Graduate School Newsblog

Nominations sought for 2014 MAGS Thesis Award

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The Executive Committee of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) is soliciting nominations for the 2014 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 in each disciplinary category.

Eligible students

  • will have earned a master of science degree between July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013 in the field of Biological Sciences or Humanities
    • Michigan Tech may nominate one thesis in each category
    • The 2015 competition will seek nominees in the fields of Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences and Engineering
  • will have completed an original thesis that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline
  • will not have earned a PhD (or comparable research degree) in any discipline prior to the writing of the master’s thesis

Please see our web page for complete details on eligibility and application procedures.  Nominations are due no later than 4pm, October 3, 2013 to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School.

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Seminar: Submitting your Dissertation, Thesis, or Report

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Students planning on finishing a dissertation, thesis, or report in fall 2013 or spring 2014 are invited a seminar designed to help students understand the submission process and answer questions about it. Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend.

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, this seminar will be taped and available online after the event.

Significant changes were introduced in fall 2013 based on revisions approved by the University Senate.  Join us to learn about the changes and have your questions answered.

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Peace Corps MS Student Tackles Water, Waste, Volcanoes, Earthquakes in Panama

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To the people of Peña Blanca, Panama, Chet Hopp must seem like a godsend. He’s helping them get cleaner water, improve sanitation and understand their local volcanic hazards.

“I’m an environmental health extensionist, which means that my main responsibilities to my community of Peña Blanca deal with sanitation,” says Hopp, a Peace Corps Master’s International student in geology at Michigan Tech. “Specifically, we work to improve access to potable water through development and construction of gravity-fed aqueducts, as well as improving sanitation practices through education and access to various types of latrines.”

From the beginning, Hopp says, the priority has been latrines, although the water system does concern many in the community. He gives talks on sanitation practices, as well as how to properly construct and maintain the latrines they are building.

And, there’s buy-in, literally, from the locals.

“Each participating family is required to make a $5 deposit, to be returned upon successful completion, and they must pay for half the cost of corrugated metal roofing,” Hopp says. “There are other roofing options, though, so they can opt out of this.”

Read the full story.

Published in Tech Today by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor

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Fellowships through the Council on Foreign Relations

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CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship

The International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) assists mid-career scholars and professionals in advancing their analytic capabilities and broadening their foreign policy experience.  Selected fellows from academia and the private sector spend fellowship tenures in public service and policy-oriented settings, while government officials spend their tenures in a scholarly atmosphere free from operational pressure.  The duration of the fellowship is 12 months.

Applicants must be:

U.S. citizens and permanent residents between ages of 27 – 35

Eligible to work in the United States.  CFR does not sponsor for visas.

Stipend of $85,000.  CFR awards approximately 10 fellowships annually.

Apply online before October 31, 2013.

CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship in Japan, sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd.

The International Affairs Fellowship in Japan (IAF-J), sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd., provides a selected group of mid-career U.S. citizens the opportunity to expand their professional horizons by spending a period of research or other professional activity in Japan.  The duration of the fellowship is between 3-12 months.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens between ages of 27-45.

The program is intended primarily for those without substantial prior experience in Japan.  Knowledge of the Japanese language is not a requirement.

Stipend is in yen, which covers travel and living expenses in Japan.  CFR awards approximately 3-5 fellowships annually.

Apply online before October 31, 2013.

CFR 2014–2015 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship

The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship (SNSF) Program, made possible by a generous grant from the Stanton Foundation, offers younger scholars studying nuclear security issues the opportunity to spend a period of 12 months at the Council on Foreign Relations’ (CFR) offices in New York or Washington, DC, conducting policy-relevant research.

Applicants must be:

Junior (non-tenured) faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or predoctoral candidates from any discipline who are working on a nuclear security related issue.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are eligible to work in the United States.  CFR does not sponsor for visas.

Stipend of $100,000 for junior (non-tenured) faculty; $75,000 for postdoctoral; and $50,000 for predoctoral fellows.  CFR awards up to 3 fellowships annually.

Applicants must submit an application form and other supporting application materials before December 16, 2013.

CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship in Nuclear Security, sponsored by the Stanton Foundation

The International Affairs Fellowship in Nuclear Security (IAF-NS), sponsored by the Stanton Foundation, offers university-based scholars valuable hands-on experience in the nuclear security policymaking field and places selected fellows in U.S. government positions or international organizations for a period of 12 months to work with practitioners.

Applicants must be:

Faculty members with tenure or on tenure-track lines at accredited universities and who propose to spend a year working in government or at an international organization.

U.S. citizens or permanent residents, eligible to work in the United States and are between ages of 29-50.  CFR does not sponsor for visas.

Former Stanton nuclear security fellows who meet the eligibility requirements can apply.

Stipend of $125,000.  CFR awards approximately two fellowships annually.

All application materials must be submitted to fellowships@cfr.org by January 17, 2013.

For questions or assistance for any of the fellowships, contact Janine Hill, Council on Foreign Relations, 212.434.9753 or jhill@cfr.org

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2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

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The 2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Solicitation has been posted.  Faculty play a critical role in encouraging our most competitive students to apply for fellowship opportunities like the NSF GRFP.  Michigan Tech’s Research Development Office has for the previous three years offered a seminar for all interested applicants.  Based on an internal screening process recommended by the NSF GRFP office, this year the seminar series will only be open to students identified by faculty as competitive applicants.

As you identify students, please keep in mind that competitive applicants are often students who have or will most likely be awarded university teaching or research assistantships. Students who have internal graduate support should still be encouraged to apply.  While fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), which in turn frees up internal funding for other graduate students, the fellowship is more about prestige.  As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.  The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.  Likewise, students who receive the GRFP call attention to the high-quality graduate education and research ongoing at Michigan Tech.

Names and emails of faculty-identified students should be emailed to Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) by Wednesday, September 11th.

Eligibility for the GRFP:

  • be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
  • be planning to pursue a research-focused Master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
  • be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution by Fall 2014
  • have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent) as of August 1, 2013.

Moreover, competitive students should have:

  • a strong academic record of 3.5 GPA or higher
  • the ability to obtain 3 exceptional reference letters– due November 14th
  • previous professional (e.g., internship/enterprise), research (e.g., SURF),  and educational outreach (e.g., K-12, international, community) experiences
  • future research, professional and outreach goals that will potentially benefit society

Michigan Tech’s Research Development Office will formally invite faculty-identified students to participate in a NSF GRFP seminar series.  This eight-week series will help applicants develop submission material (Personal Statement, Relevant Background and Future Goals and Graduate Research Statement) and request letters of reference in a timely and helpful manner.  Speakers include experienced NSF GRFP reviewers and panel chairs, Dr. Pushpathala Murthy who is currently serving as program officer for the NSF GRFP, and previous NSF fellows.

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GSG’s first Lunch and Learn – Community Safety

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GSG’s first Lunch and Learn of the year will be held on Monday, September 9th. It will feature a presentation on community safety for graduate students given by Reid DeVoge from Public Safety.  The presentation will include information on safety considerations, what to do in case of an emergency, and the residential officer program at Michigan Tech.  This Lunch-n-Learn is highly encouraged for graduate students new to the Houghton area or anyone who wants to learn more about community safety.

Please join us for this talk highlighting the importance of community safety and the innovative approaches taken by Michigan Tech’s Public Safety Department!

RSVP is required, register here.

Where: MUB Ballroom A

When: Monday, September 9th

Time : 12:00PM -1:00PM

MUB catered lunch will be provided for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

No Show Policy: People who register and do not show up may not be allowed to attend the next Lunch-n-Learn.  So if you register and can’t make it, email Howard Haselhuhn, hjhaselh@mtu.edu, at least two days before the event so that people on the waiting list can be invited.

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Help the Red Cross with Emergencies, Donate Blood.

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September is National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross asks eligible donors to help prepare for emergencies by giving blood.

National Preparedness Month is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, workplaces and communities. The mission of the Red Cross is to help the public prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. One way you can support the mission is to become a regular blood donor.

American Red Cross Michigan Tech Blood Drive

Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Van Pelt and Opie Library East Reading Room

To schedule an appointment please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit the website at Red Cross.

Published in Tech Today.

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First Friday University Social Sept. 6

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First Friday Socials are getting under way again for 2013-2014. Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to attend this year’s opener from 4 to 6 p.m., Sept. 6, at the Pat Nelson Graduate Conference Center on the 4th floor of the Administration Building.

The Graduate School and Graduate Student Government are once again sponsoring this month’s event. Last year’s was a huge success, so don’t miss out. Come and mingle with your colleagues and see the conference center and GSG offices. Along with the Graduate School and GSG, the conference center was funded by a donation from the late Patricia Nelson, wife of Michigan Tech Chemical Engineering graduate Charles J. Nelson (’36, deceased).

Complementary soda, beer and wine will be served along with some great appetizers.

See Auxiliary Services website schedule for other First Friday University Socials.

Published in Tech Today.

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Michigan Tech Garners Best Bang for the Buck Rating

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Michigan Tech has been named a school that delivers the Best Bang for the Buck in ratings released by Washington Monthly magazine. Michigan Tech ranks 29th among national universities in the category, according to the publication.

Washington Monthly created the Best Bang for the Buck category, to address the now-prevalent question of whether or not a college education is worth it. According to their website, they ask, “What colleges will charge people like me the least and give me the highest chance of graduating with a degree that means something in the marketplace?”

“This rating, combined with our Business Insider ranking with underrated universities, shows how Michigan Tech is getting good reviews in the right kinds of profiles,” said John Lehman, associate vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communications. In the Business Insider ranking, Michigan Tech was also praised for the high salaries their graduates earn.

To be included among Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck rankings, schools are rated in four categories: percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, graduation rate, default rate and net price.

Of the 1,572 schools in their overall rankings, only 349 made the list in the Best Bang for the Buck category.

Other Michigan schools rated in the Best Bang category include Michigan State University (23rd) and Western Michigan University (46th). Michigan Tech is rated just behind Iowa State University and just above Rutgers University.

Michigan Tech was also ranked number 64 in the overall national university rankings, in which the Washington Monthly rates schools “based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).”

Published in Tech Today

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