New Theses and Dissertations Available in the Library

The Graduate School is pleased to announce new theses and dissertations are now available in the J.R. van Pelt and Opie Library from the following programs:

  • Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Forest Ecology and Management
  • Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Geology
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
  • Physics


Yiru Chen
Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
Advisor: Victor B Busov
Dissertation title: Regulation of Woody Plant Development by Auxin and Polar Auxin Transport

Aaron DeWahl
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Advisor: Stephen A Hackney
Thesis title: Faulted Structures in Li Ion Exchanged NaMO2(M=Ni0.25Mn0.75)

Stephanie Groves
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
Advisor: Susan T Bagley
Dissertation title: Ethanol Production from Hardboard Manufacturing Process Wastewater: Methods for Improving Product Yields from Hemicellulose Hydrolysates

Alexandria Guth
Doctor of Philosophy in Geology
Advisor: James R Wood
Dissertation title: Spatial and Temporal Evolution of the Volcanics and Sediments of the Kenya Rift

Meagan Harless
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences
Co-Advisors: Casey J Huckins and Thomas Grant Pypker
Dissertation title: Effects of Chemical Deicers on Amphibian Communities

Melanie Kueber Watkins
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Advisor: David W Hand
Dissertation title: Characterization of a Coal Fly Ash-Cement Slurry by the Absolute Foam Index

Federica Lanza
Master of Science in Geology
Co-Advisors: Gregory Phillip Waite and Alessandro Tibaldi
Thesis title: Evaluating Stress Patterns for Plio-Quaternary Brittle Deformation along the Calama-Olacapato-El Toro Fault Zone, Central Andes

Chen Liao
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Shiyan Hu
Dissertation title: Strategic Optimization Techniques for FRTU Deployment and Chip Physical Design

James Pidgeon
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Co-Advisors: Jeffrey Donald Naber and John H Johnson
Thesis title: An Experimental Investigation into the Effects of Biodiesel Blends on Particulate Matter Oxidation in a Catalyzed Particulate Filter during Active Regeneration

Sarah Poznanovic
Master of Science in Forest Ecology and Management
Co-Advisors: Christopher Raymond Webster and Joseph Kelty Bump
Thesis title: Promoting Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems Using Ecological Forestry

Alison Regal
Master of Science in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Co-Advisors: Louisa Dominique Raisbeck and Paul Ward
Thesis title: Skill Acquisition and the Influence of Attentional Focus and Practice

Michael Rittenour
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Co-Advisors: Scott Andrew Miers and Jason R Blough
Thesis title: Cold-Start Emissions Testing of Snowmobiles Using Ethanol and Gasoline

Neila Salvadori
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
Advisor: Veronica Webster Griffis
Thesis title: Evaluation of Non-Stationarity in Annual Maximum Flood Series of Moderately Impaired Watersheds in the Upper Midwest and Northeastern United States

Joel Suss
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Advisor: Paul Ward
Dissertation title: Using a Prediction and Option Generation Paradigm to Understand Decision Making

Scott Wagner
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Co-Advisors: William John Emblom and Craig R Friedrich
Dissertation title: Analysis of a Non-Traditional Micro Tube Hydroforming Process

Mimi Yang
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
Advisor: Pushpalatha P N Murthy
Dissertation title: Enhancement of Heterologous Expression of Alkaline Phytase in Pichia pastoris

Huan Zhang
Master of Science in Computer Science
Advisor: Chaoli Wang
Thesis title: Animated Transition in Similarity-Based Tiled Image Layout

Xiaoliang Zhong
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
Advisor: Ravindra Pandey
Dissertation title: Electron Transport in Low-Dimensional Nanostructures -Theoretical Study with Application

Bonnie Zwissler
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Advisor: Thomas Oommen
Thesis title: A Study of the Impacts of Freeze-Thaw on Cliff Recession at the Calvert Cliffs in Calvert County, Maryland