Doctoral Oral Exams for Dec. 6–Dec. 10

The Graduate Dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the
doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:

Kelsi Marie Skeens Rehmann, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Monday, December 6, 10:00 a.m., Gunness
Student Center and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Transport and Anionic Polymerization of Methylidene
Malonates on Polymer Substrates”. John Klier and Jessica Schiffman, co-chrs.

Catherine Tebaldi, Ph.D., College of Education, Monday, December 6, 12:00 p.m., via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Alt-Education: Language, Gender, and Education Across the Right.” Kysa Nygreen, chr.

Marsha Allen, Ph.D., Geosciences, Tuesday, December 7, 11:30 a.m., Morrill room 245. Dissertation:
“Improving the Hydrological Analysis of Groundwater Flow Paths by Integrating Geochemical and
Physical Characteristics of a Highly Fractured Aquifer System to Create Sustainable Use of Groundwater
in a Climate with Projected Drying Trends.” David Boutt, chr.

Ayla Skorupa, Ph.D., Environmental Conservation, Wednesday, December 8, 10:00 a.m., Holdsworth
312. Dissertation: “Developing a Restoration Strategy for Brook Floater (Alasmidonta Varicosa) in
Massachusetts.” Allison Roy, chr.

Hamza Javaid, Ph.D., Chemistry, Wednesday, December 8, 1:00 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Tailoring
Interfaces and Composition for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.” D. Venkataraman, chr.

Seyedeh Khatami, Ph.D., Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Wednesday, December 8, 3:30 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Decision-analytic Models Using Reinforcement Learning to Inform Dynamic
Sequential Decisions in Public Policy.” Chaitra Gopalappa and Erin Baker, co-chrs.

Zhengfan Wang, Ph.D., School of Public Health, Thursday, December 9, 9:00 a.m., via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Development of Bayesian Temporal Models for Global Health Estimation in Data-Limited
Settings.” Leontine Alkema, chr.

Nelson Da Luz, Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Thursday, December 9, 9:30 a.m., 115 Elab II. Dissertation:
“Enhancing Management of Built and Natural Water Sanitation Systems with Data Science.” Emily
Kumpel, chr.

Rigumula Wu, Ph.D., Chemistry, Thursday, December 9, 9:30 a.m., Goessmann 153 and via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Multi-Colored Fluorogenic RNA Sensors for the Quantification and Multiplexed Imaging
of Small-Molecule Levels in Living Cells.” Mingxu You, chr.

Chris Chartrand, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Thursday, December 9, 10:00 a.m., Kellogg Room
ELAB II. Dissertation: “A Volume Preserving, Unstructured, Orthogonal Moving Cell Solution Method
for Incompressible Fluid Dynamics.” Blair Perot, chr.

Adeline Broussan, Ph.D., History, Thursday, December 9, 12:30 p.m., and via Zoom. Dissertation:
“Grassroots Diplomacy, Warrior Femininity, and Intersectional Sisterhood during the French and
American Wars in Vietnam (1945-1975)” Christian Appy, chr.

Mariamar Gutierrez Ramirez, Ph.D., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Thursday, December 9,
12:30 p.m., Morrill 222. Dissertation: “Drivers and Direct Impacts of Lean Mass Dynamics on the
Stopover Ecology and Migratory Pace of Nearctic-Neotropical Songbirds in Spring.” Alexander Gerson,
chr.

Yan Cong, Ph.D., Polymer Science, Thursday, December 9, 1:00 p.m., Conte Polymer Research Building
A110/111. Dissertation: “New Isomeric Silicones: Synthesis, Compositions and Surface Properties.”
Thomas J. McCarthy, chr.

Babgen Manookian, Ph.D., Chemistry, Thursday, December 9, 1:00 p.m., Goessmann 153 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Molecular Vibrations and Shape-Selectivity: A Computational Model of Biofuel Precursors in Zeolites.” Scott Auerbach, chr.

Leila Gautham, Ph.D., Economics, Thursday, December 9, 2:00 p.m., via videoconference. Dissertation:
“Essays on Unpaid Care and Gender Inequality in India.” Nancy Folbre, chr.

Victor Ryu, Ph.D., Food Science, Thursday, December 9, 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation:
“Enhancement in Photoactivation of Food-borne Pathogenic Bacteria with the Use of Curcumin and
Surfactants.” Lynn McLandsborough, chr.

Kimberly Soland, Ph.D., Philosophy, Thursday, December 9, 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. Dissertation:
“Quantitative Character and the Composite Account of Phenomenal Content.” Joseph Levine, chr.

Evelyn Beaury, Ph.D., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Friday, December 10, 11:00 a.m., 209
French Hall. Dissertation: “The Spatial Distribution of Invasive Plant Presence, Abundance, and Impact.”
Bethany Bradley, chr.

Michelle Brooks, Ph.D., English, Friday, December 10, 1:00 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Literary
Negation and Materialism in Chaucer.” Jenny Adams, chr.

Mohsen Hosseini, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Friday, December 10, 2:00 p.m., via
Zoom. Dissertation: “Silicon-Germanium BiCMOS Integrated Circuits for Scalable Cryogenic Sensing
Applications.” Joseph Bardin, chr.

Jonathan Moyer, Ph.D., School of Public Health, Friday, December 10, 2:00 p.m., via Zoom.
Dissertation: “Impact of Loss to Follow-up and Time Parameterization in Multiple-Period Cluster Randomized Trials and Assessing the Association between Institution Affiliation and Journal
Publication.” Ken Kleinman, chr.

Catherine Manly, Ph.D., College of Education, Friday, December 10, 3:30 p.m. Furcolo Room 102.
Dissertation: “Utilization and Effect of Multiple Content Modalities in Online Higher Education: Shifting
Trajectories Toward Success Through Universal Design for Learning.” Ryan Wells, chr.