Graduate School Newsblog

Category: News

Interesting stories about and for our students.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Junyao Yang

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Junyao Yang, PhD in Computer Science

I began my academic journey at Michigan Technological University in the fall of 2016, starting with majors in Computer Engineering and Mathematics. Over the years of my undergraduate studies, I found myself increasingly drawn to the area of computer systems optimization. My first experience with computer science research came in 2019 under the guidance of Professor Zhenlin Wang, focusing on LRU cache modeling. This pivotal experience deepened my interest in computer memory systems and ultimately led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science in fall of 2021, continuing under the mentorship of Professor Wang. My research focuses on the modeling and optimization of software caching systems, motivated by the challenges posed by diverse and variable software caching workloads and the critical need for efficient use of memory to reduce resource costs. The optimization involves developing dynamic cache configuration strategies that adapt in real-time to these changing workloads, thereby improving resource allocation across caching clusters to minimize waste and maximize system performance.、

I am honored to receive the Finishing Fellowship and would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel. I also want to thank my advisor, Prof. Zhenlin Wang, for his invaluable guidance and support throughout my graduate studies. 

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Finishing Fellowship – Spring 2025 – Larissa Juip

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Larissa Juip, PhD in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology

Larissa began her PhD in the Social Sciences’ Industrial Heritage and Archaeology program in 2019. She is of mixed settler and Onondaga heritage. Her research is informed by the Two Row Wampum belt research partnership principles and utilizes Indigenous storywork to elevate the past and present connections to iron mining within Indigenous and Descendant communities around Minnesota’s ‘Iron Range’. Larissa has worked on various projects elevating Indigenous knowledge in environmental education with Project Learning Tree and with Voyageurs National Park and their non-profit partner, Voyageurs Conservancy, including a National Park Foundation funded Tribal Co-Stewardship initiative. She has been an educator with the Gidakiimanaaniwigamig Ojibwe youth STEAM, language and culture camp on the Fond du Lac Reservation since 2017. In 2023, she was awarded an ACLS/Mellon Dissertation Innovation Fellowship in recognition of her novel approach to research. Larissa has also served in a volunteer position on the Project Learning Tree Education Operating Committee since 2022 and is a member of the Native Emerging Professionals Network within the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums. In 2020 she married her partner, James, and in 2021 they welcomed their daughter, Awéha, who often accompanies her on research trips and at conference presentations.

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Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Yogita M Warkhade

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Yogita M Warkhade, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

I am Yogita Warkhade, a final-year PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan Technological University. Originally from Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, India, I have always been passionate about exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental processes. My doctoral research focuses on understanding the diversity and distribution of hydrocarbon-degrading genes in microbial communities from unique ecosystems such as the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas and the Great Lakes. This work has significant implications for advancing our understanding of microbial evolution and bioremediation in aquatic environments.

I am deeply honored to have received scholarships from the Tribal Development Department of Maharashtra, India, which have provided invaluable support for my academic pursuits. Additionally, I have presented my research at international conferences, including the IAGLR 2023 conference in Toronto, Canada, which further fueled my dedication to bridging the gap between environmental microbiology and practical applications.

Receiving the Finishing Fellowship is a tremendous honor and marks a pivotal milestone in my academic journey. This fellowship enables me to focus on completing my dissertation, which I aim to defend in mid-April 2025. Looking ahead, I aspire to contribute to the field through postdoctoral research and eventually take on a leadership role as a research scientist or faculty member.

I am deeply grateful for the guidance and support of my advisor, Dr. Stephen Techtmann, and my committee members, whose mentorship has been invaluable throughout my PhD journey. This fellowship recognizes my work and motivates me to finish strong and make meaningful contributions to science and society.

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Fall 2024 Dean’s Awards

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The Graduate School announces the recipients of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship and the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards for the Fall 2024 semester. Congratulations to all recipients!

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship

The following recipients of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship have demonstrated academic or professional qualities that set them apart within their academic program.

  • Nithin Allwayin – Physics
  • Jeffrey Kabel – Physics
  • Mohanish Chandurkar – Biomedical Engineering
  • Ronald Stempien – Computer Science
  • Shreya Joshi – Atmospheric Sciences
  • James Juip – Social Sciences
  • Hrishikesh Gosavi – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Eric E. Coon – College of Business
  • Casey Majhor – Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Jhuleyssy Sanchez Aguilar – Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

The following recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award are recognized for their excellence in teaching. 

  • Casey Aldrich – Physics
  • Philip Cuthbertson – Mathematical Sciences
  • Tom Panella – College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
  • Keenan Rivers – College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
  • Junyao Yang – Computer Science
  • Joseph Teahen – Computer Science
  • Yifu Deng – Computer Science
  • Caitlyn Sutherlin – Social Sciences
  • Jack Smitterberg – Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Ian Quin Mattson – Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Eugene Brown Agyei – Humanities
  • Sepehr Mohammadi – Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Libia Hazra – Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Kipkorir Yano – Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Karl Schneider – Biological Sciences
  • Kara Hardy – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Ellie Zimmerman – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Cora Taylor – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Troy Metz – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Sazzad Hossain – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Laura Albrant – Psychology and Human Factors
  • Fatemeh Razaviamri – Biomedical Engineering
  • Sananda Ray – Geological Mining Engineering and Sciences

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MAGS Distinguished Thesis Award Nominee – Fall 2024 – Draper, Thomas R.

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Thomas Draper, M.S. in Engineering Mechanics, 2024

My journey at Michigan Technological University began in the fall of 2019 as an undergraduate in the Mechanical Engineering Department. From the start, I was captivated by mechanics and material behavior, eager to deepen my understanding beyond the standard curriculum. This curiosity ultimately led me to pursue a master’s thesis under the mentorship of the same remarkable faculty who had inspired my undergraduate studies.

In 2023, as I was completing my undergraduate degree, I was introduced to my research advisor, Dr. Susanta Ghosh, who welcomed me to his research team with open arms. Dr. Ghosh guided me into the world of research and helped me shape my research focus—a gift of mentorship for which I am endlessly grateful.

My research centered on understanding the fracture characteristics of 3D-printed lattice metamaterials. Advances in manufacturing techniques, material synthesis, and microstructure design have opened up boundless possibilities in material design. One of the critical properties that can be fine-tuned through these innovations is fracture toughness, essential for structural applications. My work sought to explore how variables such as relative density and build orientation affect the fracture toughness of octet lattice metamaterials through experimental fracture testing.

I extend my sincerest gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for nominating me for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award. I would also like to thank the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Department for this honor. Special acknowledgment goes to my advisor, Dr. Susanta Ghosh, for his relentless support, passion for research, and invaluable mentorship. His guidance has been pivotal in shaping my thesis and deepening my understanding of the field. I am truly fortunate to have had the chance to learn from him. Additionally, I want to express my appreciation to my committee members, collaborators, and lab team, whose support has been integral to my academic journey.

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Knauss Fellowship Finalist Ola Ayeni

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Michigan Sea Grant has announced that Master of Engineering Management candidate Ola Ayeni has been named a finalist for the 2025 class of the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.

The Knauss program matches graduate students and recent graduates with host agencies in Washington, D.C., such as congressional offices, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For one year, fellows work on a range of policy and management projects related to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. Fellows can be placed in the federal, legislative or executive branches.

After spending six years as a network infrastructure engineer and another six as an environmentalist and circular economy practitioner in Nigeria, Ayeni wanted to strengthen her skills in sustainability and leadership. This led her to pursue a master’s in engineering management at Michigan Tech — a program where she could combine her technical expertise with managerial insights.

In addition to being a graduate student, Ayeni is also the founder of a social enterprise called Hopcyku, which won the Social Impact Award during the 2024 Bob Mark Pitch Competition. Hopcyku’s work focuses on waste diversion and pollution prevention through the principles of the circular economy.

Ayeni’s passion for sustainability and waste management perfectly aligns with broader environmental conservation goals, which inspired her to apply for the Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship. She is honored to join over 1,680 fellows who have, over the program’s 45-year history, significantly contributed to environmental policy and management, building impactful careers in national policy making.

Ayeni is also deeply thankful to Sarah Isaacson (GS) for providing unwavering guidance and support throughout the Knauss Fellowship application process. Isaacson’s commitment ensured Ayeni had everything she needed to succeed. She would also like to express her gratitude to Robert Hutchinson (COB) for his recommendation and ongoing support throughout her time in Houghton.

Read more in the Michigan Sea Grant press release.

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Graduate Language Assessment and Support (GLAS) Language Coaching Job

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GLAS Language Coach Job Flyer for Spring 2025

Undergraduate Student Coaches

Are you looking for an on-campus position that allows you to:

  • Meet with students from all around the world
  • Be introduced to various cultures
  • Earn a competitive wage ($16/hr)
  • Improve your communication and tutoring skills
  • Work in a friendly environment with other supportive undergraduate students?

What is GLAS?

A free program designed for international graduate students who wish to improve their English oral communication skills.

For more information about GLAS and how to schedule an appointment please visit the GLAS Webpage.

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King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship – Fall 2024 – Stelle Acero Barone

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As a 19-year-old disabled transgender student, Michigan Tech became a safe haven through student organizations and the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences (CFRES). Finally having a space where I was welcomed with open arms, I was able to focus on my passion for research and education. Through Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honors Society and several volunteer experiences, I confirmed that I wanted to guide peers and eventually teach. My love of research was also fostered at Tech through my REU and McNair Scholars experiences.

I am starting my first year of my Ph.D. research with Dr. Parth Bhatt and Dr. Tao Liu working on deep learning models to enhance forest fire detection. Forest fires impact human and ecological communities. Thus, it’s exciting to be working on technology that could easily affect the future of ecological research and teaching through promoting ecological data science.

I am extremely thankful for the community in CFRES. I am thrilled to be able to contribute to the amazing research and community here. Additionally, thank you to the countless MTU staff, faculty, and students who helped me through my undergraduate degree and encouraged me to return for graduate school. Finally, thank you to Dr. Parth Bhatt and Dr. Tao Liu for starting this five year journey with me.

Sponsored by the King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship from the State of Michigan.

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Finishing Fellowship – Fall 2024 – Ashwin Karthik Purushothaman

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I began my Ph.D. program in Fall 2019 under the guidance of Dr. Youngchul Ra in the Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (MEEM) department at Michigan Technological University. My research focuses on evaluating the potential of low-carbon, highly reactive gasoline fuels as a future alternative fuel for conventional internal combustion engines. Utilizing the in-house computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool, I performed numerical simulations to gain critical insights into fuel spray characteristics, fuel-air mixing behavior and ignition properties. This foundational work provided strong correlations with experimental data, enabling an assessment of these fuels suitability for multi-mode engine operations.
Building on these findings, I advanced my research by exploring the use of a low-carbon oxygenated synthetic fuel in a 6-stroke engine configuration. Through comprehensive engine simulation studies, I investigated key parameters for optimizing engine performance while striving to meet stringent emission targets. These efforts have offered valuable insights into the potential of synthetic fuels for creating more sustainable internal combustion engines.
I am deeply honored to receive the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship and I sincerely thank the Graduate School and the Dean’s Advisory Panel for this recognition. I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Youngchul Ra, for his unwavering support, guidance and mentorship throughout my master’s and doctoral journey. His insights and encouragement have been invaluable in shaping my research and academic growth.

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Finishing Fellowship – Fall 2024 – Adrian Ali Moazzam

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“Reflecting on my academic journey, it is remarkable to see how my passion for electrical engineering and optics has evolved and deepened over the years. Starting with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, I embarked on a path that led me to Michigan Technological University (MTU) in 2018 for my Master’s degree. It was during my Master’s studies that I discovered a profound interest in optics, which set the stage for my PhD journey.

In 2020, I began my PhD in Electrical Engineering at MTU under the guidance of Dr. Guney, focusing on optics and machine learning in optics. As my research progressed, I continued to explore the fascinating realms of turbulent medium imaging. In 2022, an exciting opportunity arose when I joined Dr. Askari’s lab, thanks to an NSF grant aimed at improving imaging through atmospheric turbulence for geology and volcanology applications. This collaborative endeavor, under the supervision of both Dr. Guney and Dr. Askari, has been incredibly rewarding. Our work has centered on employing Active Convolved Illumination (ACI), an advanced optical method that addresses system imperfections, and deep learning methods to tackle atmospheric distortion, improving the moiré apparatus’s capability to measure ground displacement near active volcano vents.

Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and since joining MTU, I have been actively involved in teaching. In my first year as a TA, I was honored to receive the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award in the Electrical Engineering department. Additionally, I was selected to be the graduate instructor for the Signals and Systems course, an experience that allowed me to share my enthusiasm for engineering with students, simplify complex concepts, and witness their moments of realization.

Outside of academics, my time at MTU has been enriched by sports. The excellent sports facilities at MTU have allowed me to become an indoor soccer champion and a softball champion, activities through which I have forged lasting friendships and maintained a balanced lifestyle.

Receiving the PhD finishing fellowship from the Dean of the advisory panel is a tremendous honor. My current work on enhancing imaging through a turbulent medium has significant implications for geological and volcanological studies, and this fellowship will provide the necessary resources and time to ensure that my research contributes meaningfully to the field.

As I look towards the future, I am inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead. My main goal in starting graduate school was to learn how to conduct research and improve my self-learning skills. I am committed to advancing research in imaging through turbulent volumes and contributing to the broader field of optics. With gratitude and determination, I am excited to continue my work and make meaningful contributions to the field of electrical engineering and beyond.”

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