Graduate School Newsblog

Author: Debra Charlesworth

Graduate Student Appointed Collegiate Director of SWE

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Graduate student Kaitlyn Bunker (PhD student, Electrical Engineering) has been appointed collegiate director of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She will serve on the national SWE Board of Directors this year. Alicia Walby, an undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering, has been appointed SWE’s regional collegiate representative for this region. Regional collegiate representatives act as liaisons between the region governor, the board of directors and the students in the region.

Published in Tech Today

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Nominations open for the 2012 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award

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Nominations are now closed for the 2012 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award.

This year, nominations are being accepted from dissertations in the fields of:

  1. mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering (more details)
  2. social sciences (more details)

Michigan Tech may nominate one student in each field. PhD students who have completed all of their degree requirements between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012, are eligible.

A nomination packet must include the following required items:

  1. a completed nomination form.
  2. a 10-page abstract of the dissertation, double spaced on white letter-sized paper. (pdf preferred, number each page, and put nominee’s name on each page)
  3. three letters addressing the significance and quality of the PhD work
    1. one letter from the dissertation advisor.
    2. one letter from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee.
    3. one letter from a person chosen by the nominee.

A nomination packet may also include the following optional items:

  1. abstract appendices containing non-textual material such as charts, tables or figures. (pdf preferred, number each page, and put nominee’s name on each page)
  2. a brief CV

Nominations must be delivered to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m. on June 28; e-mail nominations are preferred.  Contact Debra (ddc@mtu.edu) if you have any questions about the competition.  See also the Council for Graduate School’s announcement page.

The fields of competition for 2013 will be Biological/Life Sciences and Humanities.

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Fall 2012 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

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Nominations for fall 2012 Finishing Fellowships are now open. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 4pm on June 13th.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Must be a PhD student.
  2. Must expect to finish in fall.
  3. Must have submitted no more than one previous request for funding.
  4. Must be eligible for Research Only Mode.

Previous recipients of a Finishing Fellowship are not eligible.

Please see our application page for details on the application procedure. Please direct any questions you have about the application or review process to Debra Charlesworth

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A Michigan Tech Education Pays Off

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Is a college education a good investment?

No question about it, according to a report just issued by the website PayScale.com. In its 2012 Return on Investment (ROI) rankings, PayScale reports that a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech can be expected to yield more than $450,000 over a high school diploma in 30 years.

Michigan Tech placed 102nd among 850 US colleges and universities ranked in PayScale’s latest ROI report. According to the report, a Michigan Tech bachelor’s degree provides a return on investment of 9.6 to 11.1 percent.

“You would have a difficult time getting 11 percent every year going forward in the stock market without taking on a lot of risk,” said President Glenn Mroz. “And this is an investment people make in themselves that pays dividends beyond a simple ROI, since it affects a person’s quality of life and that of their family, often for generations.”

The ROI report also compared the cost of a degree at each of the colleges and universities ranked. It reports that a degree from Michigan Tech costs an average of $103,200, including tuition, fees, room and board, and books and supplies, with 91 percent of students receiving financial aid. At the top 10 schools on PayScale’s ROI list–all private–a degree costs between $203,500 and $212,900.

“The top of the list is dominated by expensive private schools and public universities with a strong STEM focus, demonstrating the value of STEM degrees,” Mroz pointed out.

Graduate School Dean Jackie Huntoon agreed. “I think this is a more rational ranking than the US News report, since it is based less on other academics’ perceptions and more on student outcomes,” she said.

by Jennifer Donovan, director, public relations
Published in Tech Today

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Student earns AAUW International Fellowship

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Taile Leswifi, a graduate student from South Africa, has been named a winner of an American Association of University Women (AAUW) international fellowship.

The prestigious fellowship is highly competitive. International fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. The overwhelming majority return to their home countries to become leaders in government, academia, community activism, the arts and science.

Studying environmental engineering at Michigan Tech, Leswifi is researching new ways to produce a sustainable, renewable, low-cost source of hydrogen energy from water and sunlight–energy that does not add to the pollution of the environment. She is also preparing herself to teach at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, where she plans to work with a South African Fulbright group to take the promise of success through education to children in remote reaches of her country.

“In a graduate school filled with interesting and hard-working students, Taile Leswifi stands out as a leader,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “While she has been active in promoting civic-mindedness on campus, her dedication doesn’t stop there–she can often be seen volunteering time and talent for community programs. Whether on or off campus, her passion for research, global stewardship and education is beyond impressive–it is inspirational. Taile Leswifi is a strong female role model who will undoubtedly return to South Africa and be a leader in shaping new initiatives in academia, community activism and science.”

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Sullivan to Address Graduates at Spring Commencement

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Martha Sullivan, the president of Sensata Technologies, will address more than 1,000 graduates during Michigan Tech’s Spring Commencement.

The University will honor the achievements of 854 undergraduates and 199 master’s and PhD candidates during ceremonies on Saturday, April 28.

Sullivan, who earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1983, was named president of Sensata in 2010, in addition to her role as chief operating officer and director of several of the company’s subsidiaries. Previously she was executive vice president and chief operating officer, a position she had held since Sensata was purchased by Texas Instruments in 2006.

Sullivan joined Texas Instruments in 1984 and rose through the ranks, attaining the post of vice president of Sensors in 1997. During her tenure, sensors revenue grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 11.2 percent with 10 consecutive years of growth, while profits increased by 23 percent annually.

Sensata Technologies is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sensing, electrical protection, control and power management solutions. The company, with revenues of $1.8 billion, has manufacturing and technology development centers in 11 countries and employs 11,500 people.

Sullivan is a member of the Presidential Council of Alumnae and the Academy of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Tech and serves on the University’s Generations of Discovery Capital Campaign. She and her husband, Michael, have two children and live in Westport, Mass.

Published in Tech Today

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Graduate School Announces Summer Seminar Series

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Summer Seminar Series
Summer Seminar Series

The Graduate School is pleased to announce its summer seminar series, where graduate students can learn new skills in an hour.  Register online to reserve your seat and receive confirmation of the time and location.

MAY 16 | SUBMITTING YOUR THESIS OR DISSERTATION

  • Learn how format a thesis or dissertation and submit it to the Graduate School

JUNE 6 | INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE ACROBAT

  • Learn tips and tricks for using Adobe Acrobat to create a PDF of a thesis or dissertation

JUNE 20 | TECHNOLOGY FOR A PAPERLESS OFFICE

  • Learn about current technology that can digitize notes
  • Use the power of an iPad for research

JULY 10 | SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH

  • Join a panel discussion of faculty as they share their secrets to research success

For more information, email Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School at ddc@mtu.edu

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Tech MBA Online Rated a Best Value

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The accolades continue to accumulate for the Tech MBA Online program. It is now rated a top-25 best value nationally, according to the Business MBA website (www.businessmba.org). The School of Business and Economics’ program is ranked number thirteen among some impressive institutions. Florida, Florida State, Auburn, UMass, Colorado State, Georgia and Arizona State are all on the list.

Of the Tech MBA Online, the website stated that the School of Business and Economics is “known for its commitment to the business of technology as well as the technology of business education.”

The Tech program earned high marks for being accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the fact that it can be completed in two years, and its focus on the integration of technology and business.

“This recognition comes at a critical time as the cost of education continues to increase,” said Associate Dean Tom Merz. “Our goal is to provide a high-quality education while not sacrificing learning and professional development in an online learning environment.”

The website also stated that “. . . we’re confident that the combination of high quality and low cost offered by the programs on our list gives students looking to get the biggest bang for their MBA buck a great place to start their search.”

Previously, the Tech MBA Online was honored by US News and World Report in its first-ever online rankings. Michigan Tech was ranked 24th in Admission Selectivity and 38th in Teaching Practices and Student Engagement, among the 161 online graduate business programs honored.

by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
Published in Tech Today

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DOE and EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards

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The DOE-EERE Postdoctoral Research Awards support innovative research in energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering recent Ph.D. recipients the opportunity to conduct applied research at universities, national laboratories, and other research facilities. The objective of these awards is to create the next generation of scientific leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy by attracting the best scientists and engineers to pursue breakthrough technologies. The research programs supporting these awards include:

  • Energy Efficiency
    • Buildings Technologies Program
    • Vehicles Technologies Program
  • Renewable Energy
    • Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Program
    • Geothermal Technologies Program
    • SunShot Initiative
    • Water Power Program

Each award will provide an annual stipend, allowances for health insurance and research-related expenses, and limited reimbursement for relocation expenses. An Annual Research Meeting for participants will be organized and hosted by EERE. The application deadline is May 1, 2012.  More information and application materials can be found at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/postdoctoral/

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Students Earn NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

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Four Michigan Tech students have received graduate research fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Six other Tech students received honorable mentions in the competition. Nationwide, the NSF awarded 2,000 fellowships and 1,835 honorable mentions.

Mark Hopkins, (graduate student) mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics; Brennan Tymrak, mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics and Peace Corps Master’s International; Jennifer Fuller, civil and environmental engineering; and Liz Cloos, electrical and computer engineering, received NSF fellowships for graduate study. Bryan Plunger (graduate student, mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics), Alan Olds, Evan Lucas, Hilary Morgan (graduate student, geology), Byrel Mitchell (graduate student, mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics) and Patrick Bowen (graduate student, materials science and engineering) earned honorable mentions.

NSF graduate research fellowships recognize and support outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. The fellows receive a $30,000 annual stipend for three years, plus international research and professional development opportunities and supercomputer access. Each fellow’s institution receives a $12,000 allowance.

“This group is exceptional and well deserving of the awards and honors,” said Jodi Lehman, coordinator of sponsored programs enhancement. Lehman worked closely with the NSF graduate research fellowship applicants. “Their success is also largely due to faculty and administrators who are committed to providing our students with the challenging academic experiences, innovative research, leadership training, and local and global outreach opportunities that make Michigan Tech applicants competitive.”

by Jennifer Donovan, director, public relations
Published in Tech Today

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