A Business Insider article talks about a new book, “Compelling People: The hidden qualities that make us influential,” and argues that projecting strength and warmth simultaneously will help make you more influential. This could have an impact on job interviews, teaching performance, and other valuable career areas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
U.S. Department of Energy
Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) Fellowship Program
Now Accepting Applications for BS, MS or PhD Graduates and recent Alumni (within the last 5 years) in Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physical Sciences, Cyber/Computer Security, Information/Systems Technology or related technology degrees.
Application closes Sunday, September 22 2013, midnight EST – visit http://see.orau.org/ProgramDescription.aspx?Program=10417 or see.orau.org and search for CBFO to get started NOW!
Opportunity in Carlsbad, New Mexico for a full-time, one-year or more commitment, starting in October or November 2013 to conduct mission-oriented research in DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office. Applicant must be interested in a multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment focused on energy technology research and development.
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens – no exceptions.
Strong analytical, research and communication skills are required. Annual stipends are dependent on academic level, skills and experience. Additional allowances for travel to site, medical insurance or housing may be provided.
For more information, e-mail cbfo.fellowship@orise.orau.gov.
The Michigan Tech Safe Place Program is a comprehensive resource to better prepare faculty and staff to address the needs of students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (GLBTQ). The training program addresses a wide range of terms that GLBTQ students use to define their identities, issues that GLBTQ students often deal with during the coming out process, concerns that GLBTQ students face both in and out of the classroom, ways that faculty and staff can create inclusive classroom and office environments, where faculty and staff can refer students who need to report harassment and the on- and off-campus resources available to students.
All faculty and staff members are invited to participate in the program. The fall 2013 training times and the online registration form are available online.
Published in Tech Today
Michigan Tech IT is upgrading the campus card system by transitioning to a contactless smart card and reader system. The new system will be compatible with all of the current card functions such as student, faculty, and staff ID card, library card and meal plans. In addition to providing identification and access, the HuskyCard may optionally be used as a prepaid debit MasterCard, providing students the ability to receive same-day refunds.
The HuskyCard will have two magnetic stripes, one yellow, and one black, as well as a contactless smart chip. Information will be stored on both the yellow stripe as well as the smart chip to allow for a transition to new technology without interrupting current service offerings. When a contactless smart chip reader is installed, card users will be able to “tap” (hold the card very close to the reader) their card against the reader to execute transactions. If you encounter a magnetic stripe reader, swipe the yellow stripe.
The goal is to replace all swipe readers with contactless smart chip readers; including parking gates and computer lab print release systems. Parts of the current system are running on antiquated technology and need to be replaced as soon as possible. Other parts have been updated over the years and will remain compatible with the new system.
All Michigan Tech students, faculty, and staff will be required to receive a new HuskyCard with the contactless smart chip technology. You can exchange your current ID in the library from Aug. 26 until Sept. 15. Save time by updating your picture and preferred name at HuskyCard Photo Upload.
Note that all HuskyCards now have a 16-digit MasterCard number on the front of the card, as well as a black magnetic stripe. The black stripe should only be used for debit MasterCard transactions. The 16-digit number is associated with an optional prepaid debit account, and is only activated if one chooses to “register” their HuskyCard. As a result, new precautions must be taken by campus departments that use the HuskyCard. For example, the temporary holding of another person’s card in all cases is no longer appropriate, and new business processes must be put in place. The HuskyCard should be treated as if it were a personal credit card.
More information about the new HuskyCard is available at HuskyCard.
For questions about the proper handling of HuskyCards, please contact it-help@mtu.edu.
from Information Technology
Published in Tech Today
Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library has received official designation from the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property to establish a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) in the library. The PTRC will make available the rich resources of technical and commercial information contained in patents and trademarks for inventors, researchers, students, faculty and businesses. Key databases and up-to-date news about intellectual property have never been easily accessible in the Upper Peninsula (and neighboring geographic locations) and are rarely located in rural areas.
This fall, there will be an opening event after which workshops will be available for all. Faculty and other instructors are encouraged also to think about the opportunities within their teaching that would promote the use of these resources to students, labs and entrepreneurial groups or teams.
The impetus for seeking official PTRC status was inspired by Jim Baker’s (executive director, Innovation and Industry Engagement) dedication to instructing graduate students about patents in the library’s NSF-funded Intellectual Property: Copyright and Patents (Is it Original?) program over the past three years.
This program was originally developed by Christa Walck, associate provost, with extensive involvement by Nora Allred, copyright and scholarly communications librarian, and Baker. Graduate students at Michigan Tech and at our partner, University of Texas-Pan American, are keenly interested in patents.
A new instruction and learning librarian, Sarah Lucchesi, took the initiative to pursue this designation, has received specialized training and can be contacted for further information: 7-3379 or slucches@mtu.edu.
submitted by the Van Pelt and Opie Library
Published in Tech Today