Advanced
Power Systems Research Center (APSRC)
Co-Director,
Carl Anderson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
cander@mtu.edu, 906/487-2378
Co-Director,
Jeff Naber, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
jnaber@mtu.edu, 906/487-2378
Mission: To develop critical technologies for clean, efficient, and sustainable power systems.
Purpose: The purpose of the Advanced Power System Research Center is to create a multidisciplinary organization that will foster large, collaborative, research efforts in the areas of clean, efficient, and sustainable Power Systems technologies. This Center will develop both fundamental and applied knowledge that is required for the next generation of low-emission, high-efficiency vehicles. The Center will seek to bring together and coordinate a large number of MTU researchers already working in the area of I.C. engines, spray formation, combustion modeling, combustion and mixture controls, torque converters, alternative fuels (including ethanol, bio-diesel, and hydrogen), hybrid powertrains, fuel cells, and powertrain noise. The result will be an interdisciplinary Power Systems research organization that will be responsive to the economic needs of the State and the energy needs of the Nation.
Biotechnology
Research Center (BRC)
Director,
Chandrashekhar P. Joshi, School of Forest Resources & Environmental
Science
cpjoshi@mtu.edu, 906/487-3480
"The
Biotech Research Center fosters interdisciplinary research
at Michigan Tech."
Biotechnology encompasses the applications of various science
and engineering disciplines for industrial utilization of
living organisms or their products. The mission of the Biotechnology
Research Center (BRC) at MTU is to promote education and
research in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry,
genetics, genomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology at
both the graduate and undergraduate levels for the benefit
of society and the environment.
The
multidisciplinary nature of the BRC is reflected in the
diverse expertise of the BRC faculty. Participation includes
faculty from the Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics Biomedical
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics,
and Forest Resources and Environmental Science departments.
Faculty, staff and students are open to collaborating on
research projects and joining together for research symposiums,
seminars and conferences. Working together helps to achieve
their common goal: the advancement of biotechnology.
Center
for Integrated Systems in Sensing, Imaging, and Communication
(CISSIC)
Director, Michael Roggemann, Electrical & Computer Engineering
mroggemann@mtu.edu,
906/487-2164
Mission:
The Center for Integrated Systems in Sensing, Imaging, and
Communications exists to promote the integration of physical
models, device technologies, and signal processing theory
for the development of information systems with applications
in sensing, imaging, and communications. The integrated
system design approach promoted by the Center will result
in the development of more compact, functional, and marketable
information systems.
Center for Environmentally Benign Functional Materials (CEBFM)
Director,
Gerard Caneba, Chemical Engineering
caneba@mtu.edu, 906/487-2051
Mission: The mission of the CEBFM is to increase and then sustain research activities into the synthesis, characterization, and analysis of materials that are capable of performing multiple functions in a wide variety of applications. CEBFM brings together researchers and will create a knowledge-base that can assist in further development of technologies for challenging applications critical to the growing technological needs of the US and the world. The Center will promote and foster an environment that will cross the traditional departmental and disciplinary boundaries to advance knowledge and support the overall mission of the University.
Center
for Technological Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship (CenTILE)
Director,
Robert Mark, School of Business and Economics,
remark@mtu.edu,
906/487-2710
The purpose of CenTILE is to foster
technological innovation by developing entrepreneurial
thinking and action at multiple levels and across multiple
disciplines in order to create economic value and meet
societal needs. CenTILE defines technology broadly, inclusive
of the natural and physical sciences, engineering, and
information technology. CenTILE will distinguish itself
from existing entrepreneurship centers by emphasizing the
research and practice of technological innovation and technological
entrepreneurship. These include both entrepreneurial and
intrapreneurial activities of individuals, groups, firms,
industries, and institutions operating in technology-intensive
environments.
A primary target of CenTILE is developing
methods and models for nurturing early stage technologies
developed by faculty, students, and research staff at Michigan
Tech through to commercialization. Assessment of commercial
feasibility of innovations will be critical to success.
CenTILE will also be a facilitator which links educational
activities such as the Michigan Tech Enterprise Program,
the Pavlis Global Technological Leadership Programs, and
Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL),
with administrative units such as Technology and Economic
Development (TED), local economic development organizations
such as the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC)/SmartZone
and Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), and
regional organizations such as the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation (MEDC).
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Computational
Science and Engineering Research Institute (CSERI)
Director,
Phillip Merkey, Mathematical and Computer Science
merk@mtu.edu, 906/487-2220
Mission:
Created to foster computationally intensive research and
graduate education in sciences and engineering, bringing
together faculty and students from across campus who have
a common interest in and need for computational resources
beyond those usually available in desktop workstations.
Ecosystem
Science Center (ESC)
Director,
David Karnosky, School of Forest Resources & Environmental
Science
karnosky@mtu.edu,
906/487-2898
Mission:
To promote understanding of ecosystem function through education
and research at Michigan Technological University.
The
Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our
understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities
influence ecosystem processes. The Center's two main objectives
are to: (1) foster ecosystem research; and (2) improve Michigan
Tech's ability to educate graduate and undergraduate students
in the area of ecosystem science. These two objectives will
be met through collaboration among faculty, staff and students
interested in ecosystem science.
National
Institute for Climatic Change Research (NICCR)
Director, Andrew Burton, School of Forest Resources
& Environmental Science
ajburton@mtu.edu,
906/487-2566
The National Institute for Climatic Change Research (NICCR)
is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's)
Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER),
which is part of the DOE's Office of Science. The goal
of NICCR is to mobilize university researchers, from all
regions of the country, in support of the climatic change
research objectives of DOE/BER.
The NICCR will periodically solicit proposals for research
projects to be funded by DOE through the four NICCR Regional
Centers and one Coastal Center. The Midwestern Region
housed at MTU will support work in the following states:
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oaklahoma, Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana,
and Ohio. Research solicitations will be posted at http://niccr.mtu.edu/.
Scientific research topics being pursued by the NICCR are
(a) the effects of potential climatic changes on important
U.S. terrestrial ecosystems and (b) potential feedbacks
from U.S. terrestrial ecosystems to the climatic system.
Institute
for Engineering Materials (IEM)
Director,
Peter Moran, Materials Science & Engineering
pdmoran@mtu.edu, 906/487-3095
Mission:
To effectively utilize resources generated by existing materials
engineering research to promote the long-term growth of
materials engineering research at MTU.
This
center provides incentives and resources at the departmental
and indivudual level for investigators from all departments
to develop and utilize materials research infrastructure
in the short-term while simultaneously providing departments
a resource stream to enable meaningful long-term materials
research infrastructure strategic planning.
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Institute
of Materials Processing (IMP)
Director,
J. Y. (Jim) Hwang, Materials Science & Engineering
jhwang@mtu.edu,
906/487-2600
The
Institute of Materials Processing is an innovative, nonprofit
research facility. The institute focuses on the extraction,
processing, recycling, and utilization of materials and
resources. They conduct sponsored technology development,
research, problem solving, training, and technology services
for MTU, the state of Michigan, other governmental units,
and industry. Materials studied include metallics, ceramics,
polymers, composites, minerals, and industrial processing
wastes. Expertise includes bench-top experimentation through
process development, pilot plant scale-up, and commercialization.
Personnel
at IMP work closely with faculty members in the academic
departments. Since the major focus of the institute, however,
is toward accelerating technology transfer into the marketplace,
most staff members are full-time, nonteaching research professionals.
When necessary, the institute can enter into confidentiality
agreements with research sponsors and can undertake both
proprietary and classified work. Cooperative development
programs with other organizations are also strongly encouraged.
IMP
can provide full or partial student support for advanced
research in the materials and resource processing areas.
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Isle
Royale Institute (IRI)
Business Manager/Program Coordinator, Ann Mayo Kiely, School of Forest Resources & Environmental
Science
ammayo@mtu.edu,
906/487-4335
The
Isle Royale Institute (IRI) is a partnership created to
promote education and research at Isle Royale National Park
and on the waters of Lake Superior. The Institute was created
by staff at Isle Royale National Park and Michigan Technological
University (MTU) and recently joined by University of Minnesota
Duluth (UMD).
IRI
sponsors public presentations by researchers on board the
National Park ship the Ranger III covering a wide range
of topics including the wolf-moose study, geology, climate
change, loons, amphibians, Lake Superior temperatures, habitat
fragmentation, Great Lakes exotics, remote sensing technology,
and astronomy. These presentations are popular with the
public and IRI welcomes new presenters. These programs provide
a based to build additional Institute programs and to create
new partnership.
Educational
efforts include Park visitor education activities such as
courses for all populations emphasizing previously underrepresented
groups at Isle Royale National Park. Most of the courses
are offered in partnership with other organizations. Elderhostel,
Sierra Club-Inner City Outings, US Forest Service, Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan State University, Wayne
State University and Michigan Technological University are
among the partners offering programs.
While
most of the courses are offered at the Park an effort has
been made to provide educational activities in other locations,
such as Wilderness First Aid taught on the MTU campus and
trainings for Leave-No-Trace camping skills conducted in
partnership with NPS staff of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
at their Park.
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Keweenaw
Research Center (KRC)
Director,
Jay Meldrum, jmeldrum@mtu.edu,
906/487-3178
Keweenaw
Research Center is a multidisciplinary research center wholly
supported by external corporate and governmental agency
funding. Research and development activities are primarily
based on a broad spectrum of ground vehicle performance.
Typical activities include vehicle design and operation
as an integrated system; research in vehicle mobility; material
properties of tracked and wheeled vehicle components; and
vehicle-terrain-human interactions; noise, vibration, and
sound quality. Computer-aided engineering and modeling are
used extensively. KRC provides opportunities for graduate
students and faculty to perform research in several areas:
composite materials, finite element methods, and vehicle
dynamics modeling.
KRC maintains more than 500 acres of proving grounds, including
many miles of prepared test tracks. Ride and handling loops,
a circular track, an ice rink, a snow packed area, and a
rugged off-road obstacle course—all provide the backdrop
for research in vehicle mobility.
The Institute of Snow Research, an auxiliary component of
KRC, is engaged in basic and applied research into snow,
ice, and cold environment engineering. Fundamental study
of ice sintering, dynamic behavior of snow, and the mechanism
of ice adhesion are some recent examples. In addition, the
institute works in several areas related to snowmobile safety,
including trail grooming and layout, trail safety signs,
and the effects of snowmobile track studs on public road
crossings.
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- Be
a recognized leader in the research, development and
use of Information Technology to support solution of
critical problems in national security, infrastructure,
bioinformatics, earth sciences and environmental processes.
- Be
acknowledged nationally and internationally as an innovator
for the marriage of phenomenological understanding and
implementation of the mathematically rigorous algorithms
to build information from data in support of sponsor needs.
- Provide
visibility and outreach for Michigan Technological University
(Michigan Tech) in Southeastern Michigan.
- Establish
collaborations with Michigan Tech academic departments,
institutes, and centers to increase funded contract revenues
for all organizations involved.
- Maintain
a creative environment that rewards and encourages innovation.
MTRI is a recognized leader in the research, development
and practical application of sensor and information technology
to solve critical problems in national security, protecting
and evaluating critical infrastructure, bio informatics,
earth sciences and environmental processes.
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Michigan
Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI)
Director,
Larry Sutter, MTTI
llsutter@mtu.edu,
906/487-2268
MTTI is an umbrella organization bringing together the cross-disciplinary centers and principle investigators conducting transportation related research and education initiatives that address national and global needs. Recent initiatives include the Rail Transportation Program, which will provide education programs to support the rail industry’s need for an expanded workforce, and research products that address the quickly advancing technology of the rail transportation system. Sustainability is central to all MTTI efforts regarding transportation and Michigan Tech researchers are leaders at applying sustainability concepts to transportation problems. Currently, researchers from the Departments of Mathematical Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Social Sciences, along with the School of Forestry and Environmental Resources are collaborating through MTTI within six focused theme areas:
- Transportation Structures including bridges, pavements. Other related areas include geo-technical, construction, and nanotechnology related to sensors. This group includes the Center for Structural Durability (CSD).
- Transportation Materials including concrete, asphalt, steel, wood, and aggregates. Other related areas include construction, geo technical, and nanotechnology related to sensors and materials. This group includes the University Transportation Center (UTC) for Materials in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (MiSTI), the Transportation Materials Research Center (TMRC), and the Center for Aggregate Research (CAR).
- Transportation Systems including waterways, traffic/safety, construction, rail, air, public transportation, freight, intelligent transportation systems, vehicle infrastructure integration, nanotechnology related to sensors, and radio frequency identification devices.
- Transportation and the Environment includes environmental impacts, energy, carbon dioxide and other pollutants, fugitive dust, wildlife, flora and fauna, and carbon credits
- Transportation and Society includes policy, planning, human factors, history, economics, and archeology.
- Transportation Technology Transfer includes all outreach, management systems, and workforce development programs. This group includes Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Technology Development Group (TDG).
University
Transportation Center - Materials in Sustainable Transportation
Infrastructure (MiSTI)
Director,
Larry Sutter, MTTI
llsutter@mtu.edu,
906/487-2268
Established
in the fall of 2006 through TEA-21 (Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century), MiSTI activities are focused
on the identification and use of naturally occurring,
industrial byproduct, and/or recycled materials in the
design and construction of a more sustainable transportation
infrastructure. Focus materials include soils, unbound
aggregates, hot-mix asphalt and portland cement concrete. MiSTI
programs and activities include:
- New research initiatives and collaborations
- Curriculum development for undergraduate and graduate
programs at Michigan Tech
- Sustainability awareness
- Outreach initiatives for students and teachers in grades
K through 12, and
- Professional development for practicing engineers
Multi-Scale
Technologies Institute (MuSTI)
Director, Craig Friedrich, Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering Mechanics
craig@mtu.edu, 906/487-1922
Multi-scale
technologies are those that bring together functional elements
to form systems where the relative size of components within
the system spans from the nano through the micro and into
the macro domain. The systems-focus of MuSTI emphasizes
the challenges associated with integrating technologies
that have relative feature sizes orders of magnitude apart
and operating characteristics that are size dependent. This
presents many problems that must be addressed by interdisciplinary
teams of researchers using specialized equipment. Research
focuses on engineered systems and components such as nanoelectronics,
nanosensors and systems, and associated materials. MuSTI
is home to interdisciplinary nano and microtechnologies
education programs such as an interdisciplinary minor in
Nanoscale Science and Engineering. The establishment of
MuSTI is based on Michigan Tech’s focus on applied
research, established practices of interdisciplinary research,
capabilities in testing, and strong engineering and science
programs.
Power
and Energy Research Center (PERC)
Director, Bruce Mork, Electrical & Computer Engineering
bamork@mtu.edu, 906/487-2857
Increased
focus on alternate and renewable energy, development of
new energy technologies, and deregulation of the utility
industry are redefining the role of the Power Engineer and
creating a wealth of technical and educational challenges.
Environmental issues and restructuring of the power industry
have expanded the scope of interest to include public policy
and economic and social concerns. A multidisciplinary Research
Center, operating within the ECE Department, shall thus
be formed. Its main purposes are as follows:
- Establish
long-term research goals.
- Enable
multi-disciplined collaboration within MTU.
- Help
us compete/collaborate with other universities for industry
and agency funding.
- Enable
more industry and university research exchange.
- Provide
more continuity of graduate student support.
- Enhance
graduate and undergraduate education and recruit and retain
students.
Remote
Sensing Institute (RSI)
Director,
Will Cantrell, Physics
cantrell@mtu.edu,
906/487-2356
The
Remote Sensing Institute (RSI) is an institute aimed at
facilitating and promoting research and education in remote
sensing and related areas by bringing together individuals
and groups separated by departmental and/or college boundaries.
Remote Sensing comprises not just instrumentation or measurement
tools, but represents a perspective that employs a broad
morphology of disciplines and demands interdisciplinary
breadth. For example, current members collaborate on projects
spanning imaging science, atmospheric science, data/signal
processing, data visualization and remote sensing instrumentation.
These are typically applied to a specific problem in earth
system science, ecosystem studies, limnology/oceanography,
global change, and a host of other areas. At least nine
different departments currently have faculty members participating
in RSI.
RSI's
goals are to work by consensus to promote remote sensing
and related topics on the MTU campus through (1) Interdisciplinary
coursework and programs, (2) Group funding efforts for equipment
and research, (3) Interdisciplinary seminars and short courses,
and (4) Development of a campus culture that actively supports
transdisciplinary activities.
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Lake
Superior Ecosystem Research Center (LaSER)
Director,
W. Charles Kerfoot, Department of Biological Sciences;
wkerfoot@mtu.edu, 906/487-2769
The
Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center (LaSER) is an interdisciplinary
center and its three main goals are 1) to promote and strengthen
ecological research and graduate programs at MTU through
developing and applying technological advances to ecological
problems; 2) to advocate an ecosystem perspective for studying
aquatic and terrestrial portions of the Lake Superior watershed;
and 3) to become a resource center for basic information
on watershed and lake properties.
Sustainable
Futures Institute (SFI)
Directors,
John Sutherland, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
jwsuther@mtu.edu,
906/487-3395
David Shonnard, Chemical Engineering
drshonna@mtu.edu, 906/487-3468
Mission:
to create and disseminate new methods and processes for
generating scientific knowledge and engineering products
in support of sustainability decisions and education.
SFI
will assimilate the multiple skills and capabilities required
to support a new metadiscipline of Sustainability Science,
including: (1) the fundamental physics, chemistry, biology
and mathematics needed for environmental assessment; (2)
basic economics incuding economic input-output analysis;
(3) industrial ecology and design at the process, plant,
firm, regional, national and global scale; (4) information
technology for real-time monitoring of processes, remote
sensing of the environment, and geographical information
systems; (5) human and environmental impact modeling and
risk assessment; (6) social and behavioral research tools,
and (7) professional and K through Gray educational programs,
including assessment of their impacts on choices made by
design engineers, policy makers, and consumers. By advancing
this metadisciplinary endeavor, the Institute will combine
information and insights across multiple disciplines and
perspectives.
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Michigan
Tech Center for Water and Society (MTCWS)
Director,
Alex Mayer, Geological & Mining Engineering & Sciences
asmayer@mtu.edu, 906/487-3372
Mission:
The mission of the MTCWS is to support research, education,
and outreach in all disciplines at Michigan Tech related
to water issues. The goal is to establish Michigan Tech
as a state, regional, national and international leader
in these disciplines and, in particular, in interdisciplinary
approaches to solving water-related problems. The objectives
of the MTCWS are:
- to
serve as a focal point for instructional and research activities
in water-related fields and water-related outreach activities
across the Michigan Tech campus;
- to
provide an organizational structure that supports continuing
growth in water-related fields and outreach activities and
encourage interdisciplinary projects;
- to
support interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate education
and research in water related fields; and
- to
pursue external funding opportunities to support these objectives
and to facilitate MTCWS participating faculty to obtain
external support.
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Product
and Process Architecture Alignment Consortium (P2A2 Consortium)
Director,
John Gershenson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics,
jkgershe@mtu.edu,
906/487-2047
The
mission is to:
- develop
tools and technologies directed at aligning product and
process architectures to enable rapid innovation and high
value products;
- transfer
these technologies and tools to industry partners; and
- educate
the leaders of tomorrow.
Our
efforts aim to support the member's objectives to increase
revenues, decrease costs, and increase productivity as
a means to increasing profits. The Consortium will address
the related engineering goals - faster time-to-market,
higher value products, and more efficient processes -
by delivering tomorrow's innovative technologies, implementation
tools, and a valuable human resource stream to its members'
enterprises. By delivering value to the consortium membership,
we will become the leading source for new tools and technologies
that facilitate rapid innovation and high value
products by aligning product and process architectures.
The
over-arching scientific theme of the Consortium is to
explore architecture alignment in three focus areas: light
(functional weight reduction), fast (engineering lead-time
reduction), and extensible (product and process life-cycle
extension). These areas focus on urgent issues, addressing
them from the standpoint of architecture alignment with
the goal of enabling rapid innovation and high value products.
The Consortium will provide proofs of concept for new
technologies. Consortium members will provide direction
in launching and continuing R&D initiatives.
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