Graduate School Newsblog

Category: Announcements

Items that are time sensitive and require action

Merck Innovation Cup 2019

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Apply now! Deadline is January 31st, 2019

From June 23 – 29, 2019, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will be hosting the Merck Innovation Cup (http://innovationcup.merckgroup.com, http://innovationcup.emdgroup.com).

The Innovation Cup is an initiative for graduate students in natural sciences, computer sciences, and business administration to attend a training program near Frankfurt, Germany.

All travel, food and accommodation expenses are paid by us.

The Innovation Cup is designed to support the professional development of graduate students interested in the pharmaceutical industry. Participants learn how R&D in the industry works by lectures from Merck managers and scientists. The students will also advance an idea to a full project plan with their teams. The event brings together a promising new generation of talent with senior Merck managers and researchers and accomplished Merck retirees in a meeting of the generations. It also provides a unique chance to network with the brightest students from all around the world. Teams will work on innovative projects in the areas of: Oncology, Immuno-Oncology, Autoimmunity, Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Protein Engineering and Screening, Digitalization.

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Submission and Formatting 101: Master the Dissertation, Thesis, and Report Process

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Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis, or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents, and submitting their documents.  In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion!  Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend.  Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.

  • When: Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 1 – 5pm (see detailed schedule below)
  • Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission
  • Where: MUB Ballroom A; (register to attend online and receive participation instructions)
  • Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

If you are unable to join us, the event will be taped and available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.

Information on submitting, formatting, and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

Detailed schedule

  • 1 – 2pm – Submission 101
    Learn what is required to submit your document to the Graduate School and the deadlines for the upcoming semester.  Best for students who are completing their degree this semester or next semester.
  • 2 – 2:45pm – Formatting 101: Using the Guide and Word Template
    Learn how to find what you need in the Guide and use a Word template to create a perfectly formatted document the first time. LaTeX resources will be referenced, but not emphasized.
  • 2:45 – 3pm: Break
    Enjoy snacks and network with other attendees
  • 3 – 4pm: Formatting 102: Copyright for your dissertation, thesis, and report
    Learn how to use copyrighted materials in your document, including papers you have published as well as materials created by someone else.
  • 4-4:45pm: Formatting 103: Checking and fixing your document
    Learn how to use Adobe Acrobat to check your document to ensure it meets our formatting requirements and correct it without recreating the PDF.
  • 4:45 – 5pm: Final questions
    Have a question that hasn’t been answered yet? We’ll be available to answer any additional questions you have.
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Nominations for 2019 the DeVlieg Foundation Fellowships open

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Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2019 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible PhD student per program.  There will be two recipients – each will receive a stipend for summer 2019 plus tuition support (one credit or three research credits in Research Mode).  Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Must be a graduate student in one of the fields supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
    1. Engineering or a closely related field, OR
    2. Biology/wildlife (2019 Summer Research Award in Biology/Wildlife)
  2. Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  3. Must be enrolled in a PhD program.
  4. Must be nominated by student’s graduate program.  Each PhD program may nominate one student.

Nominations are due no later than 4pm on January 24, 2019 to the Graduate School. Email to gradschool@mtu.edu is preferred.

Please see our web page for details on the application procedure and materials needed.  Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.

Please contact Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School with any questions.

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Graduate School Celebrates Milestone

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Saturday’s commencement ceremony at Michigan Tech represents a historical milestone for the Graduate School. The first graduate students were on campus in 1889, just four years after Michigan Tech (then called the Michigan Mining School) was established. Since that time, our Graduate School has achieved many milestones and we’re celebrating a big one this week.

First, a little history.

Our first two master’s degrees were awarded in 1927 to Jack L. Byers and Corbin T. Eddy. The first two doctorates were granted in 1934 to Roy W. Drier and Corbin T. Eddy. The first female graduate student at Michigan Tech was Margaret R. Holly who entered the MS degree program in Chemistry in 1935.

The Board of Control approved the creation of the Graduate School in July, 1950 and in 1960, physicist Donald Yerg became the first dean of the Graduate School.

Over the years we’ve had many, many incredible graduates from all over the world go on to accomplish wonderful things. Just a few who stand out are:

  • Kanwal Rekhi, MS, Electrical Engineering 1969, an entrepreneur who was part of the first Indian-owned company to go public in the U.S.
  • Roxanne Gay, PhD, Rhetoric and Technical Communication 2010, professor and contributing opinion writer at the New York Times
  • Yong Bin Yuan, PhD, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics 1991, CEO of Bethel Brake Company in Wuhu, China
  • The Most Reverend Alexander Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, MS, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering 1984
  • Otha Thornton, MS, Rhetoric and Technical Communication 2001, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (retired), board member of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
  • Jason Carter, PhD, Biological Sciences 2003, associate vice president for Research Development at Michigan Tech and president-elect of the American Kinesiology Association

And this is just a sampling of the thousands of outstanding recipients of master’s and doctorate degrees from Michigan Tech who are making our world a better place.

Just how many have there been? Well, Michigan Tech is passing an important milestone Saturday (Dec. 15). Among the master’s and doctorate degrees awarded will be the 10,000th graduate degree in Michigan Tech’s history.

“I’m confident,” says Pushpalatha Murthy, dean of the Graduate School, “that among the upcoming and future graduate alumni, including the 10,000thgraduate degree recipient, we will continue to find the leaders the world needs to create a strong, productive and inclusive future.”

Tech will celebrate this milestone in true Tech fashion at commencement Saturday. Go Huskies.

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Formatting workshops for Fall 2018

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Are you working on formatting corrections for your dissertation, thesis, or report? Do you need help? Are you unsure where to submit your dissertation, thesis, or report?

Join the Graduate School (gradschool@mtu.edu) for group work hours. These workshops are provided at no charge to students working on a dissertation, thesis, or report. Staff will able to help with the changes required by the Graduate School for these documents in MS Office. Assistance will also be available for converting documents to PDF from Word and how to make simple corrections and check your document in Adobe Acrobat. The workshops will be in rooms with PCs with University software, or you may bring your own laptop. Distance students may contact gradschool@mtu.edu about remote assistance during these times via web conferencing.  If you need additional help outside of these times, please contact the Graduate School.  On a limited basis, one-on-one assistance may be available.

 Last day to submit a post-defense document to successfully complete your degree in fall is December 10, 2018 by 4pm EST!

All workshops will be held from on the following dates at the mentioned time:

  • Tuesday, December 4, 2018 | 2:30-4:30pm | Dillman 211
  • Thursday, December 6, 2018 |2:30-4:30pm | EERC 723
  • Thursday, December 20, 2018 | 2:30-4:30pm |EERC 723
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Nominations open for 2019 MAGS Excellence in Teaching Awards

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Nominations are now open for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Excellence in Teaching Awards.  Michigan Tech may nominate one student at the MS and PhD level. Each graduate program may nominate one student at the MS and PhD level. Nominations are due to the Graduate School no later than 4pm, January 9, 2019.

Eligible students

  • will have been enrolled at Michigan Tech during the 2018-19 calendar year and have a teaching appointment
  • will have earned the Michigan Tech Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
  • will have an excellent teaching portfolio and student evaluations

See the application page for complete details on what is required for a nomination.

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EndNote Workshop in the Library

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The library is hosting an EndNote workshop Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Library 242.

Use EndNote software to manage your citations and save time. In this session, you will learn how to add references to an EndNote library, import references from databases and PDFs, organize your citations and use the Cite While You Write tool to incorporate references into Microsoft Word.

No prior knowledge of EndNote is required for this workshop.

Register here.

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U.S. Department of Energy 2019 Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program

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The purpose of the Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program is to offer recent doctoral degree recipients the opportunity to conduct research in DOE fusion energy research and development programs. Participants acquire knowledge and experience in areas of fusion energy science, interact with outstanding scientists and engineers, and have access to advanced equipment and facilities. Appointments are made to designated DOE laboratories, universities and contractor fusion energy centers. The mission of the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences is to expand the fundamental understanding of matter at very high temperatures and densities and to build the scientific foundation needed to develop a fusion energy source. Although tremendous scientific progress has been made since the inception of fusion energy research in the United States and internationally, fusion’s research frontiers remain replete with open problems of critical importance.

Selected Postdoctoral students receive a monthly stipend of $5,583.33 ($67,000.00 annually), a supplement to offset the cost of health insurance, a travel allowance and a relocation allowance, if eligible.

To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and must have received a doctoral degree in an appropriate science or engineering discipline within four years of the desired starting date or expect to complete all requirements for such a degree prior to the desired starting date. Applications are due January 31, 2019. For a complete list of qualifications or to apply for the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program please visit https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/DOE-FES-2019

Past Research Host Facilities: Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois •California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California •Columbia University, New York, New York •General Atomics, San Diego, California •Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho •Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California •Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania •Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico •Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts •New York University, New York, New York •North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina •Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee •Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington •Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey •Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York •Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico •Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California •University of California, Berkeley, California •University of California, Davis, California •University of California, Irvine, California •University of California, Los Angeles, California 

U.S. citizenship or LPR required 

Application deadline: January 31, 2019, at 4:00 PM EST

How to Apply: Applications and supporting materials must be submitted at

https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/DOE-FES-2019

Program Information: Detailed information about the FES Postdoctoral Research Program can be found at

http://www.orau.gov/doe-fes-postdoc/

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Workshops on Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)

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The Graduate School is pleased to have Dr. Joerg Schlatterer and Dr. Corrie Kuniyoski visit our campus on November 7, 2018 to conduct two workshops on using Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to assist in career development for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Please register online so that we can plan for your attendance.

Workshop for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Planning for Your Career using an IDP
10-11:30am, MUB Alumni Lounge

Join the Michigan Tech Graduate School and the American Chemical Society (ACS) for a 1.5h interactive career planning workshop geared towards graduate students and postdocs. Workshop participants will learn about the four critical components of career development and planning, how they can relate to their individual situation, and finding their career “sweet spot”. Participants will be introduced to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) concept and how IDPs can help set clear goals toward a desired career path. As an example for online IDPs, the ACS tool ChemIDPTM(ChemIDP.org) will be introduced.

Workshop for Advisors

Individual Development Plan Assisted Mentoring
3-4pm, MUB Alumni Lounge

Adequate preparation of the future workforce is essential for the survival of the U.S. as an economic and innovative powerhouse in the world. Numerous reports from organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) have highlighted the importance of mentoring for the successful navigation through college, graduate school, or postdoctoral training and towards securing satisfying jobs. Federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation strongly recommend the use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and postdoctoral mentoring plans for trainees, respectively.

This 1 hour interactive workshop will introduce the IDP process as a mentoring tool and share related resources available to advisors. The IDP process consists of four components: 1) self-assessment, 2) career exploration, 3) skill strengthening, and 4) goal setting. ChemIDPTM, the IDP tool and workshop developed by the ACS for trainees in the chemical sciences, will serve as an example of how use of IDPs has the potential to prepare faculty and trainees for efficient mentor-mentee discussions.

Speaker Biographies

Joerg Schlatterer, PhD

Joerg Schlatterer leads the ACS Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars Office. Dr. Schlatterer studied chemistry in Berlin and received his PhD in Heidelberg (Germany) in 2004. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida before moving on to become a research associate and subsequently a faculty member in biochemistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Schlatterer published more than 16 peer-reviewed articles and filed 4 patents and patent applications. At Einstein Dr. Schlatterer also co-created and directed the Career & Professional Development Program for Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Researchers. Dr. Schlatterer worked as Assistant Dean of Faculty Professional Development at Columbia University Medical Center before joining the National Science Foundation in summer 2014 as a National Science Foundation Program Director for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Joerg joined the American Chemical Society to lead the Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars Office in March 2017.

Corrie Kuniyoshi, PhD

Corrie Kuniyoshi is a Senior Program Manager in the ACS Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Office in the Learning and Career Development Department of the ACS. She received her Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, examining oxidation pathways of guanine and cycloaddition reactions of fullerenes. Dr. Kuniyoshi’s work and interests focus on the intersection of STEM graduate career development with innovative technology. Dr. Kuniyoshi has gained over 10 years of work experience, organizing career workshops, symposia, and events for graduates and postdocs searching for academic jobs and acting as managing editor for a newsletter and executive editor of a magazine focused on graduate education. For the last 4 years her work has focused exclusively on strategic development and delivery of career planning resources in the creation of technology tools, programs, and articles focused on the myriad career options available to scientists with M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Two of the projects she is most proud of include co-leading the development and implementation of ACS’s ChemIDPTM (ChemIDP.org), a comprehensive interactive individual development plan platform available (free) online, and developing the Graduate Postdoctoral Chemist Magazine (www.acs.org/gradchemist). As a Myers-Briggs certified facilitator (and INTJ) she greatly enjoys facilitating personality assessment workshops and discovering more about how personality plays a role in career choices and the workplace environment.

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Nominations sought for 2019 MAGS Thesis Award

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The Executive Committee of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) is soliciting nominations for the 2019 MAGS Distinguished Master’s Thesis Awards to recognize and reward distinguished scholarship and research at the master’s level.  Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate in each disciplinary category.

Eligible students:

  • will have earned a master of science degree between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 in the fields of
    • Social Sciences OR
    • Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
  • will have completed an original thesis that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline
  • will not have earned a PhD (or comparable research degree) in any discipline prior to the writing of the master’s thesis

The 2019 competition will seek nominees in the fields of Biological/Life Sciences or Humanities.

Please see our web page for complete details on eligibility and application procedures. Each department or school may nominate one student from either or both categories.

Nomination packets are due by 4pm, October 18, 2018 to the Graduate School via e-mail (gradschool@mtu.edu) or campus mail (address to Debra Charlesworth). Eligible students with a complete nomination packet will be evaluated by a panel of faculty from the University.

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