graduate students Archives | Pavlis Honors College Blog

I-Corps Site Program at Michigan Tech

Published December 12, 2017

The Michigan Tech I-Corps Site Program and the Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship will be hosting its next NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Workshop beginning January 2018. Dates and times for the upcoming workshop are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Feb. 14 and Feb. 21 from 5pm-8pm.

The I-Corps Site program is a team-based program structure that was developed through a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. The workshop provides an introduction to the Lean Start-up business development methodology which focuses on getting out of the lab and using the proven tools of Customer Discovery and the Business Model Canvas to evaluate the commercial potential of innovative technologies.

This is a great opportunity to work with an experienced team of workshop leaders to determine, document, and fully realize the commercial potential of your technology. Teams which successfully complete the program requirements are eligible for $2500 to advance their technology-focused start-up ideas through customer discovery and prototyping. Teams also become eligible for NSF’s National I-Corps program which includes $50,000 in funding.

Participants of I-Corps Site programs and NSF’s National I-Corps have demonstrated significantly higher funding rates from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs which offer Phase I awards up to $225,000 and Phase II awards up to $750,000. Past participants also report that the I-Corps program had a positive impact on their careers, as well as their approach to research, teaching and mentoring.

Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor, Dr. Andrew Barnard commented on his experience with I-Corps, “Our participation in the I-Corps Site Program at Tech helped us to understand our potential customers and get answers to questions that will steer our research for years to come. It has propelled us to the National I-Corps Program where we’re excited to learn more from our customers about our product idea.”

Apply today for this great experience. For more information on the Michigan Tech I-Corps Site Program or to apply for the January workshop, visit mtu.edu/honors/ice/icorps/.

Info Session on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Published September 6, 2017

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Fellowship Opportunities

The Research Development Office is hosting an overview session on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) for eligible students. The session is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the Administration Building, room 404.

To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, students must:

•be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
•intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
•be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution, with a US campus, by fall 2018
•have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent) as of August 1, 2017, or meet the criteria for the extenuating circumstance described in Section IV of the Program Solicitation.
•meet all other eligibility requirements as set forth in the current Program Solicitation

Award benefits:

•a three-year annual stipend of $34,000
•$12,000 cost of education allowance for the cost of tuition

If you know a student who has research and leadership experience and meets the eligibility requirements, encourage them to consider applying for this prestigious fellowship. Eligible students who already have internal University/department funding are strongly encouraged to apply.

If eligible students cannot attend this overview session, but would like to be invited to the follow-up sessions, please contact Jessica Brassard (jnbrassa@mtu.edu) or Natasha Chopp (nichopp@mtu.edu).

Constitution Day Student Essay Contest

Published August 29, 2017

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Competitions

The Michigan Tech Van Pelt and Opie Library is facilitating a student essay contest to celebrate Constitution Day, which will take place this year on Sunday, September 17th. Michigan Tech undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit an original essay.

In 600 words or less discuss these boundaries and the principles you would use in defining them. What is an example of a situation that might justify placing such limits on speech and/or on an organized march? What problems might arise due to such limitations?

Essays must be submitted by email to library@mtu.edu in the form of a .doc or .pdf by midnight, September 10.

Prizes will be determined by a committee of faculty and librarians:

First Prize: $300.00 certificate to the Bookstore/University Images

Second Prize: $250.00 certificate

Third Prize: $200.00 certificate

Fourth Prize: $100.00 certificate

Fifth Prize: $50.00 certificate

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship

Published December 12, 2016

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Fellowship Opportunities

Scoville Fellows work with one or more than two dozen participating public-interest organizations. They may undertake a variety of activities, including research, writing, public education and advocacy on a range of security issues, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, non-proliferation, missile defense, weapons trade, environmental and energy security, and peacekeeping, that support the goals of their host organization, and may attend coalition meetings, policy briefings and Congressional hearings. Fellows are supervised by senior level staff and often have the opportunity to publish articles, blogs, or reports. The program also arranges meetings for the fellows with policy experts. Many former Scoville Fellows have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in international relations and taken prominent positions in the field of peace and security with public interest organizations, the Federal Government, academia and media.

The 6-9 month fellowship in Washington D.C. is open to recent undergraduate and graduate alumni with an excellent academic record and a strong interest in issues of peace and security. Deadline to apply is January 6th, 2017. For more information visit scoville.org.

The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program

Published November 9, 2016

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The Department of Homeland Security sponsors a 10-week summer internship for students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and math disciplines.

The program provides students with quality research experiences at federal research facilities located across the country and allows students the opportunity to establish connections with DHS professionals. The ultimate goals of the program are to engage a diverse, educated and skilled pool of scientists and engineers in HS-STEM areas and to promote long-term relationships between students, researchers, DHS and research facilities to enhance the HS-STEM workforce.

Undergraduate students receive a $6000 stipend plus travel expenses and graduate students receive $7000 plus travel expenses.

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) administers this program through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ORISE is managed by ORAU for DOE. ORISE will be responsible for the application and review process, notification and implementation of the program. Deadline to apply is December 7th, 2016.

DOE Scholars Internship Program

Published November 2, 2016

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars Program offers unique opportunities that introduce students or post-graduates to the agency’s mission and operations. Participants in the DOE Scholars Program gain a competitive edge as they apply their education, talent and skills in a variety of scientific research settings within the DOE complex.

Areas of focus may include energy security, nuclear security, scientific discovery and innovation, environmental responsibility, and management excellence.

Applications are open through December 15th, 2016. Students from all academic levels of study are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.

The SMART Scholarship for Service Program

Published October 25, 2016

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The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion with a Department of Defense facility. The Program will pay for all educational expenses for a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. degree, and then provide scholars unique opportunities to work as research scientists or engineers on cutting edge technology in world class Department of Defense facilities.

SMART Scholars receive:
• Full tuition and educational fees
• Generous cash stipend ranging from $25,000 – $38,000 per year
• Paid summer internships, health insurance, and miscellaneous allowance
• Employment with Department of Defense facilities after graduation

Students pursuing degrees in the following fields are encouraged to apply:
o Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
o Biosciences
o Chemical Engineering
o Chemistry
o Civil Engineering
o Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
o Computer, Computational Science, and Computer Engineering
o Electrical Engineering
o Geosciences
o Industrial and Systems Engineering
o Information Sciences
o Materials Science and Engineering
o Mathematics
o Mechanical Engineering
o Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
o Nuclear Engineering
o Oceanography
o Operations Research
o Physics

Basic eligibility requirements are as follows:
o a U.S. citizen at time of application (some exceptions apply),
o 18 years of age or older as of August 1, 2017,
o able to participate in summer internships at DoD laboratories,
o willing to accept post-graduate employment with the DoD,
o a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and,
o pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the disciplines listed above

The application is currently open and the deadline to apply is December 1st, 2016. For more information and to apply please visit http://smart.asee.org.

Learning How to De-Stress

Published October 12, 2016

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PHC Students

By Amy Karagiannakis

We all encounter stress in our daily lives, but some of us are able to cope with it better than others. Dave is on the football team, USG representative, serves as project manager for his Enterprise team, works part-time as an intern, stays active in his fraternity, serves on the MUB Board, is a member of the Pony Brigade, maintains a 3.97 GPA, and is probably one of the most laid back, got-it-together people you’d ever meet. Ok, ok, Dave is not a real person, but for the record, the Pony Brigade is a real Michigan Tech Student Organization. The point is that all of us know someone like Dave or have encountered someone like him in our past. How do they not have daily nervous breakdowns?

Picture from: http://www.theplaidzebra.com/it-turns-out-that-selflessness-is-the-easiest-way-to-save-you-from-stress-and-extend-your-life-2/

Understanding how our body deals with stress is a good first step to managing it, so let’s review 8th grade science. Our nervous system is made up of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. We will focus on the former. The sympathetic nervous system regulates what Walter Bradford Cannon called our fight-or-flight response. When this process is stimulated, your blood pressure rises, your heart begins to race, muscles tense up, and your breathing intensifies. If your typical day-in-the-life is consistently stressful, you may be conditioning your sympathetic nervous system to stimulate the fight-or-flight response for every minor circumstance. Experiencing this reaction multiple times a day can really wreak havoc on your mind and body. Finding ways to bring your heart rate down and relax your mind is important to managing stress and the triggers that cause it.

Picture from: http://users2.unimi.it/fens_stress/index.html

I find the most effective way to deal with stress is meditation. Meditation can be practiced by anyone. There is no wrong way to meditate, but here are some guidelines that can help you benefit from it. Finding a place for meditation during the day can sometimes be a difficult task. However, these are when our stress levels are highest. If you can’t be at home and you are looking for a place to meditate, consider the following options around campus: library study room, an empty classroom, Counseling Services Relaxation Room, empty common areas in the residence halls, or even outside in the warm sun on a nice day. Your meditation spot doesn’t necessarily need to be quiet. Some people prefer background noise or music to complete silence. Once you have your spot, get comfortable. Despite popular belief, you do not have to sit in full lotus position to meditate. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Men-and-meditation — Jagged rocks, on the edge of a cliff, in full lotus? Not my idea of comfortable, but to each their own…

Close your eyes and slow your breathing. Focusing on your breathing will help eliminate the negative thoughts and feelings that triggered your stress. If you are still having trouble freeing your mind from negativity, try focusing on an object or image that relaxes you. Others may find that the repetition of a single word said softly and slowly helps to relax them. Whatever you choose, the point is to find something that doesn’t require a lot of thought, but enough that your mind is able to focus on that instead of the negative thoughts and stressors. As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, your heart rate will begin to slow, your muscles will relax, your mind will clear. Meditate for as long as it takes to reach this point of tranquility.

Statistics show that stress among college students is on the rise. The demand to be involved in multiple extracurriculars, getting internships and/or co-ops, keeping that GPA up, applying for graduate school, exams, getting a job, the availability of immediate communication via email, text, and social media all contribute to the stresses of today’s generation of college students. Recurrent, long-term stress and anxiety can lead to a long list of physical and emotional ailments.

Photo courtesy of Flickr contributor Lee Winder

If you feel stressed and need help, remember that you are not alone. Michigan Tech offers one-on-one and group counseling services that are free to all Michigan Tech students. If you find meditation or other relaxation techniques to be unhelpful and you are experiencing physical and/or emotional symptoms of stress, please seek help from a counselor or doctor.

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship

Published September 19, 2016

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Fellowship Opportunities

Scoville Fellows work with one or more than two dozen participating public-interest organizations. They may undertake a variety of activities, including research, writing, public education and advocacy on a range of security issues, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, non-proliferation, missile defense, weapons trade, environmental and energy security, and peacekeeping, that support the goals of their host organization, and may attend coalition meetings, policy briefings and Congressional hearings. Fellows are supervised by senior level staff and often have the opportunity to publish articles, blogs, or reports. The program also arranges meetings for the fellows with policy experts. Many former Scoville Fellows have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in international relations and taken prominent positions in the field of peace and security with public interest organizations, the Federal Government, academia and media.

The 6-9 month fellowship in Washington D.C. is open to recent undergraduate and graduate alumni with an excellent academic record and a strong interest in issues of peace and security. Deadline to apply is January 6th, 2017. For more information visit scoville.org.

MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory to Recruit at Career Fair

Published September 12, 2016

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Internship

MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory will be at Michigan Tech’s Fall Career Fair on September 27th.

The Laboratory’s fundamental mission is to apply science and advanced technology to critical problems of national security, primarily working on sensors, information extraction (signal processing and embedded computing), and communications. A Department of Defense federally funded research and development center, the Laboratory has a focused commitment to R&D, with an emphasis on building prototypes and demonstrating operational systems under live test conditions that meet real-world requirements. R&D efforts span the following key mission areas:

Space Control
Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology
Communication Systems
Cyber Security and Information Sciences
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems and Technology
Advanced Technology (electronic or electro-optical technologies, biotechnology and chemistry)
Engineering (innovative systems to test new concepts)
Tactical Systems
Homeland Protection
Air Traffic Control

For more information please visit http://www.ll.mit.edu.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory actively recruits individuals pursuing BS, MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, and to a limited degree, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Biology, Chemistry, Meteorology and Materials Science. Candidates should have an interest and ability to work on a broad range of technical problems in a team environment and possess strong problem-solving, analytical, innovative, communications, and teaming skills.

Due to contracts with the Department of Defense, employment at MIT Lincoln Laboratory requires U.S. citizenship.

Last summer the Laboratory employed 219 interns (104 graduate students, 115 undergraduates) under the auspices of our Summer Research Program. They expect to hire at the same level for summer 2017. You will find the eligibility requirements, program details, and the application process at http://www.ll.mit.edu/college/summerprogram.html

Students interested in applying for full time or summer employment must submit their resume to www.ll.mit.edu (employment). Via the website students can search and apply to specific full time and summer requisitions.

Tag: graduate students