Graduate School Newsblog

Tag: Applied Ecology

First In Series of Federal Funding Workshops – Sept 15th and 16th.

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A federal fellowship/scholarship writing workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 15th  and Thursday, September 16th at 4:00 in Fisher 135.

You will only need to attend one of the workshops, as they are the same workshop, different days and time.

During the workshop we will review 3 samples of NSF GRFP personal statement essays. Tips will be given on how to organize your essay, utilize wording, and meet the merit criteria expected by reviewers

Prepare for the workshop by:

1. Understanding how NSF defines “broader impacts”

2. Brainstorming answers to NSF “personal statement” questions


    If you (or someone you know) plan on attending, please RSVP to Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu).

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    New theses and dissertations in Library

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses and dissertations from the following programs:

    • Applied Ecology
    • Applied Natural Resource Economics
    • Biological Sciences
    • Chemistry
    • Civil Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Environmental Engineering
    • Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
    • Geology
    • Mineral Economics
    • Rhetoric and Technical Communication

    are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library.

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    New Theses and Dissertations in the Library

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the arrival of new theses and dissertations from our recent graduates in the J. R. Van Pelt Library and John and Ruanne Opie Library.  The names of our graduates, their degrees, advisors, and titles of their research are listed below.

    Brian Beachy
    Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Science
    Advisor: Andrew J Storer
    Dissertation title: Impacts of the Exotic Beech Bark Disease Complex in Michigan

    Jessica Beachy
    Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Science
    Advisor: Andrew John Storer
    Dissertation title: The Development of Trapping, Survey and Educational Tools for the Exotic Invasive Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilusplanipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

    Luke Bowman
    Master of Science in Geology
    Advisor: William I Rose
    Thesis title: Community Perceptions of an NGO’s Impact on Disaster Preparedness in Los Planes de La Laguna, Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador

    Venkat Donuru
    Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
    Advisor: Haiying Liu
    Dissertation title: Design and Synthesis of Novel BODIPY Polymeric Dyes, and Redox-active Tetrathiafulvalene-Carbohydrate Conjugates for Potential Biosensing Applications

    Chad Fortin
    Master of Science in Applied Ecology
    Coadvisors: Christopher Raymond Webster and David James Flaspohler
    Thesis title: Floristic Quality as a Potential Driver of Vegetative Diversity-Productivity Relationships and Arthropod Habitat in Restored Grasslands

    Bryan Franklin
    Master of Science in Computer Science
    Advisor: Steven R Seidel
    Thesis title: Analysis and Performance of a UPC Implementation of a Parallel Longest Common Subsequence Algorithm

    Valerie Fuchs
    Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering
    Coadvisors: John S Gierke and James R Mihelcic
    Dissertation title: Nitrogen Removal and Sustainability of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands for Small Scale Wastewater Treatment

    Alex Joseph Varghese
    Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
    Advisor: Paul L Bergstrom
    Thesis title: Fabrication of Piezo Resistive Strain Sensor for Orthopedic Fracture Implant System

    Jodi Lehman
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Patricia J Sotirin
    Dissertation title: International Teachers in the American Classroom: Deposing the Myth of Monolingualism

    Ruben Otoniel Matias Gomez
    Master of Science in Geology
    Advisor: William I Rose
    Thesis title: Volcanological Map of the 1961-2009 Eruption of Volcande Pacaya, Guatemala

    Julian Mills-Beale
    Master of Science in Civil Engineering
    Advisor: Zhanping You
    Thesis title: New Test Procedures for Aggregate Specific Gravities and Absorption

    Srichand Pendyala
    Master of Science in Computer Science
    Advisor: Robert Louis Pastel
    Thesis title: Sketch Recognition through Shape Based Interaction

    Ratul Saha
    Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
    Advisor: Susan T Bagley
    Dissertation title: UV Disinfection of Metalworking Fluids: Analysis Using Molecular Tools

    Steven Vormwald
    Master of Science in Computer Science
    Advisor: Steven M Carr
    Thesis title: Predicting Remote Reuse Distance Patterns in Unified Parallel C Applications

    Fuyu Xu
    Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
    Advisor: Chandrashekhar Pralhad Joshi
    Dissertation title: Molecular Mechanism of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants

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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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    New theses and dissertations in the Library

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the arrival of new theses and dissertations from our recent graduates in the J. R. Van Pelt Library and John and Ruanne Opie Library.  The names of our graduates, their degrees, advisors, and titles of their research are listed below.

    R Adam Blankenbicker
    Master of Science in Geology
    Advisor: William I Rose
    Thesis title: Video Analysis of Small Vulcanian Explosions at Santiaguito, Guatemala

    Elizabeth Boisvert
    Master of Science in Applied Ecology
    Advisor: Thomas Grant Pypker
    Thesis title: Initiation and Development of Three Lake Superior Coastal Peatlands

    Daw Don Cheam
    Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
    Advisor: Paul L Bergstrom
    Dissertation title: Integration of Room Temperature Single Electron Transistor with CMOS Subsystem

    Brandon Dilworth
    Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
    Advisor: Jason R Blough
    Dissertation title: Identification of Ground and Environmental Effects to the Pass-by Noise Testing of Snowmobiles

    Varun Gouthaman
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Reza  Shahbazian Yassar
    Thesis title: Micro-Fabrication of a Bio-MEMS Based Force Sensor to Measure the Force Response of Living Cells

    Erik Hayenga
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Marilyn M Cooper
    Dissertation title: Ethics in Illustruction: Safety Cartoons in John Deere Tractor and Combine Harvester Operator’s Manuals, 1945-2007

    John Hribljan
    Master of Science in Biological Sciences
    Advisor: Janice M Glime
    Thesis title: The Influence of Moss and Litter Chemical Traits on Bryophagy in a Northern Temperate Forest Invertebrate, Porcellio scaber LATR.

    Nicholas Jensen
    Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
    Advisor: Christopher Raymond Webster
    Thesis title: Ungulate Winter Habitat Selection as a Driver of Heterogeneity in Ground-Layer Plant Communities

    Samuel Johnson
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Jeffrey Donald Naber
    Thesis title: Premixed Lean Gas Combustion and HPCR Rate of Injection used with a Constant Volume Combustion Vessel

    Eric Kalenauskas
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Jeffrey  Allen
    Thesis title: Calibration Methods of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler & Investigations of the Critical Wavenumber in Unstable Evaporating Thin Films

    Keong Aik Lau
    Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
    Advisor: Tony Neal Rogers
    Dissertation title: Theoretical and Experimental Studies of the Temperature Dependence of the Henry’s Law Constant of Organic Solutes in Water

    Shannon Lerner
    Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Co-advisors: Marilyn M Cooper and Jnan Ananda Blau
    Thesis title: Martin Buber and Luce Irigaray: Liminality and Historical Spiritual Moments

    Kathryn Marlor
    Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
    Advisor: Rodney A Chimner
    Thesis title: Determining the Role of Environmental Factors and Disturbance in the Distribution of Reed Canary Grass within Wetlands

    Benjamin Melitz
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Charles D Van Karsen
    Thesis title: Feasibility Assessment of Inverse Frequency Based Substructuring to Obtain Automotive Powertrain Mount Properties

    Jonathan Mellor
    Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
    Advisor: David W Watkins
    Thesis title: Water and Sanitation Accessibility and the Health of Rural Ugandans

    Bode Morin
    Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology
    Advisor: Terry S Reynolds
    Dissertation title: Reflection, Refraction, and Rejection: Copper Smelting Heritage and the Execution of Environmental Policy

    James Nugent
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Robert R Johnson
    Dissertation title: United States Certificate Programs in Technical Communication: A Feminist-Sophistic Investigation

    Paul Pawelzik
    Master of Science in Civil Engineering
    Advisor: Qiong  Zhang
    Thesis title: A Life Cycle Analysis Methodology: Incorporating Technological Advances Over Time A Study of the Environmental Impact of Cellulosic Ethanol with Technological Advances over Time

    Russell Stacy
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Jeffrey  Allen
    Thesis title: Contact Angle Measurement Technique for Rough Surfaces

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    New theses and dissertations in the Library

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the arrival of new theses and dissertations from our recent graduates in the J. R. Van Pelt Library and John and Ruanne Opie Library.  The names of our graduates, their degrees, advisors, and titles of their research are listed below.

    Manoranjan Acharya
    Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
    Advisor: Paul L Bergstrom
    Dissertation title: Development of Room Temperature Operating Single Electron Transistor using FIB Etching and Deposition Technology

    Susan H Balint
    Master of Science in Environmental Policy
    Advisor: Kathleen E Halvorsen
    Thesis title: Federal and State Policy Influence on Woody Biomass Utilization

    Genevieve M Borg
    Master of Science in Environmental Policy
    Advisor: Carol A MacLennan
    Thesis title: EPA’s Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling: A Case Study of Science Policy Implementation

    Carmelo Davila
    Master of Science in Industrial Archeology
    Advisor: Samuel R Sweitz
    Thesis title: A Space for Production and a Space for Communality: Socio-Historical Study of Central Aguirre and its Industrial Community, Salinas, Puerto Rico: 1949-1970

    Seth C DePasqual
    Master of Science in Industrial Archeology
    Advisor: Patrick E Martin
    Thesis title: Winning Coal at 78 Degrees North: Mining, Contingency and the Chaine Operatoire in Old Longyear City

    Robert S Donofrio
    Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
    Advisor: Susan T Bagley
    Dissertation title: Development and Validation of Selective and Differential Enumeration Methods for Brevundimonas diminuta

    Jason T Dreyer
    Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics
    Co-advisors: Sudhakar M Pandit and Mohan D Rao
    Dissertation title: Binaural Index for Speech Intelligibility via Bivariate Autoregressive Models

    Ingrid D Fedde
    Master of Science in Geology
    Co-advisors: Jose Luis Palma Lizana and William I Rose
    Thesis title: Application of Probabilistic Tools and Expert Elicitation for Hazard Assessment at Volcan de Colima, Mexico

    Travis J Hansen
    Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
    Advisor: Daniel A Crowl
    Thesis title: Estimation of the Flammability Zone Boundaries with Thermodynamic and Empirical Equations

    Daniel E Haskell
    Master of Science in Applied Ecology
    Advisor: David J Flaspohler
    Thesis title: `Restoration in Northern Wisconsin

    Stacie A Holmes
    Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Science
    Advisor: Christopher R Webster
    Dissertation title: The Influence of Concurrent Disturbances on Plant Community Dynamics in Northern Hemlock-Hardwood Forests

    Ashwini S Kashelikar
    Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
    Advisor: Veronica W Griffis
    Thesis title: Identification of Teleconnections and Improved Flood Risk Forecasts using Bulletin 17B

    Justin D Keske
    Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics
    Advisor: Jason R Blough
    Dissertation title: Investigation of a Semi-Active Muffler System with Implementation on a Snowmobile

    Paul J Koll
    Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
    Advisor: Martin F Jurgensen
    Thesis title: Effects of Conifer Sawdust, Hardwood Sawdust, and Peat on Soil Properties and Bareroot Conifer Seedling Development

    Andrew T Kozich
    Master of Science in Environmental Policy
    Advisor: Kathleen E Halvorsen
    Thesis title: Wetland Mitigation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Compliance with Site Monitoring and Invasive Plant Species Standards

    Kateryna Lapina
    Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering
    Co-advisors: Richard E Honrath and Judith A Perlinger
    Dissertation title: Boreal Forest Fire Impacts on Lower Troposphere CO and Ozone Levels at the Regional to Hemispheric Scales

    Joseph W Lechnyr
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Jeffrey Allen
    Thesis title: Imaging of Fuel Cell Diffusion Media Under Compressive Strain

    Angela K Lucas
    Master of Science in Biological Sciences
    Advisor: Jason R Carter
    Thesis title: Effects of Pediatric Adiposity on Heart Rate Variability

    Lawrence J Mailloux
    Master of Science in Chemistry
    Advisor: Dallas K Bates
    Thesis title: A 1,2,4-Triazole to Thiazole Transformation

    Meghan E McGee-Lawrence
    Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
    Advisor: Seth W Donahue
    Dissertation title: Skeletal Preservation by Hibernating Bears

    Diane M Miller
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Patricia J Sotirin
    Dissertation title: Speaking (of) Community: An Ethnographic Study of the Relationships Among Communication, Community, and Everyday Experience at an Organic Foods Cooperative

    Min Nie
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Desheng Meng
    Thesis title: Fabrication of Nanoparticles by Short-Distance Sputter Deposition

    Brian A Ott
    Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
    Advisor: Gerard T Caneba
    Dissertation title: Fluid Phase Equilibrium as Modeled by the Statistical Associated Fluid Theory (SAFT) Equation of State

    Robert C Owen
    Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering
    Advisor: Richard E Honrath
    Dissertation title: Long-range Pollution Transport: Trans-Atlantic Mechanisms and Lagrangian Modeling Methods

    Jeannie A Patrick
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Diane L Shoos
    Dissertation title: Not Your Mother’s Latinas: Film Representations for a New Millennium

    David M Pauken
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: John W Sutherland
    Thesis title: Statistical Modeling of the Ford Superduty Brake Pedal Feel Attribute

    Melissa J Porter
    Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
    Advisor: Andrew J Storer
    Thesis title: Detection and Landing Behavior of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, at Low Population Density

    Mark D Rowe
    Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
    Advisor: Judith A Perlinger
    Thesis title: Modeling Contaminant Behavior in Lake Superior: A Comparison of PCBs, PBDEs, and Mercury

    Ryan W Schweitzer
    Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
    Advisor: James R Mihelcic
    Thesis title: Community Managed Rural Water Supply Systems in the Dominican Republic: Assessment of Sustainability of Systems Built by the National Institute of Potable Water and Peace

    Xiaoning Shan
    Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
    Advisor: Jeffrey B Burl
    Dissertation title: Time-Varying System Identification in the Transform Domain

    Sarah E Stehn
    Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
    Advisor: Christopher R Webster
    Thesis title: Influence of Exogenous Disturbance on Bryophyte Community Assemblage and Tree Regeneration Dynamics in Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forests

    Xiang Sun
    Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering
    Advisor: Jiann-Yang Hwang
    Dissertation title: Charge Induced Enhancement of Adsorption for Hydrogen Storage Materials

    Iltesham Z Syed
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: Abhijit Mukherjee
    Thesis title: Experimental Study of Forced Convection Heat Transfer to Water Flowing through a Short Micro Duct at the Tip of a Cutting Tool at Turbulent Reynolds Number

    Jacob T Vermillion
    Master of Science in Civil Engineering
    Advisor: Lawrence L Sutter
    Thesis title: Absorption Correction for the Determination of the Water Content of Fresh Concrete Using the Microwave-Oven Drying Method

    Dennis K Walikainen
    Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
    Advisor: Robert R Johnson
    Dissertation title: What’s It Like There? Toward a Rhetoric of University Maps and Tours

    Cheryl L Williams
    Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
    Advisor: John W Sutherland
    Thesis title: Optimization of Conversion of North American Left Hand Drive Vehicles for Importation into Right Hand Markets

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    ESC/BRC Research Forum Awards Announced

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    Published in Tech Today

    The Ecosystem Science Center and the Biotechnology Research Center have announced award recipients of the Fifth Annual ESC/BRC Graduate Research Forum, held on Feb. 27.

    Two Grand Awards, six Merit Awards and three Honorable Mention Awards were presented.

    $500 Grand Prizes

    Ecosystem Science Center

    Elizabeth Boisvert (SFRES) for “Initiation and Development of Three Lake Superior Coastal Peatlands”; advisor: Assistant Professor Tom Pypker

    Biotechnology Research Center

    Eric Minner (Biomedical Engineering) for “Hydrogel System Delivers Glutathione and Interleukin-10 to Mitigate Secondary Injury following Spinal Cord Damage”; advisor: Assistant Professor Ryan Gilbert

    $100 Merit Prizes

    Ecosystem Science Center

    Lucas Spaete (SFRES) for “Aspen Biomass Assessment for MI, WI and MN: A GIS and Regression Approach for Quantifying Biomass”; advisor: Associate Professor Ann Maclean

    Sarah Stehn (SFRES) for “Altitudinal Gradients of Bryophyte Diversity and Community Assemblage in Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forests”; advisor: Associate Professor Christopher Webster

    Biotechnology Research Center

    Jared Cregg (Biomedical Engineering) for “The Role of Aligned Fiber Density in Axon Motility”; advisor: Assistant Professor Ryan Gilbert

    Jill Jensen (Chemical Engineering) for “Selection for Improved Hybrid Poplar Via Dilute Acid and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Using Mini-Reactors”; advisor: Professor David Shonnard

    Dalila Trupiano (SFRES) for “Activation Tagging of A Poplar AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Involved in Lateral Root Formation”; advisor: Associate Professor Victor Busov

    Han Bing Wang (Biomedical/Chemical Engineering) for “Axonal Guidance Conduits Containing Aligned, Electrospun Poly-L-Lactic Acid Fibers Direct In Vitro Neurite Outgrowth”; advisors: Assistant Professor Ryan Gilbert (Biomedical Engineering) and Professor Michael Mullins (Chemical Engineering)

    Honorable Mentions, Ecosystem Science Center

    Chris Miller (SFRES) for “The Economic Feasibility of Aspen as a Coal Co-Firing Component”; advisor: Assistant Professor Robert Froese

    Matthew Metz (SFRES) for “Summer Predation Patterns of Yellowstone Gray Wolves”; advisor: Assistant Professor John Vucetich

    Max Henschell (SFRES) for “Do the Birds Care? Avian Community Response to Floristic Quality”; advisor: Associate Professor David Flaspohler

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