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Tag: The DeVlieg Foundation

DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship – Summer 2025 – Jacob Jackson

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Jacob Jackson, PhD in Biomedical Engineering, 2025

My name is Jacob Jackson and I’m a second year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Engineering department focusing on optimizing deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). I am a part of Dr. Traci Yu’s lab where I combine optogenetics and adaptive deep brain stimulation to improve effectiveness and reduce adverse effects of PD treatment.

Current deep brain stimulation treatment uses continuous, high-frequency electrical stimulation in individuals living with PD. While effective in reducing motor symptoms, it is often accompanied by neurological and psychiatric adverse effects that limit improvements in quality of life. To reduce adverse effects, we can combine optogenetics with adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) to spatially and temporally optimize treatment. Optogenetics involves genetically modifying the target neurons to receive light as a stimulus. This allows for only the target structure to be stimulated rather than a large area with electrical stimulation. aDBS uses abnormal neural activity in the brain to act as a controller for stimulation. Stimulation will then be delivered only when the brain needs it to reduce unnecessary activation. By combining these two techniques, we aim to develop a more targeted and efficient treatment for improving PD.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue my research this summer, made possible by the support of the DeVlieg Foundation. This funding will enable me to fully dedicate my time to designing, testing, and verifying optogenetic aDBS algorithms to reduce motor symptoms and pathological neural activity in PD.

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DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship – Summer 2025 – Carl Greene

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Carl Greene, PhD in Electrical Engineering, 2025

Hello, I am Carl Greene, a PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering from the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University. I came to Michigan Tech as a non-traditional graduate student, having completed my Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. After working in the battery, manufacturing and electronics industries, I had a desire to participate in meaningful research; therefore, I decided to pursue a graduate degree.

Shortly after starting my graduate work, I had the opportunity to join a project within the Agile and Integrated Microgrid (AIM) Research Center under the advisement of Dr. Wayne Weaver and Dr. Jeremy Bos. Our work focused on autonomous mobile microgrids and power transmission. During the pursuit of my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, I met researchers working in the Upper Peninsula (UP) on a bat conservation project. As a wildlife lover, I was fascinated by the project and their passion to combat White Nose Syndrome (WNS) and its effects on bat populations in the UP, leading me to develop the structure of my PhD work.

The Robust Autonomous Systems Lab or RASL at Michigan Tech has an extensive knowledge of LiDAR, computer vision and autonomous automotive sensors technologies, which aligned with my PhD project. Armed with the knowledge and resources from RASL, we were able to team up with the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and the Michigan DNR to further develop the use of autonomous automotive sensor technologies and applied machine learning to assist in bat monitoring and conservation.

When I am not doing research work, I enjoy hiking, reading, and aviation, as well as spending time with my rescue dogs and cats.

I am extremely grateful to be awarded this fellowship by the DeVlieg Foundation. This award provides me with the opportunity to focus solely on developing my algorithms and furthering my progress towards the completion of our work.

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DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship Winners Summer 2025

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The Graduate School is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship. This competitive award recognizes outstanding graduate students demonstrating significant potential and pursuing research in engineering, wildlife, biology, and related fields critical to innovation.

We are proud to congratulate this year’s fellows for their exceptional academic achievements and research proposals:

  • Carl Greene – Department of Electrical Engineering
  • Jacob Jackson – Department of Biomedical Engineering

This vital fellowship support is made possible through a valued partnership with The DeVlieg Foundation. Established by Charles B. DeVlieg with deep roots in Michigan’s industrial heritage, the Foundation is dedicated to fostering excellence and advancing innovation.

The DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship provides crucial financial assistance, enabling these promising scholars to dedicate themselves more fully to their research endeavors, develop novel solutions, and contribute to the advancement of technology.

Michigan Tech extends its sincere gratitude to The DeVlieg Foundation for its sustained generosity and commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineering leaders and researchers. We look forward to the impactful contributions these fellows will undoubtedly make.

Discover more about The DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship.

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Nominations open for summer 2025 fellowships from The DeVlieg Foundation

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Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2025 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible PhD student per program.  The recipient will  receive a stipend for summer 2025 plus tuition support (one credit or three research credits for PhD candidates).  Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Must be a graduate student in the field supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
    • Engineering
  2. Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  3. Must be enrolled in a PhD program.
  4. Must be nominated by student’s graduate program.  Each PhD program may nominate one student if the research conducted is related to the field(s) supported by The DeVlieg Foundation.
  5. Must not be supported by another funding mechanism while supported by The DeVlieg Foundation (part-time job, fellowship, GTA, GRA, etc.).

Nominations are due no later than 4pm on March 4, 2025 to the Graduate School. Graduate programs will upload their nominee’s application as a single PDF file.

Please see our web page for details on the application procedure and materials needed.  Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.

Please contact the Graduate School with any questions.

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DeVlieg Graduate Research Recipient – Summer 2024 – Fatemeh Razaviamri

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Fatemeh Razaviamri standing outside with body of water, trees, and cityscape behind
Fatemeh Razaviamri – Biomedical Engineering

I am a third-year PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department. My research focuses on designing polymeric biomaterials for antimicrobial, hemostatic, and wound healing applications under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Lee. Currently, I am working on a project aimed at developing a novel, antimicrobial hemostatic agent inspired by the strong adhesive properties of mussel adhesive proteins.

Hemorrhage is one of the leading preventable causes of death associated with trauma. Additionally, trauma patients are at a higher risk for developing infection, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. I aim to develop a novel and portable hemostatic agent that could achieve hemorrhage control in a prehospital setting and prevent infection. This powder-form hemostatic agent can be activated by hydration through the patient’s bodily fluid or blood, which greatly simplifies the criteria for packaging and storage. The proposed hemostatic agent provides multiple mechanisms to prevent infection, including the ability to kill drug-resistant bacteria. The ability to disinfect the wound site in a prehospital setting will limit complications associated with infection and will greatly improve the rate of recovery.

I am immensely grateful for the support provided by the DeVlieg Foundation and the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel. With their support, I will spend the summer conducting in vivo hemostatic and infected wound healing tests using a mouse model to evaluate the rapid and effective hemostatic properties of the designed hemostatic agent, as well as its ability to promote the infected-wound healing.

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Nominations Open for Summer 2024 Fellowships from The DeVlieg Foundation

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Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2024 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible PhD student per program.  The recipient will  receive a stipend for summer 2024 plus tuition support (one credit or three research credits for PhD candidates).  Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Must be a graduate student in the field supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
    1. Engineering
  2. Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  3. Must be enrolled in a PhD program.
  4. Must be nominated by student’s graduate program.  Each PhD program may nominate one student if the research conducted is related to the field(s) supported by The DeVlieg Foundation.
  5. Must not be supported by another funding mechanism while supported by The DeVlieg Foundation (part-time job, fellowship, GTA, GRA, etc.).

Nominations are due no later than 4pm on February 6, 2024 to the Graduate School. Graduate programs will upload their nominee’s application as a single PDF file no later than 4p.m. on February 6, 2024.

Please see our web page for details on the application procedure and materials needed.  Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure. Please contact the Graduate School with any questions.

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DeVlieg Graduate Summer 2023 Research Recipient – Tiffany Degroot

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My name is Tiff DeGroot, and I am a PhD Candidate in Forest Science in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. I came to Michigan Tech through a winding path. In my early 20s, I waited tables and cleaned horse stalls to pay for general education courses until I could transfer into a bachelor’s program. Then I completed my BS in Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology at the University of New Hampshire, while working nights and weekends at an indoor skydiving facility. After graduation, I saved up as much money as I could and purchased a plane ticket to South Africa to pursue my lifelong dream of studying African wildlife. I saw my first wild giraffe, tracked elephants and cheetahs, and set up camera traps to monitor leopards. When I returned to the US, I joined a global conservation non-profit, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). My position at IFAW focused on communicating conservation efforts to a broad audience. 

With a background in science and a keen interest in applied conservation, I decided to return to academia. I started by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Forest Ecology and Management at Michigan Tech. My project focused on camera trapping and noninvasive methods of mammal monitoring in Equatorial Guinea in central Africa. After one semester, I was invited to expand this project to a PhD. My project now spans multiple spatial scales, and will address mammal diversity, distribution, and communities across Equatorial Guinea. The results of this research will not only contribute to the scientific community, but will also be used to directly inform the on-the-ground management of protected areas in Equatorial Guinea. 

When I am not in the lab, coding, or sorting camera trap photos, you can usually find me in my garden, training my rescue dog, or in the pottery studio.

I am incredibly grateful to the DeVlieg Foundation for allowing me the opportunity to focus on my project this summer. With an entire semester dedicated to my work, I will make good progress towards my second publication by completing a study that compares the use of camera trapping and environmentally-derived DNA (a non-invasive genetic monitoring technique) to assess mammalian diversity in Equatorial Guinea.

Michigan Tech gratefully acknowledges support from The DeVlieg Foundation for the DeVlieg Summer Research Award.

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Nominations open for summer 2023 fellowships from The DeVlieg Foundation

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Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2023 summer fellowships.

All graduate programs may nominate one eligible PhD student per program.  The recipient will  receive a stipend for summer 2023 plus tuition support (one credit or three research credits for PhD candidates).  Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Must be a graduate student in the field supported by the DeVlieg Foundation:
    1. Ecosystem science
  2. Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
  3. Must be enrolled in a PhD program.
  4. Must be nominated by student’s graduate program.  Each PhD program may nominate one student if the research conducted is related to the field(s) supported by The DeVlieg Foundation.
  5. Must not be supported by another funding mechanism while supported by The DeVlieg Foundation (part-time job, fellowship, GTA, GRA, etc.).

Nominations are due no later than 4pm on February 1, 2023 to the Graduate School. Please submit as a PDF file sent to gradschool@mtu.edu.

Please see our web page for details on the application procedure and materials needed.  Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.

Please contact the Graduate School with any questions.

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DeVlieg Graduate Summer 2022 Research Recipient – Emily Shaw

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I am a settler scholar living and working within the Anishinaabe Ojibwe homelands of Northern Michigan. Currently, I am a PhD candidate, at Michigan Technological University, in environmental engineering doing research that bridges knowledge systems to understand mixture toxicity. As an indiginist researcher, my work rebuilds systems of accountability and responsibility between humans and the environment that are aligned to Anishinaabe philosophies. Prior to graduate school, I earned a bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. For four years, I was the Education and Volunteer Coordinator at Inland Seas Education Association, a non-profit in Suttons Bay, MI with a mission to inspire a lifetime of Great Lakes curiosity, stewardship, and passion in people of all ages. In the two years leading up to graduate school I spent most of my time in Antarctica, washing dishes at the South Pole research station and hiking and sailing throughout New Zealand. Now I enjoy exploring Houghton, playing roller derby, and gardening.

Michigan Tech gratefully acknowledges support from The DeVlieg Foundation for the DeVlieg Summer Research Award.

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