Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the ADA

Tomorrow, July 26, marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This vital civil rights law bans discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. The ADA aims to eliminate barriers and increase opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live, work, learn and participate fully in their communities. The full potential of the ADA will be realized if everyone remains dedicated to its complete implementation.

The ADA National Network offers free resources that provide information and training about the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Celebrate the act's 35th anniversary and share what the ADA means to you on social media with #ThanksToTheADA and #ADA35.

Kudos to MTU's Early Career Faculty and Pre-Award Team!

Kudos to Michigan Tech's early career faculty and Sponsored Programs Pre-Award team! An impressive 19 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER proposals were submitted this week.

Thank you to our entire research community for your dedication and commitment to excellence! It takes all of us to make this work possible — from departmental administrators and graduate students, to faculty and professional researchers, to the Sponsored Programs and Research Development teams.

MTU's collective efforts power our success!

Board of Trustees Formal Session

Michigan Technological University's Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, July 31, from 9-11 a.m. in Memorial Union Ballroom B, and public attendance is welcome.

Members of the public are invited to make public comments to the board in accordance with Board of Trustees Bylaw 1.14. Those who wish to address items in the agenda, and who have filed their intent with the secretary of the board as required by Bylaw 1.14, will be limited to five minutes. Those addressing general topics are limited to three minutes.

If you wish to provide public comments to the Board of Trustees, please submit your intent to Sarah Schulte, secretary to the Board of Trustees, at shschult@mtu.edu.

AJ Ostrowski Named Assistant Soccer Coach

Michigan Tech soccer head coach Melissa Kuhar has named AJ Ostrowski an assistant coach with the Huskies. Ostrowski comes to Houghton with over a decade of coaching experience, including serving as the FCX travel soccer club coach and guiding UPSL affiliate Chicago Nation FC for three years, from 2021-23.

"I am extremely excited to have AJ joining my staff here at Tech. It was a long process to find the right fit for our program, and I believe I hit a home run with this hire," Kuhar said. "He is going to be a huge addition for the program and help us continue to grow both on and off the field."

"I am very blessed and buzzing to be the next addition to the Michigan Tech athletic family. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to grow under women's soccer head coach Melissa Kuhar, as well as athletic leadership minds Dr. Suzanne Sanregret, Joel Isaacson and Rhys Edwards," said Ostrowski.

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Postings

Job Postings for Friday, July 25, 2025

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Food Service Helper (first shift, 12 months), ​Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates July 25 to July 31, 2025 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Public Safety Officer, ​Public Safety and Police Services (POA posting dates July 25 to July 31, 2025 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal POA applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal POA posting dates). Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

In the News

Lindsay Hiltunen (VPOL) was interviewed by My UP Now in a story about Verna Mize’s environmental advocacy and legacy in the Lake Superior region, highlighting the Michigan Tech Archives’ collection of her personal materials. The story was picked up by the Keweenaw Report

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UPword mentioned Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson (CFRES) in a story about his selection as one of 2025’s Michiganians of the Year for his lifelong leadership of MTU’s Isle Royale wolf-moose project. The article highlights Peterson’s decades of research into predator-prey dynamics and his ongoing commitment to the study’s legacy through the newly established Wolf-Moose Foundation.

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Miller Wood Trade Publications mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about recipients of 2025 USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grants. Michigan Tech was listed among institutions recognized for their work in advanced wood products and research. 

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Michigan Business Network mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about federal funding secured for Michigan priorities, including $2.5 million to support the University’s artificial intelligence research benefiting small and medium-size manufacturers.

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Eastern Michigan University mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a new historic preservation course led by MTU alum Ron Staley ’77 ’80 (AAS Civil Engineering, B.S. Business Administration) as part of EMU’s expanding preservation curriculum. Staley’s lead role in restoring Michigan Central Station was featured in the 2024 Michigan Tech Magazine.

Reminders

GSG 2025 Alumni Reunion Poster Session: Registration Closes Today

Registration for Michigan Tech's 2025 Alumni Reunion Poster Session closes today, July 25. The poster presentation session is a continued tradition designed to increase the interaction between graduate students and MTU alumni. It is a unique opportunity for graduate students to share their research work and expand network connections.

This year's poster session will be next Friday, Aug. 1, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the lobby of the H-STEM Complex (H-STEM 114). Graduate students interested in presenting a poster can submit via the Alumni Reunion Poster Session Registration form.

Exciting news! All participants will be automatically entered into a raffle draw for a chance to win Graduate Student Government-branded swag. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your research and get cool items!

Don't forget to register and submit your poster today (one week before the event).

Please email gsg-research@mtu.edu with any questions.

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Central Ticket Office Closures

The Central Ticket Office located at the Student Development Complex (SDC) will be closed on the following dates/times:

  • Friday, July 25 — Closed at 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 26 — Closed
  • Monday, July 28 — Closed at 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 1& — Closed at 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 2 — Closed at 2:15 p.m.

Patrons will still be able to access the facilities at the SDC during building hours. Day passes are available to purchase online, by scanning a QR code, or in cash with the desk attendants. Any further inquiries on purchases must be made while the Central Ticket Office is open.

Please contact us at 906-487-2073 or at tickets@mtu.edu with any questions. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

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Banner Maintenance on Sunday

A Banner production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

  • apps.mtu.edu
  • Banner
  • Banner Self Service
  • Degreeworks
  • Experience
  • MyMichiganTech
  • ASPIRE
  • Course Tools
  • OAP Rental System
  • Oracle Reports
  • UC4/Appworx
  • Virtual Cashiering
  • WebFocus

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

Today's Campus Events

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

KISMA Volunteer Buckthorn Removal Event

Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities A new community-based approach to invasive species management Looking for a way to give back to your community, the environment, and...

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PhD Defense: Megh Raj Subedi

Statistics Advisor: Qiuying Sha Novel Statistical Method for Multiple Phenotype and Gene Based Association Tests Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/87067761000

Defenses Next Week

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the following dissertation, thesis and report defenses occurring next week. Please consider attending to learn more about our students’ scholarship and celebrate their academic accomplishments. Check the University Events Calendar for last-minute updates to times, dates and locations.

Master's Defense: Lilian Heinzel

  • Title: COMBINING DNA METABARCODING AND STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS TO EXAMINE DIET AND ECOLOGY IN UNQIUE ADMIXED GHOST WOLVES

  • Department: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

  • Advisor: Kristin Brzeski

  • Date: Monday 7/28/2025 at 9:00 AM

  • Location: U. J. Noblet Forestry Building G002

  • Attend Virtually

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Master's Defense: Melanie Frias Veras

  • Title: Cortical Activation Patterns in a Rapid Motor Decision- Making Task in Younger and Older Adults: An fNIRS Study

  • Department: Psychology and Human Factors

  • Advisor: Kevin Trewartha

  • Date: Monday 7/28/2025 at 9:30 AM

  • Location: Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M) M&M 610

  • Attend Virtually

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PhD Defense: Abid Ali Khan Danish

  • Title: A Domain-Adapted Natural Language Processing Framework for Mining Safety Analytics: From Latent Pattern Discovery to Automated Information Extraction

  • Department: Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

  • Advisor: Snehamoy Chatterjee

  • Date: Monday 7/28/2025 at 10:00 AM

  • Location: Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building Dow 610

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PhD Defense: Alexander Czarnecki

  • Title: Holistic Energy Efficiency Analysis of Electrified Off-Highway Material Handler: From Drive Cycle Characterization to Powertrain, Hydraulic, and Thermal System Performance

  • Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

  • Co-advisors: Darrell Robinette, Jeremy Worm

  • Date: Thursday 7/31/2025 at 11:00 AM

  • Location: R. L. Smith Building (MEEM) 1021

  • Attend Virtually

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PhD Defense: Ashley Hawke

  • Title: Patient Handling Interventions and Their Role in Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Healthcare Workers

  • Department: Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

  • Co-advisors: Kelly Kamm, Steven Elmer

  • Date: Monday 7/28/2025 at 1:00 PM

  • Attend Virtually

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Master's Defense: Jacqueline Suits

  • Title: Small Mammal Diet as an Indicator of Lyme Disease and the Road to Endemicity in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

  • Department: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

  • Co-advisors: Kristin Brzeski, Jared Wolfe

  • Date: Monday 7/28/2025 at 3:00 PM

  • Location: U. J. Noblet Forestry Building 144

  • Attend Virtually

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Master's Defense: Kathleen Bershing

  • Title: RISK OF OAK WILT EXPANDING NORTHWARD: EXAMINING NITIDULIDAE VECTOR COMMUNITIES AND HOST PHENOLOGY BEYOND THE CURRENT DISEASE RANGE

  • Department: College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

  • Advisor: Tara Bal

  • Date: Tuesday 7/29/2025 at 2:30 PM

  • Location: U. J. Noblet Forestry Building 144

  • Attend Virtually

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Master's Defense: Can Erdem

  • Title: Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of Rocks from Measurement While Drilling (MWD) Data

  • Department: Civil and Environmental and Geospatial Engineering

  • Advisor: Mohammadhossein Sadeghiamirshahidi

  • Date: Wednesday 7/30/2025 at 12:00 PM

  • Location: Grover C. Dillman Hall 204

  • Attend Virtually

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Master's Defense: Joseph Teahen

  • Title: Examining Student and Faculty Perspectives On Hidden Curriculum in Computing Education

  • Department: Computer Science

  • Co-advisors: Leo Ureel, Briana Bettin

  • Date: Thursday 7/31/2025 at 2:00 PM

  • Location: Rekhi Hall 101

  • Attend Virtually

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PhD Defense: Md Mutasim Billah

  • Title: METHODS IN STATISTICS, MACHINE LEARNING, AND DEEP LEARNING FOR COMBINING MULTI-OMICS DATASET

  • Department: Mathematical Sciences

  • Advisor: Kui Zhang

  • Date: Thursday 7/31/2025 at 3:00 PM

  • Location: Fisher Hall 325

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PhD Defense: Aman Poovalappil

  • Title: Intelligent Systems for Synergistic Optimization of Vehicle Dynamics and Energy Consumption in Connected and Automated Vehicles

  • Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

  • Co-advisors: Darrell Robinette, Jeffrey Naber

  • Date: Friday 8/1/2025 at 12:00 PM

  • Location: R. L. Smith Building (MEEM) 1021

  • Attend Virtually

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PhD Defense: Yifu Deng

  • Title: Near Memory Accelerators for Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search

  • Department: Computer Science

  • Advisor: Jianhui Yue

  • Date: Friday 8/1/2025 at 12:00 PM

  • Attend Virtually