Graduate School Newsblog

Nominations for MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award Open

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MAGS is currently soliciting for nominations for the inaugural 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award. Internal applications are due to Debra Charlesworth no later than 4pm on January 7, 2011. Michigan Tech may nominate two students; one each at the master’s and doctoral level.

Eligibility

Eligible students

  • will be enrolled at Michigan Tech for spring 2011 and have a teaching appointment
  • will have earned the Michigan Tech Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
  • will have an excellent teaching portfolio and student evaluations

Nomination

Programs may nominate eligible students by submitting:

  1. A letter of support from the department head
  2. A current curriculum vitae for the nominee
  3. A current transcript for the nominee
  4. The following materials, limited to six double spaced pages (total):
    1. A teaching portfolio from the nominee which is suggested to include:
      1. Statement of teaching philosophy
      2. Evidence of instructional design and innovation, instructional delivery, course management, and student learning
      3. Publications and presentations, and /or grants proposals submitted and/or funded which support the portfolio
    2. Student evaluation of teaching: courses taught and number of students, instructional responsibility, and a summary of student evaluation of teaching data (not the forms)
    3. Evidence of effective student/colleague mentoring
    4. Awards and honors for teaching excellence

Nomination packets are due by 4pm, January 7, 2011 to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School via e-mail or campus mail. Eligible students with a complete nomination packet will be evaluated by a panel of faculty from the University.

Award

Recipients of the MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award will receive:

  • A $750 honorarium.
  • A citation given at the Annual Meeting.  This year’s meeting will be March 30 to April 1, 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Andrew Willemsen to represent Michigan Tech in MAGS competition

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Andrew Willemsen
Andrew Willemsen, Michigan Tech’s representative for the 2011 MAGS Distinguished Thesis Award
The Graduate School is pleased to announce that Andrew Willemsen is Michigan Tech’s nominee for the 2011 Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Thesis Award.  Mr. Willemsen was nominated by his advisor, Dr. M. Rao of the Department of Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics.

His thesis, “Objective Metric for Assessing the Perceived Annoyance of Impulsive Sounds” developed a new method to objectively quantify the overall sound quality of electro-mechanical devices.  This method could improve the design process for these devices by replacing current subjective sound evaluation methods, which are typically expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to quantify.

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Professor, Alumni Receive High Honors at International Army Conference

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Tech Alumnus Mark Griep, Mechanical Engineering PhD
2008 Tech Alumnus Mark Griep, Mechanical Engineering PhD
A Michigan Tech professor, two alumni and a research colleague have received the US Army’s highest award for research at the Army Science Conference in Orlando, Fla., last week.

The four won the best paper in the nanotechnology division, one of 18 categories, and the prestigious Paul A. Siple Award for the overall outstanding technical paper presented at the conference.

The lead author on the paper is Tech alumnus Mark Griep, who earned a PhD in mechanical engineering in 2008. Griep now works at the Army Research Laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. The paper was based on research he did at Tech for his PhD and during summer research for the Army.

Griep’s advisor, Professor Craig Friedrich, who holds the Robbins Chair in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing, is a coauthor of the paper. Friedrich is also associate chair and director of graduate studies in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.

Other coauthors include Shashi Karna, a senior scientist at the Army Research Laboratory and a member of the ME-EM External Advisory Board; and alumnus Eric Winder, who earned a PhD in biological sciences in 2010 and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory near Seattle. Winder was advised by Friedrich and retired professor John Adler.

The paper, which was singled out among more than 800 abstracts submitted, is titled “Nanoscale Bioelectronics for Real-Time Target Sensing.” It describes the integration of biological materials with electronics to create a sensor that could be up to three times more optically sensitive than current technology.  Such systems are envisioned for sensors small enough to be carried by a small projectile fired by a soldier or dropped from an unmanned aerial vehicle to determine the possible presence of chemical or biological materials.  Because protein can activate individual transistors, a small electronic chip containing thousands of transistors could sense multiple toxins.   A real-time, electronics-based biosensor will have a wide array of military and civilian applications, potentially leading to extremely sensitive, small, low-power, stand-alone, sensing arrays.

One potential application: They may also be useful for bio-solar cells.

These award-winning papers were selected for originality of subject matter, relevance to the scientific discipline and the Army, potential impact on current and future soldiers, soundness of scientific methodology, and clarity of the presentation.  The Siple Award recognizes the accomplishments of Army scientists and engineers. It is named after Paul A. Siple, a scientist, intellectual and scientific attaché.  The ASC conference attracted more than 1,500 representatives of government, academia and industry from the US and 25 countries.

For more information about the conference, visit: http://armyscienceconference.com/.

Published in Tech Today.

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International Student is Gazette Cookbook Finalist

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The Daily Mining Gazette is publishing a cookbook, and it invited readers to submit recipes for consideration. A panel of judges at the newspaper has chosen finalists from more than 100 recipes submitted, and Tech international student Komal Tayal’s tandoori chicken was one of the top three selected. She and the other finalists will cook their dishes for a taste-off at the Gazette next week. Winners will have their recipes, photos and stories included in the cookbook.

Tayal is a graduate student in mechanical engineering. She cooked tandoori chicken for Khana Khazana last week.

Published in Tech Today.

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Khana Khazana Visits Thailand and India

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Student chefs from Thailand and India will cook for the final Khana Khazana (food treasure) before winter break, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in the Memorial Union Food Court.

The international lunch will feature pad Thai cooked by Parawee Pumwongpitak, a graduate student in materials science and engineering, and mutter paneer, naan and kesariya doodh, prepared by Sahil Thakkar, an undergraduate in electrical engineering technology. Mutter paneer is a curry made with green peas and Indian cheese, served with Indian bread called naan. Kesariya Doodh is a milk beverage with saffron and nuts. Pad Thai is a Thai favorite made with stir-fried noodles, bean sprouts and shrimp.

A full meal costs $6. The entrees (pad Thai and mutter paneer with naan) are available a la carte for $3. The beverage is available by itself for $2.

Khana Khazana is a collaboration of international students and Dining Services. It is open to the campus and the community.

Published in Tech Today.

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US Rep. Stupak is Commencement Speaker

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Congressman Bart Stupak will address nearly 300 graduates at Midyear Commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 11.  A total of 242 students will be receiving bachelor’s degrees. In addition, 26 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates will be awarded.

Stupak will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Environmental and Energy Policy. He is retiring in January after 18 years of service to Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.  He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and, as the ranking Democrat, chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.  Before his election in 1992, Stupak was a Michigan state representative and worked as an Escanaba police officer and Michigan State Police trooper. He also practiced law.   A graduate of Gladstone High School, he earned an associate degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northern Michigan University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Health care has been a priority for Stupak since he was elected to Congress, when he pledged not to accept the insurance that members of Congress receive until all Americans could have access to that same quality health care.  He has been a leader in the international effort to ban the sale and diversion of the Great Lakes and opposed the drilling for oil and gas beneath the Great Lakes.  Stupak founded and cochaired the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, a bipartisan organization that provides the law enforcement community with an avenue to participate in the legislative process.   He has been a leader in homeland security, particularly in connection with programs to train and equip local law enforcement officers and other first responders. In addition, Stupak cochairs the Congressional Northern Border Caucus.

Published in Tech Today.

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NSF Intellectual Property Program: Spring Term 2011

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Patents and Copyright – Spring Term 2011

This program for STEM graduate students begins on Jan. 19, the required orientation session, and continues for 10 weeks.

This is a semester-long, non-credit program for graduate students, funded by the National Science Foundation.  Students receive a certificate of completion for training on the Intellectual Component of Responsible Conduct of Research.   Participants work in small teams to solve one copyright problem and one patent problem in primarily online learning spaces using Blackboard Learn 9.1 tools.  Students are guided by Jim Baker, TED, and Nora Allred, copyright librarian, in these online learning spaces and in face-to-face discussion meetings.

Using online tools offers two benefits compared to traditional classroom or programmed online instruction such as CITI training. First, these tools allow asynchronous learning, which enables graduate students, particularly those with English as a second language and those with demanding schedules, to participate in a relaxed and reflective manner. Second, these tools support active, collaborative learning, which is useful for understanding complex ethical concepts.

Students can register online to participate in the program.

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Archives Workshop

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Ever wonder how to start a historical research project? Not sure where to find the right documents to answer your question? Unclear how a research archives operates? Join Michigan Tech archivists Julie Blair and Erik Nordberg for an introduction to archival research at 1 p.m., today, in Library 244.

The library now offers weekly workshops all semester on different resources that will give you an academic edge or save you time. Workshops take place on alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1 p.m., in Library room 244. Each workshop is offered twice to accommodate class schedules.

See the Tech Today posting for additional workshop details.

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Research Associateship Programs

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The mission of the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) is to promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U. S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.

In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website.  Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels.  Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system.  Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.

There are four review cycles annually. Deadlines for 2011 are:

February 1

May 1

August 1

November 1

Click here for more information: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/

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George L. Disborough Trout Unlimited Research Grant

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Scholarship Information

The research grant was established by the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (KVCTU) for the purpose of recognizing and supporting studies of trout habitat or other projects consistent with the goals and objectives of Trout Unlimited. KVCTU’s goals are to preserve wild rivers, clean up polluted waters, maintain early warning Water Quality Surveillance programs, educate the public through workshops and seminars, and speak for the concerns of all anglers and conservationists.
Eligibility Criteria

The grant will be awarded based on the merit of the proposed project and not on the financial need of the applicant. The project must be consistent with the mission of Trout Unlimited (see below) and take place in North America. The recipient must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident Alien and a graduate student at an accredited college or university. Normally, the grant will be for one year. However, it is possible that the grantee may apply again providing the applicant is able to demonstrate the merit of another grant to the Advisory Committee and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

The mission of the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is to preserve, protect and enhance cold-water resources. The Chapter’s goals are to preserve wild rivers, clean up polluted waters, maintain early warning Water Quality Surveillance programs, educate the public through workshops and seminars and speak for the concerns of all anglers and conservationists. In addition, members of Trout Unlimited monitor pollution and fight environmental abuse, work with state government agencies for better water resource management and work with congress and federal government agencies for the protection and wise management of America’s fishing waters.
Application Requirements

The following must be submitted to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation:

One copy of the application.

One copy of your research grant proposal that includes a description of your research project and addresses the following:

1. The location of your project.
2. The subject of your project.
3. The goal of your project.
4. The method(s) you will use to complete your project.
5. The unique talents or special abilities, if any, that will be required of you in order to complete
this project.

A description of anticipated project costs.

An explanation of why you believe you deserve this research grant.

One letter of recommendation from an individual who supports your application for a research grant.
Award

Varies
Deadline

February 15
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