Doctoral Oral Exam Schedule
The Graduate Dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:
Doctoral Oral Exams for January 19, 2026 – January 23, 2026
Ruth Hornsby, PhD., Education
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1:00PM, Furcolo N125.
Dissertation: “Examining Preservice Teacher’s Evolving Beliefs About Teachers, Teaching and Learning, Using Metaphor Analysis and Semi-Structured Interviews.” Linda Griffin, Chair.
Andrew Shultz, PhD., Molecular and Cellular Biology
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 11:00AM, LSL 610.
Dissertation: “From Uptake to Clearance: Investigating the Role of Microglia in Tauopathies.” Jenny Rauch, Chair.
Azaria Anderson, PhD., Neuroscience and Behavior
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1:00PM, ISB 221.
Dissertation: “Role of the Medial Preoptic Area in Preventing Cocaine Reinstatement in the New Mother Rats Exhibiting a Depressive Phenotype.” Mariana Pereira, Chair.
Efthymia Kostopoulou, PhD., Civil and Environmental Engineering
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 3:00PM, ELab 118.
Dissertation: “Sustainable Signal Control and Transit Network Design to Address Air Quality and Accessibility.” Eleni Christofa, Chair.
Doctoral Oral Exams for January 12, 2026 – January 16, 2026
Ma Irina S. Sagarbarria, PhD., Chemistry
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:00AM, LGRT 1681 and via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Probing Caspase-6 Inhibition Towards Neurodegenerative Drug Discovery.” Jeanne Hardy, Chair.
Graeham Dodd, PhD., Education
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11:00AM, Furcolo S115.
Dissertation: “”Exploratory Teaching” as an Integral Stage in Teacher Education.” Linda Griffin, Chair.
Hengjun Du, PhD., Food Science
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 3:00PM, Chenoweth Lab 210A.
Dissertation: “Health Risks of Foodborne Silicone Dioxide Nanoparticles: Systemic and Reproductive Adverse Effects Mediated by Gut Microbiota and The Gut-Organ Axis.” Hang Xiao, Chair.
Katherine Wahlbeck Lu-Diaz, PhD., Chemistry
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1:00PM, Goessmann 153 and via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Mechanism of Activation of E. coli Chemotaxis Kinase CheA.” Lynmarie Thompson, Chair.
Carolyn Cramoy, PhD., Public Health
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12:00PM, Arnold 221.
Dissertation: “Associations Between Iron Status and Folate Status in US Women of Child-Bearing Age: (Path to Understanding Birth Defect Risk in Overweight/Obese Mothers).” Zhenhua Liu and Lorraine Cordeiro, Co-Chairs.
Andrew J Smith, PhD., Chemistry
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 2:00PM, LGRT 1681.
Dissertation: “Molecular Insights into Protease-Substrate Interactions and Functional Dynamics in Neurodegeneration and Viral Infection.” Jeanne Hardy, Chair.
Jessica J. Allen, PhD., Chemistry
Friday, January 16, 2026, 2:00PM, LGRT 1681.
Dissertation: “Signaling-Related Changes of Protein Interfaces and Stability in Functional Chemotaxis Receptor Complexes.” Lynmarie Thompson, Chair.
Doctoral Oral Exams for January 5, 2026 – January 9, 2026
Grasshopper Anderson-Merritt, PhD., Geosciences
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1100AM, Morrill 129 and via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Estimating Evolving Shear Tractions on the Southern San Andreas and Wasatch Fault Systems.” Michele Cooke, Chair.
Simin Manole, PhD., Chemical Engineering
Friday, January 9, 2026, 10:00AM, French Hall 209.
Dissertation: “Adjuvant Calreticulin Delivery by Salmonella Improves the Efficacy of Tumor Immunotherapy with the Infiltration and Activation of Immune Cells.” Neil Forbes, Chair.
Adrian Carleton, PhD., Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Friday, January 9, 2026, 9:00AM, Marcus Hall Gunness Student Center.
Dissertation: “Kirigami Sheets in Fluid Flow.” Yahya Modarress-Sadeghi, Chair.