Category: Announcements

Items that are time sensitive and require action

December 14: Graduate School Brown Bag Lunch and Learn

Has the end of the semester left you feeling overwhelmed and wondering how you can manage the demands of your work, school, and family?

If so, on December 14th from noon – 1pm, join presenters from Counseling and Wellness Services as they present tips relevant to time management for graduate students.  We’ll provide soft drinks (soda and water), chips, and desert – bring your own lunch.

Register online to save your seat and receive the location of the seminar.  Seating is limited – register early!

Questions?  Contact Debra Charlesworth.

Spring Orientation – January 6th

Spring orientation for new graduate students, and students unable to attend fall orientation is quickly approaching.  Our session will be on January 6, 2012 from 8:30am – 1pm in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

Register now to reserve your seat and help us plan this event.  Registration will close on December 21, 2011 – after that date, student will only be accommodated if space is available.

All graduate students are required to either attend orientation or complete an online training course.  See the linked sites for more information about each program.

Questions about orientation?  Contact Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School.

Flu Shots Available on Campus

Flu shots are available for faculty, staff, and students.  Bring proof of Aetna insurance to obtain the shot as a benefit, or if not covered by Aetna, the cost is $25 per shot, payable at the time of service.

Anyone under the age of 18 cannot be vaccinated without parental permission.

Here is the schedule:

  • Monday, Oct. 24, 4 to 7 p.m., Memorial Union Commons Area
  • Thursday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room A
  • Wednesday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom (in conjunction with How the Health Are You Wellness Fair)
  • Thursday, Nov. 3, 3 to 6 p.m., Memorial Union Commons Area

For more information, contact Benefits at benefits@mtu.edu .

Nominations open to attend the 62nd Meeting of Nobel Laureates

Nominations are now closed for students to attend the 62nd Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany, July 1 to July 6, 2012.

To be eligible, a student:

  • Must have completed by June 2012 at least two years of doctoral study
  • Must be studying physics or a related discipline
  • Must not plan to complete a dissertation prior to December 31, 2012
  • Must be a US citizen
  • Must be a full-time graduate student
  • Must be participating in a research project
  • Must be nominated by the student’s advisor

Advisors may nominate a student by submitting the following items to Debra Charlesworth no later than 4pm on November 4, 2012:

  • One page resume of the student
  • One page statement by the student on why participation in the meeting is important for the student’s graduate education
  • One page letter of reference by the student’s mentor

ORAU will select students based on the following criteria.  Students must:

  • Show a genuine interest in science and research
  • Show a strong commitment to their principal field of studies and to interdisciplinary work
  • Have a strong letter of recommendation
  • Be in the top of their class
  • Show excellent academic accomplishments
  • Have produced some very good research work.

Michigan Tech may forward two nominations to ORAU for consideration.   Learn more about the meeting online.

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 .