Genomic Sequencing Lab Helps Researchers Understand What Makes Us Tick

by Cyndi Perkins, University Marketing and Communications

A research scientist for Michigan Tech’s Genomic Sequencing Lab works with equipment in the facility.

Michigan Tech’s Genomic Sequencing Lab, part of the University’s Health Research Institute, plays a leading role in tracking animal-borne illnesses in the Upper Peninsula region while also advancing multiple, varied areas of research.

To the novice eye, some of the equipment in the Genomic Sequencing Lab resembles futuristic kitchen appliances. But these aren’t air fryers or microwave ovens, and what’s cooking isn’t destined for a dinner plate. Local ticks, ice-dwelling Arctic bacteria, Isle Royale moose poop and lagoon wastewater from Copper Harbor have all been analyzed in the lab. As the facility extends its capacity, the hope is that additional impactful research collaborations will soon be on the menu.

Learn more about the lab's capabilities on Michigan Tech's Unscripted Research Blog.

College of Business Welcomes New Academic Advisor

by Mary Ahkin, College of Business

Ryan Neely has joined the College of Business student support team as our new undergraduate academic advisor. He’s ready to help Business Huskies chart their paths, tackle tough decisions and make the most of their Tech experience.

Neely, who previously managed Michigan Tech’s Testing Center, will support business students with course planning, degree progress and connecting to campus resources. His background in educational administration and student support positions him to guide Huskies as they pursue their academic and career goals.

Read more about him on the College of Business Newsblog.

41 North Film Festival Returns Next Month

by 41 North Film Festival

This year’s 41 North Film Festival invites audiences to engage with a slate of over 20 creative and thought-provoking films that explore the complexities of contemporary life — from the depths of the natural world to the heights of human resilience.

The festival will be held Nov. 6-9 in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and features a diverse lineup of acclaimed and emerging filmmakers whose work takes up urgent social questions through compassionate, sometimes fierce, and always artful storytelling.

This year's films include:

Panels with Q&As will follow many of the films, and short film programs will also be offered. Additional films will screen in Fisher 135.

The festival is free and open to the public. Donations and volunteers are appreciated and welcome. For more information, contact Erin Smith.

Read more on the Humanities News blog.

Sign Up for Michigan Tech's Blue Line Club

by Michigan Tech Athletics

Michigan Tech's Blue Line Club is renewing and recruiting members for the 2025-26 season. Find the membership form and info on upcoming activities at Michigan Tech Athletics' website.

The Blue Line Club provides additional resources to Tech's hockey program, enabling hockey student-athletes to pursue success both in the classroom and on the ice.

The Blue Line Club provides a wonderful opportunity for anyone who enjoys hockey to get to know the student-athletes and help them develop lifelong memories and a special bond with the community. Joining the Michigan Tech Blue Line Club shows your support for our hockey Huskies and the coaches in what promises to be an exciting season for Huskies hockey.

If you have any questions about the Blue Line Club, please email blueline@mtu.edu.

MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker: Udit Shrivastava

by Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m tomorrow, Oct. 9, in Fisher 329.

Udit Shrivastava will present "Transport in PEM Fuel Cells: A Journey Down the Rabbit Hole."

Three pillars — cost, performance and durability — are yet to be optimized for mass adoption of fuel cells, especially in the heavy-duty vehicle market. Multiphysics processes occurring at multiple length scales are critical for optimization. This talk will take you on a journey on how, from the millimeter to angstrom scale, transport takes place.

Job Postings

by Human Resources

Job Postings for Wednesday, Oct. 8, 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.

Research Coordinator, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems.

Senior Research Engineer, Center for Technology and Training.

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 Print

Professor Emeritus Iosif Pinelis (Math) is the author of a paper accepted for publication in The American Mathematical Monthly.

The paper is titled "Does the Convex Order Between the Distributions of Linear Functionals Imply the Convex Order Between the Probability Distributions Over R^d."

A preprint version of the paper is available online.

In the News

Trista Vick-Majors (BioSci) was a guest on episode 5 of the BBC Radio 4 series “Looking for No Man's Land,” which attempts to answer the question of whether there are any last places on Earth untouched by humans. In the series finale, Vick-Majors discussed her experience trying to sample the icy waters of secret lakes beneath Antarctica’s vast ice sheet.

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Grand Rapids Community College mentioned Michigan Tech’s Mind Trekkers in a story about the Next Gen STEM Grand Rapids Festival powered by GENTEX, happening Oct. 18 at GRCC’s Ford Fieldhouse. The free public event will feature more than 50 interactive STEM demonstrations designed to spark curiosity and hands-on learning for all ages.

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My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech in a story recognizing Upper Peninsula colleges and universities named “Michigan Veteran-Friendly Schools” for the 2025-26 academic year. Michigan Tech earned gold-level status from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for its strong support services and programs for student veterans.

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Kalamazoo’s 107.7 WRKR-FM mentioned Michigan Tech in coverage of The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges list. Tech ranked No. 163 among nearly 600 schools.

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Grand Rapids’ WGRD 97.9 highlighted a video of Michigan Tech students from the Waterski and Wakeboard Club who encountered a moose while waterskiing on the Portage Canal.

Reminders

Mathematical Sciences Hosting Annual Kliakhandler Lecture Series

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is organizing the annual Kliakhandler Lecture Series, which will include two sessions held tomorrow, Oct. 9, and Friday, Oct. 10. Professor Bruce Sagan from Michigan State University will be our guest speaker this year.

  • Public Lecture: "Fun with Binomial Coefficients"
    Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5-7 p.m. in Fisher 138
    N​ote: The session includes a one-hour lecture from 5-6 p.m. followed by an interactive Q&A with Sagan.

  • Department of Mathematical Sciences Colloquium: "The Protean Chromatic Polynomial"
    Friday, Oct. 10, from 2-3 p.m. in Fisher 328

Sagan specializes in enumerative, algebraic and topological combinatorics. His book "The Symmetric Group" is considered a classic, and he has recently published a new book: "Combinatorics: The Art of Counting."

Sagan is also a folk musician, playing music from Scandinavia, England and Bulgaria on traditional instruments. He has recorded four albums, is working on a fifth, and has composed over 30 tunes.

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This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University is hosting the C-Cubed Luncheon for the 2025-26 academic year. C-Cubed will be held on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Oct. 9: A Taste of India

  • Chicken Tikka Masala (AG) (PR)
  • Potato, Garbanzo and Pea Coconut Curry (VG) (AG)
  • Basmati Rice (VG) (AG)
  • Garam Cauliflower and Chickpea (VG) (AG) (CF)
  • Garlic Naan (V) (PR)
  • Kachumber Salad (VG) (AG)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by the catering culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea and desserts are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $16 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). Meals are dine-in only and personal containers/tupperware or to-go meals are not permitted.

Submit C-Cubed Feedback • Sign Up to Receive Weekly Menus

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HRI Hosts Inaugural Celebration for Translational Health Engineering Research Center

Michigan Tech's Health Research Institute (HRI) had the amazing opportunity to host the inaugural celebration of the Translational Health Engineering Research Center (THERC) on Oct. 1 in Grand Rapids.

This milestone marks an important step in advancing collaborative research through THERC and the Michigan Tech community.

Read more details on the event at the Health Research Institute Newsblog.

Today's Campus Events

by University Events Calendar

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

Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Wednesday, October 8, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT For centuries, humanity has been fascinated with the microscopic world. Through advancements in technology, visually investigating this hidden...

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Statistical Methods Guest Lecture: Denny Socha '86, General Motors

Wednesday, October 8, 1:00–1:50 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 0329

This talk is intended for undergarduate students, graduate students, and researchers interested in applying statistics in real world, and communicating with esteemed MTU...

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Pokeman League - Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, October 8, 5–6 p.m. | Dillman 202

Come hangout and play pokemon

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SME General Meeting

Wednesday, October 8, 5–6 p.m. | M&M 516

Bi-Weekly Meeting for SME!

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SoundGirls General Meeting

Wednesday, October 8, 5–6 p.m. | Walker 210

Join SoundGirls for our weekly general meeting! We will talk about music, the audio industry, and fun events around campus.

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Pothos Race Workshop

Wednesday, October 8, 7–9 p.m. | U.J. Noblet Forestry Building Atrium

Come and pot up a pothos cutting! Know for being one of the most popular and reliable houseplants, we are offering 3 varieties of pothos already rooted, waiting to be potted...

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Serve the King - Main Meeting

Wednesday, October 8, 7–9 p.m. | Wads G42W

Want to be trained in Righteouesness? Interested in developing more faithful work ethic? Building the Kingdom? Glorifying God? Come check out our main meeting where we are...