Graduate School Newsblog

Tag: Finishing Fellowship

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Eli Harma

Published
By
Harma, Eli A.
Eli Harma, PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, 2026

I have been a student at Michigan Tech since 2018, when I started my undergraduate degree. I quickly became involved with research at MTU, joining the Advanced Metal Works Enterprise (AME), where we worked on different materials engineering projects. Some of my favorite research projects include alloy development work for metal 3D printing and materials modeling work for FEA simulations.

Given my interest in materials research, I contacted my now advisor, Dr.Paul Sanders, about doing a master’s project. He found me a project with Relativity Space focused on developing aluminum alloy wire for metal 3d printing applications. After my master’s, I wanted to continue on to a PhD. Given my experience with materials modeling and aluminum alloy design, I began work on developing new aluminum alloys for the extrusion industry. The goals of our current research is to develop a high-strength, highly formable alloy that can be used for automotive applications. What I enjoy most about my research is the physical experiments and connecting physical testing with simulation work. I included an image of me performing one of our billet castings in the foundry. This billet is formed into sheets to perform various experiments.

Besides my research, I continue to be involved with the AME enterprise and aid the materials science and engineering senior design teams. My involvement is generally as a subject matter expert who assists with advanced materials characterization techniques. I enjoy being involved with the students’ projects and helping them complete their research.

I would like to thank all the staff and faculty of the materials science and engineering department. Their involvement with research and knowledge makes completing our research projects an enjoyable learning experience. Finally, I would like to thank the graduate school and the graduate dean’s awards advisory panel for considering me for the finishing fellowship.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Hamed Fahandezh Sadi

Published
By
Fahandezh Sadi, Hamed
Hamed Fahandezh Sadi, PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, 2026

I am honored to receive the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship at Michigan Technological University. I’m grateful to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for this support, and especially to my advisor, Prof. Raymond Shaw, whose unwavering guidance and support throughout my PhD have been invaluable in shaping both my research and my growth as a scientist. Before joining MTU, I completed an M.S. at the University of Tehran, Iran. At MTU, I have pursued Ph.D. research in atmospheric physics examining how tiny airborne particles tip the balance between haze and cloud.

First, we showed that not only “too many particles” but also “too large particles” can prevent cloud formation and leave the system in haze. In controlled chamber experiments, we held conditions fixed and varied particle size: larger salt particles drew water rapidly yet required extra time to become true droplets, draining the limited water supply and slowing activation. We derived a simple scaling showing that activation time rises sharply with particle size.

Second, we introduced a practical method to diagnose the haze–cloud state without direct supersaturation measurements by tracking how haze-droplet and cloud-droplet counts co-vary. In both chamber experiments and large-eddy simulations, this relationship flips sign across three regimes—near zero in clean conditions, positive in moderate conditions, and negative in polluted conditions—providing an easy way to tag regimes in real fogs and low clouds and to guide interventions (e.g., fog dispersal or seeding) toward situations where they are more likely to work.

I also thank my committee members, the Cloud Chamber group, and the faculty and staff of the Department of Physics for their support throughout my Ph.D. journey.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Jacob Jackson

Published
By
Jackson, Jacob
Jacob Jackson, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, 2026

I’m grateful and honored to be awarded a Doctoral Finishing Fellowship. I would like to thank the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel and the Graduate School for their recognition and support as I approach the end of my PhD studies. Their support will let me dedicate my time to completing my dissertation.

I joined Dr. Yu’s Neural Engineering lab as an undergraduate research assistant in 2021 and quickly became fascinated by the brain and developing treatments for neurological conditions. Knowing that our research could improve people’s lives gave me great purpose and drove me to continue onto my PhD.
My research focuses on optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to improve the quality of life of individuals undergoing this treatment. Specifically, I look at optogenetics and adaptive DBS (aDBS). Current clinically used DBS treatment involves delivering high-frequency electrical pulses to target structures in the brain. While effective at treating PD symptoms, adverse effects and limited battery life can limit the quality of life of those implanted. Optogenetics aims to improve on the spatial specificity of DBS by using genetic modification to allow for cells to activate using light. Electrical stimulation is non-specific and can spread to nearby structures whereas using optogenetics, only the specific brain structure is stimulated. aDBS improves the temporal specificity of DBS by using biomarkers found in the neural activity of the brain to deliver stimulation only when the brain needs it. This avoids unnecessary activation to reduce adverse effects and improve battery life of the implanted device. Combining these two powerful optimization strategies creates a more efficient and targeted treatment for PD.

I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Traci Yu for her mentorship throughout this long journey. Her support and guidance helped foster my passion for neural engineering research. I am also grateful for the support of the Biomedical Engineering department and the Michigan Tech community throughout this stage of my journey. As I look forwards to the next chapter, I am thankful for everything I’ve learned and experienced during my time at Michigan Tech.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Caitlyn Sutherlin

Published
By
Sutherlin, Caitlyn E.
Caitlyn Sutherlin, PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy, 2026

I started at Michigan Tech in 2022, and I have grown to love the Keweenaw! It has become my home away from home, and I even love the snow. Since I started, I have had the opportunity to teach on campus, work at the Writing Center, teach on Tech Study Away programs in Costa Rica and Wales, attend COP28 in Dubai, and conduct research in El Salvador over 3 separate visits!

My research looks at the incorporation of local traditional knowledge (LTK), which includes Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous knowledge, into adaptation strategies. In my first year, I conducted a photovoice project to identify community connections to Nature in the small town of California in rural El Salvador. My results showed that the way participants connected to their environment impacted their perception of vulnerability to climate change. I also research organizational factors that might affect the incorporation of LTK and local contextual perceptions of vulnerability into adaptation strategies by a non-governmental organization working in the region.

My favorite parts of my research and PhD experience have been the multiple opportunities abroad that I have gotten to pursue! Central America has a really special place in my heart, and so any and all time that I have gotten to spend there are some of my favorite memories!

I want to thank the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for granting me this Finishing Fellowship! I also want to thank my advisers and committee members, Dr. Angie Carter, Dr. Kari Henquinet, Dr. Luke Bowman, and Dr. Pam Martin for their support in my research and helping me secure grants to pursue my research. I also want to thank my colleagues at the Writing Center, my friends, my partner, and my dog, Ducky!

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – Md Khairul Islam

Published
By
Islam, Md Khairul
Md Khairul Islam, PhD in Computational Science and Engineering, 2026

I am deeply honored to receive the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship and extend my sincere gratitude to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for this recognition. This award offers essential support at this pivotal stage of my Ph.D. journey and affirms the value of my research contributions.

As a Ph.D. candidate in Computational Science and Engineering at Michigan Technological University, my work focuses on advancing bioinformatics, particularly in plant genomics, complex disease associations, and systems biology. I have actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations through DOE, NSF, and CDC funded projects, where I developed novel computational frameworks such as PredTORpath, DyGAF, and TGPred. These algorithms combine statistics, machine learning, and biological data analysis to reveal gene regulatory mechanisms across plant and human systems, and are publicly available to support the scientific community.

In addition to research, I have contributed to peer-reviewed publications, mentored graduate helper, and participated in cross-disciplinary initiatives—all of which have shaped my long-term commitment to innovation in computational biology.

I am especially grateful to my advisor, Dr. Hairong Wei, for his unwavering mentorship and guidance, and to my colleagues in both the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science—where my research is based—and the College of Computing, which hosts my Ph.D. program in Computational Science and Engineering, for their continued support.

This fellowship enables me to focus on completing my dissertation and further pursue impactful research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, genomics, and precision medicine. I am sincerely thankful for this opportunity and remain committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and human health through computational innovation.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Spring 2026 – YI ZHI CHU

Published
By
Chu, Yi Zhi
Yi Zhi Chu, PhD in Physics, 2026

Which novel materials can be considered for next-generation energy storage applications? Can we design new materials with comparable or even superior mechanical properties by simply substituting their constituent chemical elements? These are some of the questions that have motivated my pursuit of research in computational materials physics.

My journey as a Ph.D. candidate began when I joined the Department of Physics at Michigan Technological University in Fall 2021 with Professor Ravindra Pandey as my advisor. My research focuses on theoretical and computational modeling of materials using Density Functional Theory (DFT), an efficient and powerful approach that allows us to predict materials’ properties from first-principles atomistic simulations.

Working with my co-advisor, Professor Kah Chun Lau, I study the potential hydrogen storage applications of a novel material on a Department of Energy (DOE) funded collaborative project. In addition, during my time at Tech, I have also had the privilege of contributing to the modeling of photocathode materials at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Through these projects, I have been able to explore and address questions that contribute to advancing next-generation energy applications.

I am deeply grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for recommending and awarding this fellowship, which supports the final stage of my Ph.D. journey at Tech. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to my advisors for their unwavering support and guidance.

Continue Reading →

Summer 2026 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

Published
By

Applications for Summer 2026 finishing fellowships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. on February 24, 2026 to the Graduate School. Please email applications to gradschool@mtu.edu.

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 candidacy (tuition charged at Research Mode rate) at the time of application.
  5. Must not hold a final oral examination (“defense”) prior to the start of the award semester.

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. 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.

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Fall 2025 – Victor Humanes Fuente

Published
By
Victor Humanes Fuente, PhD in Forest Science, 2025

“My unexpected doctoral journey at Michigan Technological University began in June 2022, when I transferred from New York to continue my research under the guidance of Dr. Steve Voelker. This transition was driven by my commitment to an ambitious project I began a year earlier, focused on reconstructing climate variability in the Lake Superior region and understanding large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns across North America.

Over the past four years, my research has taken me to numerous lakes and creeks throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where, with the support of Dr. Voelker and a dedicated team of undergraduate and graduate students, we have collected thousands of submerged white pine samples preserved underwater for centuries.

Following previous evidence suggesting that white pines growing in specific locations across this region could be highly sensitive to climate, our project aims to determine whether carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in annual growth rings of white pine trees can be used to reliably reconstruct both winter climate conditions along the southern shores of Lake Superior and atmospheric circulation patterns across North America over the past 500 years.

The data we have collected have also enabled us to investigate the effect of Lake Superior on local and regional climate, and how this translates into tree stable isotope variability both spatially and among species. Beyond reconstructing climate, our data have enabled analyses of white pine long-term population dynamics, shedding light on the drivers of white pine fluctuations over centuries.

This research has been made possible through Dr. Steve Voelker’s vision and successful securing of NSF funding, critical financial support from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and Michigan Tech’s Finishing Fellowship, which will support the completion of my dissertation during the Fall 2025 semester.”

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Fall 2025 – Eugene Brown Agyei

Published
By
Eugene Brown Agyei, PhD in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture, 2025

“I began my Ph.D. in the Rhetoric, Theory and Culture program in the Humanities Department in 2021. With a deep interest in understanding how emerging media technologies shape different aspects of human communication, my research has largely centered on the intersection of new media technologies, digital communication and collective action.

My dissertation explores the role of social media algorithms in collective action, with a particular focus on how they shape the structure, visibility and effectiveness of digital activism networks. Using #FixTheCountry in Ghana and #EndSARS in Nigeria as case studies, I investigate the relationship between the organizing strategies of activists (both online and offline) and the affordances and constraints of Twitter (now X). I use computational social network analysis and in-depth interviews to examine activists’ awareness of the platform and network effects, and to explore whether algorithmic folk theories and/or obfuscation techniques play a role in how they use social media for collective action.

During my time at Michigan Tech, I have presented my work at international conferences, including the International Communication Association (ICA) in Canada and Australia, and taught courses in Professional and Technical Communication and Composition. Together, these experiences have been integral to my Ph.D. journey and deepened my engagement with the field of communication. In Fall 2024, I received the Dean’s Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award.

I am incredibly honored to receive the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship from the Graduate School. I truly appreciate the recognition from the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel and the dean, and I’m especially grateful to the donors whose generosity makes this support possible. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Sarah Bell, for her support, and to my committee members, Dr. Stefka Hristova, Dr. Richard Canevez, and Dr. Brooke Foucault Welles, for their guidance. I’m also thankful to all the faculty in the Humanities Department for their encouragement throughout this journey.”

Continue Reading →

Finishing Fellowship Award – Fall 2025 – Simahudeen Bathir Jaber Sathik Rifayee

Published
By
Simahudeen Bathir Jaber Sathik Rifayee, PhD in Chemistry, 2025

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been awarded the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship at Michigan Technological University. My heartfelt thanks go to the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel for recognizing my research and supporting me at this stage of my journey. First and foremost, I am profoundly grateful to my advisor, Dr. Christo Z. Christov, for taking me under his guidance and for his unwavering support throughout my PhD. His mentorship has been invaluable in shaping both my research and personal growth as a scientist.

Before joining MTU, I completed my B.S. in Chemistry at The New College, Chennai, India, and my M.S. in Chemistry at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India. In Spring 2021, I began my PhD research in the Department of Chemistry at MTU, focusing on the computational exploration of catalytic mechanisms of non-heme Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate enzymes.

My research aims to understand the factors that influence enzyme reactivity and the bifurcation of catalytic pathways – insights that can inform experimental efforts in drug design and enzyme engineering. To this effect, I have employed a variety of computational chemistry techniques, including Molecular Dynamics (MD), Quantum Mechanics (QM), and hybrid Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) approaches, to probe the structure-function relationships in enzyme catalysis.

During my Ph.D., I contributed to two significant projects. The first was an NSF-funded project on the Ethylene Forming Enzyme (EFE), where my research uncovered a second branch point in the catalytic mechanism of EFE using MD and QM/MM techniques. The second project was an NIH-funded investigation into Histone Demethylases (KDMs). In this project, I examined the distinct catalytic activity of the KDM6 family of enzymes, particularly focusing on the catalysis of different alkylated substrates by KDM6B. These findings have the potential to guide the design of novel peptide therapeutics.

I am eager to continue building upon these discoveries and to further contribute to the field of computational biochemistry. The knowledge, skills, and insights I have acquired during my PhD, from mastering advanced computational techniques such as MD, QM, and QM/MM, to elucidating intricate enzyme mechanisms, have provided me with a foundation to address challenging problems at the intersection of chemistry and biology. This experience has not only deepened my knowledge of enzyme catalysis but has also honed my capacity to design and interpret computational experiments that can guide and complement experimental efforts.

I am confident that the expertise I have cultivated at MTU will be instrumental in my future research career, enabling me to pursue impactful work in drug discovery, enzyme engineering, and beyond. I eagerly anticipate utilizing this foundation to explore novel questions, collaborate across disciplines, and make meaningful contributions to advancing science.
Once again, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Graduate School, the advisory panel, and all who have provided me with support throughout this journey. I eagerly anticipate the next chapter in my career, driven by the curiosity and passion that have propelled me thus far.”

Continue Reading →