Graduate School Newsblog

BOC Commits to Financial Aid and Approves Online MBA

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The Board of Control has announced a significant increase in financial aid for students struggling to afford a college education.

In special remarks delivered at the Board’s regular meeting today, Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Steve Hicks said that Michigan Tech will increase financial aid by approximately 10 percent for next school year. Financial aid totals $38 million, 20 percent of the University’s budget. The board has asked President Glenn Mroz and his administrative team to include this increase in the fiscal year 2010–11 budget.

“The board members recognize the dramatic impact of the recent economic downturn on the ability of students and their families to pay for higher education,” Hicks said. “We empathize with them and decided to make an early commitment for next school year to ensure that students who seek a truly exceptional educational experience at Michigan Tech have that opportunity.”

Nationally, rising tuition costs and the economic recession have combined to force students to lower their educational sights and seek out lower-priced options. This is especially true in Michigan, where this year the state’s retraction of the Michigan Promise Grant left many students lacking sufficient support. Michigan Tech’s response was to pick up that commitment from the state and fund the Promise grants from its own coffers for the first semester.

Hicks emphasized the University’s resolve to help students. “We are making our own promise to prospective and current students who face rising financial pressure. Providing access to a Michigan Tech education at an affordable price is a top priority, and we are putting our dollars behind the promise. The State of Michigan needs our kind of graduates, proficient in science, engineering, and technology, to propel it to a stronger economic future.”

President Mroz affirmed that message. “People are our priority. We want every student who values what Michigan Tech offers to come here. Today the Board has sent a message that we will go out of our way to make it financially possible.”

The Board of also approved a program price of $38,000 for a new, two-year online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. It will make Michigan Tech’s MBA curriculum and faculty available to distance learners worldwide, starting with the fall 2010 semester.

Like the campus MBA program, the new online program will focus on innovation and technology management.

“Faculty, in our MBA programs on campus and online, understand scientists, engineers and others who work in similar areas,” said Ruth Archer, director of graduate business programs at the School of Business and Economics (SBE). “We want to help them gain a competitive edge and advance their careers.”

MBA online students will attend two extended weekends on campus and one weeklong international residency where they will learn about the development of technology-related businesses in another culture. The international residency will give students a global perspective on innovation and technology management.

“During the on-campus residencies,” said SBE Dean Darrell Radson, “students will develop a strategic perspective and reinforce collaboration and communication skills while interacting with their cohort and faculty members.” In a cohort program, students move through all classes and phases of the program together as a group, from beginning to graduation.

In other business, the Board

  • Voted to award the Melvin Calvin Medal of Distinction to Raymond L. Smith, sixth president of Michigan Tech. Smith, for whom the ME-EM building is named, is recognized as one of the most authoritative authors and lecturers on minerals and metals. The Melvin Calvin Medal is the highest honor that the University bestows on individuals who have exhibited truly distinguished professional and personal accomplishment and have been associated with Michigan Tech.
  • Approved residence hall and apartment room-and-board rates for the 2010-11 academic year, including increases ranging from 4.10 to 4.33 percent for the residence halls and 4.62 to 7.95 percent for Daniell Heights apartments. A single room in the new residential apartment building will cost $8,400 for the year, with a 50-meal per semester food plan.
  • Learned that the Graduate School is piloting a National Service Graduate Fellowship Program to better meet the needs of students who have provided significant service to the US. Active military personnel, honorably discharged veterans, military retirees, and Peace Corps and Americorps volunteers who have successfully completed their service are eligible for the fellowship.

Published in Tech Today

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Library Offers Workshop Series

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The Van Pelt and Opie Library will offer a series of workshops during the week of March 15 covering a variety of topics and disciplines. All of the workshops are free and will take place in library instruction room 242 at 1 p.m. each day. Preregistration is not required and anyone can attend. The workshop series will include five events:

Monday, March 15

Experience the New IEEE Xplore Digital Library

Last month, IEEE launched a substantial upgrade to the IEEE Xplore digital library. This workshop will demonstrate this new user interface with enhanced search and browse tools to make research easier, faster and more productive. This workshop will be taught by Reference and Instruction Librarian Amanda Binoniemi (abinonie@mtu.edu).

Tuesday, March 16

Humanities Resources and Project Muse

The workshop will feature Project Muse, a full-text database of scholarly journals in the humanities and social sciences. Come and learn about other resources and services the library offers or request a guided tour to our new web interface. This workshop will be taught by Reference, Interlibrary Loan and Copyright Librarian Nora Allred (nsallred@mtu.edu) .

Wednesday, March 17

Chemical Engineering Resources

Learn how to access an online guide to chemical engineering information and receive an introduction to three e-book resources: Knovel Chemistry and Chemical Engineering full-text handbooks, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and SpringerLink. This workshop will be taught by Reference Librarian and Coordinator for Library Instruction Dave Bezotte (dbezotte@mtu.edu) .

Thursday, March 18

Scientific Research Resources from Federal Agencies

Every year the US Government publishes the scientific findings of agencies like NASA, the Geologic Survey, the Transportation Board, the Department of Defense and more. The Michigan Tech library has access to these reports through Science.gov, developed by the Office of Science and Technology Information. This workshop will cover the Science.gov database and will field questions on any other government databases as requested. The workshop will be taught by Government Documents Librarian Rhianna Williams (rlwillia@mtu.edu).

Friday, March 19

Electronic Resources and HuskyFetch

This workshop will explain how HuskyFetch (SFX) works, how it interconnects with available resources and how to diagnose where breakdowns occur. Bring your questions and suggestions for an open discussion. This workshop will be taught by the Library’s Digital Resources Coordinator Mies Martin (miesmart@mtu.edu) .

These and other workshops are available to be repeated at departmental meetings, as graduate student training opportunities, and in support of research and publication.

More information is available by calling 877-2507, emailing reflib@mtu.edu, or by contacting the individual librarians listed above.

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Nominations Open for Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities

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Nominations for the Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities are due by March 15th to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School.  The award recognizes young scholars who have published an outstanding book in their field.  Fields eligible for nomination this year are classical studies or archaeology.

Eligible candidates can be alumni from Michigan Tech, or current faculty.  Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate.

See the CGS website for complete details on eligibility and the nomination process.

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Spring 2010 Travel Grants Available from the BRC

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The Biotechnology Research Center (BRC) announces its spring 2010 travel grants, which provide financial assistance to Michgan Tech’s undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scientists to present their research at scientific meetings.

The grants promote research and achievement in the biotechnology field. The awards are merit-based and are offered in the spring and fall each year.

To apply, complete the application form . Send the application materials to Mary Tassava, staff assistant in BRC. The deadline is Thursday, April 15. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Radio Signals, Diabetes, and Beavers: Just Another Graduate Research Colloquium

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by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor

Graduate students from across campus trotted out their research and explained the unexplainable at the latest Graduate Research Colloquium held at the Memorial Union Building, with more 25 posters accompanying the two days of presentations.

Suryabh Sharma, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, discussed his work, which might not see the light of day for 20 to 25 years. His work is guided by Associate Professor Gerry Tian.

Realizing that the spectrum of open radio signals is finite, in both frequency and bandwith, there needs to be “cognitive radio networks” developed.

“These will be able to use a part of the spectrum at a certain time that is un-utilized or underutilized, based on time or space,” Sharma says.

Cell phones, for example, will have to be developed with enough computing ability to find these unused frequencies. Sharma’s project was to calculate the probability of success, with best and worst case scenarios, in an algorithm: “gathering data and making it meaningful data.”

His answer? “It is feasible.”

So, someday, we’ll never have to worry about not being able to connect to the wireless grid, in theory.

Nearby, physics graduate student Archana Pandey was describing how implantable nano-devices could be used as glucose sensors in diabetics. In addition to helping people stay healthy, Pandey has discovered an additional benefit.

“Miniature biofuel cells could also be implanted and convert glucose from the initial nanodevice into energy,” she says.

This could be especially helpful to diabetics, who sometimes lack energy, and that impacts their eating habits, Pandy adds.

One problem: the devices work fine when cooled, but body temperatures are too hot. But, she is still working on it with help from teammates Abhishek Prasad, Jason Moscatello and Abhay Singh, and advisor Yoke Kin Yap.

“I inherited my work,” says Mark Romanski of forest resources. And famous work it is: research on the habitants of Isle Royale, in this instance, beavers.

Continuing work of Rolf Peterson, John Vucetich and others, Romanski actually looked at how data is collected on the beaver populations. It is a classic research quandary: how do we know the numbers are accurate? Romanski looked at “double-count surveys,” where two researchers will both attempt to count the same population of a species. Beginning his work in 2006, he discovered a large discrepancy in numbers of beavers counted previously.

“We used smaller aircraft in later surveys than they did in earlier ones,” he said. “When our numbers came back much lower in the planes that should allow for more-accurate sightability–slower speeds and lower flights–we realized that sightability from the larger planes was grossly overestimated.”

More than a study of how to study, then, Romanski’s work helps complete the puzzle of the complicated ecosystem on the island.

He also included a couple of tidbits: moose and beaver have a similar appetite for foliage, and wolves have an appetite for beaver.

“They wait near their lodges until they come out,” he says. “They know where they live.”

Published in Tech Today.

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Radio Signals, Diabetes, and Beavers: Just Another Graduate Research Colloquium

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Graduate students from across campus trotted out their research and explained the unexplainable at the latest Graduate Research Colloquium held at the Memorial Union Building, with more 25 posters accompanying the two days of presentations.

Suryabh Sharma, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, discussed his work, which might not see the light of day for 20 to 25 years. His work is guided by Associate Professor Gerry Tian.

Realizing that the spectrum of open radio signals is finite, in both frequency and bandwith, there needs to be “cognitive radio networks” developed.

“These will be able to use a part of the spectrum at a certain time that is un-utilized or underutilized, based on time or space,” Sharma says.

Cell phones, for example, will have to be developed with enough computing ability to find these unused frequencies. Sharma’s project was to calculate the probability of success, with best and worst case scenarios, in an algorithm: “gathering data and making it meaningful data.”

His answer? “It is feasible.”

So, someday, we’ll never have to worry about not being able to connect to the wireless grid, in theory.

Nearby, physics graduate student Archana Pandey was describing how implantable nano-devices could be used as glucose sensors in diabetics. In addition to helping people stay healthy, Pandey has discovered an additional benefit.

“Miniature biofuel cells could also be implanted and convert glucose from the initial nanodevice into energy,” she says.

This could be especially helpful to diabetics, who sometimes lack energy, and that impacts their eating habits, Pandy adds.

One problem: the devices work fine when cooled, but body temperatures are too hot. But, she is still working on it with help from teammates Abhishek Prasad, Jason Moscatello and Abhry Singh, and advisor Yoke Kin Yap.

“I inherited my work,” says Mark Romanski of forest resources. And famous work it is: research on the habitants of Isle Royale, in this instance, beavers.

Continuing work of Rolf Peterson, John Vucetich and others, Romanski actually looked at how data is collected on the beaver populations. It is a classic research quandary: how do we know the numbers are accurate? Romanski looked at “double-count surveys,” where two researchers will both attempt to count the same population of a species. Beginning his work in 2006, he discovered a large discrepancy in numbers of beavers counted previously.

“We used smaller aircraft in later surveys than they did in earlier ones,” he said. “When our numbers came back much lower in the planes that should allow for more-accurate sightability–slower speeds and lower flights–we realized that sightability from the larger planes was grossly overestimated.”

More than a study of how to study, then, Romanski’s work helps complete the puzzle of the complicated ecosystem on the island.

He also included a couple of tidbits: moose and beaver have a similar appetite for foliage, and wolves have an appetite for beaver.

“They wait near their lodges until they come out,” he says. “They know where they live.”

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Argonne National Laboratory Thesis-Parts Appointments

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Argonne National Laboratory, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s major research centers, offers opportunities for qualified graduate students to carry on their master’s or doctoral thesis research at the laboratory. Thesis Parts Appointments are for students who wish to perform only a portion of their dissertation research or to satisfy practicum requirements at Argonne. The work a student proposes must be related to work in progress at the laboratory and must require resources not available on campus.

For more information visit: http://www.dep.anl.gov/p_graduate/thesispa.htm

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Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)

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The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is designed by the NIST Boulder Laboratories to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. Fellowships are awarded to assure continued growth and progress of science and engineering in the United States.

For additional information about research areas at NIST go to www.boulder.nist.gov.
All PREP applicants must be full-time students, who are U.S. citizens (or hold permanent residence visas) and have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Deadline: May 28, 2010

Contact Information:

For questions, please contact
Rosemary O’Connor
Office of the Director
NIST
325 Broadway, MC 104.01
Boulder, CO 80305-3328
(303) 497-5238
roconnor@boulder.nist.gov

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Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid Research Program

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The Sigma Xi Grants-in Aid of research (GIAR) program has been providing undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences for more than 80 years. By encouraging close working relationships between students and faculty, the program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning.

The program awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from the National Academy of Sciences allow for grants of up to $5,000 for astronomy research and $2,500 for vision related research.

Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project.

While membership in Sigma Xi is not a requirement for applying for funding from the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, approximately 75% of funds are restricted for use by dues paying student members of Sigma Xi or students whose project advisor is a dues paying member of Sigma Xi. Students from any country are eligible to receive funding.

For more information visit:  http://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/giar/index.shtml

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