Awards and Achievements

Cantrell, Woods Receive Distinguished Teaching Awards
"Office hours" are an elastic concept for Michigan Tech's 2012 Distinguished Teaching Award winners. "His office is always open," says physics department chair Ravi Pandey of Will Cantrell, associate professor of physics, who received the award in the professor/associate professor category. "I've seen him here on Saturday and Sunday working with students." Cantrell came to Michigan Tech in 2001, after serving as a postdoc in chemistry at Indiana University and completing his PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Pandey called Cantrell "a superlative model of the scholar-teacher." READ MORE
Tech Today, May 15, 2012

Physics Department Poster Session Awards 2012
The Department of Physics is pleased to announce the best oral and poster presentations by physics graduate students during the Physics Colloquium poster session held on April 19, 2012, in the Aftermath Atrium in Fisher Hall. There were two similarly rated best oral presentations: "Conduction Amongst Mesoscopic Particles" by Douglas Banyai and "Calibrating a Gamma-Ray Observatory" by Nathan Kelley-Hoskins. There were also two similarly rated best poster presentations: "Individual Particle Analysis of Carbonaceous Aerosols Emitted from the Las Conchas Wildfire, Los Alamos, NM" by Swarup China and "Exploring Cloud Microstructure with the HOLODEC I" by Matthew Beals. The presentations were evaluated by the physics graduate students and ranked in order of preference. The winners will receive a small monetary award.
Physics News, May 2, 2012

Nemiroff Honored for Astrophysics Research
The University is recognizing two faculty members with the 2012 Research Award, Robert Nemiroff and Andrew Storer. In nominating Nemiroff, physics professor Don Beck and Ravindra Pandey, chair of the physics department, cited his research based on gravitational lensing, noting that his groundbreaking predictions regarding binary stars, quasars and microlensing events (which give insight into stellar distributions and dark matter) have been proved correct. In another project, Nemiroff and his graduate students searched gamma-ray bursts to find "echoes" caused by the gravitational lens effect of dark matter. READ MORE
Michigan Tech News, April 20, 2012

2012 Distinguished Teaching Awards Nominations in Physics
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development seeks input for its annual Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize outstanding contribution to the instructional mission of the University. Finalists in physics include Will Cantrell and John Jaszczak in the Associate Professor/Professor Category. Submit comments by March 30.
Tech Today, February 24, 2012

Spring 2012 Finishing Fellowship Recipient
Physics graduate student Saikat Mukhopadhyay is a recipient of a Finishing Fellowship from the Michigan Tech Graduate School. The fellowships provide support to PhD candidates who are close to completing their degrees; they are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University.
Grad School News Blog, February 8, 2012

Fall 2011 Finishing Fellowship Recipient
Engineering Physics graduate student Neluka Dissanayake is a recipient of a Finishing Fellowship from the Michigan Tech Graduate School. The fellowships are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in The Michigan Tech Plan.
Grad School News Blog, February 8, 2012

Another Outstanding Chapter Award for the Society of Physics Students
The Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been selected as one of the 2011 Outstanding SPS Chapters. This is the second year in a row that the local chapter has earned such a distinction from the Zone Councilors and Associate Zone Councilors.

This chapter is part of Zone 09, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Upper Michigan, and Wisconsin. Award selection criteria include involvement with national meetings, outreach effort, community service, interaction with alumni, student recruitment, and more.

According to the Zone Councilors & Associate Zone Councilors, "This chapter makes a great push to keep alumni involved, while still looking towards the future and actively recruiting new members."

"Our major is not easy, and we work together in order to make the times more fun, as Physics is our passion, and though it can be frustrating at times, we want nothing more than for our students to want to get a career in Physics."
Physics News February 6, 2012

Notables
Professor Miguel Levy (Physics) has been named a Fellow of The Optical Society, which brings together scientists, engineers, educators, technicians and business leaders in the fields of optics and photonics. Election to the rank of Fellow is based on outstanding contributions to optics through accomplishments in science and engineering, technical leadership and impact on the optics community. Levy was recognized for outstanding and fundamental contributions in the areas of magneto-optic and opto-electronic films, and extensions of the theory and applications of magneto-optic photonic crystals.
Tech Today, January 31, 2012

Michigan Tech Nominates Four for Goldwater Scholarships
Michigan Tech has nominated four undergraduates for 2012 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships. Physics major Ben Malec is one of the nominees. Malec tracks particles in a turbulent fluid in which gravitational settling also plays a role. He hopes to apply what he learns to better understand the behavior of clouds.
Tech Today, January 27, 2012

Levy Becomes 2012 OSA Fellow
Professor of Physics Dr. Miguel Levy has been elected to the rank of Fellow with the Optical Society of America (OSA). The citation reads "For outstanding and fundamental contributions in the areas of magneto-optic and opto-electronic films, and extensions of the theory and applications of magneto-optic photonic crystals."
Physics News, December 27, 2011

Fall 2011 Outstanding Scholarship Award
Physics graduate student Amalia Anderson is a recipient of the Dean's Award for Outstanding Scholarship. Anderson was nominated by the Department of Physics. A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Student Government award ceremony that is held in the spring.
Physics News, October 15, 2011

Fall 2011 Outstanding Teaching Award
Physics graduate student Wil Slough is a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. Slough was nominated by the Department of Physics based on very high student evaluations from the large class PH2100 - University Physics I - Mechanics. A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Student Government award ceremony that is held in the spring.
Physics News, October 11, 2011

Presidential Council of Alumnae on Campus
The Presidential Council of Alumnae (PCA) will hold its annual meeting and induction of new members Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 15-17, on campus. This year marks the 16th anniversary of the organization, which has 159 members. The PCA advises the president on campus climate issues and works to enhance the University's environment for all students. The PCA will recognize 23 outstanding students as Women of Promise, including Marwa Abd Almoneam (Physics).
Tech Today, September 8, 2011

Barkdoll, Meyer Receive Teaching Awards
Tech Today, May 26, 2011

Distinguished Teaching Award for Meyer
Senior Lecturer Michael Meyer is the recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Teaching Award in the category of Lecturer, Professor of Practice, or Assistant Professor. The official announcement will be made in the fall.
Physics News, May 19, 2011

Service Event Recognizes Employees
Michigan Technological University honored Department Coordinator Andrea Lappi and Professor Donald Beck for 30 years of service. The recognition dinner and presentation were held on May 11, 2011, at the Rozsa Center.
Tech Today, May 17, 2011

Yap, Lee Receive Bhakta Rath Award for Nanotube Research
Michigan Tech News, April 20, 2011

Tech Students Receive NSF Awards for Grad Study, Research
Graduate Research Fellowships support students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based degrees. An additional 2,064 applicants received honorable mentions. Among them is Tech student Eric Petersen, a physics undergraduate student.
Tech Today, April 15, 2011

Michigan Tech Society of Physics Students Receives Two National Honors
Michigan Tech News, March 12, 2011

2011 Distinguished Teaching Awards Nominations in Physics
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development seeks input for its annual Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize outstanding contribution to the instructional mission of the University. Finalists in physics include Will Cantrell in the Associate Professor/Professor Category and Michael Meyer in the Assistant Professor/Lecturer/Professor of Practice Category. Submit comments by Monday, March 28.
Tech Today, February 21, 2011

Spring 2011 Finishing Fellowship Recipients
Physics graduate students Amalia Anderson and Partha Pal will receive Finishing Awards from the Michigan Tech Graduate School. Anderson works with Dr. Alex Kostinski. Pal's advisor is Dr. Ranjit Pati. The spring 2011 fellowships are made possible by the generous support of the Graduate School.
February 17, 2011

Graduate Award Recipient

Graduate student Partha Pratim Pal is a recipient of the Dean's Award for Outstanding Scholarship. Pal was nominated by the Department of Physics. A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented at the Graduate Student Government award ceremony that is held in the spring. Pal is a member of Dr. Ranjit Pati's research group.
Physics News, January 28, 2011

Award for the Society of Physics Students

The Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been selected as one of the 2010 Outstanding SPS Chapters. This is the first time in decades the local chapter has earned such a distinction from the Zone Councilors and Associate Zone Councilors.

This chapter is part of Zone 09, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Upper Michigan, and Wisconsin. Award selection criteria include involvement with national meetings, outreach effort, community service, interaction with alumni, student recruitment, and more. See Also "Notables", Tech Today, January 27, 2011.

Student Awarded at 2010 MRS Fall Meeting

Physics graduate student Abhishek Prasad has won an award in the 2010 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting. Prasad was one of the 50 finalists in the Science as Art competition in the meeting. His entry, entitled "Stem of nanoflowers," was artificially composed of multiple scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. Voting from the participants was carried out on-site at the meeting. Prasad won first place in the competition. The MRS meeting was held in Boston from November 28 to December 03, with nearly 6000 registered participants. Prasad presented a paper entitled "(CdSe) ZnS Core Shell Quantum Dots Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanowires for Solar Energy Harvesting Applications" in Symposium W: Nanowires—Growth and Device Assembly for Novel Applications. Prasad is a senior graduate student in Professor Yoke Khin Yap's research group.

Fall 2010 Finishing Fellowship Recipients
Physics graduate students Chee Huei Lee and Jiang Lu will receive Finishing Awards from the Michigan Tech Graduate School. The awards are made possible by the support of several Michigan Tech Fund endowments. Lee is part of Dr. Yoke Khin Yap's research group. Lu works with Dr. Raymond Shaw. The fellowships are made possible by the Charles L. Lawton Endowed Fellowship, Neil V. Hakala Endowed Fellowship, Doctoral Finishing Fellowship and the Graduate School.
November 3, 2010

Vogt Inducted into Academy
Physics alum Werner R. Vogt was inducted into the Academy of Sciences and Arts on September 17, 2010. Vogt, a 1966 BS graduate from Michigan Tech, is president of Amikles AG, Switzerland. READ MORE
Physics News, September 29, 2010

DOE Graduate Fellowship
Colin Gurganus, a PhD student in atmospheric science is among the 150 graduate fellows nationwide selected by the US Department of Energy Office of Science from among 3,300 applicants. He will receive $50,500 per year for up to three years to support tuition, living expenses, research materials and travel to conferences or to DOE scientific facilities. Gurganus is studying cloud microphysics with his advisor, Physics Professor Raymond Shaw. He aims to better understand the mechanisms that govern the processes inside clouds.
Michigan Tech News, August 13, 2010

Summer 2010 Finishing Fellowship Recipients
Engineering Physics graduate student Archana Pandey will receive a Finishing Fellowship Award from the Michigan Tech Graduate School. Pandey works with Dr. Yoke Khin Yap in the Yap Lab.
Tech Today, July 21, 2010

Kantamneni Offered Mensa Membership
Physics graduate student Abhilash Kantamneni has been offered membership in the prestigious Mensa International after clearing their qualification exam. Membership of Mensa is open to persons who have attained a score within the upper two percent of the general population on an approved intelligence test that has been properly administered and supervised.
Physics News, July 6, 2010

Michigan Tech SPS Chapter Receive Blake Lilly Prize
The Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been selected as a 2010 Blake Lilly winner. The submission of the chapter's outreach program was very impressive to the Blake Lilly Prize Committee. The chapter will receive the three-volume set of the Feynman Lectures on Physics and a certificate. The Michigan Tech chapter will be listed in the SPS Observer and on the SPS national website as a Blake Lilly winner. The organization was congratulated by past SPS president and physics alum Carly Robinson. She was president during 2005-2007 when the Family Physics Night outreach program was initiated by the SPS officers, Dr. Cantrell, Mike Meyers, and Joan Chadde. 2010 Blake Lilly Prize Recipients
Physics News, June 22, 2010

Employee Service Recognition
Michigan Technological University honored Professor Bryan Suits for 25 years of service and Associate Professor Robert Weidman for 30 years of service. The recognition dinner and presentation were held on May 4, 2010, with Glenn D. Mroz presiding.
Physics News, May 5, 2010

Michigan Tech Astrophysicists Share 2010 Research Award (Nitz, Fick)
Michigan Tech News, April 29, 2010

Students, Organizations, Staff Members Honored at Awards Banquet
The 16th Annual Student Awards Banquet was held on Sunday, April 25, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Thirteen awards were presented. Nearly 200 faculty, staff, students and campus leaders attended. Among the award recipients is Engineering Physics graduate student Archana Pandey, who was honored for Exceptional Leadership in Residential Community. Former physics major Elissa Barris won the Provost's Award for Scholarship. Physics major Gregory Lau was nominated for the Provost's Award and physics major Viktor Bollen was nominated for the Exceptional Enthusiasm as a Student Leader Award.
Tech Today, April 27, 2010

Six Fellowships Awarded from the DeVlieg Foundation
The Graduate School is pleased to announce the awarding of six fellowships made possible by the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation. Among the recipients is Physics PhD candidate Colin Gurganus.
Tech Today, April 23, 2010

Presidential Council of Alumnae Annual Women of Promise Awards
This award recognizes current female students from each academic department who go above and beyond what is expected of them in terms of being a well-rounded student. The award goes to students who have demonstrated academic achievement, campus and community leadership, good citizenship, creativity and other characteristics of high-achieving individuals. Among the honorees is physics major Erin M. Scanlon.
Tech Today, April 22, 2010

Grad Student Takes a Silver in MRS Science as Art Contest (Chee Huei Lee)
Tech Today, April 5, 2010

Cantrell Nominated for 2010 Distinguished Teaching Award
Tech Today, March 18, 2010

NSF CAREER Award

Ranjit Pati
CAREER: Theory and Modeling of a Mono-molecular Field Effect Organic Transistor (MOLFET)
Start Date February 15, 2007, Power, Controls & Adaptive Net

Yoke Khin Yap
CAREER: Synthesis, Characterization and Discovery of Frontier Carbon Materials
Start Date April 1, 2005, Solid-State Chemistry

Raymond Shaw
CAREER: Laboratory Studies of Small-Scale Processes in Clouds
Start Date January 1, 2000, Physical Meteorology

Robert Nemiroff
CAREER: Towards Understanding the Temporal Universe
Start Date September 1, 1997, Special Programs in Astronomy

About NSF CAREER Awards

Other Physics Research Awards

Distinguished Alumni

College of Science and Arts Distinguished Alumnae and Alumni

2010 Werner R. Vogt – BS, 1966 Physics * President, Amikles AG, Switzerland

2008 Steven L. Tomsovic – B.S. 1980, Physics * Professor and Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University

2006 Walter E. Kauppila - B.S. 1964, Physics * Professor of Physics, Wayne State University

2000 Joseph Roti Roti - B.S. 1965, Physics * Professor of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine

1998 Carl R. Adams - B.S. 1962, Applied Physics * Chairman, Information and Decision Sciences Department, University of Minnesota

1998 Paul D. Pietila - B.S. 1962, Applied Physics * Chief Operating Officer, Toledo Molding & Die (Retired)

1995 Leonard C. Buckman - B.S. 1960, Engineering Physics * President and General Manager, Rockwell WABCO Vehicle Control Systems