U.S. Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office Fellowship Program

The US Dept of Energy is now accepting applications for a one-year CBFO appointment (with possibility of extension) in the field of environmental microbiology.  This appointment will be located at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (university institute).

Applications for the Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) Fellowship Program closes on Wednesday May 21 2014, midnight EDT.

Typical laboratory activities will include a wide variety of microbial characterization and analytical techniques (e.g., PCR, ion chromatography, cell counting techniques, microscopy, anaerobic methods, cell plating, and sample preparations for gene sequencing). Strong mentorship will be provided with the goal of developing research skills that contribute to publishable scientific results and prepare the CBFO Fellow for advanced studies.

The ideal candidate will have a BS or higher in microbiology, biology, or related degrees received within the last five years from an accredited U.S. institution and a strong desire to develop/apply their research skills. Strong analytical, research and communication skills are required.

Applicants must also be a U.S. citizen (no exceptions) and be available for a full- time commitment starting in June/July 2014.

Stipends are dependent on academic level, skills and experience. Additional allowances for round-trip travel to site may be provided.

For more information, e-mail cbfo.fellowship@orise.orau.gov.

Bridgat Scholarship for students from Asia

Bridgat Technology Limited announces Bridgat Scholarship is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at an accredited institution in the United States.

The Scholarships are merit-based and four individuals will be designated each year and awarded a one-time scholarship of up to US$6,500.  Major selection criteria includes academic performance and demonstrated leadership in cross cultural activities.

The application for 2014 Bridgat Scholarship begins on October 1, 2014 and ends on December 31, 2014.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be full-time graduate students currently enrolled at an accredited institution in the U.S. and hold a valid student ID card.
  • Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to apply.
  • Applicants must be citizens of an Asian country.

More information and application materials, please visit http://www.bridgat.com/scholarships-graduate.html

Grad students co-authored research published in Scientific Reports

Graduate students Ankit Vora (ECE) and Jephias Gwamuri (EMSE) co-authored “Exchanging Ohmic Losses in Metamaterial Absorbers with Useful Optical Absorption for Photovoltaics, in Scientific Reports” with Anand Kulkarni, Joshua Pearce (MSE/ECE) and Durdu Güney (ECE). It is available online at Scientific Reports.

Published in Tech Today.

Michigan Tech Alumnus, Apps Turn Ordinary People into Hydrologists

Adam Ward’s got a lot of helping hands as he tries to determine stream and lake depths in Iowa. Through CrowdHydrology.org, anyone can read the water level off a ruler (more scientifically, stream stage off a staff gauge) and text the numbers to an online database.

The citizen scientists are helping researchers elsewhere, too—New York, Wisconsin, Utah and Michigan—and it’s all the brainchild of Ward’s colleague, Chris Lowry, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology at the University of Buffalo.

“With budget cuts proliferating, I had to figure out how to measure streams in a cheap fashion,” says Lowry. “I got a giant ruler, laminated a sign at Kinko’s and set up the first gauge using Google voicemail and help from the USGS for the texts. It worked.”

For the full news story, see CrowdHydrology.

Published in Tech Today by Dennis Walikainen, senior content specialist

Nominations open for KCP Future Faculty Fellowships

The purpose of the King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program is to increase the pool of traditionally underrepresented candidates pursuing careers in postsecondary education.  Nominations may be at the master’s or doctoral level. Please see our web site for more details on the program, eligibility requirements, and the application procedure.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, however, for the best consideration for funding beginning in fall 2014, please submit a nomination no later than 4pm, May 22, 2014.

The Graduate School will work with qualified applicants and their programs to develop a funding plan that includes funds from the KCP program, department or school, and Graduate School.

Ten Times Over

A sea of stories and support behind the Class of 2014
It’s never a snapshot of just one perspective.

On campuses across the country, students are ascending one side of a stage, shaking hands, and descending as graduates, careers and experiences and possibilities laid out before them.

These are a few snapshots of one. But not just one. Rebecca Miner is finishing her third Tech degree today, a doctorate in Rhetoric and Technical Communication. Her family is seated in a skybox in the arena while she’s up near the stage with the rest of the newly minted PhDs. It’s quiet in the arena. Warm. The only constant sound, aside from the voices calling names, is the sound of camera shutters capturing every moment ten times over.

Read the full news story.

Published in Tech Today by Kevin Hodur, content specialist

Nominations open for Fall 2014 Finishing Fellowships

Applications for fall 2014 finishing fellowships are now being accepted, and are due no later than 4pm, June 10, 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.

Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Masters Internation Program Tops in Nation-Again

For the ninth year in a row, Michigan Technological University ranks as the number one university nationwide for the number of Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) students currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Michigan Tech has 32 graduate students overseas, earning the University top spot on the Peace Corps’ annual ranking of PCMI and Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate schools.

Michigan Tech has 10 different PCMI programs in three colleges and schools. The Peace Corps said that is the largest number of PCMI programs at any university in the nation.

In the PCMI program, students incorporate Peace Corps service as credit toward their master’s degree. The Coverdell Fellows Program provides returned Peace Corps volunteers with scholarships, internships in underserved American communities, and stipends to earn an advanced degree after they complete their Peace Corps service.

“One of Michigan Tech’s primary goals is to conduct innovative research and education that promotes sustainable economic and social development worldwide,” said Tech President Glenn Mroz. “Our Peace Corps Masters International Program is clearly achieving that goal. It speaks to Michigan Tech’s commitment that a school the size of ours is consistently first in the nation in the number of Peace Corps volunteers.”

For the full story, see Peace Corps.

Published in Tech Today by Jenn Donova, director of news and media relations

Copyright and Your Thesis or Dissertation workshop – May 20th

The Van Pelt and Opie Library is offering a workshop entitled, “Copyright and Your Thesis or Dissertation.”

Date – Tuesday, May 20th
Time – 2:00pm
Location – Van Pelt and Opie Library, room 242

This workshop will examine the role U.S. Copyright law plays in the thesis or dissertation writing and publishing process.  The use of copyrighted material, publishing agreements and the role of the Digital Commons at Michigan Tech repository will be explored.

The workshop is limited to 25 attendees, register at Copyright by Friday, May 16th.

For questions, please contact Nora Allred, Scholarly Communications and Copyright Librarian at nsallred@mtu.edu.