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

Charles Cao, Ph.D., Computer Science, Monday, May 4, 9 a.m., CSL E400 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Ultrasonic Sensing Systems: From Hardware Design to Interactive and Physiological Applications.” Jeremy Gummeson and Jie Xiong, co-chairs.

Diego Alberto Polanco Necochea, Ph.D., Economics, Monday, May 4, 9 a.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Capacity Utilization and Accumulation Regimes: Essay in the Political Economy of Growth, Distribution, and Core-Periphery Dynamics.” Michael Ash, chair.

Xianci Zeng, Chemical Engineering, Monday, May 4, 9 a.m., LSL N410 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Bioinspired Strategies for the Encapsulation and Stabilization of Biomacromolecules.” Sarah Perry, chair.

Hung-Hsun (Ryan) Ly, Ph.D., Chemistry, Monday, May 4, 9:15 a.m., Goessman 153. Dissertation: “Harnessing Macromolecular Engineering to Enable Multivalency-Driven Extracellular Targeted Protein Degradation.” S. Thayumanavan, chair.

Hao Wan, Ph.D., Polymer Science and Engineering, Monday, May 4, 11 a.m., LGRT 1033. Dissertation: “Controlling the Morphology of Growing Membrane-Integrated 2D Crystals Using Tension and Curvature.” Maria M. Santore, chair.

Aimen Gaba, Ph.D., Computer Science, Monday, May 4, 3 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Advancing Responsible and Trustworthy AI Using Human-Centered Methods.” Cindy Xiong, chair.

Aaron Yates, Ph.D., Sociology, Tuesday, May 5, 10 a.m., Thompson 720. Dissertation: “Haunting Silences: Du Boisian Reflections on the Development of American Sociology.” Moon-Kie Jung, chair.

Nigel Fernandez, Ph.D., Computer Science, Tuesday, May 5, 11 a.m., CSL E400 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Natural Language Processing for Scalable Educational Assessment and AI Systems.” Andrew Lan, chair.

Cheryl Harned, Ph.D., History, Tuesday, May 5, 2 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Collected: Trauma, Wonder and the Birth of the Modern Museum Movement.” Marla Miller, chair.

Sharanya Sridhar, Ph.D., English, Tuesday, May 5, 2 p.m., Arthur Kinney Center. Dissertation: “Global Genres, Local Shakespeare(s): Intertextuality and Gender Conventions in Post-Independence Tamil Films.” Jane Hwang Degenhardt, chair.

Juhyeon Lee, Ph.D., Computer Science, Wednesday, May 6, 9 a.m., CSL E400 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Advancing Objective Motor Severity Assessment in Cerebellar Ataxias Using Sensors and Machine Learning.” Sunghoon Ivan Lee, chair.

Benjamin Adams, Ph.D., Chemistry, Wednesday, May 6, 1 p.m., LGRT 1681 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Harnessing Plasmonic Hot Carriers for Nanomaterials Growth and Photocatalysis.” Joseph DuChene, chair.

Deep Chakraborty, Ph.D., Computer Science, Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m., LGRC A112 and via Zoom. Dissertation: “Understanding, Improving, and Applying Self-Supervised Neural Representations.” Erik Learned-Miller, chair.

Mitia Nath, Ph.D., English, Thursday, May 7, 10:30 a.m., South College E501. Dissertation: “Fictions of Filth: Race, Caste, and Empire in Late-Colonial India.” Asha Nadkarni, chair.

Minji Lee, Ph.D., Psychological and Brain Sciences, Thursday, May 7, 2:30 p.m., Tobin 423. Dissertation: “Navigating Adversity: A Multi-Study Examination of Discrimination and Mental Health Among Marginalized Young Adults.” Maria Galano, chair.

Maciej Mroczek, Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Friday, May 8, 1 p.m., Knowles Engineering 109. Dissertation: “Scientific Investigations of Select Engineering Challenges Related to Bottom-Fixed Offshore Wind Foundations.” Sanjay Raja Arwade, chair.

Shiv Shankar, Ph.D., Computer Science, Friday, May 8, 1 p.m., CSL E239. Dissertation: “Counterfactual Inference in the Era of User Privacy and Gen-AI Models.” Ina Fiterau, chair.

Fabien Delattre, Ph.D., Computer Science, Friday, May 8, 1 p.m., LGRC A215. Dissertation: “Applications of Motion Perception: Ego-Motion Estimation, Video Synchronization, and Self-Balancing.” Erik Learned-Miller, chair.

Roman Sanchez, Ph.D., Anthropology, Friday, May 8, 1:30 p.m., via Zoom. Dissertation: “Nepantla Futures: Speculating Mexican American Studies for Transition in The Land of the Spirit Waters.” Amanda Walker Johnson, chair.