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1. Tech Hires Seven New Faculty |
By Jennifer Donovan, director of public relations
In its second Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative (SFHI), Michigan Tech has hired seven new faculty members to conduct research in computational discovery and innovation. They are from some of the best research universities across the country and the world and will join six departments.
The new hires include:
* Laura Brown, Vanderbilt University, computer science: Brown's research focuses on computational causal discovery algorithms, specifically algorithms for learning the structure of Bayesian networks, which are graphical models of random variables and their interconnections.
* Zhou Feng, Texas A&M University, electrical and computer engineering: Feng's technical area is modeling and simulation of large-scale systems on graphical processing units. He will explore the emerging computing platforms and methodologies that are becoming increasingly important in large-scale integrated circuit computer-aided design.
* Saeid Nooshabadi, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (Korea), electrical and computer engineering: Nooshabadi's expertise is high-performance computer architecture, embedded systems and VLSI signal processing, enabling him to work effectively across the disciplines of electrical engineering and computer science.
* Mark Rouleau, George Mason University, social sciences: As the first PhD graduate of the only computational social science program in the US, Rouleau is helping define the cutting edge of computational research within the social sciences. He will collaborate with researchers across campus.
* Chaoli Wang, University of California at Davis, computer science: Chaoli Wang is an expert in scientific visualization. His research involves large-scale data from a wide variety of scientific disciplines such as combustion, climate and astrophysics.
* Chien Wang, MIT, geological and mining engineering and sciences/physics: Chien Wang develops computer models to simulate atmospheric processes. He will start his joint appointment in geological and mining engineering and sciences and in physics in fall 2010 and plans to continue his collaborative efforts in computational simulations of the earth's climate.
* Yu Wang, Virginia Tech, materials science and engineering: Yu Wang's research focuses on modeling and simulation of phase transformation in ferroic or magnetizable materials, nanoparticle self-assembly, nanodomain diffracting phenomena and multifunctional composites.
The SFHI is an innovative initiative pioneered by Michigan Tech in 2007, when the University's Board of Control made a commitment to enlarge the faculty by up to 10 outstanding new teacher-scholars each year, cutting across academic disciplines to focus on a research theme.
"The Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiatives are helping Michigan Tech to position itself as a world-class technological research university," said President Glenn Mroz.
Interim Provost Max Seel welcomed the new SFHI faculty, saying, "This new faculty will not only add to our computing and computer modeling capacity, but also bring additional strength and synergy to many other research endeavors, for example in atmospheric sciences."
The new faculty, some of whom are already on campus, expressed excitement about the opportunities at Michigan Tech.
"I love Michigan Tech’s natural and human environment," said Chaoli Wang.
"I am excited to begin contributing to the teaching and research excellence of Michigan Tech," Laura Brown said. "I plan to bring my enthusiasm and knowledge to the courses I will be teaching and to continue researching ... and collaborating with existing research programs."
In its first SFHI, Michigan Tech focused on sustainability and hired six new faculty members and named three professors to endowed chairs in 2008.
For this second SFHI--in computational discovery and innovation--the University received 329 applications. A committee of faculty representatives from departments, institutes and centers across campus reviewed the applications and narrowed the pool down to 125. These applications then were screened by more than 162 University faculty members who were familiar with the candidates' fields of research and scholarship. The top 50 candidates’ applications were reviewed by an SFHI subcommittee, and 17 were invited to Michigan Tech for interviews.
A third and fourth SFHI, focusing on health and energy, will launch this fall. It will use $2 million to hire new faculty members in those areas over the next two years. |
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2. Campus Library Opens Cafe |
The Van Pelt and Opie Library now has a café that is handy, cozy and handsome—the ideal place to turn over a new leaf.
"This is going to be nice," says Matt Lean, associate director of Dining Services. The venue, called the Library Café, is tucked into the northeast corner of the first floor and opened Monday, under the solicitous and friendly watch of Donna Blake of Dining Services.
Like the rest of the library, the décor is burnished maple, faux granite and lots of glass.
The menu is equally impressive: good espresso beverages, quality sandwiches and bakery. In particular: gourmet coffee, exotic teas, steamed and flavored milk, and cold drinks including iced coffee and flavored seltzer water--as well as sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads, fruit, biscotti, bagels, cream cheese, peanut butter, scones and a big cookie.
At least one offering will be exclusive: ciabatta sandwiches made with turkey, beef, salami, bologna or pepperoni. "What makes the sandwich is the rolls," Lean says. They will have a garlic aioli spread and be spiced with olive oil and five herbs.
"It’s different than what you can get on the rest of the campus," Lean adds. Also, there’ll be mugs for sale, as well as gums, mints and coffee beans.
The initial hours of operation, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., are based on door counts that show more students visit the library later in the day than earlier. The hours might be adjusted. "We’ll play it by ear," Lean says.
The area, with walls of glass on the north and east and (soon) south sides, is about 20 feet square and looks over the new rose garden between the library and Rekhi Hall.
Inside, there will be a few tables and chairs and an L-shaped counter with 14 stools. "You can look out the window and do your work," Lean says. As well, there will be outdoor seating on the patio in front of the north and east glass walls.
Capacity? "How many people can you put in the building," Lean asks rhetorically, for patrons will be able to go anywhere in the library to savor the fare.
"It’s great for the library," says Carol Makkonen, finance coordinator and office manager at the library. "It’ll bring a lot of people for coffee and a newspaper." She says such facilities are "common at other university libraries."
The café was jumpstarted by a gift from Tech benefactor David Brule, recently of the Board of Control, of Iron Mountain. |
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3. Tech Takes Care of Its Own |
International students are arriving on campus and can be anxious in their new environment.
To allay worries and fears, International Programs and Services will host a walking tour of Houghton on Friday, August 21, to introduce new international students to the area.
Area restaurants have donated coupons so students may use them to purchase dinners while on the tour. Tech student leaders, both undergraduates and graduate students, will serve as guides.
"The idea is to showcase our beautiful downtown, as well as point out the many entertainment options for Tech students," says Thy Yang, director of IPS. "Many international students shy from venturing beyond campus their first few months (especially to restaurants) because they are afraid to commit a cultural faux pas. Having a guide and a tour will alleviate some of this anxiety." |
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4. Job Postings |
Staff job descriptions are available in Human Resources or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings . For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu .
Faculty job descriptions can be found at www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/facpers/facvac.htm . For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.
Staff Job Posting
08/18/2009
Staff Assistant (N6)
MultiCultural Affairs
UAW external posting (reposted)
Michigan Tech is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.
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5. In the News |
The Great Lakes IT Report had a story on August 16 about the work of Ravindra Pandey (Physics), which addresses the design of an electronic transistor out of a single molecule.
The Detroit Free Press ran a story on August 15 about Tech’s collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Miss., to monitor and develop ways to improve water quality in the Great Lakes--a project to be housed in Michigan Tech's planned Great Lakes Research Center.
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6. Free for the Taking |
The Registrar's Office is giving away a 30 x 20 inch light wood table.
Contact Vicky Roy at vlroy@mtu.edu or 487-1616.
University Marketing and Communications has the following furniture available:
* desks
* 4 tables 36 x 24
* 1 table 30 x 60
* 1 table 36 x 60
* 1 table 24 x 30
* 6 bookshelves 13 x 36
* 1 bookshelf 12 x 24
* 1 credenza 20 x 45
If you are interested, contact Linda Watson at 487-2354 or lmwatson@mtu.edu by Thursday, August 20.
University property may only be transferred between departments; it may not be given or sold to individuals. |
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