Graduate School Newsblog

Spring 2020 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

Published September 4, 2019

Applications for spring 2020 finishing fellowships are being accepted and are due no later than 4pm, October 24, 2019 to the Graduate School. Please email applications to gradschool@mtu.edu.

Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

Must be a PhD student.
Must expect to finish during the semester supported as a finishing fellow.
Must have submitted no more than one previous application for a finishing fellowship.
Must be eligible for or in Research Mode at the time of application.

Finishing Fellowships provide support to PhD candidates who are close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in The Michigan Tech Plan. The Graduate School anticipates funding up to ten fellowships with support ranging from $2000 to full support (stipend + tuition). Students who receive full support through a Finishing Fellowship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a Finishing Fellowship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

Spring 2020 PHF Graduate Assistantship Nominations Open

Published September 3, 2019

By Debra Charlesworth

Applications for spring 2020 PHF Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4pm, October 22, 2019 to the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

Must be a PhD student participating in health-related research that is aligned with the PHF’s mission.
Must be eligible for or in Research Mode at the time of application.
Must be 2 years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
Must not be a prior recipient of a PHF Graduate Assistantship.

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, or Ontonagon counties. Non-resident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Portage Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:

health research and technology development
health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
rural healthcare access, informatics, and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

Submission and Formatting 101: Master the Dissertation, Thesis, and Report Process

Published August 27, 2019

By Debra Charlesworth

Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis, or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents, and submitting their documents. In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion! Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend. Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 1 – 5pm (see detailed schedule below)
Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission
Where: MUB Alumni Lounge; (register to attend online and receive participation instructions)
Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

If you are unable to join us, the event will be taped and available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.

Information on submitting, formatting, and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

Detailed schedule

1 – 2pm – Submission 101
Learn what is required to submit your document to the Graduate School and the deadlines for the upcoming semester. Best for students who are completing their degree this semester or next semester.
2 – 2:45pm – Formatting 101: Using the Guide and Word Template
Learn how to find what you need in the Guide and use a Word template to create a perfectly formatted document the first time. LaTeX resources will be referenced, but not emphasized.
2:45 – 3pm: Break
Enjoy snacks and network with other attendees
3 – 3:45pm: Formatting 102: Checking and fixing your document
Learn how to use Adobe Acrobat to check your document to ensure it meets our formatting requirements and correct it without recreating the PDF.
3:45-4:45pm: Formatting 103: Copyright for your dissertation, thesis, and report
Learn how to use copyrighted materials in your document, including papers you have published as well as materials created by someone else.
4:45 – 5pm: Final questions
Have a question that hasn’t been answered yet? We’ll be available to answer any additional questions you have.

Fall 2019 Graduate Student Orientation

Published August 5, 2019

By

Welcome to the Graduate School at Michigan Tech! The Graduate School invites all new students to attend the Welcome to Graduate School session. The Welcome is an opportunity to meet the Graduate School dean, campus leaders and hear from your Graduate Student Government.

3:30 – 5:00 p.m. | Monday, August 26, 2019 | Memorial Union Ballroom (2nd floor)

All graduate students are required to attend the Orientation to Graduate Studies and Research session where students will be introduced to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). The RCR training requirement reflects our expectation that every graduate student will be aware of academic standards and ethical principles of research.

Mechanical Engineering students

1–5 p.m. | Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | Memorial Union Ballroom (2nd floor)
You will be introduced to the expectations for graduate students, the basics of responsible conduct for research, and department safety training. Please register online by visiting your Enrollment Checklist (accepted students), or by visiting your Current Student checklist. (enrolled students).

General session for all students

1–4:30 p.m. | Wednesday, August 28, 2019 | Memorial Union Ballroom (2nd floor)
You will be introduced to the expectations for graduate students and the basics of responsible conduct for research. Please register online by visiting your Enrollment Checklist (accepted students), or by visiting your Current Student checklist. (enrolled students).

Contact the Graduate School with any questions. If you are unable to attend a session, you may complete online training and view our online resources to fulfill your requirement.

Formatting Workshops for Summer 2019

Published July 18, 2019

By Debra Charlesworth

Announcements

Are you working on formatting corrections for your dissertation, thesis, or report? Do you need help? Are you unsure where to submit your dissertation, thesis, or report?

Join the Graduate School (gradschool@mtu.edu) for group work hours. These workshops are provided at no charge to students working on a dissertation, thesis, or report. Staff will able to help with the changes required by the Graduate School for these documents in MS Office. Assistance will also be available for converting documents to PDF from Word and how to make simple corrections and check your document in Adobe Acrobat. The workshops will be in rooms with PCs with University software, or you may bring your own laptop. Distance students may contact gradschool@mtu.edu about remote assistance during these times via web conferencing. If you need additional help outside of these times, please contact the Graduate School. On a limited basis, one-on-one assistance may be available.

Last day to submit a post-defense document to successfully complete your degree in summer is August 12, 2019 by 4pm EST!

All workshops will be held from on the following dates at the mentioned time:

Tuesday, August 6, 2019 | 12:05-1:55 p.m. | Library 242
Thursday, August 8, 2019 | 12:05-1:55 p.m. | Library 242
Thursday, August 22, 2019 | 12:05-1:55 p.m. | Library 242

Smart Start Seminar – September 4, 2019

Published July 13, 2019

By Debra Charlesworth

New graduate students to Michigan Tech are invited to Smart Start. In Smart Start, we’ll introduce students to resources and policies to assist them to have a successful start to their graduate career. It will be especially useful for students in their first year, but all students are welcome to attend. The seminar will be streamed for off campus students and recorded.

The seminar will be on September 4, 2019 beginning at 4:05pm in Ballroom A in the MUB. Please register online to receive streaming information and reminders to attend.

It will be taped and available online for those unable to attend in person.

Doctoral Finishing Fellowship Summer 2019 Recipient – Erin Burkett

Published July 2, 2019

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News

Erin Burkett
Social Sciences

I am a PhD candidate studying Environmental and Energy Policy in the Department of Social Sciences. Over the past four years I have studied demographic trends and changes among recreational anglers in Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I have also studied the importance of fishing to women and how women-specific outreach programs engage with this important group. This research includes working with both state natural resource agencies and recreational fisheries stakeholders. The MTU Finishing Fellowship comes as a pivotal time in my dissertation as I am mainly writing my final research papers and preparing to give my oral defense. I am very grateful to have funding and support during this stage of my research. Go Huskies!

Fall Data Science Fellowship Opportunity

Published June 28, 2019

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Program: The Data Incubator is an intensive 8 week fellowship that prepares masters students, PhDs, and postdocs in STEM and social science fields seeking industry careers as data scientists. The program is free for Fellows and supported by sponsorships from hundreds of employers across multiple industries. In response to the overwhelming interest in our earlier sessions, we will be holding another fellowship.

Who Should Apply: Anyone who has already obtained a masters or PhD degree or who is within one year of graduating with a masters or PhD is welcome to apply. Applications from international students are welcome. Everyone else is encouraged to sign-up for a future session.

Locations: In addition to the below in-person locations, we will have a remote online session:

New York City
San Francisco Bay Area
Boston
Washington, DC.

Nominee for 2019 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award: Aranya Srijongjai

Published June 25, 2019

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News

Aranya Srijongjai
Rhetoric, Theory and Culture

I received a PhD in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture in 2019 at Michigan Tech under the supervision of Dr. Karla Kitalong. My dissertation focused on digital rhetoric of cosmopolitanism of people from a marginalized culture as situated in the context of a transnational experience. Using cases of Thai students studying at Michigan Tech, my dissertation project investigated their digital practices as they engaged with the Other on social media in everyday life. The methodological framework of this project was designed by consolidating various concepts and perspectives of new cosmopolitanism and digital rhetoric. In its contributions, apart from theoretical and pedagogical implications, this project also helps to shape the idea of digital rhetoric of cosmopolitanism by proposing a definition and a model to explain its ontological dimension.

After graduation, I returned to Thailand and resumed the position of a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Portage Health Foundation Graduate Assistantship Summer 2019 Recipient – Zainab I. Alshoug

Published June 25, 2019

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News

Zainab I. Alshoug
Chemical Engineering

In 2013, I graduated from MTU with a master’s degree under Dr. David Shonnard supervision. My master’s research was on biofuel production. Working with Dr. Shonnard was one of the valuable experiences at MTU. Dr. Shonnard’s research group not only strengthened my research skills but also provided me a hand-on experience of working in a lab.

In order to pursue my aim of getting a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering, I joined Dr. Adrienne Minerick’s M.D.-ERL research group which provided me an opportunity to work on the design of lab-on-a-chip device to measure the level of lipids in human blood by using different art-of-the-state techniques, such as Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). It is a great experience working with Dr. Minerick in many different projects include measuring the effect of consumption of different teas in lipid levels in human blood. She is always a source of encouragement and motivation for me.

I am incredibly grateful for the support of my advisors Dr. Adrienne Minerick, chemical engineering program, and the MTU graduate school. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Portage Health Foundation, which has supported me to focus on my research and to publish my research in the coming summer. With the help of my advisor Dr. Minerick and the support of the Portage Health Foundation, I will be able to accomplish my publication goals and defend my Ph.D. dissertation by the end of December.