Graduate School Newsblog

Category: News

Interesting stories about and for our students.

DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship Summer 2019 Recipient – Chris Adams

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Chris Adams
Biological Sciences

I am a fourth year PhD student in Biological Sciences. My research investigates life history variation in trout populations, which may be a mechanism for adapting to changing environments. Data is obtained by individually tagging fish with RFID tags and operating in-stream antenna stations to rack moments throughout a watershed. I look forward to working under the DeVlieg fellowship this summer to wrap up field work in the nearby Pilgrim River and prepare manuscripts for publication.

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DOE Scholars Program – Accepting Applications

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U.S Department of Energy DOE Scholars Program at the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)

Now Accepting Applications

What is ARPA E?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is devoted exclusively to support research and development of high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment.

 Why should I apply?

Being selected as a DOE Scholar at ARPA-E offers the following benefits:

  • Stipends starting at $600 per week for undergraduates and $650 per week for graduate students and post graduates during the internship period
  • Limited travel reimbursement to/from assigned location
  • Direct exposure to and participation in projects and activities related to defining commercialization pathways for high-impact technology development programs
  • Hands-on experience in experience in advancing the transition of cutting-edge energy technologies to market applications in a fast-paced environment
  • Identification of career goals and opportunities
  • Development of professional networks with leading scientists and subject matter experts

Eligibility

  • Be a U.S. citizenship
  • Have a Master’s or Ph.D degree or be pursuing a graduate level degree (preferably MBA or technical degree M.S./Ph.D. with a business focus)

Applicants should be prepared for deep immersion in a specific energy program area and must be comfortable and be able to complete tasks independently.  Candidate must have strong written and oral communication abilities, as well as an interest in energy and energy technologies.

How to Apply

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted at:

https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/Scholars-2019-ARPA-E

For more information about the DOE Scholars Program: Visit https://orise.orau.gov/doescholars

Questions? doescholars@orau.org

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Graduate Student Networking – February 13

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Professional Development Workshop Sponsored by GSG, the Graduate School, and Career Services

Beth Williams from the Career Services will lead an interactive workshop on how to prepare for networking events.  The presentation will be followed by a mocktails event where attendees will have a chance to practice their newly learned strategies with representatives from local industries and with MTU faculty and staff.

See registration link for room and time: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/5018296

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Graduate Research Colloquium

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The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is excited to host its annual Graduate Research Colloquium on March 27 and 28, 2019 in the MUB Ballrooms.  This is a unique opportunity for graduate students to practice their oral and/or poster presentation skills.  Poster presentations will occur on March 27 and oral presentations will occur over both days of the colloquium.  Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes followed by a few minutes for questions.  The top three poster and oral presentations will be announced at the GRC’s Awards banquet.
 
There are still many presentation slots available!  Registrations are due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday February 20, 2019 via the following Google form
Another vital component of this event has always been recruiting faculty members to serve as judges for the presentations.  The constructive feedback received by presenters makes this a valuable learning experience.  If you have a couple free hours in your schedule please consider donating that time to help GSG give the best GRC experience possible this year.  GSG will work to schedule your judging times according to your schedule’s availability.  If you are interested please fill out the following Google form
If you have any additional questions please contact Jacob Blazejewski at gsg-academic@mtu.edu.
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Innovations to Enhance Graduate Student Success

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The Graduate School announces the 2018-2019 Graduate School award for Innovations to Enhance Graduate Student Success. The award will be given to a program, department, or college/school for outstanding contributions to graduate student success.

Award Criteria

The purpose of the award is to encourage, recognize and reward innovative efforts to enhance graduate student success. Nominations may relate to any initiative that positively impacts graduate student success including degree completion, attrition or time to completion of graduate study including:

  • Design and implementation of innovative and creative pathways to enhance degree completion
  • Design and implementation of pathways to decrease time to completion
  • Design and implementation of pathways to decrease attrition from the program

Nomination Procedure

Nominations may be submitted by a faculty, student or staff at Michigan Tech. Please submit a 1-2 page nomination letter that includes (1) your name, (2) your e-mail, (3) your department,and (4) the program, department, or college/school you are nominating. Describe the innovation in enhancing graduate student success with an explanation as to how and why it has made a positive and significant impact.

The nomination(s) should be emailed to Heather Suokas or Mary Stevens, in the Graduate School by Friday, Feb. 15.

The recipient will be recognized and presented with a plaque at the Graduate Research Colloquium banquet on March 28.

Selection Committee

The Dean of the Graduate School will appoint and oversee a selection committee.

The recipient will be recognized and presented with a plaque at the Graduate Research Colloquium banquet on March 28.

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Innovations to Enhance Graduate Student Recruitment and Enrollment

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The Graduate School announces the 2018-2019 Graduate School award for Innovations to Enhance Graduate Student Recruitment and Enrollment. The award will be given to a program, department or college/school on campus who has undertaken creative initiatives to enhance graduate student recruitment and enrollment.

Award Criteria

The purpose of the award is to encourage, recognize and reward innovative efforts to enhance graduate student recruitment and enrollment. Nominations may relate to any initiative that positively impacts graduate student recruitment and enrollment including:

  • Design and implementation of creative strategies/environments to enhance recruitment and enrollment i.e. virtual fairs, blogs, and others
  • Design and implementation of creative strategies to enhance engagement with admitted students
  • Collaborates and establishes relationships with other institutions to enhance recruitment and enrollment
  • Design and implementation of strategies to increase diversity of the graduate student body

Nomination Procedure

Nominations may be submitted by a faculty, student or staff at Michigan Tech. Submit a 1-2 page nomination letter that includes (1) your name, (2) your e-mail, (3) your department and (4) the program, department, or college/school you are nominating.

Describe the innovation in enhancing graduate student recruitment and enrollment with an explanation as to how and why it has made a positive and significant impact.

The nomination(s) should be emailed to Heather Suokas or Mary Stevens,  in the Graduate School by Friday, Feb. 15.

The recipient will be recognized and presented with a plaque at the Graduate Research Colloquium banquet on March 28.

Selection Committee

The Dean of the Graduate School will appoint and oversee a selection committee.

The recipient will be recognized and presented with a plaque at the Graduate Research Colloquium banquet on March 28.

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Nicholas Matwiyoff and Carl Hogberg Graduate Fellowship Fund, Spring 2019 Recipient – Kevin Phillips

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Kevin Phillips
Integrative Physiology

I have been living in the Upper Peninsula for 5 years and began my Ph.D. at Michigan Tech in 2015. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Integrative Physiology program. I have always loved the outdoors and exercise. Therefore, my research is focused on understanding how environmental demands and thermal interventions (hot/cold water immersion) influence performance and the perception of fatigue during physical exercise. We use a variety of techniques to quantify muscle and brain activation during these fatiguing tasks. This research may provide us with important implications for improving athletic performance and managing the perception of pain in clinical populations. I am incredibly thankful for the support that the Nicholas Matwiyoff and Carl Hogberg Graduate Fellowship Fund and the Graduate School has provided me to complete my degree. I would also like to thank my mentors and fellow students who have helped me along the way. I have learned so much at Michigan Tech and I will always be grateful for my time here.

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Doctoral Finishing Fellowship Spring 2019 Recipient – Robert Zupko

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Robert Zupko
Computational Science & Engineering

I am a PhD candidate in Computational Science & Engineering (CS&E) at Michigan Tech, affiliated with the Department of Social Sciences. My departmental affiliation reflects the non-departmental and interdisciplinary nature of CS&E in which complex problems are explored.  My doctoral research focuses on the applications of computer modeling to coupled human and natural systems with an emphasis on assessing the sustainability of biofuels in the Western Upper Peninsula region of Michigan. The development of biofuels is interesting since they can bring new industry into the region and help to address climate change; however, the need for feedstocks means that that their development may interfere with other regional concerns. Computer modeling techniques, such as agent-based modeling, offer as a means to explore how the region could respond to the introduction biofuels and conduct sustainability assessments of environmental, economic, and social concerns. Ultimately, the goal of this research is not only to conduct these assessments, but to develop a generalizable computational technique for the study of coupled human and natural systems.

I am extremely grateful to Dr. Mark Rouleau, in the Department of Social Sciences, and the Michigan Tech Graduate School for the opportunity to pursue this research. Likewise, I am humbled by the Finishing Fellowship which will allow the opportunity to dedicate my time solely to completing my doctoral studies.

 

 

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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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