Tag: Finishing Fellowship

Finishing Fellowship – Ashley Hawke – Summer 2025

Summer 2025 Finishing Fellowship Award Winner Ashley Hawke
Ashley Hawke, PhD in Integrative Physiology, 2025

My journey at Michigan Tech first began in 2012, when I came to Tech for my undergraduate degrees. In 2016, I graduated with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a B.S. in Exercise Science. During my time as an undergraduate, I was heavily involved in human subject research and quickly found a passion in being directly involved throughout the entire research process—from developing a protocol, to recruiting and meeting with subjects, to collecting various measurements, to analyzing results and disseminating the findings. Following my undergrad, I continued on to complete a thesis and obtain my M.S. in Exercise Science, with a focus on human biomechanics.

In Fall of 2021, I returned to the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology and began my PhD while also working full-time as a biomedical engineer conducting occupational biomechanics research. My work and dissertation focuses on reducing musculoskeletal disorders (i.e., back injuries) among healthcare workers who have to manually transfer and move patients without the use of assistive equipment. Specifically, I am investigating the biomechanical, physiological, and subjective responses to various patient handling interventions, how those responses relate to musculoskeletal disorder development, and how healthcare worker acceptability of patient handling interventions and emerging technologies can impact implementation of new equipment. By identifying effective interventions and barriers to implementing these devices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities can use these results to help reduce worker injuries, potentially reduce employee turnover, and improve patient care and safety.

I would like to sincerely thank the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for selecting me for the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship, which will allow me to focus on finishing up my research. I would also like to thank my advisors, Dr. Steven Elmer and Dr. Kelly Kamm, for their continued encouragement, guidance, and mentorship throughout my degree, as well at the KIP Department for their support throughout my degree. My dissertation is just the beginning of my journey in making an impact in healthcare and I hope to continue doing so throughout my professional career.

Summer 2025 Finishing Fellowship Winners

The Graduate School is thrilled to announce the winners of the Summer 2025 Finishing Fellowship! This prestigious award recognizes the hard work and dedication of doctoral students in the final stages of their research. By providing financial support and valuable mentorship, the Finishing Fellowship empowers these exceptional scholars to complete their dissertations and make significant contributions to their fields of study. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see the impact of their research.

The following students have been selected to receive the 2025 Summer Fellowship:

  • Gustavo Bejar-Lopez
  • Md Mutasim Billah
  • Palas Borkar
  • Abid Danish
  • Shiwei Ding
  • Grace Dykstra
  • Ashley Hawke
  • Seth Kriz
  • Kenny Larsen
  • Dilka Liyana Arachchige
  • Aman Poovalappil
  • Raj Santhosh
  • Megh Raj Subedi
  • Kan Wang
  • Yuguang Wang

Learn more about the students listed above on our blog under Summer 2025 Finishing Fellowships.

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.

Congratulations to all the Summer 2025 Finishing Fellowship winners! We are excited to see what you accomplish in the coming months and years.

Find out more about the Finishing Fellowship and other awards available for graduate students at Michigan Technological University. You can also find additional funding information on our financial information webpage.

Spring 2025 Finishing Fellowship Winners

The Graduate School is thrilled to announce the winners of the Spring 2025 Finishing Fellowship! This prestigious award recognizes the hard work and dedication of doctoral students in the final stages of their research. By providing financial support and valuable mentorship, the Finishing Fellowship empowers these exceptional scholars to complete their dissertations and make significant contributions to their fields of study. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see the impact of their research.

The following students have been selected to receive the 2025 Spring Fellowship:

  • Oluwatosin Ayo
  • Kendall Belopavlovich
  • Xinqian Chen
  • Alex Czarniecki
  • Yifu Deng
  • Steven Ding
  • Larissa Juip
  • Kazeem Kareem
  • Akash Kumar
  • Jessica LaReaux
  • Seth Nelson
  • Elizabeth Novotny
  • Kyle Parker-Mcglynn
  • Eileen Reeves
  • Abel Reyes Angulo
  • Ryne Rutherford
  • Rhiannon Turner
  • Brennan Vogl
  • Yogita Warkhade
  • Karlee Westrem
  • Junyao Yang
  • Meiling Zhou

Learn more about the students listed above on our blog under Spring 2025 Finishing Fellowships.

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.

Congratulations to all the Spring 2025 Finishing Fellowship winners! We are excited to see what you accomplish in the coming months and years.

Find out more about the Finishing Fellowship and other awards available for graduate students at Michigan Technological University. You can also find additional funding information on our financial information webpage.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Brennan Vogl

Brennan Vogl, PhD in Biomedical Engineering

My journey at Michigan Technological University (MTU) began in 2015 when I attended the Summer Youth Programs Engineering Scholars Program. This transformative experience introduced me to the many engineering disciplines available at MTU and started my fascination with Biomedical Engineering. I vividly recall how excited I was to learn about the many ways biomedical engineers can make a meaningful impact in the world.

In 2016, I officially joined MTU as an undergraduate student in the Biomedical Engineering department. During my first year, I became a research assistant in Dr. Smitha Rao-Hatti’s lab, a role I held until my graduation in 2020. This early start in research motivated my passion for discovery and inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. in 2021 in the lab of Dr. Hoda Hatoum.

My doctoral research focuses on in vitro and in silico assessments of cardiovascular fluid dynamics, with the goal of understanding how cardiovascular diseases start and progress, and how effective some therapies are from a flow dynamics perspective. My work has primarily examined the performance of bioprosthetic aortic valves under various blood pressure states and the effects of atrial fibrillation and its treatments on left atrial flow dynamics. These experiences, especially leveraging a continuous interaction with collaborating cardiologists from all over the world, have solidified my commitment to advancing cardiovascular health through innovative engineering solutions.

I sincerely thank the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. I am also deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Hoda Hatoum, for her guidance and support, which helped me grow as a researcher. I would also like to thank my lab members, collaborators, and the faculty and staff of the Biomedical Engineering Department for their continued support during my Ph.D. With this fellowship, I look forward to advancing my work and making a positive impact in the healthcare field.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Elizabeth Novotny

Elizabeth Novotny, PhD in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture

I began my PhD in Fall 2020 in the Department of Humanities interdisciplinary Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture program. Through my position as a Graduate Teaching Instructor, I quickly discovered my passion for teaching. At Michigan Tech, I have taught First-Year Composition and other writing courses, such as Advanced Composition and Technical and Professional Communication. I have also served as Assistant Director of our Composition Program.

These experiences led me to specialize in writing studies and my research focuses on the needs of student writers. My dissertation is a classroom research project that investigates how students conceptualize their agency as writers and how this impacts their writing practice. I designed lessons that introduced students to ways of thinking about agency and collected student work throughout a semester, which I analyze through holistic and longitudinal coding to determine the changes in student conceptions of their agency and the effect this has on their writing.

I am very grateful to receive this Doctoral Finishing Fellowship and extend my thanks to the Graduate School and the donors who make this fellowship possible. The time to focus on my research will be invaluable. I also want to thank my advisor, Oren Abeles, and committee members Holly Hassel and Jennifer Nish for consistently going above and beyond to support me and my work.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Steven Ding

Steven Ding, PhD in Computer Science

I began my Ph.D. journey at Michigan Technological University in Fall 2018, joining the Department of Computer Science under the guidance of Dr. Scott Kuhl. Over the years, my research has spanned diverse fields, including computer graphics, human perception, and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). My dissertation, in particular, focuses on developing innovative interaction techniques for AR systems.

In this work, previously supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), I explore the use of acoustic sensors to transform everyday surfaces into intuitive interactive interfaces. By detecting and localizing taps on surfaces through advanced signal processing and algorithms, my system offers a natural, portable, and seamless way to interact with AR technologies. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional input methods in immersive environments, integrating AR more effectively into daily life and making it more accessible.

I am deeply grateful to Michigan Tech’s Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me the Finishing Fellowship, which enables me to focus on completing my research. I extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Scott Kuhl and Dr. Keith Vertanen for their invaluable mentorship, which has been pivotal in navigating the challenges of interdisciplinary research.

Looking ahead, I am excited to share my findings with the academic and professional community, contributing to advancements in AR technology and enhancing how humans connect with the digital world.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Akash Kumar

My Ph.D. journey at Michigan Technological University began in Fall 2021 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, where I have focused on developing complex constitutive and phase-field failure models to gain a deeper understanding of fracture behaviors and improve material performance under diverse loading conditions. My research also explores the development of multiscale and Multiphysics models, contributing to the design of resilient materials for critical structural and industrial applications. Working at the intersection of advanced material modeling and computational mechanics has been both intellectually inspiring and transformative, shaping my approach to tackling some of the most challenging problems in engineering.
The primary objective of my research is to develop computationally efficient models that accurately capture complex fracture phenomena in fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs). By incorporating advanced constitutive modeling and phase-field fracture techniques, I investigate crack interactions in FRPCs under the influence of various environmental and loading conditions. My work aims to improve the predictive capabilities of models used in the design and optimization of high-performance materials.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for awarding me the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. This recognition is both an honor and a motivation as I approach the final stages of my Ph.D. I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Trisha Sain, whose guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support have been crucial throughout my doctoral journey. Her mentorship has been instrumental in shaping me into an independent researcher and has helped me navigate the complexities of my work. I also want to acknowledge the department of Mechanical Engineering for its support during my PhD studies.
As I enter the final phase of my PhD, I look forward to completing my research and advancing my career in the field of computational mechanics and material science, where I hope to make meaningful contributions to solving critical challenges.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Eileen Reeves

Eileen Reeves, PhD in Forest Science

I began my work at Michigan Tech in 2020 as a PhD student in Dr. Andy Burton’s lab. I joined his lab to work on the FACE Wood Decomposition Experiment, a long-term ecological research project studying the movement of carbon from decomposing wood into soil and the atmosphere. I came from a background in entomology and community ecology, and was so excited to broaden my experiences working on biogeochemistry. From the first time I met Dr. Burton and visited Houghton, I knew this was where I wanted to get my advanced degree.

In my time here at Michigan Tech, I have had the opportunity to travel the country, work with collaborators from multiple universities as well as the US Forest Service, learn cutting edge molecular genetics techniques, present my research at national conferences, and make some amazing friends. I’ve learned how to cross-country ski, how to teach ecology to classes of undergraduates, and how to analyze complex community data. I know all these experiences and more that I’ve had here will serve me well in my future career.

I am profoundly grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for this finishing fellowship, which will allow me to focus completely on my analysis and writing in the spring semester. I would also like to thank Dr. Burton, Dr. Külheim, Dr. Marcarelli, and Dr. Hersch-Green for all their support as my committee throughout my time here at Michigan Tech, and to thank the students in the forest genetics lab for all their help. Science is always a collaborative effort, and I am so grateful to have such dedicated and passionate collaborators.

Finishing Fellowship- Spring 2025- Jessica LaReaux

Jessica LaReaux, PhD in Civil Engineering

As a PhD candidate in civil engineering, my research focuses on water resources engineering, with an emphasis on urban green space and rainfall flood risk equity. My work addresses critical challenges in the Great Lakes region, including the impacts of urban flooding and the role of green infrastructure in promoting urban sustainability and resilience. To assess urban green space and rainfall flood risk, I used high-resolution topography and land cover data, geospatial analysis methods, and socioeconomic datasets to develop comprehensive urban green space and flood risk equity maps. By identifying spatial patterns of flood vulnerability and green space distribution, my research highlights areas where targeted interventions can have the most significant impact. This approach aims to reduce inequalities, build community resilience, and enhance urban health and well-being—especially as extreme weather events become more frequent. These projects deepened my understanding of geospatial and hydrological systems while fostering an awareness of how environmental challenges intersect with social equity.

Finishing Fellowship – Spring 2025- Ryne Rutherford

Ryne Rutherford, PhD in Forest Science, 2025

I have been a passionate naturalist, ecologist, and all-around biodiversity aficionado since age 5. Through my ecological consulting firm, Biophilia LLC, I am changing how we manage ecosystems by focusing on often neglected species that are our best ecosystem indicators. I have peer-reviewed publications in herpetology, lichenology, botany, ornithology, and entomology and am currently finishing my Ph.D. at Michigan Technological University, where I am researching a rare habitat called Granite Bedrock Glades. It’s a unique habitat with a warm microclimate and contains several unique species that occur far north of their usual range, including a lizard and two species of cacti! I am grateful for the amazing opportunity I had to conduct the field work for my dissertation in the spectacular Huron Mountains. Many thanks to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for granting me this award and to my advisor Dr. David Flaspohler for his support.