College of Engineering Blog

Michigan Tech Students Attend IAAPA Expo in Orlando

Published December 8, 2023

students wearing expo name badges standing arm in arm, with arcade games in the background — Student members of the Theme Park Engineering Group at Michigan Tech attended the IAAPA Expo in Orlando this past November.

Last month, seven Michigan Tech students left campus in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, November 11th. With travel funding and support from industry leader LAI Games, an award-winning arcade producer, they set off on a 1,500 mile journey to attend the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Mechanical engineering students Jason Rogers, Cameron Whiteside, Katie Morin, Julian Arens, Jackson Arens, and Joaquin Sibug, and Materials Science and Engineering student Aaron Boonstra, spent the full week of November 13th-17th attending educational sessions, networking with industry professionals, and exploring the vast trade show floor.

The trade show floor with lots of exhibitor booths — Hundreds of companies were in attendance at this year’s IAAPA Expo.

All are members of the Theme Park Engineering Group (TPEG) at Michigan Tech, which aims to promote the education and appreciation of the themed entertainment industry on campus. The group looks behind the scenes of the industry, in order to get to know the design, engineering, and technology behind some of the world’s most thrilling attractions. TPEG is advised by Kent Cyr, assistant professor in Michigan Tech’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Hundreds of companies representing every facet of the themed entertainment industry demonstrated that nearly every discipline of engineering had opportunities within this exciting industry. From material scientists discussing new compounds for roller coaster wheels, to mechanical engineers in awe at state-of-the-art animatronic figures, every member of the Group found something that inspired them.

Industry leader LAI Games sponsored the group and covered the cost of attendance to the Expo. The global company was founded over 60 years ago, and has its headquarters in The Colony, Texas and Singapore. LAI develops, manufactures, and sells coin and card operated prize merchandising games, as well as ticket redemption, video, and novelty games.

“There truly is something for everyone in this industry,” says Cameron Whiteside, fifth-year mechanical engineering student, and Secretary of TPEG at Michigan Tech. “Whether you’re a mechanical engineering student, or a computer science student, business major, theater technology major, artist, journalist, whatever your discipline—there is absolutely a company that utilizes your skills in themed entertainment.”

Four students stand in front of the IAAPA Expo sign at the entrance. — The IAAPA Expo is an exciting event for all students in the themed entertainment industry!

Several members spent the week speaking directly with company representatives and industry professionals, showcasing the unique set of skills and knowledge only Michigan Tech students can demonstrate. Some students even mentioned possible internship and full-time job opportunities.

In addition to the new professional connections made throughout the week, some students were returning to the Expo, having attended the previous year. They were able to reconvene with contacts they’d made at prior events, catching up on their latest projects and developments—both industry professionals and other students from theme park groups at other universities from around the world.

“In a few short years, these people will be our co-workers,” notes Whiteside. “It’s important to maintain connections with everyone you meet at these events, because you’re bound to run into them again at some point.”

TPEG at Michigan Tech thanks LAI Games. “Without their invaluable support, several members of TPEG would have been unable to attend.”

Several recent graduates, including Ryan Briggs (BS Computer Engineering, ’23), are already actively working on some of the most groundbreaking projects in themed entertainment at TAIT, notes Whiteside.

The students were also able to meet with MTU alumni who have found their way into the industry over the years. Some alumni have been leading the industry for decades, like Korey Kiepert (BS ’97, MS ’99, Mechanical Engineering) who went on to co-found The Gravity Group, LLC.

“Our group started out as a few students looking at videos of new attractions on the other side of the world,” he adds. “Now we have alumni of TPEG working alongside the actual designers of those same rides. It’s honestly pretty amazing. I look forward to seeing what current members can do for the industry in the coming years.”

Whiteside will be graduating in December with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Technical Theater.

“TPEG would like to thank LAI Games for sponsoring the group and covering the cost of attendance to the Expo.

Michigan Tech Professor Adrienne Minerick Inducted to ASEE Hall of Fame

Published December 7, 2023

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Adrienne Minerick, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech Professor Adrienne Minerick was recently inducted into the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Hall of Fame, one of its highest honors.

Twenty-two individuals and three teams were inducted in celebration of the Society’s 130th year. The award recognizes engineering and engineering technology education standouts whose work has made a significant impact.

“It is humbling and a huge honor to be listed with so many ‘greats’ who have had such a lasting impact on the engineering education field,” Minerick said. “Many are my heroes and mentors.”

For Minerick, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, the honor recognizes her many efforts to infuse Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging (DEIS) into all of her leadership roles. She is also a past president of ASEE, and serves as PI and Director of the ADVANCE Initiative at Michigan Tech. ADVANCE, funded by the National Science Foundation, is dedicated to promoting faculty retention, career success, and STEM equity with an emphasis on advancing underrepresented individuals with intersectional identities.

Congratulations to all ASEE 2023 Hall of Fame inductees.

For more than a century, ASEE has been proud to support the engineering educators whose work has modernized society. That includes Jenna Carpenter, the immediate past president of ASEE, and dean of Campbell University School of Engineering. Carpenter was also inducted into the ASEE Hall of Fame alongside Minerick. She also nominated Minerick for the honor.

“Dr. Minerick’s national-level service to and leadership of ASEE and the chemical engineering profession have been outstanding,” she said. “Our hope would be that the work of Dr. Minerick and the other honorees will continue to make a positive impact, and serve as a platform for those coming behind us to reach even greater heights.”

The ASEE Hall of Fame inductees’ areas of influence are broad, with expertise in pedagogy, broadening participation, research, leadership and service, entrepreneurship, and more. Read the full list here.

“It takes a variety of ideas, creativity and experiences to achieve very unique and valuable problem-solving.”
Adrienne Minerick

Minerick first joined ASEE in 2003, as a new faculty member at Mississippi State University.

“Because ASEE provided a support network for my professional growth, I volunteered in many areas and eventually became a delegate to the newly formed ASEE diversity committee,” says Minerick. She progressed to vice chair and then chair of the committee in 2014-2015.

Year of Action

“The committee first petitioned the board to approve, and then hosted ASEE’s Year of Action on Diversity. At the annual conference in 2014, we gave out rainbow ribbons and had footstep decals on display all throughout the conference venue educating attendees on DEIS issues,” Minerick recalls.

The Best DEI Paper was envisioned, approved by the board, and integrated into ASEE practices during the Year of Action, as well.

“Before that time, diversity content and conversations were peripheral to ASEE, but after the Year of Action, DEIS became integrated into nearly every division of ASEE, including a dedicated section on bylaws and programming,” she says.

During her term as ASEE president Minerick says one of her most meaningful and rewarding efforts was helping to promote a next-generation effort—the ASEE Year of Impact on Racial Equity—established by the ASEE Commission on Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

“ASEE is the place where engineering and engineering technology educators plan for the futures our students will encounter,” said Minerick. “It’s extremely important that everyone in the realm of engineering feels valued, heard and included—they’re going to be more productive in generating the highest quality outputs.”

“It takes a variety of ideas, creativity and experiences to achieve very unique and valuable problem-solving. When everyone is valued at the table, end solutions are much more impactful and tied to society than they would be otherwise.”

In addition to this recognition from ASEE, Adrienne was awarded the AES Electrophoresis Society Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2022 and was recently elected Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2023).

“Each of us are stewards of our engineering climate,” she adds. “It requires deliberate effort to create an environment where each and every student feels welcome and appreciated for their unique skills and talents, gained from lived experiences.”

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

Published November 20, 2023

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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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SWE Section Attends SWE WE23 Societal Conference

Published November 6, 2023

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Conference collage of speaker, expo, and background with Live Without Limits.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) section at Michigan Tech had 16 students attend the SWE WE23 Societal Conference in Los Angeles, California, with Gretchen Hein, SWE advisor. The students greatly enjoyed and benefited from the conference sessions. They also met with MTU alumni from L.A. and engaged with several MTU SWE alumnae. They especially enjoyed hearing stories about Tech and how campus has changed.

The SWE WE23 Career Fair is the largest career fair for women in the world. This year, SWE members had 20 interviews and one job offer from participating. Most will hear back on internships and full-time offers in two weeks.

The conference took place over three days, October 26–28, inviting attendees to Live Without Limits.

SWE thanks our corporate sponsors for their generous support, which enabled us to fund 100% of the students’ travel!

Grace Moeggenborg, junior (applied ecology and environmental science): “The conference celebrated all women and minorities in the workplace and helped me redefine being a woman in STEM.”
Kelsey Jensen, junior (biomedical engineering): “Attending the WE23 conference was such an amazing experience that furthered my career and inspired me to strive for positions in my career that I originally wouldn’t think of going for.”
Rixlie Fozilova, second-year master’s student (environmental engineering): “This was my first time at the SWE national conference and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Katherine Baker, junior (chemical engineering): “My favorite part of the conference was attending an exclusive networking event through the SWE Collegiate Leadership Institute, which I’ve participated in for two years.”
Skyler Brawley, senior (computer engineering): “I look forward to the conference all year for the amazing lessons I learn at the sessions and the great career opportunities presented at the career fair.”
Olivia O’Brien, senior (electrical engineering): “I’ve come out of this conference a more motivated, driven and ambitious engineer!”
Kathryn Krieger, junior (environmental engineering): “I hope to carry the knowledge and connections I made this weekend throughout my career.”
Aerith Cruz, senior (management information systems): “It’s incredible how the Michigan Tech network extends beyond Houghton.”
Victoria Berger, senior (materials science and engineering): “I was able to grow my professional network through the career fair and various networking activities.”
Emma Quinn, senior (materials science and engineering): “This conference reaffirmed my love for engineering and allowed me to envision my career path.”
Carissa Best, second-year (mechanical engineering), SWE section president-elect: “I am leaving this conference with the knowledge and tools to become an engineer who isn’t afraid to live life without limits!”
Tory Cantrell, second-year (mechanical engineering): “Attending the WE23 conference meant so much to me because I was surrounded by so many other women in STEM who all want to strive to be the best they can and help others succeed just as much.”
Marisa Mathews, first-year (mechanical engineering): “I attended 12 different informational sessions and learned more about engineering, leadership and industry than I imagined could be possible in two days.”
Talia Olson, senior (mechanical engineering): “I was able to attend a multitude of informative sessions, and one that stuck out to me was learning about how companies are trying to bring more neurodivergent individuals in the workforce.”
Amanda West, senior (mechanical engineering), SWE section president: “It is incredible that 16 of us were given a chance to network, interview with and learn from these amazing women and leaders.”
Maci Dostaler, junior (software engineering): “As I continue to grow as a leader, I will strive to use all the advice given to me — by some very impressive people — to good use.”

By Jaclyn Johnson and Gretchen Hein, Advisors, Society of Women Engineers at Michigan Tech.

Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity

Published November 3, 2023

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News

by Rob Bishop, Office of Academic and Community Conduct

“Academic integrity is the moral code and ethical policy of scholarly work. It requires the adoption of educational values and the maintenance of academic standards. Academic integrity and honesty are central components of a student’s education, and the ethical conduct maintained in an academic context will be taken eventually into a student’s professional career. Academic integrity is essential in a community of scholars searching and learning to search for truth. Anything less than total commitment to integrity undermines the efforts of the entire academic community. Both students and faculty are responsible for ensuring the academic integrity of the university.”
— Michigan Tech Academic Integrity Policy (University Senate Policy 109.1)

While artificial intelligence (AI) can be a valuable resource for students, it also poses a significant challenge to academic integrity. The use of AI tools in academic settings raises questions about cheating, plagiarism and fabrication. Students must ensure that they are using AI ethically and in accordance with academic integrity policies. Here are some tips for maintaining academic integrity while using AI:

Understand the limitations of AI tools.
AI tools can be incredibly powerful, but they also have their limitations. Students should understand the capabilities of the AI tools they are using and be aware of the potential biases or errors that may arise. They should also double-check the output of AI tools and verify their accuracy before using them in their work.
Use AI tools as a supplement, not a replacement.
While AI tools can be useful, they should not be used as a replacement for critical thinking and analysis. Students should use AI tools as a supplement to their own research and writing, rather than relying on them entirely.
Cite sources properly.
When using AI tools to generate ideas or write portions of their papers, students must ensure that they cite their sources properly. If the AI tool has been trained on a particular source, it is essential to credit that source in the paper. Failure to do so could lead to accusations of plagiarism.
Be transparent about the use of AI tools.
Students should be transparent about their use of AI tools in their work. If an AI tool has been used to generate ideas or write portions of the paper, this should be disclosed in the paper. Being transparent about the use of AI tools can help to avoid accusations of academic misconduct.
Seek guidance from instructors.
Finally, students should seek guidance from their instructors if they are unsure about how to use AI tools ethically. Instructors can provide valuable guidance and resources to help students maintain academic integrity while using AI tools.

In conclusion, academic integrity is a crucial principle that all students must uphold throughout their academic careers. While AI can be a valuable resource for students, it also poses significant challenges to academic integrity. Students must ensure that they use AI tools ethically and in accordance with academic integrity principles.

Article from Tech Today, April 3, 2023
Open AI’s Chat GPT 3.5 was utilized to assist in the creation of this article.

Search Launched for New Dean of Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering

Published October 23, 2023

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News

Our Mission: Deliver world-class education, research and leadership to the State of Michigan, the nation and the world.

Michigan Technological University invites inquiries, applications, and nominations for the position of dean of the College of Engineering.

Building upon our strengths, the dean should be a forward-thinking, innovative, and collaborative leader who provides strategic leadership to take the College to even greater heights.

Position Prospectus

Located in Houghton, in the heart of Upper Michigan’s scenic Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan Tech is the state’s flagship technological university with more $102 million in research expenditures and 16 unique research centers and institutes. The university is home to more than 7,200 students from 69 countries around the world. The university attracts world-class faculty who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Michigan Tech is well known for its return on investment, with our graduates earning the ninth highest median starting salary in the country.

The College of Engineering is the largest college on campus, with nine departments, over 4,000 students, 170 faculty, and 110 staff. The successful candidate will be committed to promoting a sense of belonging and an inclusive environment throughout the college and university. Learn more at mtu.edu/diversity.

Michigan Tech is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For additional information, contact the search committee chair, Dr. Dennis Livesay, at dlivesay@mtu.edu.

To apply, visit employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job/493403.

Our Vision: Create a sustainable, just, and prosperous world.

Aurora White ’16 Named AISES 2023 Most Promising Engineer

Published October 23, 2023

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by Joan Chadde, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

Alumna Aurora White has been selected by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) as the 2023 Most Promising Engineer. White earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech in 2016.

The professional award was presented at the 2023 AISES National Conference, held Oct. 19-21 in Spokane, Washington.

White, a torque calibration security engineer for Stellantis, is an active member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She earned her MS in Mechanical Engineering at Oakland University (OU) in Rochester, Michigan.

In her award description, AISES award committee describes White’s many accomplishments: “Aurora White loves hands-on work, whether it’s being in a vehicle as a calibration engineer or building furniture at her mom’s house.

“I am deeply humbled by this honor from AISES,” said White. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed building and fixing things, which eventually led to my career choice in engineering. I am also especially passionate about my culture, and I hope my achievements might help inspire younger members of the indigenous community to pursue a future in STEM fields and make the world a better place through their work.”

“It means the world to me when I hear from younger students that I am a role model or someone that they look up to,” said White. “I want to make the 7-year-old me proud that I had big dreams for the future.”

White works for Stellantis N.V., a multinational automotive company and mobility provider that includes Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Fiat brands. White has worked in a variety of engineering roles, including instrumentation and diagnostics. She has received numerous awards for leading projects in vehicle testing and analysis. She has earned Design for Six Sigma Green Belt certification, and was selected for a new Stellantis leadership development program in 2022. White now serves on that program’s board, while serving as treasurer for the Indigenous Cultural Opportunity Network, a Stellantis business resource group.”

“I want to inspire our Indigenous youth to show them that all things are possible.”
Aurora White

Aurora White took part in the Lac Vieux Desert powwow in early August.

White grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “I have been a part of AISES since I was an undergrad at Michigan Tech. I was the AISES Michigan Tech secretary and then president,” wrote White in a LinkedIn post. “AISES has always made me feel like I belong and have a purpose,” she continued. “I have strived to incorporate my culture/traditions into every aspect of my life, whether it is at home or in the workplace.”

As an undergraduate student at Michigan Tech, White was an active member in the Engineering Ambassadors and Women’s Leadership Council. She studied abroad at the Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, and received internships with GE Aviation Mechanical Engineering; the Wind Energy Science, Engineering, and Policy Program at Iowa State University; and Indian Health Services.

She was also active in outreach activities, presenting at Family Engineering events in Baraga, L’Anse and Detroit with coordinator Joan Chadde, and presenting virtually as part of the Michigan Space Grant Consortium grant project “Native American Women in STEM & Natural Resources’ in spring 2020.

Aurora makes earrings to raise funds for missing and murdered native women.

“It means the world to me when I hear from younger students that I am a role model or someone that they look up to,” said White. “I want to make the 7-year-old me proud that I had big dreams for the future.”

White’s future interest is in automotive electrification, while also promoting Indigenous values into design and the workplace.

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2023 AISES Most Promising Engineer Aurora White

MTU’s Arnold Air Society Leading the Nation

Published October 16, 2023

By

ROTC Building in spring with the American flag in the foreground.

The Arnold Air Society (AAS), in collaboration with the Air Force ROTC, is a dynamic student organization committed to advancing national defense education, fostering professional development and actively engaging in community service. At Michigan Technological University, there are currently 22 active members. On a broader scale, the AAS extends its reach nationwide, with a membership of over 2,000 students from 115 universities across 48 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. This organization operates under the guidance of student leaders, broken up into operational units to include local squadron commanders, 11 regional staff and a national staff, who collectively steer its activities and initiatives throughout the academic year.

In early April 2023, nine MTU students were elected to assume nationwide leadership roles as the national staff of the AAS. This outstanding achievement began with months of preparation, culminating in the development of a vision and strategic goals for the organization. They then presented these to an audience of hundreds of cadets at the 2023 National Conclave in Las Vegas. The conclave recognized the Michigan Tech cadets’ efforts and chose them to be this year’s national leaders of the organization. As leaders, they shoulder responsibilities that encompass overseeing training programs and service hour tracking, managing awards and scholarships, and leveraging their computer coding expertise to streamline registration data for over 2,000 cadets.

In September, our MTU cadets, serving as national staff, had a valuable experience attending the Air and Space Forces Association National Convention in National Harbor, Maryland. During the event, they collaborated with representatives from 11 different universities to strategize for the upcoming year. Moreover, they had the privilege of attending keynote addresses delivered by prominent military and industry leaders, such as the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and the chief of space operations, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman. They also engaged in small-group Q&A sessions with many high-ranking military and civilian officials.

From this valuable experience, these cadets were able to bring back their experiences and actively seek out new avenues for enhancing opportunities in their organization. They have initiated dialogues with industry leaders to expand the availability of technical internships for AAS cadets nationwide. Furthermore, their creative endeavors in the realm of social media aim to spotlight the organization’s remarkable service initiatives in local communities while igniting the enthusiasm in new student members to serve.

The 2023-24 Michigan Tech AAS National Staff Roster:

Kyle DeNeef (mechanical engineering), national commander
Eliya Huebner (biochemistry), national vice commander
Carinn Tryon (mechanical engineering), national director of operations
Jack Dedrick (computer science), national director of information management
Brandon Collins (mechanical engineering), national director of support
Sam Russ (computer science), national director of financial management
Catherine Prince (mechanical engineering), national director of training
Cody Scholz (civil engineering), national director of public affairs
Jonathan Willis (physics), national director of joint relations

By Ben Zuniga, Air Force ROTC, Arnold Air Society Advisor.