Graduate School Newsblog

Category: News

Interesting stories about and for our students.

Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Meng Wu

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Meng Wu, PhD in Civil Engineering, 2026

I am deeply honored to receive the Finishing Fellowship from the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel at Michigan Technological University. I sincerely thank the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering for its academic support throughout my doctoral journey. I am especially grateful to my advisor, Dr. Zhanping You, for his continuous guidance, encouragement, and mentorship during my Ph.D. program. I also extend my appreciation to my committee members, collaborators, and colleagues for their valuable feedback and support in both research and professional development.

I have had the privilege of conducting research on sustainable pavement materials, with a particular focus on crumb rubber-modified asphalt, asphalt mixture design, and pavement performance evaluation. My work aims to promote more durable, environmentally responsible transportation infrastructure by advancing the use of recycled tire rubber in asphalt. Through laboratory testing, material characterization, and performance analysis, I seek to better understand the behavior of asphalt binders and mixtures and to support practical solutions for more sustainable pavement engineering.

Throughout my doctoral program, I have also contributed through mentoring, laboratory support, and collaborative project work, which have helped me grow as both a researcher and a team member.

This fellowship provides meaningful support as I complete my dissertation and prepare for the next stage of my academic career. I am sincerely grateful for this recognition, and I look forward to continuing to contribute through research, collaboration, and service in the field of sustainable infrastructure.

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Daniel Amponsah-Berko

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Daniel Amponsah-Berko, PhD in Chemical Engineering, 2026

I am deeply honored to receive the Finishing Fellowship and wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel and the Dean for this recognition. I am also profoundly thankful to my academic advisor, Dr. Timothy Eisele, as well as Dr. Caryn Heldt, Kristi Pieti, and Shelby Stubenrauch for their tremendous support throughout my Ph.D. journey. I sincerely thank the donors for their generous investment, which allows me to focus entirely on completing my dissertation and bringing my research to a successful conclusion.

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University, where my research addresses one of the most pressing challenges in sustainability: landfill mining and the recovery of high-value materials from waste. My work focuses on understanding aluminum persistence and corrosion to develop efficient separation processes that transform waste into a resource.

Originally from Ghana, I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering with first-class honors from Tyumen Industrial University in Russia. Transitioning to chemical engineering for my doctorate was a significant pivot, but by the grace of God, through perseverance and hands-on research, I have built deep expertise in mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. My doctoral research, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FE0032236), includes designing aerodynamic separation systems and conducting landfill simulations to advance circular economy solutions. Upon graduation, I aim to apply this expertise in the metals and energy industries to address complex environmental and industrial challenges.

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Jester Itliong

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Jester Itliong, PhD in Physics, 2026

I joined Michigan Techn in Spring 2021, as the world was beginning to emerge from the pandemic. I still remember stepping off the plane at CMX and feeling the sharp winter air on a bright, cloudless day. This was my first encounter with a Michigan winter and one of many new experiences that would shape my time here. Beyond academics, Michigan Tech has provided a strong sense of belonging. I found community among fellow Filipinos who keep me connected to my roots, as well as in organizations such as the Nepalese Student Association. Most meaningfully, I met my fiancé here, whose support has been instrumental throughout my journey. These experiences have made my time at Michigan Tech deeply meaningful both personally and professionally.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Issei Nakamura, my research focuses on understanding how molecular features such as size, charge, polarity, and chain length govern viscosity and ion transport in ionic and polymerized ionic liquids using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. These materials are promising for applications in batteries, electrolytes, and ion-conducting membranes because they enable charge transport without volatile solvents. My work aims to bridge molecular design and macroscopic behavior, providing insight into how to tailor these materials for improved performance.

While I value the analytical aspects of research, I am especially passionate about communicating science. I have presented at the APS March Meeting annually from 2023 to 2026 and was honored to win the Graduate Student Government 3-Minute Thesis Competition in Fall 2025, later competing at the regional level in 2026.

As I enter the final stage of my doctoral program, the Finishing Fellowship will allow me to focus fully on completing my dissertation. I am deeply grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel, the Physics Department, and Dr. Nakamura for their continued support.

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Siddiqui Anwaruddin Mohammed

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Siddiqu Anwaruddin Mohammedi, PhD in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, 2026

I am sincerely grateful to the Graduate Dean’s Awards Advisory Panel and the Dean for approving my application for the prestigious Finishing Fellowship for Summer 2026. This support represents a significant milestone in my doctoral journey, and I am deeply appreciative of the confidence placed in my work. I am especially indebted to my advisor, Dr. Bhisham Sharma, whose guidance since the beginning of my Ph.D. has been instrumental in bringing me to the final stage of my program. I also extend my gratitude to the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for its continued support.

I joined Michigan Technological University in Fall 2023. Coming from southern India, where I had never experienced snowfall, adapting to Houghton’s average seasonal snowfall of nearly 200 inches was a striking change. However, I embraced this new environment and grew to genuinely enjoy it. My aspiration to pursue a Ph.D. has been longstanding. After completing my bachelor’s degree in Hyderabad, India, in 2015, I worked for two years before deciding to fully commit to research. I then pursued a fully funded master’s degree at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia, where I strengthened my research foundation.

As I approached the completion of my master’s degree, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted my plans to begin a Ph.D. in the United States. During this period, I remained engaged in research at KFUPM, where I gained valuable experience and developed a deeper understanding of the ethics and rigor required in scientific inquiry. Once conditions improved, I began my Ph.D. at Wichita State University in Fall 2022 and subsequently followed my advisor to Michigan Tech in Fall 2023.

My research lies at the intersection of computational solid mechanics and machine learning for advanced material design. I focus on enhancing the mechanical performance of lightweight cellular structures by tailoring them to meet specific target properties. To achieve this, I employ machine learning techniques to develop computationally efficient frameworks for the inverse design and customization of material behavior. I further translate these complex designs into physical structures using additive manufacturing and validate their performance through experimental mechanical testing, thereby completing the full design-to-manufacturing cycle.

In addition to my research, I have served as a teaching assistant for courses such as Advanced CAD/CAM and Acoustics & Noise Control. Through conducting laboratory sessions, I discovered a strong interest in teaching and mentoring students, and I value the opportunity to contribute to their learning and development.

Moving forward, I aim to continue pursuing knowledge with the same commitment to rigor and ethical research that has guided me throughout my academic journey. I aspire to conduct impactful research that contributes meaningfully to the scientific community while also fostering an environment of learning and collaboration.

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Finishing Fellowship Award – Summer 2026 – Nor Serocki

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Nor Serocki, PhD in Forest Science, 2026

I am honored to be accepting the Graduate School Finishing Fellowship for the summer semester of 2026. As I approach the end of my educational journey, it is vital to express how important the support of the Michigan Tech community has been to my path and my success. It is because of this community of students, researchers, educators, and staff that I have reached this point in my career, and this award is a further investment in my education.


I joined the Michigan Tech community as an undergraduate in 2010, completing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Ecology and Environmental Science in 2014. My experience as an undergraduate at Tech taught me the importance of passion in one’s work, which I was also able to apply to my work post-graduation with the Michigan Tech Research Institute. It was during my time at MTRI that I found my passion in researching and understanding peatlands, and decided that when I returned to graduate school, I would focus on these important ecosystems.


My research focuses on the Alaska Peatland Experiment, which was founded in 2005 in order to understand the impacts of a changing climate on peatland carbon storage. Peatlands are vital carbon sinks, storing 30% of soil carbon while only covering 3% of terrestrial surface area. Because of this, my dissertation strives to understand the trends in peatland carbon storage over time, model the impacts of shifting environmental conditions on carbon sink strength, and map carbon flux using satellite imagery.


It has been an exceptional honor to be a member of the Michigan Tech community, and I thank that community for displaying this faith in me as I approach the end of my degree timeline. I look forward to completing my research, and to beginning the career that Michigan Tech has prepared me for.

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Michigan Space Grant Consortium Fellowship – Summer 2026 – Sam Jensen

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Sam Jensen, MS in Geophysics, 2026

Hey! My name is Sam Jensen, and I’m a first year Master’s student at MTU. I am involved with the GMES department’s drone based geophysics program, focusing on magnetic surveys around the Keweenaw Peninsula/greater U.P. area. I am originally from Gladstone, MI and have been passionate about teaching during my time as a grad student. I hope to one day become a professor of geophysics, with the main goal of inspiring students as I have been inspired. I am also involved with Graduate Student Government at MTU, and was recently elected president of the organization.

My great grandfather, Paul Serafin, attended this university when it was still called the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (all the way back in 1932!). My grandfather, David Palo, was born and raised in the Keweenaw and I was lucky enough to explore this area with him since I was a small child. I knew MTU was where I wanted to be, but it took me a few years before I realized exactly what I wanted to do. If there’s one thing I’d like to say to undergraduates, it’s to never be afraid to switch paths. Money plays a large role in many peoples’ career decisions, but it shouldn’t be the largest factor. As cliché as it sounds, I think following your heart is more meaningful than (almost) any amount of zeros in a starting salary.

I am happy to have gotten my undergraduate degree in Applied Geophysics also from MTU. In my time here, I have realized how special the Keweenaw Peninsula truly is. The location, history, geology, and people are all so unique here. I am an avid outdoorsman – from backpacking in summer to ice fishing in winter, I am grateful to call this place my home.

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Michigan Space Grant Consortium Fellowship – Summer 2026 – Mari Leland

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Mari Leland, PhD in Biological Sciences, 2026

I began my Ph.D. at Michigan Technological University in the Fall of 2024, joining Dr. Vick-Majors’ lab and the Biological Sciences department. My research focuses on annual patterns in lake microbial communities and organic matter, emphasizing the role of winter in shaping year-round processes. With a background in biological engineering, especially bioinformatics, my work integrates my passion for environmental sciences with emerging genetic technologies to gain a deeper understanding of complex ecological processes.


Through collaboration with a network of scientists across North America, I study how lakes spanning gradients of organic matter and phosphorus are impacted by winter conditions. Simply, I view lakes through the lens of color, ‘brownness’ vs ‘greenness’, to understand how changing winters may impact annual patterns in diverse lakes. I look forward to not only addressing these questions but translating this information from the literature into publicly accessible formats. As a born and raised Minnesotan, I understand the importance of lakes in everyday life and want to connect my science to the communities who experience and depend on these ecosystems firsthand.


I’m very grateful to my advisor, Dr. Vick-Majors, for her mentorship as I make my way through my program and her encouragement as I pursue my interests through my research. I would like to thank the project partners and collaborators whose hard work makes my research possible. I’m also thankful to my peers and colleagues who provide support and perspectives that strengthen my work.

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Michigan Space Grant Consortium Fellowship – Summer 2026 – Gabrielle DuCheny

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Gabrielle DuCheny, MS in Mechanical Engineering, 2026

I am a first-year master’s student in Mechanical Engineering. I started my schooling at Michigan Tech in 2021, getting my bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering along with a minor in ecology. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in spring 2025 and after spending a summer doing research work in acoustics and 3D printing I decided to get my master’s in Mechanical Engineering.

I have always loved nature and the outdoors for as long as I can remember and wanted to help protect it and the peacefulness and beauty it provides. My research is focused on acoustics, specifically psychoacoustics and how people perceive noise. For my research I am helping to test and design drone blades that are less annoying keeping outdoor areas pleasant to be in. I have learned a lot about acoustics since starting my masters and it has presented opportunities for me to gain skills in acoustic testing and work on multiple different projects in the field. As a graduate student I also had a chance to TA for a lab this past semester which I think has helped me improve my teaching skills and was something that I really enjoyed.

I am thankful for the opportunity to further my research through the MSGC as well as the opportunity that I have been given to further my education through Michigan Tech. I am also grateful for my advisor Dr. Sharma for helping me to grow academically as I work on my research.

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Michigan Celebrates Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has officially declared April 6–10, 2026, as Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.

This week is dedicated to celebrating more than 80,000 graduate and professional students across Michigan’s universities and recognizes the important role they play in advancing research, innovation, and economic growth.

Why We are Celebrating:

  • Economic Drivers: Graduate students play a direct role in strengthening Michigan’s economy through research, development, and collaboration with industry partners that drive innovation and progress.
  • Future Leaders: Today’s graduate and professional students are tomorrow’s leaders, contributing across fields such as healthcare, education, engineering, business, public service, and beyond.
  • Community Impact: Their work and dedication influence communities across Michigan and beyond, creating lasting impact in many areas of society.

Join us this week in recognizing and celebrating the contributions of our graduate and professional students.

To our graduate and professional students, thank you.
Your dedication to solving complex challenges, advancing knowledge, and striving for excellence makes a lasting impact on Michigan and beyond.

“Graduate and professional students are the future teaching professionals, researchers, and leaders of the state, the nation, and the world.” – Governor Gretchen Whitmer

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Jester Itliong Represents Michigan Tech as MAGS 3MT Finalist

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Michigan Tech physics PhD candidate Jester Itliong recently proved the importance of clear communication and high impact research on a regional stage. Competing at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27, 2026, Itliong advanced to the final round, placing him among the top researchers in the Midwest.

The 3MT competition challenges graduate students to explain years of complex research in a three minute presentation suitable for a general audience using only one static PowerPoint slide. Itliong earned his spot as Michigan Tech’s sole representative after winning first place at the university’s local 3MT competition in December 2025.

Molecular Choreography

Among the competitors from major institutions across the region, Itliong stood out with his presentation, Molecular Choreography: The Physics of Flow in Ionic Polymers. Advised by Issei Nakamura, associate professor of physics, Itliong’s research focuses on soft condensed matter.

Using coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations, he investigates how molecular features like size, charge, and polarity govern viscosity and ion transport in ionic liquids. These materials are essential for next generation batteries and ion conducting membranes because they allow for charge transport without the need for volatile solvents. By bridging the gap between molecular design and macroscopic behavior, his work provides the insights needed to tailor these materials for better performance in clean energy and electronics.

A Passion for Communication

Reaching the MAGS finals is a significant milestone. Out of the dozens of university winners who presented in the preliminary heats, only 10 were selected to move on to the final stage. Itliong’s ability to translate the abstract physics of polymer flow into an engaging narrative highlighted the caliber of research being conducted in the Michigan Tech Department of Physics.

While he values the analytical rigor of his simulations, Itliong is especially passionate about communicating science. He has presented his work at the APS March Meeting annually since 2023 and now entering the final stage of his doctoral program.

The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Government (GSG) congratulate Jester on his success at MAGS. His achievement underscores the importance of the 3MT mission: helping graduate students develop the skills to communicate the value of their work to the public, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Jester wishes to thank the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel, the Department of Physics, and Dr. Nakamura for their continued support.

To learn more about graduate research opportunities and upcoming competitions, visit the Michigan Tech Graduate School Fellowships Page.

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