Graduate School Newsblog

Tag: Biological Sciences

DOD SMART Visit Canceled

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Due to a family emergency, Dr. Knox Millsaps needed to cancel his visit to Michigan Tech next week.  He apologizes for any inconvenience and encourages anyone interested in the DOD SMART program to contact him directly (millsaps@nps.edu) with any questions or concerns. 

On Tuesday, October 19th there will still be a general presentation about the SMART scholarship by Jodi Lehman, which faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.  The luncheon for Wednesday, October 20th has been canceled.  The presentation will be from 12:00-1:00 in the Memorial Union Ballroom B1. 

Jodi is also available to work with students to identify a national lab that fits with SMART applicants’ field of interest and to mentor students in developing a competitive proposal.  She is also available to present and answers questions about the SMART program to classes, departments, and student organizations.   

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your interest and support in helping Michigan Tech students understand more about the DOD SMART program.  We also thank those individuals and departments who went above and beyond to provide Dr. Millsaps with a campus visit that highlights Michigan Tech’s unique attributes related to DOD SMART fields. 

The DOD SMART visit will be rescheduled for spring.  Please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) with any questions. 

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Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grassroots Development Fellowship Program

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IAF Fellowships are available to currently registered students who have advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. in the social sciences, physical sciences, technical fields and the professions as related to grassroots development issues. Applications for clinical research in the health field will NOT be considered.

Awards are based on both development and scholarly criteria. Proposals should offer a practical orientation to field-based information. In exceptional cases the IAF will support research reflecting a primary interest in macro questions of politics and economics but only as they relate to the environment of the poor. The Fellowship Program complements IAF’s support for grassroots development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and preference for those applicants whose careers or research projects are related to topics of greatest interest to the IAF.

IAF’s Fellowships provide support for Ph.D. candidates to conduct dissertation research in Latin America and the Caribbean on topics related to grassroots development. Funding is for between four and 12 months. The Inter-American Foundation expects to award up to 15 Doctoral Field Research Fellowships in 2011. Research during the 2011-2012 cycle must be initiated between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012.

  • Round-trip economy-class transportation to the field research site from the Fellow’s primary residence. Fellows must comply with the Fly America Act.
  • A research allowance of up to $3,000, pro-rated monthly.
  • A stipend of $1,500 per month for up to 12 months.
  • Accident and sickness insurance
  • Attendance at a required “mid-year” Grassroots Development Conference to discuss each Fellow’s progress with members of the IAF’s academic review committee and meet with IAF and IIE staff.

For more information please visit:

http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/IAF-Grassroots-Development-Fellowship-Program

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ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

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ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

The goal of the fellowship is to increase the number of underrepresented groups completing doctoral degrees in the microbiological sciences. The ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship is aimed at highly competitive graduate students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. program and who have completed their graduate course work in the microbiological sciences. The fellowship encourages students to continue and complete their research project in the microbiological sciences.

Students will be:

  • Required to submit an abstract each year to ASM for presentation at the annual ASM General Meeting
  • Required to attend the ASM Kadner Institute or the ASM Scientific Writing and Publishing Institute one time during the three-year tenure of the fellowship

Eligibility

Eligible candidates must be from groups that have been determined by the applicant’s institution to be underrepresented in the microbiological sciences. The ASM encourages institutions to identify individuals that have been historically underrepresented, and remain underrepresented today in the microbiological sciences nationally. These groups include African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders.

In addition, applicants must:

  • Be formally admitted to a doctoral program in the microbiological sciences in an accredited U.S. institution
  • Have successfully completed the first year of the graduate program (first year graduate students cannot apply)
  • Have successfully completed all graduate coursework requirements for the doctoral degree by the date of activation of the fellowship
  • Be a student member of ASM
  • Be mentored by an ASM member
  • Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident
  • Not have funding OR have funding that will expire by the start date of the fellowship
    This fellowship cannot run concurrently with other national fellowships from NIH, NSF, HHMI, etc.

Funding

The program provides a total stipend of $63,000 ($21,000 a year) for a three year period (September 2011-June 2014). Students will receive six stipend payments. Funds cannot be used for tuition and fees.

Supporting documents

  • Three letters of recommendations must be submitted with your application. One letter must be from your research advisor/mentor. You may choose to submit references online or via mail.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please submit by via online application your undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Criteria for Selection

Applicants will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

  • Academic achievement
  • Evidence of a successful research plan developed in collaboration with research advisor/mentor
  • Relevant career goals in the microbiological sciences
  • Involvement in activities that serve the needs of underrepresented groups.

Application Process

Applicants must apply electronically. There is no paper application. Applicants must complete all sections of the application and then share their PIN and PASSWORD with their faculty mentor. The PIN and PASSWORD are necessary for the faculty mentor to complete his/her section of the application. Faculty mentors must save their information and notify the applicant when finished. Once both parties have completed their respective sections, the applicant should submit the application to ASM. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit on time.

NOTE: Changes cannot be made once the application is submitted.

Deadline

May 1st

For more information visit:

http://www.asm.org/asm/index.php/education/asm-robert-d-watkins-graduate-research-fellowship.html

Application

The online application is currently available. To retrieve the online application, click on the “Apply Online” link above.

Contact Jodi Lehman if interested in applying.
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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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    Summer 2010 Finishing Fellowships Awarded

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    The Graduate School is proud to announce the following students are recipients of a one-time Summer 2010 Finishing Fellowship:

    • Atakan Altinkaynak, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
    • Rachel M Bradford, Biomedical Engineering
    • Archana Pandey, Engineering Physics
    • Edwar Romero-Ramirez, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
    • Eric M Winder, Biological Sciences

    The fellowships are made possible by the Graduate School.

    Application procedures for the Graduate School fellowship programs and photographs of recent recipients can be found online.  Nominations are currently open for Finishing Fellowships for fall semester.  Nominations are due no later than 4pm on July 29, 2010.

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    New theses and dissertations

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the following thesis and dissertations are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library:

    Nicholas Krom
    Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
    Advisor: Ramakrishna Wusirika
    Dissertation title: An Arrangement of Gene Pairs, Retrotransposon Insertions, and Regulation of Gene Expression in Plants

    Russell Lutch
    Master of Science in Civil Engineering
    Advisor: Devin K Harris
    Thesis title: Capacity Optimization of a Prestressed Concrete Railroad Tie

    Jason Sommerville
    Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
    Advisor: Lyon Bradley King
    Dissertation title: Hall-Effect Thruster-Cathode Coupling: The Effect of Cathode Position and Magnetic Field Topology

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    Spring Travel Grants from Biotechnology Research Center

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    The BRC announces the recipients of its 2010 Spring Travel Grants:

    • Adam Abraham, (graduate student in ME-EM) will receive $500 toward a podium presentation at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers–Summer Bioengineering Conference, to be held in June in Naples, Fla.
    • Rachel Bradford (graduate student in Biomedical Engineering) will receive $500 toward a poster presentation at the 31st American Society for Bone and Mineral Research held in September in Denver, Colo.
    • Shurong Fang (graduate student in Mathematical Sciences) will receive $500 toward a podium presentation at the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings to be held in August in Vancouver, British Columbia.
    • Kasra Momeni (graduate student in ME-EM) received $500 toward a poster presentation at the 2010 MRD Spring Meeting Symposium held in April in San Francisco, Calif.
    • Duane Morrow (graduate student in ME-EM) will receive $500 toward a podium presentation at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers–Summer Bioengineering Conference to be held in June in Naples, Fla.
    • Saikat Mukhopadhyay (graduate student in Physics) received $500 toward a podium presentation at the American Physical Society 2010 Meeting held in March in Portland, Ore.
    • Christopher Schwartz (graduate student in Biological Sciences) received $500 toward a poster presentation at the Experimental Biology 2010 Conference held in April in Anaheim, Calif.
    • Sarah Stream (graduate student in Biological Sciences) received $500 toward a poster presentation at the Experimental Biology 2010 Conference held in April in Anaheim, Cali.
    • Echoe Bouta (undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering) will receive $500 toward a poster presentation at the Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease Conference to be held in June in Lucca, Italy.
    • Connor McCarthy (undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering) will receive $500 toward a poster presentation at the Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease Conference to be held in June in Lucca, Italy.
    • John Moyer (undergraduate in ME-EM) will receive $500 toward a poster presentation at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers–Summer Bioengineering Conference to be held in June in Naples, Fla.
    • Eli Vlaisavljevich (undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering) received $500 toward a poster presentation at the Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting held in March in New Orleans, La.
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    PCA Inducts New Members and Honor Students

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    On Friday, April 16, nine alumnae were inducted into the Presidential Council of Alumnae (PCA). In addition to the nine new inductees, 30 PCA members were also on campus for their annual business meeting April 14-16.

    The PCA advises the President on campus climate issues, provides suggestions for enhancing the University’s environment for students, and assists the President by identifying programs and activities that will benefit Michigan Tech. PCA works with the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Advancement area and the academic departments to help implement their ideas and support the University’s strategic plan.

    The inductees are as follows:

    • Nancy A. Auer (Arnold), Biological Sciences, ’95 (PhD Alumna Graduate)
    • Ellen M. Bauman (Barrett), Electrical Engineering, ’90 and ’93 (MS Alumna Graduate)
    • Elzbieta G. Berak, Civil Engineering, ’81, Engineering Mechanics, ’85 (PhD Alumna Graduate)
    • Michelle-Anne Christensen (Irmen), Geological Engineering, ’84, Civil Engineering, ’86
    • Kathleen Haselmaier (Calder), Computer Science, ’84
    • Wendy L. Kram (Davidson), Mechanical Engineering, ’91
    • Catherine A. Leslie (Kuchta), Civil Engineering, ’83
    • Barbara K. Lograsso (Kiiskila), Metallurgical Engineering, ’80 and ’82, Metallurgical and Materials Science, ’91 (MS, PhD Alumna Graduate)
    • Erin A. Zimmer (Atwell), Chemistry, ’98

    Another component of the PCA program includes the annual Women of Promise awards. This award recognizes current female students from each academic department who go above and beyond what is expected of them in terms of being a well-rounded student. The award goes to students who have demonstrated academic achievement, campus and community leadership, good citizenship, creativity and other characteristics of high-achieving individuals.

    The honorees are as follows:

    • Anne E. Aho, Social Sciences
    • Ashley N. Benjamin, School of Technology
    • Kaitlyn J. Bunker, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Danae N. Danen, Mathematical Sciences
    • Heather L. Dickey, Computer Science
    • Andrea Dixon, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
    • Roxane Gay, Humanities (PhD Alumna Candidate)
    • Krista M. Kasuboski, Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education
    • Chelsea R. Leighton, Visual and Performing Arts
    • Britta C. Lundberg, Material Science and Engineering
    • Amanda L. Malburg, Civil Engineering
    • Jaclyn E. Nesbitt, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (MS Alumna Graduate,  PhD Candidate)
    • Annie L. Putman, Chemistry
    • Leslie M. Sabbann, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (undergraduate)
    • Erin M. Scanlon, Physics
    • Alison J. Springer-Wilson, Chemical Engineering
    • Danielle M. Stoll, Biomedical Engineering
    • Anna A. Uhl, Biological Sciences
    • Donieka R. Walker, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
    • Katherine R. Waring, Environmental Engineering
    • Jill C. Witt, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (PhD Alumna Candidate)
    • Katie L. Wysocky, School of Business and Economics

    Published in Tech Today

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    Michigan Space Grant Consortium Funds 27 Projects at Michigan Tech

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    The Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC), sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has awarded approximately $375,000 to nine Michigan universities with aerospace, engineering and space- science-related programs. Michigan Tech submitted 40 proposals, and 27 received funding totaling $105,000.

    Of that, $20,000 supports undergraduate fellowships, $30,000 is for graduate research fellowships, $30,000 provides seed grants for faculty, and $25,000 is designated for outreach, including K-12 and teacher training programs.

    Undergraduate students receiving $2,500 research fellowships include Andrew Ramsey (ME-EM), Phil Hohnstadt (ME-EM), Peter Solfest (Physics), Stephen Schweitzer (Biomedical Engineering), John Visser (ME-EM), Samantha Wojda (Biomedical Engineering), Patrick Bowen (MSE), William Grant (Chemical Engineering) and Ben Gerhardt (ME-EM).

    Graduate students receiving $5,000 fellowships include Christopher Schwartz (Biological Sciences), Elisabet Head (Geology), Jarod Maggio (Environmental Engineering), Adam Abraham (ME-EM), Matthew Barron (Biomedical Engineering), Megan Killian (Biomedical Engineering) and Amalia Anderson (Physics).

    Faculty members receiving $5,000 seed grants included Shiyan Hu, Jason Carter, Audrey Mayer, Qingli Dai, Ashok Goel and Claudio Mazzoleni. Faculty and staff members receiving $5,000 for outreach, precollege and teacher training programs include Douglas Oppliger, Shawn Oppliger, Joan Chadde and Kristi Isaacson.

    One student receiving an undergraduate fellowship is Samantha Wojda. She plans to use her grant to study how hibernation affects the bones of marmots. Disuse osteoporosis is a common problem faced by astronauts in microgravity. Hibernating mammals are also at high risk for the condition, and many have developed adaptive ways of dealing with it. Wojda plans to study hibernating marmots to see how they are affected by or protected from disuse osteoporosis. What she learns may help researchers find ways to prevent human astronauts and others who are immobilized for long periods of time from developing the debilitating condition.

    NASA implemented the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program in 1989 to provide funding for research, education and public outreach in space-related science and technology. The program has 52 university-based consortia in the United States and Puerto Rico. As part of the Michigan Consortium, Michigan Tech has been an active participant in MSGC for over fifteen years.

    “The MSGC offers faculty, staff and especially students opportunities to develop ideas and submit competitive proposals,” said Chris Anderson, special assistant to the President for institutional diversity and the University’s MSGC liaison. “For undergraduates, the process of developing a proposal and then doing the research allows them to apply what they’re learning in the classroom, get hands-on experience and work closely with faculty.” She added, “The Consortium allows us to do more of this, as well provide graduate fellowships, seed grants and program support.”

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