April 30, 2024

Michigan Tech Magazine’s “Research in Focus” highlights how Michigan Tech researchers are breaking through boundaries between scientific disciplines, leveraging the full depth and breadth of knowledge across campus.

Location, location, location is more than a real estate adage. It's the wellspring for energy solutions, says Ana Dyreson (ME-EM), who leads Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Energy Group and collaborates on several climate- and energy-focused projects underway at Tech.

"I study the regional impacts and drivers of energy transition because new technologies and technological systems will function best when designed for the people and places where they will operate," she says.

Get the electrifying details in our 2024 Michigan Tech Magazine.

The Graduate School is seeking facilitators for our Orientation to Graduate Studies and Research online training. This training fulfills the basic Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training required for all graduate students by the America Competes Acts.

Facilitators will interact online with a group of graduate students beginning Aug. 21 and ending approximately Aug. 30. These students have been accepted into research-based graduate programs, so this is an excellent opportunity for faculty to meet their new students or for senior Ph.D. students to welcome them into the program.

We will hold a Zoom orientation to highlight your responsibilities on Aug. 14 from 2-3 p.m. Please register online to participate.

Please contact Debra Charlesworth at ddc@mtu.edu with any questions.

Due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 27, deadlines for payroll forms will be as follows for the period from May 12 through May 25 (bi-weekly 11). Department timekeepers are responsible for sharing this information with all employees in their department.

The deadlines below indicate when items are due to Payroll and/or Human Resources (HR), not to individual departments. Departments are responsible for setting internal deadlines with their employees to meet the Payroll/Human Resources deadlines.

• Status Forms Due to Human Resources — due Thursday, May 16, at noon
• EPAF Submissions — due Thursday, May 16, at noon
• Deduction Forms — due Tuesday, May 21, at noon
• Electronic Time Submission — due Friday, May 24, at noon
• Web Time Entry Approval — due Friday, May 24, at 2 p.m.

All web time approvers are required to have at least one designated proxy. For instructions on how to set up a proxy, please visit the Quick Reference Guide for Approvers PDF.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for May 12 from 7 a.m. to noon. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• ASPIRE
• Course Tools
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus
• Apps.mtu.edu

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

Due to the success of our Essential Education Breakfast and Learn, as well as communication that some could not attend because of end-of-semester activities, we are offering a followup Essential Education Snack and Learn next Tuesday (May 7) at 1 p.m. in MUB Alumni Lounges B and C.

Our Essential Education Leadership Team will provide a brief presentation highlighting the vision of Michigan Tech's Essential Education program. They will then share best practices for curriculum implementation, while then moving into a collaborative workshop/Q&A format.

Attendees of our first Breakfast and Learn are welcome if they still have questions and thoughts to share with our leadership team. There will be sweet and salty snacks available for all during the event, along with some special door prizes.

Event Details:

• What: Essential Education Snack and Learn
• Where: MUB Alumni Lounges B and C
• When: Tuesday, May 7, at 1 p.m.
• Sign Up: Please sign up to attend.

Job Posting for Tuesday, April 30, 2024

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.

Associate Controller, Financial Services and Operations. Apply online.
Contact: MTU Internal Recruiting at 906-487-1976

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.

The Daily Mining Gazette and WLUC TV6 covered Michigan Tech’s ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the official opening of the new H-STEM Health Sciences and Engineering Complex. The ceremony was held last Friday (April 26). MTU President Rick Koubek, Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI), Travis Wakeham (BioSci) were quoted by the Gazette. Heldt, Koubek and Ph.D. candidate Mohanish Chandurkar (biomedical engineering) were quoted by TV6. The Gazette’s story was picked up by the Iron Mountain Daily News.

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Jared Wolfe (CFRES) was quoted by the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station in a news release about a recent study on how life cycles of culturally significant birds could inform the timing of prescribed fire. Wolfe is a co-author of the study. The story was picked up by Phys.org.

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Dave Reed (VPR/CFRES) was mentioned by WLUC TV6 as one of four Michigan Tech faculty members who were granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees at its meeting last Friday (April 26). The other three newly dubbed professors emeriti are Bill Breffle (COB), Ibrahim Miskioglu (ME-EM) and Douglas Oppliger (EF).

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Adam Wellstead (SS) was mentioned by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government in a blog post by the educational institution, which teaches strategic management to public sector employees. The post, titled “Public value and designing for service,” summarized a recent paper co-authored by Wellstead (SS).

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Michigan Tech’s 2024 Spring Commencement speakers, Chang K. Park ’73 (B.S. Electrical Engineering/Engineering Administration), Zazil Santizo-Huerta ’24 (Ph.D. Mathematical Sciences) and Vincent Barfield ’24 (B.S. Computer Science/Mathematical Sciences), were mentioned by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story covering Michigan Tech’s commencement exercises.

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Justina Pennala ’24 (B.S. Biomedical Engineering) was quoted by WLUC TV6 in a story covering Michigan Tech’s 2024 Spring Commencement exercises, held last Friday and Saturday (April 26 and 27).

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Kayla Wilson ’18 ’24 (B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology, M.S. Manufacturing Engineering) was quoted by the Detroit Free Press in a story about the NFL Draft, held in downtown Detroit on April 25-27.

Educational Session: Export Controls and Foreign National Restrictions

The Vice President for Research Office will host an educational session, "Review of Export Controls and Foreign National Restrictions," from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (May 2) in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom (B side).

This session is designed to help faculty and staff understand and address export controls/foreign national restrictions considerations when conducting research. Topics covered will include:

• Managing technical data, intellectual property and proprietary materials
• Defining and working with foreign nationals, publishing and teaching
• Exporting and licensing considerations

Please reach out to rd-l@mtu.edu with any questions.

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Staffing Changes in Sponsored Programs Office

There are a number of changes that have been recently implemented in the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO). These changes are in part intended to address persistent staffing challenges, address overload issues and improve turnaround times throughout the organization.

Erica Goff, Ed.D., has joined the team as director of sponsored programs. Goff has extensive experience in research administration, serving most recently as the director of Eastern Michigan University’s Office of Research Development and Administration. She and her team will handle proposal submissions to all sponsors. Inquiries regarding proposal submissions can be directed to spo-l@mtu.edu.

Jennifer Bukovich has been promoted to assistant director, grants and contracts. Bukovich will be responsible for all awards including negotiations of all funding instruments, including grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. Inquiries regarding award processing can be directed to spo-l@mtu.edu.

Michelle Meneguzzo has left the Sponsored Programs Office to pursue an alternate opportunity outside of the University. Meneguzzo’s former duties are being distributed throughout the Sponsored Programs Accounting team. Inquiries regarding sponsored programs accounting issues can be directed to spa@mtu.edu.

Marilyn Haapapuro will be shifting her role to undertake a detailed and focused review of procedures and published policies to bring all documents up to date and consistent with current regulations, many of which have changed over recent years.

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Fringe Benefits Satisfaction Survey Closes Tomorrow

The Fringe Benefits Committee (FBC) of Michigan Tech's University Senate would like to hear from you about your satisfaction regarding Michigan Tech’s fringe benefits. The FBC welcomes and encourages all benefits-eligible Michigan Tech employees to respond to our anonymous survey.

The FBC will use the survey results to guide the future work the FBC does on behalf of all University Senate constituents.

Additionally, the FBC will share the anonymous, aggregate survey results with MTU’s Benefits Advisory Committee, a group of faculty and staff members (three senate representatives sit on this committee) charged to review and make benefits recommendations to University leadership.

The survey is a comprehensive look at all our benefits. It is mostly multiple choice with some open-ended questions. We expect it to take approximately six minutes, depending how many comments you wish to share.

The survey is currently live and will close tomorrow (May 1). The FBC thanks you for your time.

Take the survey.

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AppsAnywhere Downtime Tomorrow

Tomorrow (May 1) from 6-8 a.m., AppsAnywhere software will be unavailable due to system maintenance. This will not affect locally installed software (CORE, COMSOL, aspen One and Labview).

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

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

Saint Joseph Alumni Social at Silver Beach Pizza

Tuesday, April 30, 6–8 p.m.

Michigan Tech alumni and friends are invited to a social with Audra Morse, dean of the College of Engineering, and Pam Klyn '93 on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. Join...

Understanding Your Financial Aid Package

Tuesday, April 30, 6–7 p.m.

Join us virtually to learn about your financial aid package, hear options for financing your Michigan Tech education, and ask any questions you may have.