisms, deformation processing and design for manufacturing, steels, shape memory alloys, and deformation induced phase transformations.

Dr. Joshua Mueller joins the faculty as an assistant professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from the Dynamic-Structure Design and Engineering Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he worked as a research and development engineer. Mueller earned an MS and PhD at the Colorado School of Mines in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and a BS in Materials Science and Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research interests include physical metallurgy, phase transformations, thermodynamics, and microstructure evolution.

Dr. Sriram Vijayan joins Michigan Tech as an assistant professor. He earned a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Connecticut, a Master’s in Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and a Bachelors in Materials Engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. His research interests include understanding microstructural evolution in materials under complex thermal conditions,
process-structure-property relationships of additively manufactured builds, and materials for nuclear reactor applications.

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Dr. Shawn Brueshaber comes to Michigan Tech from Western Michigan University, where he earned an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. After graduating, he spent several years in industry. His research is focused on the polar atmospheric dynamics of the giant planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, with a goal of developing a comprehensive theory of weather and climate applicable to all planetary bodies with an atmosphere.

Dr. Chad Walber joins the faculty as an Associate Teaching Professor. He earned an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech, and a BS in both Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, also from Tech. He worked at PCB Piezotronics as a research and development engineer and at Michigan Tech as a visiting professor of practice. His teaching and research focus includes metrology, dynamic systems, noise and vibration, acoustics, and the test and measurement of those quantities, including developing specification and calibration standards for microphones and sound level meters.

Dr. Bhisham Sharma joins the faculty as an associate professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from Wichita State University, where he worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He earned an MS and PhD in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Purdue University, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pune in Pune, India. Sharma was also a post-doctoral research associate and a visiting assistant professor at Purdue. His research involves the overlap of solid mechanics, structural dynamics, acoustics, and advanced manufacturing. He investigates the fundamental mechanics and acoustics of novel engineered material systems such as acoustic metamaterials, phononic structures, architected lattice structures, stochastic foams, and advanced manufacturing.
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New Faculty Spotlight: Rachel Store

Published September 27, 2023

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Rachel Store recently joined the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) as an assistant teaching professor. She earned her BS and MS at Michigan Tech, both in Mechanical Engineering.

What first drew you to Michigan Tech?

It all started when I was in high school. My parents moved back to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula after a 25-year military career. They were living in Escanaba. I knew I wanted to study engineering; I wanted to play varsity soccer; and I wanted to be close enough to my family that I could see them within a day. Michigan Tech was honestly the only school that fit that bill—so it was an easy decision. It was also the only campus I visited. But I fell in love with Tech. So much so, that after I finished my undergrad, I went for a victory lap masters degree—Tech has a fantastic accelerated masters program! And I loved the campus, the community, and the Keweenaw. Houghton truly is a special place.

After graduating with my Master’s degree, I got a job in Milwaukee. I still found myself coming back to Houghton several times a month to see my boyfriend. He’s really what brought me back to Houghton. As soon as I could, I started looking for jobs back in the Houghton area (spoiler, we’ve been married for four years and are blessed with two wonderful children).

I was delighted when I found work back at Michigan Tech, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics. I actually had several offers from local companies that I passed on because I wanted to be part of the Tech community again. I was in the ME-EM Department for 5 years. Now, I am super excited to move into a more student-focused position in the MMET Department.

“Get out and talk to people. Talk to your classmates, talk to your professors, talk to the locals. The best thing about Houghton and MTU are the people.”
Advice to incoming students, from Rachel Store.

What do you consider an important long-term goal for your teaching, research, and outreach?

My background in industry was manufacturing and quality. I really enjoy teaching the topics where you go from a design or theory into making something physical, for example, a product or a lab sample. I enjoy additive manufacturing and especially forming processes. My research right now is focused on materials manufacturing with friction stir processing. I am working with Dr. Scott Wagner (MMET) and Dr. Vinh Nguyen (ME-EM) on a project right now. I am hoping to earn a PhD in a few years. In the meantime, I want to continue to develop as a teacher.

What do you hope to accomplish, as an educator and as a researcher, over the next few years?

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about teaching—how to teach, why it matters, and how I can help make my students the best future employees that they can be. A lot of students see the class, the grade, the degree as an end goal. But really those are just the starting points for the rest of their lives. This is my first year in a full-time instructor role, so I know I still have a lot to learn myself.

Aerial view of the Black Creek Nature Sanctuary. Credit: visitkeweenaw.com

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Fun question! I have two and a half year old twins, so spare time at my house is more like ‘how do I multi-task!’ We live just south of Chassell on a little hobby farm (I’m a bit of a crazy chicken lady). And now my kids are starting to pick that up too. They love collecting the eggs with me, or going to the garden and looking for vegetables. We do a lot of stuff on our property—apple cider, maple syrup, gardening, foraging.

I also really enjoy being creative. I quilt and make soap, or sometimes I like to bring that creativity to the kitchen and cook fun meals. I am always excited for a welding, construction, or repair project. And I love the outdoors. That includes hunting, camping, kayaking, snow sports, and hiking (or snowshoeing!) especially.

“I need a quota of ‘tree time’ as I call it every week, and the Keweenaw is such a great place to soak it in!”
Rachel Store

What’s your favorite book, movie, or piece of art?

The Princess Bride and Finding Nemo are two movies that come to mind. I like the stories about doing whatever it takes for someone that you love.

Any favorite spots on campus, in Houghton, or in the UP?

Anywhere on Lake Superior, but I am partial to the Black Creek Trail. It’s where my husband and I met. I also really love the Gratiot River Park. I think is so cool how the mouth of the Gratiot River changes every year depending on how the ice and snow was that winter.

Any advice for incoming students?

Get out and talk to people. Talk to your classmates, talk to your professors, talk to the locals. The best thing about Houghton and MTU are the people. It is such a rich community. Also, get out and play in the snow. I always tell people new to the area and snow that you have to find ways to play in the snow.

“The winters are long. And they can be hard. But if you don’t find ways to seek joy in the snow, you have the same amount of snow and much less joy!”
Rachel Store

Join Professor Brad King at MTU Alumni Reunion Friday, August 4

Published July 12, 2023

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Brad King portrait — “Small satellites are changing the way humans do business and science in space,” says Professor Brad King.

Special Guest: Dr. Brad King
R.L. Smith Bldg., Room 111
Friday, August 4, from 3-4 p.m.

Please register to join in person or via Zoom.

Join Dr. Brad King during Michigan Tech’s annual Alumni Reunion to learn about the role of engineering as it relates to maneuvering satellites in orbit. The title of his presentation is “Michigan Tech is Propelling the Small Satellite Revolution.”

Not on campus? You’re invited to join via Zoom. No Zoom or alumni reunion registration is required. Your presence will be anonymous to other attendees. All are welcome. You’ll find the direct Zoom link here (just scroll down to see it).

Dr KIng is the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Endowed Professor (Space Systems), Mechanical Engineering- Engineering Mechanics. He also serves as director of the ME-EM Space Systems Research Group. He founded Orbion Space Technology in 2016 to develop and manufacture revolutionary plasma propulsion systems for small satellites.

Orbion Space Technology is one of only a few companies in the brand-new propulsion system market. The company was conceived at Michigan Tech and established its base in Houghton.

Dr. King is the founder and faculty advisor of Michigan Tech’s Aerospace Enterprise team, where he empowers undergraduate students to design, build, and fly spacecraft, too. One of the team’s student-built satellites (Oculus) is now in orbit; their second small satellite (Stratus) is due to launch in 2022, and a third (Auris) now in progress.

“Small satellites are changing the way humans do business and science in space,” says King. “The cost to build and launch a small satellite is now about the same as the cost to build and launch a software app. With the cost barrier removed, innovative students and start-up companies are building small satellites to provide capabilities that my generation has never even dreamed about. Michigan Tech is on the forefront of this movement.”

To attend this event in person at the R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building, register for Alumni Reunion 2023. The event is free, but a ticket is required to attend. The deadline to register is midnight Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Watch:

106: Aerospace

Michigan Tech Faculty Take Part in 130th ASEE Conference

Published June 28, 2023

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Exterior of the Baltimore Convention Center at night — The American Society of Engineering Education is holding its 130th Conference this week at the Baltimore Convention Center.

More than a dozen Michigan Tech faculty are taking part in the 130th American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Conference and Exhibition, “The Harbor of Engineering Education,” June 26-28 in Baltimore, Maryland. This year’s three-day event has a record number of abstracts, papers, and almost 100 exhibitors.

ASEE’s mission is to “advance innovation, excellence, and access at all levels of education for the engineering profession,” says ASEE President Jenna Carpenter, dean of engineering at Campbell University in North Carolina.

American Society of Engineering Education

Michigan Tech Chemical Engineering Professor Adrienne Minerick will be finishing up her term as ASEE president at the conference. Presidents of ASEE take part in a three-year cycle: a year as president-elect; a year as president; and then a year as past president.

“We must work to include information, include people, and include voices so that our engineered solutions are much more robust,” says Adrienne Minerick, ASEE past president (2022)

Michigan Tech Professor Emerita Sheryl Sorby, professor of engineering education at the University of Cincinnati, served as ASEE president in 2020.

This year, some participants from Michigan Tech were unable to attend due to weather-related flight delays and cancellations. Here’s a rundown of their scheduled events:

MMET Department Chair John Irwin is program chair of the Engineering Technology Council and Engineering Technology Division and is the incoming Chair of the Engineering Technology Chair and ASEE Board member for 2023-24.

Engineering Fundamentals Associate Professor Jon Sticklen is program chair of the Systems Engineering Division

Leonard Bohmann, College of Engineering Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, spoke at “Preparation for an On-Site Visit, presented by ABET.”

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Associate Teaching Professor Aneet Dharmavaram Narendranath was a panelist at a technical session, “Measuring and Visualizing Metadiscursive Markers in Student Writing.”

“ASEE is poised to help as we rethink engineering and engineering technology education. We want to prepare our students for a lifetime of learning and intellectual engagement,” says Sheryl Sorby, ASEE past president (2020)

Narendranath, along with Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Assistant Professor Jaclyn Johnson and Teaching Professor Radheshyam Tewari, presented “Work in Progress: Quantification of Problem-Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills with Directed Networks in a Sophomore Course in Mechanics of Materials.”

Engineering Fundamentals Assistant Professor Michelle Jarvie-Eggart presented “Potential Interventions to Promote Engineering Technology Adoption among Faculty.” Her co-author is Assistant Provost and Professor Shari Stockero.

Assistant Professor David Labyak presented “Teaching Vibration and Modal Analysis Concepts in Traditional Subtractive Machining to Mechanical Engineering Technology Students.”

Computer Science Assistant Professor Briana Bettin presented “More Teaching to Transgress in Computing: Creating Identity-Inclusive Computing Experiences in K-16 Computing Education.”

Library Director Erin Matas presented virtually “Undergraduate Students Experience Cognitive Complexity in Basic Elements of Library Research.”

Jin Choi, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, attended the Department Chairs sessions.

Professor Janet Callahan was recognized at the Women in Engineering Division business meeting for sponsoring the Mara Wasburn Early Engineering Education Grant Award.

“Together we are moving ASEE’s mission forward to create a better world.”
Jacqueline El-Sayed, ASEE Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering served as an Educator sponsor of the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference.

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering served as an Educator sponsor of the ASEE Annual Conference.

Two Michigan Tech Alumni Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Published April 26, 2023

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Congratulations to Michigan Tech alumni Dr. Markus J. Buehler ’01 and Dr. Kevin Tomsovic ’82. Both have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, among the highest international professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.

Dr. Buehler is honored for implementing the use of nanomechanics to model and design fracture-resistant bioinspired materials. He is the Jerry McAfee (1940) Professor in Engineering, in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Dr. Tomsovic is honored for contributions to power system computational methods and power engineering education. He is Chancellor’s Professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Buehler earned his BS equiv. in Process and Chemical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, his MS in Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Tech, and his PhD in Materials Science (Chemistry) at Max Planck Institute of Metals Research at the University of Stuttgart. He was a postdoctoral scholar in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology. His research interests include the materials science and mechanics of natural and biological protein materials in the field of materiomics—the holistic study of material systems—and one which he has pioneered. One focus is how protein materials define our body and how they fail catastrophically through fracture, deformation, and disease. His activities in LAMM, his research Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, include developing a new paradigm that designs materials from the molecular scale, with multi-scale modeling, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and experimental synthesis.

Dr. Tomsovic earned his BS in Electrical Engineering at Michigan Tech and his MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. He also served as the Kyushu Electric Endowed Chair for Advanced Technology for Electrical Energy with Kumamoto University in Japan and was the National Science Foundation program director with the Electrical and Communications Systems Division of the Engineering Directorate. He has held faculty positions at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan and the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. His research interests include intelligent systems and optimization methodologies that can be applied to various power system problems—developing technology for the operation and planning of the modern power grid that can achieve low cost, reliable power with reduced environmental impact. At UT he directs the Center for Ultra-wide-area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), a graduated National Science Foundation and Department of Energy Engineering Research Center.

About NAE

Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. Its mission is to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering.

New members of the NAE will be formally inducted in October 2023 at the NAE’s annual meeting.

Engineering Students Place High in the 2023 Graduate Research Colloquium

Published April 26, 2023

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Researcher standing by her poster. — Tania Demonte Gonzalez

On behalf of the Graduate Student Government (GSG), we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, judges, sponsors and collaborators who made the 2023 Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC) a resounding success. Last week, we witnessed over 80 presentations from graduate students all across the campus, showcasing their outstanding research, creativity and academic excellence.

The GRC ended on a high note with the banquet and award ceremony on Thursday (March 30). We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the GRC award winners for their exceptional work and dedication.

This year’s GRC winners are:

Poster Presentations

First Place: Tania Demonte Gonzalez (ME-EM)
Second Place: Roya Bagheri (ME-EM)
Third Place: Shreya Joshi (Physics)

Oral Presentations

First Place: Tania Demonte Gonzalez (ME-EM)
Second Place: Kyle Wehmanen (KIP)
Third Place: Jordan Ewing (GMES)

We would also like to thank our esteemed judges for their invaluable time, expertise and insightful feedback. Your participation has been crucial to the success of the GRC and the development of our graduate students.

Our sincere appreciation goes to our sponsors and collaborators — the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Computing, and College of Engineering, the Dean of Students Office, and the Graduate School — for their generous support and partnership. Your contributions have made it possible for us to provide a platform for our graduate students to showcase their research and build their professional networks.

Once again, we thank everyone who participated in and supported the GRC. Your engagement and enthusiasm have made this event a remarkable and memorable experience. We look forward to seeing you again at the next GRC.

By the Graduate Student Government.

Tania Demonte Gonza presented on “Nonlinear Model Predictive Control of a Wave Energy Converter.”

Roya Bagheri presented on “Electrical Stimulation for Maturation of Heart Muscle Cells.”

Jordan Ewing presented on “Remote Sensing using Machine Learning for Off-Road Mobility.”

2023 Graduate Research Colloquium: GLRC Student Award Winners

Congratulations to the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) Student Poster Award winners, in recognition of World Water Day, at the Graduate Student Government Graduate Research Colloquium last week:

First Place: Cassandra Reed-VanDam (CFRES)
Second Place: Michelle Bollini (CEGE)
Third Place: Mitch Kehne (BioSci)

By the Great Lakes Research Center.

Michelle Bollini presented on “Dynamic Bioaccumulation Model for a mining impacted Aquatic Ecosystem.”

Engineering Students Interviewed About Design Expo 2023

Published April 20, 2023

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Two students seating outside near the waterfront next to an off-road vehicle. — Mechanical engineering students in the Blizzard Baja Enterprise.

Michigan Technological University opens Design Expo to underclassmen

Briana Tucker and Nagesh Hatti (Enterprise) were quoted by WZMQ 19 News in coverage of Michigan Tech’s 2023 Design Expo, held Tuesday (April 18) at the Van Pelt and Opie Library and Memorial Union Building.

The Michigan Tech Baja Racing Team showcased their new car at the expo as well. This year they’ve been mandated to build a four-wheel car in order to compete and the team says they use the tools from class in every cylinder of their project.

Michigan Tech University holds 23rd annual Design Expo with wide project variety

Tucker, senior Ryan Peckham (electrical engineering) and first-year engineering student Andrew Brenner were interviewed for a WLUC TV6 broadcast segment, and first-year chemical engineering students Ethan LeGrave, Veronica North, and Bailey Wright were mentioned in the accompanying story.

The Wireless Communications Enterprise (WCE) team showcased several of their projects.

Feats of innovation

The Daily Mining Gazette also covered Expo, mentioning students Breanna Gorman and Cade Meyer.

Breanna Gorman, president of the Enterprise team and fourth-year electrical engineering major showcased a portable battery pack intended for military backpacks.

Cade Meyer, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student was part of the Velovations Enterprise team. They focus on bicycle design projects.

Department of GMES Shines at the 2023 Annual SME Conference and Expo in Denver

Published April 11, 2023

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The 2023 Annual Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) Conference & Expo, held February 26–March 1 in Denver, Colorado, was a huge success for the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) at Michigan Tech. A large group of students and faculty representing the mining engineering and geological engineering programs attended the event, including eight BS students, five MS students, and a PhD student, along with two faculty members. They presented their research, received awards, and connected with alumni and industry.

The students in attendance were Michael Carly, Kolby Carpenter, Leanne Daanen, Jack Hawes, Jake Maxon, John Myaard, Jared Searl, Max Stange, Charles Addai, Ian Gannon, DharmaSai Eshwar Reddy Sirigiri, Enoch Nii-Okai, Emmanuel Wolubah, and Abid Danish.

Research Presentations

Associate Professor and Witte Family Endowed Faculty Fellow in Mining Engineering Snehamoy Chatterjee, delivered an oral presentation titled “Workers’ Compensation Data Analysis to Characterize Injury Severity in the Mining Industry,” based on his ongoing NIOSH-funded research.

Dr. Chatterjee’s MS student DharmaSai Eshwar Reddy Sirigiri gave an oral presentation titled “Modeling the Number of Days Lost from a Mining Accident by a Two-Stage Hierarchical Machine Learning Approach and MSHA Accident Data.”

Dr. Chatterjee’s PhD student Abid Danish presented a poster titled “Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning-based approach for clustering analysis of mining accident narratives.”

Recognitions

Dr. Nathan Manser, professor of practice in mining engineering and the chair for the Upper Peninsula Section of SME, accepted the Miners Give Back Award on behalf of the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin SME local sections. This award is given annually and recognizes extraordinary achievements in community service and the advancement of the strategic objectives of SME during the past year by the local section membership. The focus of their work involved a collaboration with 4H to promote geosciences to middle-school-aged children in the region.

Alumni Connections

Michigan Tech alumni have always had strong representation within SME. Most notably, Marc LeVier (MTU BSMY ’71, MS ‘77) became the 2023 SME President on March 1 at the conclusion of SME Annual Conference & Expo.

As part of the week-long activities at SME, the GMES department hosted an alumni engagement event in the Hyatt Regency Downtown. About 66 guests attended the two-hour social event, including alumni from several MTU departments such as GMES and the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.

The attendees came from classes in the mid-1980s through our most recent graduates, showcasing the vast network of connections alumni have, especially in the geoscience and minerals industries. A few members of the Industrial Advisory Board for Mining Engineering at MTU attended the event to rekindle connections with students and alumni. Our special thanks to Julie Marinucci for helping with the event organization! The event was a great opportunity for everyone to network and catch up with old friends. Overall, the alumni engagement event was a success, and plans for the next meeting in Phoenix are already underway. We are grateful to all the alumni who attended and look forward to seeing even more of them at future events.

Five people standing at a table in a large room. — GMES alumni event: (left to right) Luis Sierra (BSMG ‘05), Katie Robertson (BSMG ‘04), Trent Weatherwax (BSMG ‘03), John Uhrie (PhD ‘96), Theodosia Uhrie (BS STC ‘91). Photo credit: Julie Marinucci.

Six people standing at a table in a large room. — GMES alumni event: (left to right) Amol Paithankar (MSMG ’17; MS PhD ’20); Abid Danish (Mining Engineering PhD student); Bowen Li (Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering); Charles Addai (Mining Engineering MS Student); Emmanuel Wolubah (Mining Engineering MS Student); and Enoch Nii-Okai (Mining Engineering MS Student). Photo credit: Julie Marinucci.

Four people standing near the wall in a large room. — GMES alumni event: (left to right) Richard Saccany (MTU BSMG ‘71), Don Larsen (MTU BSMY ‘79), Komar Kawatra (MTU Chemical Engineering), Mike Onsager (MTU BSEE ‘76). Photo credit: Julie Marinucci.

Four people standing in a large room. — Michael Carley (BSGE ‘23), Jake Maxon (BSMG ‘23), Nathan Manser (BSMG ‘01), and Kurt Doran (MTU ‘04). Photo credit: Julie Marinucci.

Fun

The MTU Student Chapter of SME participated in the Komatsu Student and Professor event at the conference, a dueling-piano themed event with over 300 attendees from schools worldwide.

Group of 15 people cheering and holding a Night on Bourbon Street from Michigan Tech sign. — The GMES group at the Komatsu student night event. Upper row, left to right: Kolby Carpenter, Charles Addai, Emmanuel Wolubah, Jack Hawes, Max Stange, Snehamoy Chatterjee, Nathan Manser, Dharmasai Eshwar Reddy S. Lower row, left to right: Abid Danish, John Myaard, Jake Maxon, Enoch Nii-Okai, Michael Carly, Ian Gannon, Leanne Daanen.

Other SME Activities

Director of MTU Mine Safety Program (hosted at GMES) Matt Portfleet, joined by mine safety trainers Marisa Roerig, Ron Gradowski, and Jake Drenth, also attended the SME conference. They had great opportunities to meet others within the mining industry and to exchange ideas. Michigan Tech Mine Safety also had the privilege of taking a two-hour private tour of the Colorado School of Mines “Edgar” mine. This is strictly an educational and research mine, which is operated by the school to provide students with hands-on experience and a location for research projects.

Says Matt Portfleet: “It was great to hear firsthand from our graduate student tour guides about the activities taking place there. Following this, we visited the Capitol Prize gold mine to experience some of the history of the area.”

The last day of our trip was again spent at the Colorado School of Mines, this time with Korky Vault, a 25-year veteran of mine safety training and specialist on cognitive impairments caused by sleep deprivation, substance abuse, and other influences. “This training provided us valuable knowledge and resources to share with our Mine safety trainees here in Michigan.”

Five people wearing hardhats and gear in a lighted mine shaft. — The MTU Mine Safety Program team explores the CSM’s “Edgar” mine.

Impact

We thank the Richard Saccany Mining Program Fund, the Robert Hendricks Mining Endowment Fund, and all our friends who contributed to the Mining and Material Processing Engineering Fund. Their contributions made it possible for our students to attend the SME conference and gain exposure to the latest advances in mining engineering research and practice, network with industry professionals, and explore future career paths.

As the department chair, I cannot overstate the importance of attending professional meetings for our students’ career development. The in-person attendance of the SME Conference & Expo was crucially important for building their professional networks and gaining valuable insights into the latest developments in the field. I believe that these experiences will contribute significantly to their success in their chosen careers.

One student attendee, John Myaard, shared: “I learned a lot and made some great connections with people in a diverse range of industries like mining, research, and mineral processing.”

Overall, the participation of our department in the 2023 SME Conference & Expo was a great success, and we look forward to participating in future events.

By Aleksey Smirnov, chair of GMES.

Category: Research

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