College of Engineering Blog

MTU, MSU Collaborate and Build Foundations in Inaugural Research Symposium

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MSU Campus

On March 13, 2023, professors and research leaders from Michigan Technological University and the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University participated and presented at a collaborative research symposium titled “Engineering the Future of Human Health.” This inaugural event, hosted by MSU, was held at the Secchia Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The symposium was spearheaded by Michigan Tech Vice President for Global Campus and Continuing Education David Lawrence and planned by a joint MTU and MSU team. Melissa Kacos, events manager at MSU, used her superior organizational skills to make the symposium a success.

Twelve researchers from MTU and 12 from MSU delivered presentations during the event’s six sessions. The event also featured an 18-poster display from faculty, researchers and M.D. students.

MTU was represented by:

Representing MSU were Brian Johnson and Nureddin Shammakhi (Tissue); Erin Purcell and Jinxing Li (Biosensors); Taeho Kim and Bryan Smith (Biomedical); Aitor Aguirre and Tomasz Timek (Cardiovascular); Rebecca Knickmeyer and Shreesh Sammi (Neurological and Aging); and Anna Moore and Kurt Zinn (Cancer).

The purpose of this collaborative event was investigating areas of shared goals, mutual interests and possible research collaboration in crucial areas of human health. Or as Christopher Contag of MSU affirmed, the symposium “will help integrate the research aims of the two universities for a collective endeavor to develop the tools, technologies and knowledge that will impact human health across the state.”

Sean Kirkpatrick of MTU agreed, noting that the event marked “a good first step towards working across university boundaries and leveraging our unique individual strengths to improve the health of Michiganders.”

The next step will be developing these research aims and shared human health initiatives in a second collaborative symposium hosted by MTU on Oct. 27, which is timed to go along with the Upper Peninsula Medical Conference. In this symposium, researchers will elaborate on the theme of engineering the future of human health, but in these key areas: Big Data, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Image Processing, Epidemiology, Human Factors and Neural Engineering.

Lawrence, Kirkpatrick, Cooke and Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI) are MTU’s co-sponsors of this second symposium. Co-sponsors for MSU are Adam Alessio, Departments of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; and Radiology; and Bin Chen, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development.

As the second symposium approaches, the Global Campus team will be sharing more details. Stay tuned for ways to attend or participate in this innovative event.

By Shelly Galliah, Global Campus.

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Dean’s Teaching Showcase: Luke Bowman

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Luke Bowman
Luke Bowman

College of Engineering Dean Janet Callahan has selected Luke Bowman from the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) as the featured instructor this week in the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

Bowman will be recognized at an end-of-term luncheon with other spring showcase members and is a candidate for the next CTL Instructional Award Series.

Bowman was selected for his instruction in GE 5260 Scientific Communication. The course enhances graduate students’ oral and written communication skills to help them write scientific proposals, present research at conferences and publish their findings in peer-reviewed literature. It also helps in completing their thesis or dissertation. In the course, students develop a research proposal they are encouraged to submit to the National Science Foundation, Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) and other agencies. Students conduct a literature review, articulate a research question, engage with their faculty research advisor, and provide and receive feedback. Students also interact with guest speakers who are experts in the field of communicating science to varied audiences. They learn how to effectively talk about their research from engaging professionals whose job it is to make an impactful argument.

“The Scientific Communication course has been an ultimate success story,” said Aleksey Smirnov, GMES department chair. “GMES students have had very high success rates with their MSGC grant submissions.”

“Luke is an amazingly dedicated teacher and effective mentor, who keeps providing instrumental contributions to the advancement of the department’s educational mission, especially in the areas of student recruitment and graduate education,” added Smirnov.

Bowman has co-taught the course with PhD candidate Beth Bartel, who was its teaching assistant the prior two years when the course was taught by Professor John Gierke (GMES). While Bowman leaned on the content and activities developed during prior years, each year the course evolves, drawing from the instructors’ personal experience. Bowman and Bartel were able to efficiently weave in topics close to their research interests in geological hazard communication.

“Luke’s dedication to student success is inspiring and a reason why I chose to attend Michigan Tech,” said PhD student Jacob Murchek. “He and Beth always worked together to provide support and guidance not only in their scientific communication course but in any aspect you would need.”

“Luke has been an extremely important part of my success during my graduate studies,” added MS student Emilie Prey. “Not only did he help me successfully navigate writing for the MSGC in Scientific Communication, he has been introducing me to opportunities unique to this department. He is always there to offer support for absolutely anything related to graduate school.”

“Innovative teaching that has students writing and presenting in their discipline is one of the things that make our graduates so successful,” said Callahan. “Luke’s dedication to students and their success exemplifies how Michigan Tech gives students such a high return on their investment.”

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Bruce Lee: Bio-Inspired Designs

Published
“This illustration from one of my journal articles helps to show the deactivation of a mussel-mimetic adhesive using applied electricity,” says Dr. Lee.
Bruce Lee, professor of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan Tech

Bruce Lee will share his knowledge on Husky Bites, a free, interactive Zoom webinar on Monday, 3/20 at 6 pm ET. Learn something new in just 30 minutes or so, with time after for Q&A! Get the full scoop and register at mtu.edu/huskybites.

What are you doing for supper this Monday 3/20 at 6 p.m. ET? Grab a bite with Dean Janet Callahan and Bruce Lee, professor of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan Tech.

A smart adhesive doesn’t need to adhere all the time. Prof. Bruce Lee looks to biological sources to develop adhesives that can be turned on and off. During Husky Bites, he’ll talk about his work with these advanced adhesives, and their origin: mussel foot proteins. One of those proteins is DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). DOPA helps mussels cling to their underwater homes. Lee also uses catechols, synthetic compounds that mimic the wet-but-still-sticky proteins secreted by mussels.

Fatemeh Razaviamri

Joining in will be biomedical engineering PhD student Fatemeh Razaviamri. She’s a member of Dr. Lee’s research group. Her research on moisture-activated antiviral coating based on mussel adhesive chemistry earned First Prize for Oral Presentation at the Michigan Tech 2022 Graduate Research Colloquium.

With a small zap of electricity, Lee and his research team can take an underwater smart glue prototype from sticky to not in seven seconds.

DOPA is an amino acid in mussels that enables them to strongly adhere.

“It’s one thing to do this in the open air and quite another under water,” Lee says.

The technology could help with wound dressings, prosthetic attachments or even making car parts and in other manufacturing. 

“A lot of people have been using catechol to mimic mussels and their adhesive proteins, but applying electricity to deactivate it is new,” Lee adds.

“Applying electricity is convenient. It can be potentially integrated with electronic devices. Detaching a smart glue with electricity could also be automated and could be as simple as pushing a button.” 

Dr. Lee recently found that the adhesive he is developing generates hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct. “Hydrogen peroxide is a mild reactive oxygen species and is a signaling molecule that is critical to normal wound healing process,” he explains. “Hydrogen peroxide is also a natural disinfectant.” Next, he aims to control the release of hydrogen peroxide from his adhesive to promote dermal wound healing in diabetic patients. “This adhesive would have the added benefit in preventing infection.”

Play Supplementary Video 1 9 V video
Preview image for Supplementary Video 1 9 V video

Supplementary Video 1 9 V

Watch the 7-second electrical deactivation of a smart glue in Dr. Lee’s Michigan Tech lab.

Dr. Lee earned his PhD and MS in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. He earned his BS in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, Dr. Lee helped found a start-up company, Nerites Corporation, which aimed at commercializing biomimetic bioadhesive and antifouling technologies. Nerites Corporation was acquired by Kensey Nash Corporation (part of Royal DSM) in 2011.

In 2016, Lee earned a prestigious Young Investigator Program (YIP) award from the Office of Naval Research to explore underwater smart adhesives. In 2019, he received Michigan Tech’s Bhakta Rath Research Award with his PhD student Ameya Narkar.

Prof. Lee, how did you first get into engineering? What sparked your interest?

I am interested in building things. In graduate school I learned to do chemistry. This is what has enabled me to synthesize various types of polymers for designing functional biomaterials and adhesives. Much of my research centers around our ability to synthesize functional adhesives, as well as specialized adhesive polymers that answer specific scientific questions.

Hometown, family?

I was born in Taipei, Taiwan. I currently live in Houghton with my wife and two sons. Both my sons go to the local middle and high school in Houghton.

Any hobbies?

My main hobby in winter is to drive my sons to hockey games and watch them play hockey!

Fatemeh, how did you first get into engineering? What sparked your interest?

I like designing and making things that give me a chance to show my creativity. The fact of being able to design biomaterials to be used for the well-being of mankind sounds interesting and motivating—and it is.

Fatemeh earned First Place for her research at Michigan Tech’s 2022 Graduate Research Colloquium

Hometown, family?

I was born in Sari, Iran. I currently live in Houghton with my husband who is also a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department at MTU.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Swimming, photography, and reading books are my hobbies. I also watch documentaries.

Read more:

Q&A with Bhakta Rath Award Winners Ameya Narkar and Bruce Lee

MTU Engineers Zap and Unstick Underwater Smart Glue

Testing a smart adhesive prototype in Dr. Lee’s Biomaterials Lab at Michigan Tech
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Michigan Space Grant Consortium Awards for 2023-24

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NASA Lunabotics
By ProjectManager2015 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121940844

A diverse, multitalented group of Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff members has been awarded fellowships and grants totaling an impressive $78,000 from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) for its 2023-24 cycle.

The MSGC, which consists of 52 consortia, is sponsored by 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 are:

  • Elijah Sierra (mechanical engineering): “Investigation of static electricity effects on conveyance of MTU-LHT-1A through polycarbonate hoppers”
  • Abraham Stone (biological sciences): “Advancing Mycobiocontrol Techniques for Buckthorn Management”

Michigan Tech graduate students who received $5,000 Graduate Fellowships are:

  • Ian Norwood (Physics): “Constraining Frictional Charging on Coarse-Mode Atmospheric Dust Particles”
  • Jacob Novitch (CEGE): “Modeling of Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Systems in Small Communities”
  • Caitlyn Sutherlin (SS) “Understanding Community Connections with Nature in California, El Salvador”
  • Eli Paulen (CFRES): “Elucidating factors controlling stream temperatures in a seasonally snow-covered forested catchment in the Great Lakes Region”
  • Ben Jewell (ME-EM): “Experimental Characterization of Polymers and Polymer Composites Under High Temperature Oxidative Aging”
  • Enid Partika (CEGE): “Uncovering Causes Spatial Variability in Lake Superior Lake Trout PCB Concentrations”
  • Emilie Pray (GMES): “The role of crustal recycling in the evolution of the Bell Creek igneous complex, Marquette County, Michigan”
  • Kyle Wehmanen (KIP): “Human Powered Locomotion on Variable Terrain: Implications 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) and Research Seed Programs:

  • Paul van Susante (ME-EM): HONES — “NASA Lunabotics Competition”
  • Xin Xi (GMES): “The compound extreme climate and dust storms over the Northern Hemisphere midlatitude drylands”
  • Yinan Yuan (CFRES): “Genetic Engineering Novel Regulatory Antisense RNAs for Plant Adaption to Space Environment”

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 faculty plays in students’ academic success.

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Money Matters II—Student Strategies

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In 2022, students in Michigan Tech’s College of Business won first place (yet again) in the Quinnipiac University Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum XI portfolio competition—Undergraduate Value Portfolio division.

Jada Hamar, Luke Helsel and Jaharee Weah, all students in Michigan Tech’s Applied Portfolio Management Program, will share their knowledge on Husky Bites, a free, interactive Zoom webinar on Monday, 3/13 at 6 pm ET. Learn something new in just 30 minutes or so, with time after for Q&A! Get the full scoop and register at mtu.edu/huskybites. 

Master the stock market, but make it Tech.

“Money Matters II” is a continuation of a previous session of Husky Bites, “Money Matters,” which took place on February 27. Read the first blog post, or watch a recording of the first session on youtube.

What are you doing for supper this Monday 3/13 at 6 p.m. ET? Grab a bite with Dean Janet Callahan and Jada Hamar, Luke Helsel and Jaharee Weah, three students in Michigan Tech’s Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP). Joining in will be Dean Johnson, dean of College of Business. Dr. Johnson founded and directs the program.

Just how do Michigan Tech business students consistently win national competitions investing $2 million real money? We’ll find out during Husky Bites—from the students themselves.

Dean Johnson creates unique academic programs, offering engaging learning opportunities for students in the College of Business.

Each year, Michigan Tech students are selected to lead APMP for one calendar year, managing real money in US stock and bond markets. Students are chosen based on demonstrated aptitude and leadership skills in the area of finance, accounting, and financial economic theory. 

In the 20+ years since APMP’s founding, teams of Huskies have grown the portfolio into one of the top 50 undergraduate funds in the nation. Students in the program have opened the Nasdaq Stock Exchange and become regulars on CNBC. And although APMP is a for-credit class, the intensive experience often becomes much more of a commitment—and reward.

Luke Helsel, who is earning his bachelor’s degree in Finance at Michigan Tech, would like to enter into the asset management industry upon graduation, eventually working his way into private equity or hedge fund management. 

“The best part of APMP is that the program exposes students to a high end of financial and statistical topics,” Helsel says. “In addition to this, there is a large focus on applying the topics and ideas learned in APMP, rather than simply memorizing them.”

Luke Helsel ’24

The most challenging part, and the most rewarding?  “It’s the pressure of managing real money,” he adds. “In other programs, the trades are done ‘on paper’ and not executed in the real markets. The APMP provides a really unique opportunity to be able to manage actual dollars, because you get an emotional reaction from making or losing money. Managing this reaction and staying rational is one of the keys to good portfolio management. I’m very grateful to have learned this in college.”

During Husky Bites, Luke, Jada, and Jaharee promise to share their strategies. Dr. Johnson will join the session largely to serve as a co-host. 

As a PhD student in 1996, Dr. Johnson interviewed for his first faculty position at Michigan Tech with a very clear vision. “Right away, I intended to establish a portfolio management program for students.” Back then, giving college students a large sum of real money to manage in financial markets was a particularly novel—and perhaps risky—idea, and Michigan Tech was just the place. And there were alumni, donors, and Michigan Tech Fund board members helping along the way. 

Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics. Dr. Johnson became dean in 2016.

Luke, How did you first get into your chosen major/field? What sparked your interest?

Jada Hamar ’22

I began as a general business student with a focus on entrepreneurship at Tech in 2020. Soon I changed my major to Finance because I really enjoyed the material covered in finance classes. I’ve chosen to pursue investment finance because the work always changes; one day is always different from the next. In addition to this investment finance is sort of like finding treasure, which I really enjoy. 

Family and hometown? 

I was born and raised on a Christmas tree farm in Bellaire Michigan. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love skiing in the wintertime and hiking in the summertime. In addition to this, lifting weights and reading are some of my year round hobbies. I’m also a brother of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity on campus at Michigan Tech. 

Jada, how did you first get into your field? What sparked your interest?

My dad attended Michigan Tech for finance. He’s a local banker. I didn’t initially want to follow in his footsteps until I took my first business class. I quickly realized that finance was the route I wanted to take. I enjoyed the challenge of the classes, and the number of career paths available with a finance degree was really exciting. I graduated from Michigan Tech with a BS in finance this past December. I accepted a position at Ameriprise Financial in Houghton. 

Hometown, family? What do you like to do in your spare time?

I feel lucky to have grown up in this area and be able to continue my education here, too. I am the oldest of six kids, with two younger brothers and three younger sisters. I enjoy time outdoors with my husband and our two dogs—skiing in the winter, and fishing in the summer. We have a five-year-old goldendoodle, Arlo, and Indy, a 7-month-old yellow lab.

Dr. Dean Johnson, dean of the College of Business at Michigan Tech

Dr. Johnson, how did you first get into your field? What sparked your interest?

I was fascinated by stock prices at a very young age. The flow of capital to fund firms providing the goods and services most in demand by society is the key to improving the standard of living for all.

Hometown, family, hobbies?

I live here in Houghton Michigan. I’m married with 3 children. And I enjoy the outdoors and sports in my spare time.

Read more: 

On the Money

Business Huskies Earn First in International Portfolio Competition

Michigan Tech Brings TechMBA® to Grand Traverse Region

Continue Reading →

Engineering Students Sweep the Oral Presentations at the 2023 Health Research Institute Forum

Published
Gloved hand filling a tube from a pipette in a lab.

HRI Student Forum Winners Announced

by Health Research Institute

The Health Research Institute (HRI) held their 2023 Student Forum on February 24. The forum featured a poster session and an oral presentation session, which drew participation from 20 students in 10 departments. Judges selected the following winners from each category:

Poster Session

First Place: Gregory Miodonski, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
Second Place (tie): Bianca Velez, Biological Sciences
Second Place (tie): Chen Zhao, Applied Computing
Third Place (tie): Emily Washeleski, Biological Sciences
Third Place (tie): Sherry Chen, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

Oral Presentations

First Place: Seth Kriz, Chemical Engineering
Second Place (tie): Brennan Vogl, Biomedical Engineering
Second Place (tie): Natalie Nold, Chemical Engineering
Third Place: Roya Bagheri, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Thank you to all of the participants and congratulations to the winners.

For more information on HRI’s student programs and resources, please visit the HRI Student Resources page.

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Dean’s Teaching Showcase: Jeana Collins

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Jeana Collins
Jeana Collins

Jeana Collins, associate teaching professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE), has been selected for spring 2023’s Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

Collins will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Collins was selected for consistently applying what she has learned in a variety of professional development opportunities to continuously improve her courses. These include attending four National Effective Teaching Institute workshops, an Alan Alda Communication workshop and the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project. They provided Collins with the opportunity to learn a wide variety of teaching techniques and use them to tailor each course according to the subject and students. She especially appreciated the opportunity to interact with faculty from across the country to share experiences and brainstorm ideas for course improvements.

Examples of courses that have been positively impacted by professional development are the required second-year foundational courses. These are important for students to master, so making sure the content is engaging and providing students with multiple learning experiences is important to Collins. As one student said, “I think the way she goes through classes is very helpful, giving us some time to figure it out and also being there to support us if we have questions.”

Collins works with the students to improve courses, often making changes midsemester. Early-term surveys give students an opportunity to check in with how class is going. The follow-on discussion with the class on what can’t change and what can (and will) change is the part that Collins finds the most meaningful. And students appreciate it. One commented, “I really like how you took time out of class to stop and talk with us about how this class is running and ways to improve to make it better overall, thank you for doing this for us!”

“Dr. Collins’ teaching style is student-centric,” said Pradeep Agrawal, ChE’s department chair. “She makes a serious effort to keep students engaged throughout her lectures employing a variety of active teaching tools.”

Last fall, Collins was assigned a new course: CM3450 Computer Aided Problem Solving. Based on the knowledge and experience she gained, she restructured the course to focus on chemical engineering content; within the different content, she covered multiple computer programs. This means that the programs used are seen throughout the semester, showcasing different applications. This was an effective approach that students found very helpful. As one student said, “This class is amazing. I liked how sometimes we’d follow along, but also had independent working days. The assignments and projects were a great way to apply what we learned. So glad I enrolled in this course!”

“Having faculty members who choose to participate in workshops and courses in order to be more effective in the classroom is one of the reasons Michigan Tech graduates such high-quality engineers,” says Janet Callahan, dean of the College of Engineering. “Dr. Jeana Collins exemplifies this and strongly deserves this recognition.”

By the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning.

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SWE Attends WELocal Detroit Conference 2023

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Conference room with stage and tables of attendees.

Five student members of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) section at Michigan Tech and SWE advisor Gretchen Hein (MMET) attended the WELocal Detroit conference, held Saturday and Sunday (February 18–19).

The attending students were SWE President Aerith Cruz (junior, management information systems), seniors Lukas Pyryt (mechanical engineering) and Kathleen Pakenas (biomedical engineering), and second-year students Kathryn Krieger (environmental engineering) and Ella Merklein (biomedical engineering).

At the conference, Krieger and Merklein gave a presentation titled “SWE Section and Engineering Ambassadors Host K-5 Engineering Days.” Hein participated in a panel discussion titled “Journeys in Academia, The Perks and Challenges” with faculty from Kettering University.

“Attending the WELocal conference and presenting on our outreach programs was an empowering experience,” said Krieger. “It was a great opportunity to showcase the incredible work being done by our section and a reminder that by working together, we can make a meaningful impact on the next generation of engineers.”

“Being my first conference, I very much enjoyed attending the WELocal conference,” said Pyryt. “This was a chance for me to truly become an ally for SWE and learn more ways to support this organization. I am very thankful for all connections I gained at this conference, as well as new information gained in sessions helping push more to become a better engineer in the process.”

The section celebrated with the SWE-Wisconsin Professional Section the achievements of Andrea Falasco ’12 (BS mechanical engineering) who was selected as an Emerging Leader in Technology and Engineering (ELiTE). “It was great seeing my SWE friends again and meeting new ones at the conference,” said Falasco. “I am honored to be chosen for one of the New ELiTE awards and am grateful for those who nominated me. I learned a lot at the conference and hope to bring this insight back to work and home.”

The SWE section at MTU thanks our alumnae, corporate sponsors, and the College of Engineering for their support of our section and travel to conferences.

By Gretchen Hein, Advisor, Society of Women Engineers.

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Dean Johnson: Money Matters

Published
Master the stock market, but make it Tech. Just how do Michigan Tech students consistently win national investment competitions investing $2 million real money? Find out—from the students themselves—during Husky Bites!

Dean Johnson generously shared his knowledge on Husky Bites, a free, interactive Zoom webinar on Monday, 2/27. Catch the recording online. Learn something new in just 30 minutes or so, with time after for Q&A! Get the full scoop and register for future sessions at mtu.edu/huskybites.

Dean Johnson, Dean of the College of Business, Michigan Tech

What are you doing for supper this Monday 2/27 at 6 p.m. ET? Grab a bite with Dean Johnson, dean of the College of Business at Michigan Tech. Joining in will be recent graduates Jada Hamar and Kasey Kangas, plus current student Jaharee Weah—all three took part in the Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP), directed by Dr. Johnson.

In the 20-plus years since APMP’s founding, teams of Huskies have grown the portfolio into one of the top 50 undergraduate funds in the nation. Students in the program have opened the Nasdaq Stock Exchange and become regulars on CNBC. And although APMP is a for-credit class, the intensive experience often becomes much more of a commitment—and reward.

During Husky Bites, Dr. Johnson also promises to share their secret recipe of 25 years—the one that’s been guiding these Michigan Tech students as they manage real money. 

“In addition, we’ll consider paradigms, paradoxes, performance, and persistence, while exploring the history of investment theory and practice from the 1920s to the 2020s,” he says.

As a PhD student, Johnson interviewed for his first faculty position at Michigan Tech with a very clear vision. “Right away, I intended to establish a portfolio management program for students,” says Johnson, who was hired on as faculty in 1996 in Michigan Tech’s School of Business. He became dean in 2016. 

Michigan Tech APMP students opened the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

Back in 1996, giving college students a large sum of real money to manage in financial markets was a particularly novel—and perhaps risky—idea, and Michigan Tech was just the place. And there were alumni, donors and Michigan Tech Fund board members helping along the way. 

In 2019, Michigan Tech’s School of Business became its College of Business. “We offer a broad range of degrees, including four graduate degrees,” noted Johnson at the time. “Our program has been accredited for nearly two decades,” he said. “College imparts the prestige indicative of our history, value and offerings—from our top faculty and technology-infused business core, to our esteemed alumni network.”

“Michigan Tech is an exceptional STEM university that provides us with a unique ability to bridge business and technology.”

Dean Johnson

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

“Have you mastered the stock market? Are you investing wisely for your future? And just how do Michigan Tech students consistently win national investment competitions investing real money via the Michigan Tech Fund? Find out during Husky Bites,” says Dr. Johnson.

Each year, a new group of Michigan Tech students is selected to lead APMP for one calendar year, managing more than $2 million in real money in US stock and bond markets. Students are chosen for the program based on their demonstrated aptitude and leadership skills in the area of finance, accounting, and financial economic theory. 

Jada, Kasey, and Jaharee not only took part in the APMP together, but were also in many of the same finance classes together at Tech.

Dean Johnson meets with students in the College of Business. He has a reputation for creating unique academic programs, offering engaging learning opportunities for students.

Dr. Johnson, how did you first get into your field? What sparked your interest?

I was fascinated by stock prices at a very young age. The flow of capital to fund firms providing the goods and services most in demand by society is the key to improving the standard of living for all.

Hometown, family, hobbies?

I live here in Houghton Michigan. I’m married with 3 children. I enjoy the outdoors and sports in my spare time.

Jada Hamar ’22

Jada, how did you first get into your field? What sparked your interest?

My dad attended Michigan Tech for finance. He’s a local banker. I didn’t initially want to follow in his footsteps until I took my first business class. I quickly realized that finance was the route I wanted to take. I enjoyed the challenge of the classes, and the number of career paths available with a finance degree was really exciting. I graduated from Michigan Tech with a BS in finance this past December. I accepted a position at Ameriprise Financial in Houghton. 

Hometown, family? What do you like to do in your spare time?

I feel lucky to have grown up in this area and be able to continue my education here, too. I am the oldest of six kids, with two younger brothers and three younger sisters. I enjoy time outdoors with my husband and our two dogs—skiing in the winter, and fishing in the summer. We have a five-year-old goldendoodle, Arlo, and Indy, a 7-month-old yellow lab.

Kasey Kangas

Kasey, how did you first get interested in business?

I took a business introduction class in high school and thought it was fun. My teacher recommended I take her accounting class, so I did—and I loved it! Now I’m an accountant at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital.

Hometown, family?

I grew up in Calumet, Michigan. I have five brothers and five sisters.

Any hobbies?

I love hiking, camping, fishing, cooking, baking, reading, and playing guitar. 

Read more: 

On the Money

Business Huskies Earn First in International Portfolio Competition

Michigan Tech Brings TechMBA® to Grand Traverse Region

A look inside the classroom at Michigan Tech’s College of Business
Continue Reading →

It’s Engineers Week 2023!

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It’s Eweek 2023! Join us for some special events on campus at Michigan Tech.

We’re celebrating National Engineers Week (Feb. 19-25). Everyone’s invited to special events on campus sponsored by Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society student chapter at Michigan Tech.

Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, Eweek is celebrated each February around the time of George Washington’s birthday, February 22, because Washington is considered by many to be the first U.S. engineer.

At Michigan Tech, the week is celebrated with special events on campus all hosted by student organizations. Everyone is welcome! Please feel free to stop by and check out Eweek events as your schedule allows:

Ever wanted to try your hand in the Michigan Tech Foundry? Make something small, come pick it up later, after it cools!

Monday, Feb. 20
Metal foundry in a box with Materials United, 1-3 PM
M&M Engineering Building U109

Do you know Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers yet? If not, you must!

Tuesday, Feb. 21
Demonstrations with Mind Trekkers, 11AM-1PM
Fisher Hall Lobby

Delicious cake from Roy’s Bakery – a great way to celebrate, relax for a while in the Engineering Fundamentals department, and add a treat to your day.


Wednesday, Feb. 22
E-Week Cake, courtesy of the Department of Engineering Fundamentals, 11AM-2PM
Dillman 112

The Tau Beta Pi “bent” is located on campus at Michigan Tech.

Thursday, Feb. 23
Tau Beta Pi Alumni Panel,
5-6PM
Dow Building, room 0642

Zoom: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/82536199550

Panelists:

Katelyn Ramthun BME/ME) – Product Engineer at Plexus
Jennifer Larimer (ChemE) – Research Scientist at Dow
Quinn Horn (PhD MSE) – Principal Engineer at Exponent
Tim Obermann (MSEE) – Director of Power Tool Technology at Milwaukee Tool

Learn how to solder your own circuit board—with students in the Blue Marble Security Enterprise, at the team’s headquarters on campus.

Friday, Feb. 24
Circuit Boards with Blue Marble Security Enterprise, 4-6 PM
EERC Building – 0738

One important goal: to motivate youth to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse and vigorous engineering workforce.

Nationwide, Eweek is a formal coalition of more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50 corporations and government agencies. This year’s theme: Creating the Future. Dedicated to raising public awareness of engineers’ positive contributions to quality of life, Eweek promotes recognition among parents, teachers, and students of the importance of a technical education and a high level of math, science, and technology literacy. One important goal: to motivate youth to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse and vigorous engineering workforce.

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