Graduate School

2011–12 ANNUAL REPORT Message from the Dean

Fall 2011 graduate enrollment reached another record high: 1,303 master’s and PhD students. We also broke our previous record of the number of students who graduated: 289 master’s and 63 PhDs. The Graduate School is clearly on track to meet the University’s Strategic Plan goal of having 3,000 graduate students enrolled by 2035. We are making progress toward another Strategic Plan goal as well—we are now at 29 percent female enrollment and the 2020 goal is 35 percent. We are placing graduates with industry, in academia, and in government. Some of our most successful graduates have started their own companies. Those graduates that remain most prospective graduate students received STAFF in Michigan are helping the state reinvigorate substantial amounts of financial aid while they Nancy Byers-Sprague its industries. Graduates who have left the were pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the “sticker [email protected] state continue to make us proud as they shock” associated with the cost of a graduate Debra D. Charlesworth work to improve their new communities. I am education can be extreme. [email protected] continually impressed by the quality of the Shellie Crisman alumni that I have the good fortune to meet. I want to thank all the alumni and [email protected] friends who have helped to support Bonnie A. Gagnon Despite these wonderful graduate education at Michigan [email protected] successes, the Graduate School is Tech by making a contribution to Kristi L. Isaacson [email protected] facing some challenges. the Graduate School. Jacque C. Smith The global recession continues to impact many You are making a difference in many students’ [email protected] students’ ability to afford graduate school. lives. By supporting them and their research, Heather L. Suokas Recent changes to federal rules regarding you are also improving the quality of life for [email protected] student loans are also hindering students everyone on the planet. Your support is helping Carol T. Wingerson who wish to pursue a graduate degree. More our students change the world. [email protected] students than ever before are paying for the Learn more about entirety of their graduate education. This our staff online: wasn’t the case a few years ago, and since mtu.edu/gradschool/ administration/staff/

Jacqueline E. Huntoon Associate Provost for Graduate Education Dean of the Graduate School Administration Building 411A 906-487-2327 Graduate School Adrienne Minerick (right) 2011-12 ANNUAL REPORT advising PhD student Jeana [email protected] Dillon (left) and MS student Hongyu Xie (center) in the Medical Micro-Device Engineering Research Lab, housed in Michigan Tech’s chemical engineering department. About the School

Graduate students New Graduate Programs enrolled at Michigan 1,303 Tech in fall 2011 BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (PHD) The fourth interdisciplinary PhD housed in the Graduate School, biochemistry and molecular biology students’ research focuses on addressing problems in human Percent increase in health, disease treatment, and a sustainable environment at the molecular level. This first-time master’s program was developed in response to the ever-increasing need for interdisciplinary 6.9 students in fall 2011 solutions to global problems.

MEDICAL INFORMATICS (MS) Number of online The second graduate-level program offered by the School of Technology, medical graduate certificate informatics students work at the intersection of information science, computer 11 and degree programs science, and health care. The program focuses on complex medical decisions, evidence-based medicine, disease management, and comprehensive laboratory informatics. Percent placement of graduate students FIVE ACCELERATED MASTER’S PROGRAMS immediately after 81 graduation, 2011-12 To allow our undergraduate students to jump-start their graduate education, the Graduate School is proud to announce the development of five new accelerated master’s programs. These programs will allow students to complete their master’s Largest Peace Corps degrees in one year beyond their bachelor’s degrees: biomedical engineering, Master’s International chemical engineering, engineering mechanics, materials science and engineering, 1 Program in the country and mechanical engineering.

White/Non-Hispanic

Not Supplied

African American/ Multiracial Graduate Student Non-Hispanic

International Enrollment American Indian/ Alaskan Native PERCENT BY ETHNICITY FALL 2011 Asian/ Asian American

Hispanic/ Hispanic American

The number of graduate students not supplying race/ethnicity attracts a large proportion of international students due in part information decreased since fall 2010, while the number to the University’s extensive offerings in the STEM (science, identifying themselves as multiracial increased. Michigan Tech technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines. PhD Research

Building Business in Michigan PhD graduates from Michigan Tech create significant economic opportunity for the state of Michigan. From technology development sponsored by industry to leading the businesses that they have started, our doctoral graduates are contributing to the state’s knowledge-driven resurgence. invention Michigan Tech continues to draw many of the state’s most capable disclosures were and motivated students for advanced degrees. Even before they launch careers in academia or industry, these residents contribute filed by Michigan through industry-sponsored research to promote prosperity in Tech graduate Michigan. For example, Stephanie Groves’ research (see story below) on biofuels was sponsored by a company from Alpena. students over the past six years.

SMART GRID MAGNESIUM HALL THRUSTER ETHANOL PRODUCTION Andrew Drees received a BS degree in Mark Hopkins completed his Stephanie Groves received a BS degree Electrical Engineering with a minor in undergraduate degree in electrical in Biological Sciences–Microbiology historical studies in 2009 and an MS engineering at Michigan Tech in summer with a minor in bioprocess engineering degree in Electrical Engineering in 2011 2010. In fall 2010, Mark began work on from Michigan Tech in 2006 and an MS from Michigan Tech. He is currently his PhD in the Ion Space Propulsion Lab in Biological Sciences–Microbiology in working toward a PhD at Michigan Tech under Lyon B. King. Mark’s research 2009. She is currently working on a PhD advised by Chee-Wooi Ten and Bruce interest is the development of Hall-effect in Biological Sciences, advised by Susan Mork. thrusters operating on magnesium Bagley. His main research area is distribution propellant. Her research goal is the optimization system applications of the smart grid. Hall thrusters are used for orbit transfer of ethanol production by yeast from The smart grid is a next-generation and deep space missions. State-of-the- lignocellulosic biomass. Her project power system that installs intelligent art Hall thrusters commonly operate focuses on increasing ethanol yields real-time monitoring and control using xenon gas, which is very expensive through adaptation of yeast to capabilities throughout the power and requires large vacuum facilities for lignocellulosic feedstocks and identifying system infrastructure. Andrew’s testing. Magnesium is inexpensive and targets for metabolic engineering. research focuses on creating solutions requires only moderate pumping speed at The economic impact of her research to challenges such as how to secure vacuum facilities. Magnesium also exists revolves around increasing the viability of the vast increase in power system in Martian and Lunar regolith, which may lignocellulose as a commercial feedstock information that is now available. allow for in-situ refueling. for biofuels. Andrew Drees Mark Hopkins Stephanie Groves PhD Candidate PhD Candidate PhD Candidate Electrical Engineering (Spring 2014) Mechanical Engineering (Spring 2014) Biological Sciences (Fall 2012) Your Impact

Funding provided by alumni and friends of Michigan Tech’s Graduate School helps to provide much-needed financial support to outstanding students. These three students all benefited from the Graduate School Finishing Fellowship.

“Obtaining a Graduate School Finishing Fellowship was crucial in helping me complete my degree. The fellowship allowed me to focus entirely on my research. I am modifying asphalt pavement materials with electronic waste plastics in order to reduce waste and costs. I was able to successfully write my dissertation while I was supported by the Finishing Fellowship; without it I would not have had the resources to successfully complete my degree.” —Baron Colbert, PhD, Fall 2012

“I was very grateful to be awarded a PhD Finishing Fellowship for my final semester at Michigan Tech. This financial support allowed me to focus my attention on finishing my dissertation and publishing my research. Publication is essential for disseminating new research results and promoting the research taking place at Michigan Tech, and for helping people like me launch their careers. My achievements, thanks to the Finishing Fellowship, led to the start of a successful career as a forest habitat biologist.” —Lindsey Shartell, PhD, Spring 2012

“The Graduate School Finishing Fellowship enabled me to shift my focus from my teaching to scholarship, which I would have been unable to do otherwise. Having a semester to focus solely on my own writing is what really made obtaining my PhD in a timely manner possible. I am sincerely grateful to having been given a Finishing Fellowship, as it allowed me to complete my PhD and reach my own goal of teaching writing full time at a university.” —Heather L. H. Jordan, PhD, Summer 2011 Alumni

Do you ever think of old college friends and wonder what they’re up to and where they’ve been? Here, we’ve done our best to document where our alumni reside around the globe. We also checked in with a couple of alums who were featured in the past.

Mark Griep, PhD ’08 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MECHANICAL ENGINEERING The world map at right shows the countries of residence for Michigan “Michigan Tech’s international Tech Graduate School alumni. diversity was highly influential in my career. Tech offered vibrant 30–80 alums (USA: 5,890) international and cultural opportunities to genuinely 10–29 alums experience diversity. It was these 4–9 alums experiences that drove me to 2–3 alums pursue a Fulbright Fellowship in Taiwan following graduation, 1 alum and I am now moving toward an international focus in my career.”

Kristen Roth, MS ’09 CIVIL ENGINEERING “Through my experience in the civil engineering graduate program, I greatly expanded my engineering knowledge and enhanced my skills as a writer and researcher. $8,725 I learned the importance of self The average lifetime giving to Michigan Tech by a motivation, planning, and goals. Graduate School alumnus. The average individual gift is Having my master’s degree helped $292. me secure a job, and I was given more responsibility upon entering the workforce than I would have been given if I only had a 41% bachelor’s degree.” 3,036 Graduate School alumni have contributed $26,490,063 to Michigan Tech since 1948; a 41 percent participation rate. Michigan Tech develops many leaders Top with strong entrepreneurial abilities, reflected in the large number of self- EMPLOYERS OF GRADUATE SCHOOL ALUMNI employed individuals.

Michigan Tech 132 A prominent example is John Hallquist Self Employed 80 PhD, who graduated from Michigan Tech Ford Motor Company 72 in 1974. He founded Livermore Software General Motors Corporation 63 Technology Corporation in 1987 and Caterpillar 54 was elected to the National Academy of Cummins 51 Engineering in 2007. IBM Corporation 39 US Department of Agriculture 26 Boeing Company 25 Chrysler Group 21 Support Types

PHD MASTER’S

2007 2009 2011 2007 2009 2011

Self 24% 24% 31% Self 67% 75% 76%

External 36% 30% 33% External 13% 7% 11%

Internal 40% 46% 36% Internal 20% 18% 13%

Internal financial support includes teaching and research Self–supported master’s students continue to grow in assistantships provided by Michigan Tech. External support number at Michigan Tech. These students pursue degrees includes fellowships, grants, and contracts. Self-supported that make them more competitive in today’s workplace. In students pay their own way or have assistance from an 2011, there was a slight increase in the number of master’s employer or another organization, and their support is not students receiving external support and a small decrease in administered through Michigan Tech. the number receiving internal support.

Gender by College

758 Total number of students Female Male 29% Female

318 1,303 Students in the Graduate School

85 82 60 71% Male

School of College of School of Forest College of No College Business and Engineering Resources and Sciences and Arts Designated Economics Environmental Science

The Graduate School is making steady progress towards the 2020 goal of 35 percent female enrollment. The College of Engineering has the largest number of female graduate students (156), while the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science has the highest percentage (53) of female students. Students

ENROLLMENT Demand for Michigan Tech Nondegree graduate programs has risen 83 PhD 529 steadily over the past five years, Master’s with applications more than doubling and total enrollment 31 423 exceeding 1,300. 691

Applications 462 Accepts Enrolled

1,299 608 276 2006 2011 2006 Graduate enrollment levels are at an all-time high, with 41 percent of graduate students enrolled in PhD programs, 53 percent in master’s programs, and 7 percent as nondegree-seeking students. Michigan Tech is steadily moving towards its goal of having 2007 3,000 graduate students enrolled by 2035.

2008 DEGREES 63 PhD

Masters 289

2009 65

184 2010

2,885 1,258 402 2011

2006 2011 Graduate School applications continue to increase each year. From fall 2006 to fall 2011, In 2011–12, Michigan Tech granted 289 master’s and the Graduate School has experienced a 122 63 PhD degrees. The Graduate School is nearing the percent increase in the number of applications. University’s 2012 goal of granting 65 PhD degrees per year Each year has seen technological advancements and has exceeded the master’s goal of 225 by 28 percent. in our processes for compiling, completing, and The 2011–12 academic year produced the most graduate reviewing prospective students’ applications. degrees in Michigan Tech’s history. Survey of Earned Doctorates

(WWW.NSF.GOV/STATISTICS/SRVYDOCTORATES)

STEM Focused Career Paths

85.6% 46.2% 40.9% vs. 16.0% of Michigan Tech’s of High Research PhDs work in University PhDs work industry/business in industry/business

Michigan Tech High Research Universities

More than 85 percent of Michigan Tech’s PhDs have Nearly 41 percent of Michigan Tech PhDs’ engineering or life/physical sciences as their primary field postgraduate employment is with industry/ of study, compared to 46.2 percent of PhD recipients business, compared to 16 percent at all High from High Research Universities in general. Research Universities.

Less Time to Degree More Students with No Debt 1.5 years Michigan Tech 58.9% The difference between Michigan Tech and other High Research Universities 47.5% High Research Universities in time to degree

7.2 years since starting graduate school is the Nearly 60 percent of Michigan Tech’s PhDs median time to degree for Michigan Tech’s PhDs. completed their degrees with no debt at This compares to all High Research Universities’ graduation. By contrast, only 47.5 percent from all time to degree of 8.7 years. High Research Universities graduated with no debt.

THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS BASED ON 2010 DATA REPORTED IN 2011. Graduate Tuition Residents + Engineers Nonresidents + Engineers FULL-TIME TUITION FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2012–13

$10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000

$4,546 Texas Tech University $10,864 University of Michigan-Dearborn Michigan Technological University University of Colorado Boulder Oakland University University of Illinois at Chicago Clemson University Missouri University of Science and Technology Michigan State University New Jersey Institute of Technology University of Cincinnati University of Wisconsin-Madison Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Colorado School of Mines University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Purdue University-Main Campus $21,914 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor $41,232

Graduate Stipend

NORMALIZED MINIMUM STIPENDS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2012–13 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000

Purdue University-Main Campus $10,552 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Michigan Technological University University of Cincinnati Michigan State University Clemson University Oakland University University of Wisconsin-Madison Colorado School of Mines University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Colorado Boulder Texas Tech University Missouri University of Science and Technology New Jersey Institute of Technology University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Michigan-Dearborn $18,234 Michigan Technological University Graduate School 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295

Our Newest Research Facility The Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) is the newest addition to Michigan Tech’s campus. The GLRC is a 50,000 square foot interdisciplinary research center featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, computing centers, high-tech public meeting spaces, and docking facilities to accommodate a variety of research vessels. Research at the GLRC is focused on understanding and preserving the Great Lakes. The GLRC is designed to be a “green” building with construction materials specifically selected to reduce long-term maintenance and energy costs.

Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. Michigan Tech is a leading public Contact Us research university, developing new technologies Telephone 906-487-2327 and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech Fax 906-487-2284 offers more than sixty graduate degree programs in Email [email protected] engineering, forestry and environmental sciences, computing, business and economics, natural and www.mtu.edu/gradschool physical sciences, humanities, technology, and social sciences.