Category: Announcements

Items that are time sensitive and require action

Michigan Space Grant Consortium Conference & Fellowships

The new Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) website is now open for Fellowship, Precollege Education, Public Outreach, Teacher Training, and Research Seed Grant proposals.  Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowship funding opportunity proposal guidelines and applications are available on the website.  Deadline date for proposal packages is no later than Friday, November 18, 2011.  Funding announcements will be made in February 2012.

In addition, the Fifteenth Annual Fall MSGC Conference has been scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m.  The Registration Deadline date for the conference is October 24, 2011.  We are calling for short lectures and/or posters (abstract required and must be submitted with your registration form).  Some travel expense assistance for out-of-town students is available (if you need lodging in Ann Arbor, you must contact Bonnie Bryant no later than October 14, 2011).

For more information about the Conference, including a registration form, please visit the MSGC website or call Bonnie Bryant at (734) 764-9508 or e-mail:  blbryant@umich.edu.

Spring 2012 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

Nominations for spring Finishing Fellowships are now open. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 4pm on October 26th.

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

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

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.

AAHHE/USDA-NIFA/TAMUCC Outstanding Thesis Competition

This competition is open to any Hispanic who has completed a thesis that focuses on Food and the Agricultural Sciences, between December 2010 and August 30, 2011.  Theses are eligible if they are in domains related to the USDA priority areas, including

  • Food Safety
  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Childhood Obesity

The top three winners will be invited and sponsored to attend the 7th Annual AAHHE National Conference (March 8-10, 2012) in Costa Mesa, California to present their theses and receive their award, as well as participate in a Career Preparation Institute. The first place winner will receive an award of $3,000, the second place winner will receive $2,000, and the third place winner will receive $1,000.

Deadline to submit a thesis abstract for the competition:  September 30, 2011, 5pm CST.

For additional details concerning the requirements and regulations, please refer to the AAHHE website.

BRC Travel Grants for Fall Semester

The BRC travel grants provide financial assistance to graduate students, undergraduate students and postdoctoral scientists who present their research at scientific meetings. The BRC travel grants promote biotechnological research and achievement.

The awards are merit-based and are offered twice per year. The fall deadline is Friday, Oct. 14, and the spring deadline is April 13.

To apply, complete the application form available at Biotech. Provide all the necessary documentation as specified in the application instructions. Send application materials to Mary Tassava via email. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Awards will be announced near the end of the award month.

For more information, contact Tassava at 487-2959 or mltassav@mtu.edu .

Published in Tech Today

Seminar on Competitive Fellowships

Many federal agencies solicit highly competitive graduate fellowship/scholarship applications. In particular, Michigan Tech students have had success with the following:

The Sponsored Program Enhancement office is offering a series of seminars/workshops to help eligible domestic first-year graduate students and senior undergraduate students understand what opportunities are available and help them develop a competitive application.

  • Overview of Funding Opportunities
    Sept. 8, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Writing the Personal Essay and References
    Sept. 15, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Tips from Real Panel Reviewers
    Sept. 22, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom B3
  • Writing Research Essays
    Sept. 6, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Peer Review Workshop
    Sept. 13, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Peer Review Workshop
    Sept. 20, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom A2

For more information, contact Jodi Lehman at jglehman@mtu.edu .

Nominations sought for MAGS Thesis Award

The Executive Committee of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) is soliciting nominations for the 2012 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.

Eligible students will have earned a master of science degree between October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

Please see our web page for complete details on eligibility and application procedures.  Nominations are due no later than 4pm, October 10th to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School.

Seminar: Submitting your Thesis or Dissertation to the Graduate School

Students planning on finishing a thesis or dissertation fall 2011 or spring 2012 are invited a seminar designed to help students understand the submission process and answer questions about it.

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation with the location and a reminder of the date and time.

If you are unable to join us, a taped version of this seminar is available online from our May 19th presentation.

Students who are interested in learning more about the formatting requirements and resources available to assist them should visit our formatting web page and refer to our January 27 seminar.

How to Get Hired, Stay Hired, and Win in Corporate America

Thursday, September 15, 2011

6:30 – 7:30 pm

Memorial Union, Ballroom B

Dessert Social to follow

How to Get Hired, Stay Hired, and Win in Corporate America

The Michigan Tech campus community is invited to an interactive presentation given by Erin Zimmer, Adjunct Professor at Northwood University, former Michigan Tech recruiter and employee for Dow Corning Corporation, and Michigan Tech alum.

Erin will provide useful, no-nonsense tips from her recruiting and professional experiences.  Topics will include:

  • Approaching and speaking to recruiters at the career fair
  • Obtaining an interview
  • Interviewing advice
  • Sample questions

Erin will also provide a roadmap for students to use to excel in their first job and throughout their career.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

A dessert social will follow at 7:30 pm.  Students will have the opportunity to speak with Erin and other members of the Michigan Tech Presidential Council of Alumnae who will be on campus for their annual meeting.

Volunteers Sought for Program that Helps International Students

The Intensive English as a Second Language (IESL) program is looking for volunteers to participate in its “Conversation Partners” initiative. The program offers international students the opportunity to team up with faculty, staff and students to practice speaking and listening in one-on-one, informal sessions.

Here is how the program works:

  • Participants sign a contract with IESL that requires them to meet their partner in public places on campus for one hour each week.
  • IESL matches international students with volunteers; the goal is to pair people of the same gender; IESL will check with prospective partners before matching those of the opposite gender.
  • IESL introduces the partners to each other at an initial meeting.
  • Though partners meet independently, Listening and Speaking teachers will often check in with students to monitor concerns or problems.

Why apply? Organizers say the rewards are many:

  • Make a new friend.
  • Help an international/multilingual student understand American culture and society.
  • Experience the emerging global landscape from the perspective of an international/multilingual student.
  • Develop a deeper cultural awareness and understanding.
  • Promote rewarding international relations and cross-cultural dialogue on campus

At times, participants may have to explain English language points, but they are not asked to be an English as a Second Language teacher.

At the program’s preliminary meeting, IESL can provide ideas for weekly meetings.

Here’s what they’re saying about this opportunity:

  • “I learned about myself, my international friend, and the American culture in which we live.” (Alanna, an undergraduate student)
  • “I feel enriched by the experience of getting to know a bit about these exceptional students and their cultures as well.” (Carole, staff)
  • “You make a difference in a very tangible way.” (Brian, graduate student)

Those in the campus community who are interested in participating are asked to apply online.

For more information about the IESL program, email esl@mtu.edu or see IESL.

Published in Tech Today.