Graduate School Newsblog

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Seminar

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The Research Development Office has been holding NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) seminar sessions to those students who have expressed interest in applying for the NSF GRFP.
This Thursday, from 12:00 to 1:00 in Admin 404 (Pat Nelson Graduate Conference Center), Dr. Pushpa Murthy from the NSF GRFP office will be presenting a webinar session. She would like to invite any academic advisors or faculty members who help students with the NSF GRFP application process to attend for some helpful information.
Please pass this information along to those who may be interested.
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Research Opportunity Description

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Innovative Research Approaches in Climate Change, Next Generation Air Sensors, and Citizen Science
Research Participation Program
Office of Research and Development
Immediate Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC

EPA-ORD/IOAA-2014-01

Project Description:

A postgraduate or postdoctoral research project training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD). This appointment will be served with the Immediate Office (IO) in Washington, DC.

Joining ORD’s Chief Innovation Officer, the participant will be involved in analysis of research gaps and synthesis of new innovative research approaches to science and technical issues including next generation environmental sensors, climate change, and citizen science. The research participant may be involved in the following activities:

  • Analyzing gaps in current technology for low cost, portable air sensors for ozone, fine particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds, among others. Following the analysis phase, s/he will synthesize new research approaches for development and deployment of next generation air sensors.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of new innovation tools, including challenges and prizes, and adapting the most effective tools for use in maximizing ORD’s climate change research.
  • Assessing citizen science approaches at the national level, focusing on the feasibility of incorporating data collected and analyzed by citizen scientists into ORD’s research programs and future projects. Research will also include identifying and quantifying gaps in application or implementation of citizen science products and conducting research directed at uncovering innovative solutions that remedy the deficiencies in the citizen science approach.

The research participant will have latitude in exercising independent initiative and judgment in conducting the research. EPA will review completed research for adherence to EPA principles and policies, quality, and soundness of scientific conclusions. S/he will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers at EPA, as well as other federal agencies and non-profit and academic institutions. S/he will collaborate with scientists in all fields of environmental sciences, but will interact heavily with climate change and air sensor scientists.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have received a master’s or doctoral degree in geosciences within five years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date.

U.S. citizenship is required. The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran.

The appointment is full time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. Funding may be made available to reimburse a research participant’s travel expenses to support field studies and to present the results of his/her research at scientific conferences. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or a participant’s health insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee.

Technical Questions:

The contacts for this project are Peter Preuss (preuss.peter@epa.gov) and Kevin Kuhn (kuhn.kevin@epa.gov).

How to Apply:

An application can be found at http://orise.orau.gov/epa/applicants/application.htm. Please reference Project #EPA-ORD/IOAA-2014-01 when calling or writing for information.

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Flu Vaccine Clinics Announced

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Portage Health will offer four flu vaccine clinics on campus this fall. The vaccine is by injection at a cost of $30 payable at the time of service. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted. Shots will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis; no appointment is necessary.

Employees, retirees, family members and students are welcome to attend one of the flu clinics. Anyone under the age of 18 cannot be vaccinated without parental permission. A spouse and/or child may attend without the employee.

Be prepared to show a picture ID and insurance card. If you are insured by Michigan Tech’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) health plan, your vaccine is free of charge and will be billed to insurance if you present your BCBSM member ID card at the time of service. Students with Michigan Tech’s Aetna student health plan can also have their vaccine billed to insurance with their Aetna member ID card.

The flu clinics are as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 15 during the Health Fair from noon to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Isle Royale Ballroom.

The following three clinics will be held in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Library Skills Refresher Workshops Upcoming

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Graduate students, has it been a year or two (or longer) since you have had to do any library research? Feel like your information-finding skills are a little rusty? Join us for one of our Library Skills Refresher sessions to brush off the dust. We will cover library services specific to Michigan Tech, as well as a variety of searching techniques and strategies to help you get the most out of your research. Food will be provided.

We are offering multiple sessions of the workshop to accommodate a variety of schedules:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2-3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 9, noon-1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct.14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Registration is required; visit the library workshops website  and view the calendar to select and register for the date you wish to attend. For more information, contact Sarah Lucchesi, instruction and learning librarian, at slucches@mtu.edu or 7-3379.

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Seminar: Completing your graduate degree

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The Graduate School has recently launched improvements to our web page and MyMichiganTech that will help students, faculty, and staff understand the steps required to complete a graduate degree.  Join us on campus or online to learn about these improvements and have your questions answered.

The seminar will be taped and put on our web site for people who are interested in the topic, but unable to attend at that time.

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Spring 2015 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

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Applications for spring 2015 finishing fellowships are now being accepted, and are due no later than 4pm, October 21, 2014 to Dr. Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Must be a PhD student.
  2. Must expect to finish during the semester supported as a finishing fellow.
  3. Must have submitted no more than one previous application for a finishing fellowship.
  4. Must be eligible for or in Research Only 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.

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Upcoming Michigan Space Grant Consortium Conference at the University of Michigan

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The Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC), of which Michigan Tech is a member, will host its annual conference at the University of Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building at 1320 Beal Ave. in Ann Arbor on the North Campus. MSGC supports student work in space-related science and technology—as well as STEM disciplines—in Michigan.

The conference offers students, faculty, instructors and researchers the opportunity to display their research through presentations and posters. Registration is free but required to allow for adequate planning for seating, meals and refreshments. The registration deadline date is Oct. 6, and travel assistance is available for students.

Non-MSGC individuals and groups from academia, industry and the local community are also invited to share their experience and knowledge in aerospace, space science and aeronautics.

To register and for more information, see online. The on-campus contact is Paige Hackney, in the Pavlis Honors College, she can be reached at phackney@mtu.edu or 7-4371.

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Fall Enrollment at All-Time High for Female Engineering, Minority, International and Graduate Students

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Michigan Tech submitted its preliminary fall enrollment figures to the state this week.  Enrollment totaled 7,100 this fall, up from last year and the second highest since 1983.

Female enrollment in the College of Engineering is 1,005, an all-time high at 22 percent.

American minority students totaled 474, nearly 7 percent of the student body and another all-time high.

Graduate School enrollment also hit an all-time high this fall, at 1,442 or 20 percent of the student body.  The Graduate School received 1,800 more applications this year than last.

Michigan Tech’s 1,093 international students represent another all-time high. Retention—the percentage of first-year students who return for their second year—was 85 percent, the highest it has been since 1993.

Read the the full story.

Published in Tech Today by Jennifer Donovan, director of news and media relations

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Applications are open for the ASNT Robert B. Oliver Scholarship

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The ASNT Robert B. Oliver Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship given to provide an incentive to students currently enrolled in course work related to nondestructive testing (NDT) in a program of study learning to an undergraduate degree, an associate degree, or a post-secondary certificate.  The scholarship memorializes ASNT’s Past President, Honorary Member, and Fellow Robert B. Oliver.

The scholarships are awarded to students submitting the best original manuscripts on nondestructive testing.  The manuscript should develop a concept in NDT and may be based on practical experience, laboratory work, or library research. (See link below for manuscript criteria.)  Papers may be classroom assignments for work outside NDT, such as an English class.  A maximum of three (3) scholarships are presented each year.

Applications must be submitted online and received no later than 15 February 2015.

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