Category: Academic

Ashim Chakravarty is an Outstanding Scholarship Award Recipient

Ashim ChakravartyAshim Chakravarty, who is a PhD candidate in Engineering Physics, is a Spring 2014 recipient of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship. Ashim was nominated by the Department of Physics based on his GPA, originality in research, professionalism, work ethic, and other selection criteria. Ashim’s advisor is Miguel Levy.

A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Research Colloquium Banquet that is held in the spring.

View the PHOTO GALLERY and ABSTRACT BOOK for the event.

Outstanding GS Scholar 2014
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Graduate Research Colloquium 2014

2014 Undergraduate Research Expo Call for Abstracts

URE PosterThe Michigan Tech Honors Institute would like to invite all undergraduate researchers from every department to submit an abstract for research to be presented at the 2014 Undergraduate Research Expo. This expo will give researchers a chance to present posters describing completed or ongoing research and receive feedback from faculty judges.

Presenter Information and Poster Guidelines

Submission until January 31, 2014, 11:59 pm

SURF Proposal Workshop

Will Cantrell, coordinator for the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, will conduct a workshop for students on writing effective SURF proposals at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, in Fisher 131.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to notify students interested in applying for SURF funding to attend. For more information, see mtu.edu/surf.

The deadline for receipt of SURF applications is noon on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014.

From Tech Today

Blended Learning Grant for Wil Slough

Jackson Blended Learning Winners

In early November, the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning invited faculty to submit proposals to support blended learning course innovations. Proposals were accepted at three levels ($1,000, $5,000 and $10,000), and a total of $50,000 was originally planned to be awarded during this cycle.

In the Department of Physics, Wil Slough received $1,000 for “Development of Blended Learning Materials for Uncertainty Analysis.”

Read more at Tech Today.

2013 Outstanding SPS Chapter

SPSThe Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been selected again as one of the Outstanding SPS Chapters. The recognition is based on chapter interaction with SPS national programs, the professional physics community, the campus community, and the public. The Michigan Tech chapter is part of Zone 09. SPS Chapter Awards are selected by Zone Councilors and Associate Zone Councilors of the SPS National Council.

Fewer than 10% of all SPS chapters are recognized as outstanding.

Michigan Tech’s SPS chapter was also recognized in the SPS National Council’s publication “Effective Practice” which provides tips and hints for SPS groups to be effective.

Society of Physics Student Chapter Honored

“This is the 4th consecutive year that the chapter has been named an outstanding, chapter,” said Associate Professor and SPS Advisor Will Cantrell (Physics). “Michigan Tech’s SPS chapter being named as an Outstanding Chapter is a testament to the work and enthusiasm of its members—not just now, but for the past several years.”

Read more at Tech Today, by Erika Vichcales.

Non-Technical Audience – Physics Example

Research Magazine 2013
Research Magazine 2013

Jennifer Donovan teaches the workshop “Writing for a Non-Technical Audience” at Kasetsart University in Thailand. She uses examples from Michigan Tech, such as the news site, Michigan Tech Magazine, and Michigan Tech Research Magazine. Donovan writes:

I pass around copies of both magazines. Professor Bob Nemiroff on the cover of the Michigan Tech Research magazineThe 2013 research magazine cover–showing Physics Professor Bob Nemiroff in a bar, holding up a cognac bottle labeled “space time” and a brandy snifter–particularly intrigues them. “It’s about astrophysics,” I say. ”Professor Nemiroff is an astrophysicist who has done research showing that space time is smooth like cognac rather than frothy and bubbly like beer (the popularly held belief). You see, that’s how to make hard science interesting. Who could resist reading that story?”

Read more at Tech Goes to Thailand: The Write Way by Jennifer Donovan.

New Physics Faculty Ramy El Ganainy

Ramy El GanainyRamy El-Ganainy, PhD

Ramy El-Ganainy joins the Department of Physics as assistant professor. He comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Toronto, where he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics.

El-Ganainy received his PhD in Optics and Photonics and MS in Optics from the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida. He also received an MS in Electromagnetics and BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Cairo University.

El-Ganainy’s work has been published in Optics Express, New Journal of Physics and International Journal of Theoretical Physics. He is a member of the Optical Society, International Society of Optics and Photonics and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. His research experience includes theory and applications of non-Hermitian optics, quantum effects inside photonic crystal structures and optical nonlinearities in interaction nano-suspensions.

Read more at Tech Today.

Ran Duan is an Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient

Ran DuanRan Duan, who is a PhD candidate in Engineering Physics, is a Fall 2013 recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award. Ran was nominated by the Department of Physics and recognized for his accomplishments by the Graduate School at Michigan Tech.

A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Research Colloquium Banquet that is held in the spring.

Matt Beals is an Outstanding Scholarship Award Recipient

Matthew BealsMatthew Beals, who is a PhD candidate in Atmospheric Sciences, is a Fall 2013 recipient of the Outstanding Scholarship Award. Matt was nominated by the Department of Physics and recognized for his accomplishments by the Graduate School at Michigan Tech.

A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Research Colloquium Banquet that is held in the spring.

Debasis Datta Inducted into CSA Academy 2013

Dr. Debasis Datta was inducted into Michigan Technological University’s Academy of Sciences and Arts on September 13, 2013. Datta graduated with a PhD in Physics from Michigan Technological University in 1994. His research work at Tech resulted in ten publications in American Physical Review. Following the completion of his postdoctoral work, he started his career in Information Technology in 1996 as a software engineer in the IT services industry. During his 16 year IT career, Debasis worked at DaimlerChrysler, PeopleSoft, Oracle and General Motors Corporation where he is currently employed.

Read more from the Dean’s Comments at the 2013 induction ceremony.

View the PHOTO GALLERY.

Debasis Datta at CSA Academy
Ravi Pandey, Devashree Datta, Debasis Datta, and Donald Beck