Apoorv Agarwal, Electrical Engineering, “Performance evaluation and control of Isolated DC-DC converters for Solid State Transformer, DC grids and Capacitor Charging Power Supply applications: Three phase Dual Active Bridge and Phase Shifted Full Bridge converters,” February 11, 2026, 3:00 p.m., FREEDM Systems Center. Major Professor: Dr. Subhashish Bhattacharya.

Vy Phuong Tran, Chemistry, “Synthetic Chlorosomal Bacteriochlorophylls-inspired Porphyrins for Studies in Basic
Science,” February 12, 2026, 10 a.m., DAB 210. Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan Lindsey.

Temilola Gbadamosi-Adeniyi, Industrial Engineering, “Data-Driven Modeling and Real-time Monitoring for Quality Assurance in EB-PBF Metal Additive Manufacturing using Electron Emission Data,” February 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m., 4103 Fitts Woolard. Major Professors: Dr. Tim Horn/Dr. Ola Harrysson.

Yamil Andres Essus Pradel, Industrial Engineering, “Computational Methods for Enhancing Community Resilience,” February 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m., FWH-4103. Major Professor: Dr. Benjamin Rachunok.

Joseph Richardson, Electrical Engineering, “Quantitative Viscoelasticity Estimation from Displacements Tracked On-Axis to Acoustic Radiation Force Excitations in Kelvin-Voigt Materials,” February 20, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Room 5004. Major Professor: Dr. Caterina Gallippi.

Michael Palmer, Horticultural Science, “The Impact of Initial Plant Size and Chill Hours on Meristem Fate and Vegetative Development of Rooted Strawberry Transplants”, February 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m., 121 Kilgore. Major Professors: Dr. Mark Hoffmann and Dr. Ricardo Hernandez.

Marian Prieto Torres, Entomology and Plant Pathology, “Integrating Genomics and Biosurveillance to Advance Disease Resistance and Management in Cucurbits,” February 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m., PSB 4152. Major Professor: Dr. Dr. Lina Quesada.

Shawana Sheperd-Murtagh, CRDM, “Governing Reproduction in Digital Publics: Risk, Surveillance, and Marginalized Parenthood,” February 24, 2026, 12:30 p.m. D.H. Hill Library, Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery. Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Binder.

Alexander Betz, Mathematics, “Actions of Fusion Categories on Algebras,” February 25, 2026, 10 a.m., SAS 3282. Major Professor: Dr. Corey Jones.

Amelia Rivera, TELS, “Transforming Teacher Preparation Through a Global Immersion: Developing Linguistic Justice Orientation in Preservice Teachers”, February 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Hunt Library Room 4505, Major Professor: Dr. Jamie Pearson.

Sarah Meghan Kriger, Chemistry, “Light-Up RNA Aptamers,” February 25, 2026, 11 a.m., COX 306. Major Professor: Dr. Phoebe Glazer.

Eder Garavito, TELS, “Examining Learner and Instructor Perceptions of Engagement in Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Physical Therapy Education”, February 26, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Florence Martin.

Donggu Lee, Electrical Engineering, “Ray Tracing-Based MIMO Link Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Asymmetric Links for UAV Networks,” February 26, 2026, 3:00 p.m., EBII-3075. Major Professor: Dr. Ismail Guvenc.

Elijah Rutter, Mathematics, “A Symmetric Monoidal Frohman-Nicas TQFT for Sutured Manifolds,” February 27, 2026, 12 p.m., Remote. Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Manion.

Abhirup Basu, Chemical Engineering, “Magnetic Field-Driven Assembly and Propulsion of Active Colloids Engineered from Anisotropic Nanoparticle Architectures,” February 27, 2026, 12:00 p.m., EBIII-2236. Major Professor: Dr. Orlin D. Velev.

Margaret Lawrimore, Geospatial Analytics, “From Zoning Maps to Urban Futures: A New Approach to Modeling Development Across Time”, February 27, 2026, 12:30 p.m., Jordan Hall Room 5103, Major Professors: Dr. Ross Meentemeyer and Dr. Georgina Sanchez.

Collin Ashley, Adult & Community College Education, “Adopting Intelligence: Decision-Making About Artificial Intelligence in Community College Administration”, February 27, 2026, 3:00 p.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Catherine Hartman.

Brenden Heinichen, Prestage Department of Poultry Science, “Advancing Predictive Nutrition in Commercial Turkeys: From Mechanistic Model Validation to Machine Learning Applications,” March 2, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Scott Hall 216. Major Professors: Dr. Peter Ferket and Dr. Ramon Malheiros.

Joseph Kaskel, Learning and Teaching in STEM, “Collecting Expert Opinions for Defining Computer Science Literacy in K-12: A General Qualitative Inquiry Approach”, March 2, 2026, 12:30 p.m., CTI Building Room 317, Major Professors: Dr. Daniel Kelly and Dr. Aaron Clark.

Cristyan Eduardo Quinones Garcia, Materials Science & Engineering, “Aluminum nitride devices for extreme environment electronics,” March 2, 2026, 3:00 p.m., RBI Conference Room. Major Professors: Dr. Ramon Collazo/Dr. Zlatko Sitar.

Jetta Lewis, TELS, “Exploring the Lived Experiences and Resource Needs of Neurodivergent College Students: An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study”, March 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m., CTI Builiding Room 305, Major Professor: Dr. Jamie Pearson.

Will Lidwell, Design, “Superuniversal Communication: A Theoretical Framework for Communicating Across Beings and Worlds,” March 3, 2026, 11 a.m., Remote. Major Professor: Dr. M. Elen Deming.

Jordyn McCrimmon, Psychology, “Examining Influences on Sexual and Reproductive Health Behaviors Among Black Adolescents: A Two-Study Dissertation,” March 4, 2026, 8 a.m., D.H. Hill Library, Room 2312G. Major Professor: Dr. Laura Widman.

Amanda Jewett, Adult & Community College Education, “It’s Your Story, Win, Lose, or Draw: A Collective Case Study of Community College QEP Directors”, March 4, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professors: Dr. Catherine Hartman and Dr. Makena Stewart.

Earl Gilmore Ford IV, Toxicology, “Old Drugs, New Uses: A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Investigation into Antidotes and Analgesics in Cattle – A Study of Methylene Blue, Butorphanol, and Morphine,” March 4, 2026, 10 a.m., CVM Main A101. Major Professors: Dr. Ronald Baynes and Dr. Derek Foster.

Elizabeth Ham, Adult & Community College Education, “Making Sense of Change: How Boundary-Spanning Community College Leaders Navigate Workforce Alignment in North Carolina”, March 4, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professors: Dr. Catherine Hartman and Dr. Keith Witham.

Dhanush Udayashankara Jamadgni, Materials Science & Engineering, “Design of GT-based Solid Lubricants,” March 4, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Room 3018. Major Professor: Dr. Martin Thuo.

Daniel Profili, Mathematics, “Conditions For Eigenvalue Configurations of Two Real Symmetric Matrices,” March 5, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Remote. Major Professor: Dr. Hoon Hong.

Meghan Moore, Psychology, “Comparing Stress Mindset Intervention Approaches,” March 5, 2026, 11 a.m., D.H. Hill Library, Rm. 2310. Major Professor: Dr. Jennifer Burnette.

Haeleen Hong, Chemical Engineering, “Bio-inspired Design of Active Soft Matter Microcleaners for Broad-Spectrum Microplastics Capture and Removal,” March 5, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Room 2018. Major Professor: Dr. Orlin D. Velev.

Lexi Namer, Design, “Developing a Harm-Aware Framework for Digital Healthcare Design,” March 5, 2026, 2 p.m., Remote. Major Professor: Dr. Sharon Joines.

Jiangfeng Xu, Chemical Engineering, “Sustainable Phosphorus Management: Engineering Multifunctional Hydrogels for Inorganic Phosphate Recovery and Organic Phosphate Catalysis,” March 5, 2026, 3:00 p.m., 302, Partners III. Major Professors: Dr. Jan Genzer/Dr. Kirill Efimenko.

Abbey Collins, Psychology, “Assessing Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Black Young Adult Women: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study,” March 6, 2026, 10 a.m., D.H. Hill Library, 2312G. Major Professor: Dr. Vanessa Volpe.

Vanessa Woods, Horticultural Science, “Biophilia Reactivity: The Temperment Trait of Human Attraction, Tolerance, and Fear Towards Biodiversity” March 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m., 121 Kilgore Hall. Major Professors: Dr. Melinda Knuth and Dr. Danesha Carley.

Austin D. Semmel, Operations Research, “The Readiness – Utilization Trade Space in U.S. Army Aviation: Policy, Decision Behavior, and Information Quality,” March 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m., FWH 4280. Major Professors: Dr. Hans Sebastian Heese/Dr. Brandon McConnell.

Kesa Jessup, ELPHD, “Balancing Purpose, People & Power: Adaptive Leadership Among Community Foundation Scholarship Professionals”, March 6, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professors: Dr. Audrey Jaeger and Dr. Keith Witham.

Diego Cornejo, Mathematics, “Resolvent and Proximal Compositions: Theory and Applications,” March 6, 2026, 11:35 a.m., SAS 3282. Major Professor: Dr. Patrick Combettes.

Janelle Johnson, TELS, “Examining Intersectional Neurodivergent Experiences in Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Approach”, March 6, 2026, 12:30 p.m., CTI Building Room 305, Major Professor: Dr. Jamie Pearson.

Christopher Dunstan, Geospatial Analytics, “Dancing with Data: Geospatial Analytics for Tracing Innovation in Urban Dance Culture”, March, 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Jordan Hall Room 5103, Major Professors: Dr. Laura Tateosian and Dr. Aaron Hipp.

Elizabeth Brehler, ELPHD, “Frontline Perspectives on Enrollment Barriers: Addressing the Adult Learner Enrollment Gap in Community Colleges”, March 6, 2026, 2:30 p.m., Belk Center Room 1103, Major Professors: Dr. Audrey Jaeger.

Kerri Donohue, Adult & Community College Education, “Exploring the Professional Identity of Community College Science Faculty”, March 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Catherine Hartman.

Lauren McGuire, ELPHD, “Demographic and Institutional Factors Associated with Graduate Student Unionization at R1 Universities: A Quantitative Analysis”, March 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Paul Umbach.

Salem Hamad N H Alnaimi, Civil Engineering, “Towards Safer and Smarter Airport Infrastructure: A Data-Driven Approach,” March 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m., Research IV 3402. Major Professors: Dr. Daniel Findley/Dr. Billy Williams.

Nathan Kyler, Psychology, “Anxiety Mindsets in Parents and Children,” March 9, 2026, 12 p.m., D.H. Hill Library, Conference Room 2310. Major Professor: Dr. Jennifer Burnette.

Shweta Meena, Electrical Engineering, “Plant Control Co-design Approach for AC Microgrids,” March 10, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Energy Board Room, Freedm Systems Center. Major Professor: Dr. Srdjan Lukic.

Ziqi Wang, Mechanical Engineering, “Understanding and Engineering Oxides for Emerging Functionalities,” March 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m., EBIII-3115. Major Professor: Dr. Jun Liu.

Zhouyu Li, Computer Science, “Secure and Efficient Analytics of Dynamic Imagery Data,” March 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Remote. Major Professor: Dr. Ruozhou Yu.

Ana Cubas Baez, Forestry and Environmental Resources, “Perceptions on Different Dimensions of Forestry and Land Management Across Multiple Contexts”, March, 10, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Jordan Hall Addition Room 1214, Major Professors: Dr. Rajan Parajuli and Dr. Erin Sills.

Rachel Rowan, ELPHD, “Understanding School Readiness in Context: The Role of Policy, Peers, and School Leaders in Pre-K Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices”, March 10, 2026, 1:00 p.m., CTI Building Room 325, Major Professor: Dr. Michael Little.

Saqlain Raza, Mechanical Engineering, “Nanoscale Interfaces: Impact on Thermal and Mass Transport,” March 10, 2026, 3:00 p.m., EBIII-3115-A. Major Professor: Dr. Jun Liu.

Corey Wishon, Animal and Poultry Science, “Evaluation of Cold Seed Hemp Pressed Cake as a Viable Protein Additive in Commercial Turkey Rations,” March 11, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Scott 216. Major Professors: Dr. Adam Fahrenholz and Dr. Jesse Grimes.

Mohamed Abdul Hameed, Nuclear Engineering, “From Electrons to Bubbles and Grains: Mechanistic Modeling of Uranium Nitride,” March 11, 2026, 10:30 a.m., BU-1121-Duke. Major Professor: Dr. Benjamin Beeler.

Yavuz Selim Tozlu, Computer Engineering, “Efficient Hardware Acceleration for Real-time GPU Ray Tracing,” March 12, 2026, 11:30 a.m., EBII-3075. Major Professor: Dr. Huiyang Zhou.

Dave Feltner, Psychology, “Trust and Doubt of a Robotic Military Scout in a Mission Command Task,” March 12, 2026, 3 p.m., DH Hill Library, 2310. Major Professor: Dr. Anne McLaughlin.

Amanda Solliday, Horticultural Science, “Assessing Sustainability Through Environmental Practices, Carbon Emissions, and Plastic Material Flow in U.S. Floriculture,” March 13, 2026, 9:00 a.m., 121 Kilgore Hall. Major Professors: Dr. Melinda Knuth and Dr. Brian Jackson.

John Nicholas Neuberger, Mathematics, “Goal-oriented optimal data acquisition and path-OED for
infinite-dimensional Bayesian inverse problems governed by PDEs,” March 13, 2026, 3 p.m., SAS 3282. Major Professor: Dr. Alen Alexanderian.

Kin Gomez, Chemical Engineering, “Dendritic beading and tools for the study of morphological and functional changes of neurodegenerative conditions using C. elegans as a model organism,” March 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m., EBI – 2018. Major Professor: Dr. Adriana San Miguel.

Adam Wade, ELPHD, “Voices from the Margins: How Queer Students of Color in North Carolina Community Colleges Make Meaning of their Multiple Identities”, March 16, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Devon Graves.

Faiz Alam, Computer Engineering, “Secure Memory Virtualization for Heterogeneous Architectures,” March 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m., EBII-2095. Major Professor: Dr. Greg Byrd.

Jared R. Cossin, Chemistry, “Efforts Towards Diverse Polyketide Production via CoA Ligase and PKS
Engineering,” March 24, 2026, 9 a.m., DAB 210. Major Professor: Dr. Gavin Williams.

Lei Xue, Civil Engineering, “Performance evaluation of asphalt mixtures using BMD + tests and indirect tensile test,” March 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m., FWH 4280. Major Professors: Dr. Y. Richard Kim/Dr. Shane Underwood.

Sarangi Joseph, Civil Engineering, “Sorption Equilbria of Per – and Polyfluoroalkl Substances (PFAS) on Activated Carbon,” April 8, 2026, 1:00 p.m., FWH 3280. Major Professor: Dr. Detlef Knappe.

Rohit Singh, Computer Engineering, “Revisiting Simple Paradigms for Exploiting Control Independence in Superscalar Processors, April 17, 2026, 3:00 p.m., EBII 2095. Major Professor: Dr. Eric Rotenberg.

Tran Anh Thu Nguyen, Chemistry, “Toward the Total Synthesis of Phyllobilins: Enabling Access to
Biologically Relevant Chlorophyll Catabolites,” April 21, 2026, 8:30 a.m., COX 306. Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan Lindsey.

Yongseok Jeon, Industrial Engineering, “Calibrating Digital Twins in Rapidly Changing Systems,” May 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m., FWH 4361. Major Professor: Dr. Sara Shashaani.

Kayla Hahn, Nuclear Engineering, “Plasma bubble spectroscopy: An in-situ method for material quantification of molten salts,” May 5, 2026, 3:00 p.m., BEL-1202. Major Professor: Dr. Alexander Bataller.

Keisha White, ELPHD, “To Be or Not to Be: An Exploratory Qualitative Study on Black Women District Leaders Aspiring to the Superintendency”, May 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Remote, Major Professor: Dr. Lance Fusarelli.

Davis Bryars, Nuclear Engineering, “Spectroscopic Characterization of Molten Salts,” May 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m., BUI 1202. Major Professor: Dr. Alexander Bataller.