Michigan Tech was well-represented at the 72nd annual meeting for the Institute on Lake Superior Geology (ILSG), held in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, from May 20-23.
Michigan Tech Professor Emeritus Bill Rose (GMES) was posthumously honored with the 2026 Goldich Medal at the 72nd annual meeting for the Institute on Lake Superior Geology (ILSG), held in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, from May 20-23.
The strength of the GMES Department lies in its community, and this spring we’re proud to celebrate one of our own for his continued impact as an educator and mentor.
Please join us in congratulating Luke Bowman as one of only 54 instructors across Michigan Technological University to receive an exceptional “Average of 7 Dimensions” student evaluation score for Spring Semester 2026.
Dr. Nathan Manser, Professor of Practice in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES), has been named the inaugural Richard J. Saccany ’71 Endowed Faculty Fellow in Mining Engineering. His five-year appointment will begin on July 1, 2026. We congratulate Nathan on this well-deserved recognition.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Richard J. Saccany ’71 Endowed Faculty Fellow in Mining Engineering,” said Manser.
The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) is proud to recognize Dr. Yanrui “Daisy” Ning, who was selected as a Fall 2025 Research Excellence Fund (REF) Seed Grant recipient by Michigan Tech’s Vice President for Research Office. Daisy joined the GMES faculty in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor and has quickly begun building a strong research program focused on advancing digital sensing and modeling approaches for subsurface engineering and mining applications.
Dr. Ning’s project “Fiber-Optic Signatures of Stress and Seepage in Underground Critical-Mineral Mines” supports the development of new approaches for improving monitoring and safety in underground critical-mineral mines. By combining advanced modeling techniques with fiber-optic sensing technologies, her work aims to improve how deformation and water-related hazards are detected and interpreted in underground environments.
The REF Seed Grant will help Dr. Ning establish a strong foundation for future externally funded research and expand GMES research capacity in areas such as digital mining, sustainable subsurface engineering, and resilient infrastructure. The project will also provide training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, helping prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists.
The GMES community congratulates Daisy Ning on this achievement and looks forward to her continued success at Michigan Tech. Dr. Ning’s work aligns closely with Michigan Tech’s Tech Forward 2.0 priorities, including sustainability, resilient infrastructure, and responsible development of critical mineral resources. It also reflects GMES’s continued commitment to integrating advanced computational tools and sensing technologies into mining and geoscience education and research.
The GMES community congratulates Daisy Ning on this well-earned recognition and looks forward to the impact of her work as she continues to grow her research program at Michigan Tech.
The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) at Michigan Technological University is always looking for opportunities to expand our education and research into new, forward-looking areas. Drone-based geophysics is one such area—an emerging field that is rapidly transforming how we investigate and understand the subsurface.
Drone-based geophysics offers remarkable potential for geoscience and engineering practice. By
combining unmanned aerial systems with advanced geophysical sensors, we can safely and efficiently
collect high-resolution data in challenging or previously inaccessible environments. These capabilities
are reshaping mineral exploration, environmental assessment, hazard mapping, and infrastructure
monitoring.
To provide our students with this increasingly sought-after skill set — valued across industry, government agencies, and research organizations — we have launched the development of a new drone-based geophysics curriculum. To support this initiative, the department has acquired a high-capacity Aurelia X6 Pro V2 drone paired with a Geometrics MagArrow II magnetometer, one of the most advanced airborne magnetic systems available. This effort is currently led by Professor Aleksey Smirnov, chair of GMES, together with MS student Samuel Jensen. Both have recently completed comprehensive training and earned professional unmanned aerial vehicle pilot licenses, ensuring safe and compliant deployment of these systems in research and instructional settings.
Our vision is to develop a suite of drone-based geophysics courses covering not only airborne data acquisition but also advanced data processing and visualization. Students will use the state-of-the-art Seequent Oasis Montaj geophysical software — recently acquired to support the Applied Geophysics program — to work with real flight datasets, learn industry-standard workflows, and build strong practical expertise.
Our future research directions include a wide range of potential applications, such as high-resolution magnetic mapping of Precambrian rocks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, critical minerals and geological hydrogen exploration, surveys of mine tailings and legacy mining landscapes for environmental and safety assessments, geologic mapping of fault zones and structural features, and magnetic mapping for archaeological investigations.
We are also actively seeking collaborations with other departments and research centers at Michigan Tech, as well as partners outside the university, to broaden the impact and interdisciplinary reach of this developing program.
Looking ahead, we plan to expand our toolkit with additional drone-compatible geophysical methods, including electromagnetics and ground-penetrating radar, further enhancing opportunities for education and research.
We are excited about the hands-on learning and research possibilities that drone-based geophysics will offer, and we hope that this work will inspire more students to join GMES and contribute to the continued success of the department. Stay tuned for updates…
The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Technological
University is pleased to welcome Dr. Yanrui (Daisy) Ning as the newest member of our faculty in
Geological Engineering. Dr. Ning brings extensive experience and technical expertise that will
strengthen the department’s teaching and research portfolio in subsurface energy systems and
resource engineering.
Dr. Ning earned her Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2017,
where she also served as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Geophysics. Her
research focuses on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), enhanced geothermal
systems, subsurface hydrogen storage, and critical minerals. She applies an integrated approach
that combines multiphase flow modeling, geomechanics, advanced computational simulation,
machine learning, and distributed fiber-optic sensing to advance the understanding and
sustainable management of subsurface energy systems.
In her new role at Michigan Tech, Dr. Ning will contribute to both teaching and research in
support of the Geological Engineering program. Her expertise in subsurface energy systems
directly supports the national priorities of strengthening U.S. energy security, expanding
domestic resource production, and ensuring a stable supply of critical minerals. She is also
advancing emerging fields such as geological hydrogen exploration and carbon management,
which align with the nation’s goals of responsible resource development and technological
innovation in the energy sector.
“Dr. Ning’s expertise in subsurface energy systems and her multidisciplinary approach
will enhance our capabilities in critical areas such as carbon storage, geothermal
energy, critical minerals, and geological hydrogen,” said Aleksey Smirnov, Chair of the
Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences. “We are excited to
have her on board as we continue to grow our Geological Engineering program and
expand our impact on the sustainable development of Earth’s resources.”
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Daisy Ning to Michigan Tech and the GMES community.
John Gierke, our colleague and friend, has been granted the status of Professor Emeritus, a recognition approved by the Board of Trustees earlier today in honor of his outstanding career!
Dr. Radwin Askari, Associate Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES) at Michigan Tech, is a geophysicist at the forefront of environmental geophysics and energy transition research. His innovative work focuses on understanding fluid transport in geological settings and its geophysical signatures, including volcanic tremors and long-period events. As the founder of Michigan Tech’s state-of-the-art Physical Modeling Laboratory (PML) in Dow 622, Dr. Askari leads pioneering research on environmental geophysics, fracture dynamics and its induced seismicity, and geological hydrogen. His lab is equipped with advanced technologies such as acoustic velocity, low permeability, ultrasonic, and high-speed imaging systems, providing students with exceptional opportunities for hands-on learning.
Dr. Askari fosters a diverse and inclusive research environment, welcoming students from all backgrounds to contribute to groundbreaking work that impacts environmental conservation and the global energy transition. He is also a recipient of the prestigious NSF CAREER award, further highlighting his commitment to both research and education. Join Dr. Askari at Michigan Tech, where you can be part of transformative research addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges in geophysics and energy.
Dr. Askari directs the Earth Explorers Computer Lab (EECL) Dow 619. A multifunctional hub, EECL supports GMES students’ research, coursework, and senior projects with high-performance workstations, specialized software, and access to Michigan Tech’s computing cluster. It also features a TV screen and videoconferencing equipment and serves as a classroom and meeting space, all within a refreshed and collaborative environment.
Since Dr. Askari joined in 2015, GMES has benefited from his expertise, which he has since taught courses such as Fundamentals of Geophysics, Computational Geosciences, Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Reflection Seismology, Formation Evaluation and Petroleum Engineering, Advanced Engineering and Engineering Geophysics, and Advanced Reflection Seismology. Be sure to check out the educational videos Dr. Askari creates and shares on his YouTube channel!
Are you ready to explore groundbreaking research and hands-on learning? mtu.edu/apply
Dr. Xin Xi is at the forefront of climate science, and Michigan Tech offers the chance to be part of his transformative work. Focusing on the life cycle of atmospheric aerosols and their far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, air quality, and climate, Dr. Xi tackles critical global challenges such as desertification and air pollution through remote sensing, in situ measurements, and advanced modeling techniques.
Dr. Xi and his team address pressing environmental and human health issues by combining cutting-edge research with innovative approaches. Supported by prestigious grants, including NASA’s LCLUC program, Dr. Xi’s work is shaping the future of climate science and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers.
Going back to the vault, in this MTU research blog, Dr. Xi explains how airborne dust aerosols impact the Earth in various ways and shares how he believes the surface synoptic observations have not yet been used to their full potential, leading him to develop a unified dust-climate data record.
Since joining Michigan Tech, Dr. Xin Xi has significantly contributed to geoscience education, teaching advanced geoinformatics courses, introduction to GIS, and Python programming for geosciences. His Geoinformatics Graduate Certificate is widely recognized for its excellence and relevance in preparing students for the demands of modern geospatial research and industry applications.
Join Michigan Tech, where Professor Xi leads, and you excel.
