Graduate School Newsblog

Category: Announcements

Items that are time sensitive and require action

Women Helping Women at Ignite Night

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The President’s Council of Alumnae and the Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Women Engineers are bringing 10 successful women to campus for Ignite Night at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. There will be a question-and-answer session, refreshments and a chance to chat informally with the speakers after the program. The event is free and everyone is welcome.

Oil company vice presidents, automotive engineers, geologists, professors and other female leaders in their fields will talk about the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve handled them.

Speakers include Colleen Cervantes, vice president of product supply and trading for Chevron; Diane Doser, professor of geological sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso; Birgit Sorgenfrei, a professional engineer at Ford Motor Co.; Patricia Henderson, president of Cygany Inc.; Shanon Lemke, a senior geologist at Vitruvian Exploration II; Marilyn Clark, CEO of the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation SmartZone; Christine Manninen, director of the Great Lakes Commission’s Great Lakes Information Network; and Lee Rouse, president and CEO of Omni Tech International.

Their topics include: “What I Wish I had Known at the Beginning of My Career”; “From Wallflower to Sunflower–Why Networking is Important, Even for Shy People”; “Why You Don’t Need to Know What You Want to Be When You Grow Up”; “Communicate Early and Often”; and “Putting Your Best Foot Forward.”

Published in Tech Today

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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity.  The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.

Sponsored Program Enhancement will offer a seminar/workshop series to mentor students in developing competitive applications.

All sessions are from 12:00 to 12:50 and are located in the Pat Nelson Graduate Conference Center on the fourth floor of the Administration Building.  Please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) with any questions. Feel free to bring your lunch!

September 13th  “Overview of Different Funding Opportunities and Resources for Domestic and International Students”

Dr. Jodi Lehman, Coordinator of Proposal and Fellowship Development, Sponsored Program Enhancement (SPE)

  • Why apply
  • Eligibility and Benefits of Diverse Funding Opportunities
  • Resources for finding funding
  • Resources for developing competitive application material

September 20th  “Pulling Together Competitive NSF GRFP Application Material”

Dr. Jodi Lehman, Coordinator of Proposal and Fellowship Development, SPE

  • Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit
  • The Personal Statement: A 5 point elevator speech
  • Previous Research Experience: Thinking outside the traditional lab experience
  • Proposed Plan of Research: A template for success
  • Exceptional Letters of Recommendation

September 27th   “Harness Your Brilliance: A Revision Process”

Mark Hopkins, NSF Fellow (awarded fellowship after second submission and tons of hard work) and PhD Candidate

Kara Sokol, Director of Integrated Marketing, University Marketing and Communication

  • Why start early
  • Who needs to be involved in the revision process
  • Writing strategies and revision processes that worked

Tentative: October 4th   “An Insider’s Perspective on the Review Process”

Dr. Debra Charlesworth, Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School for Professional Development, Biomedical NSF GRFP Panel Chair

  • Understand the review process
  • High impact tips to make your reviewer happy J

October 11th   “Broader Impacts…huh?”

NSF GRFP Reviewer and Tech Alumni, Dr. Caryn Heldt

  • How to address broader impacts
  • What activities and projects reflect clear interdisciplinary initiatives or implications, benefits to society, engagement with diverse groups, strong collaborations and partnerships, current and consistent outreach, ability to publish and present and future plans to do so.

October 18th or 25th “The Review Process”

Workshop: Gain a hands-on reviewer’s perspective and understand the importance of addressing the merit criteria – all in 45 minutes

TBA in early November “Mock Review”

Evening Workshop: Review applicant drafts while receiving feedback on your own drafts

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First Friday Social – at the Graduate School!

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Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to attend the September First Friday University Social from 4 to 6 p.m., Sept. 7, at the Pat Nelson Graduate Conference Center on the fourth floor of the Administration Building. Complimentary soda, beer and wine will be served, along with Asian appetizers.

The Graduate School and Graduate Student Government are this month’s sponsors. Plan to come and mingle with your colleagues and see the recently donated conference room and the new GSG offices. Along with the Graduate School and GSG, the conference center was funded by the late Patricia Nelson, wife of Michigan Tech Chemical Engineering graduate Charles J. Nelson (’36, deceased).

The First Friday University Socials began in 2006 to provide a casual setting for members of the campus community to get together informally, share their work and get to know each other. Such informal gatherings often lead to more productive work relationships and an appreciation for diversity.

In an effort to increase the effectiveness of the initiative, this academic year will continue to feature campus partners who will sponsor each month’s event. International Programs and Services will host the next social on Friday, Oct. 5. If your department is interested in hosting a social or would like more information, please contact Megan Ross at 487-3123 or mrross@mtu.edu .

Published in Tech Today.

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Great Lakes Research Center Dedication Thursday

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It has labs for everything from supercomputing to invasive species, for everyone from school kids to university researchers.

There’s a weather station on the roof, and just outside, scientists can board the Research Vessel Agassiz and be on Lake Superior in under an hour.

Plus, the view from its second floor is so spectacular couples are already booking the space for wedding receptions.

It’s the Great Lakes Research Center, or GLRC. The public is invited to the dedication ceremony for Michigan Tech’s newest building, set for 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2. The speakers will be President Glenn Mroz; Stephen Hicks, chair of the Board of Control; and Guy Meadows, director of Great Lakes initiatives at the GLRC.

Refreshments will be served, and tours will be held following the dedication.

The three-story, 50,000-square-foot center has three distinct areas: a boathouse for the University’s three research vessels and environmental monitoring buoy network, a complex of research laboratories, and a public area that includes conference facilities and space for K-12 education.

To read the full story, go to Great Lakes Research Center.

Published in Tech Today.

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Scholarships Available for Little Huskies

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Parents and guardians of young children are invited to apply now for The Access to High Quality Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund.

The purpose of this scholarship is to allow Michigan Tech’s most needy families access to high-quality early childhood education at Little Huskies Child Development Center. Applicants may be undergraduates, graduate students or low-income employee families. Award amounts may vary from partial subsidies to full tuition scholarships.

Completed applications can be submitted by email to eva@gretchenshouse.com for more information. The application deadline is July 2.

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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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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SACNAS Travel Grants and Abstracts

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Attending the 2012 SACNAS National Conference in Seattle, Washington from October 11-14 is another way for you to expose yourself to incredible resources and the validating and inspiring environment of SACNAS where you have the unique opportunity to engage with science, culture, and community.

The deadline  to apply for a travel scholarship and/or submit an abstract is April 26th.  For more information about the national conference visit the SACNAS website.

Abstracts
Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to present their research to a national audience of peers and professionals while practicing their presentation skills in a supportive and nurturing environment.

For more information visit: Student & Postdoc Research Presentations

Travel Scholarships
SACNAS offers travel scholarship awards for students to attend the National Conference.  The award includes round-trip airfare to/from Seattle, Washington and lodging through the conference dates.

For further details visit: Travel Scholarships

NOTE: Abstract submissions and travel scholarship applications are independent of each other. If you are interested in submitting only a travel scholarship you do not need to submit an abstract and vice versa.

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Visiting Women and Minority Lecturer/Scholar Series

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The School of Business and Economics hosts Rebecca Gonzales, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, for two events that are open to the campus community.  Gonzales will be on campus Thursday, April 12, and Friday, April 13, as part of the Visiting Women and Minority Lecturer/Scholar Series.

She will address a class, Economic Decision Analysis, at 12:05 p.m., Friday, April 13, in Dow 641.

She will give a research presentation, “Credit and Finance Perceptions in Latino Community Enclaves,” at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 13, in AOB 101.

“This is an excellent networking opportunity,” organizers say. For more information, see Scholar Visits. Gonzales’ visit is funded by the President’s Office and a grant to the Office for Institutional Diversity from the State of Michigan’s King-Chavez-Parks Initiative.

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