Graduate Student Dissertation and Thesis Defense Notices

Shifting Nitrate Behavior and Sources in a Northern Forest Headwater During Snowmelt

Defense: October 2, 2026, 2:30 p.m., Delehanty Hall 101 and Teams

Advisors: Andrew W. Schroth, Ph.D. & E. Carol Adair, Ph.D.

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Natural Resources

Assessing Watershed-Scale Phosphorus Export with Increased Adoption of Plant-Based Protein Cropping Systems in Vermont

Defense: September 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Jeffords 234 and Teams

Advisor: Joshua Faulkner, Ph.D.

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Plant and Soil Science

Microstructural Design of a Refractory W-Mo-Ta-Ti-Zr High-entropy Alloy for Ultra-high Temperature Structural Applications

Defense: September 11, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Votey 107

Advisor: Frederic Sansoz

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Changes in Lipid Metabolism in Dairy Cattle Linked to Mammary Inflammation

Defense: September 10, 2026, 9:00 a.m., George D. Aiken Center Room 112 and Teams

Advisor: Feng-Qi Zhao

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Animal Biosciences

Humane Geography: Genieve Lamson and the Vermont Commission on Country Life, 1929–1931

Defense: September 10, 2026, 3:00 p.m., Wheeler House 202

Advisor: Dona L. Brown

Degree: Master of Arts

Department: History

Single Session Intervention on Physical Health Using Wearable Technology

Defense: September 10, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Jeffords Hall, Room 234 and Teams

Advisor: Dr. Matthew Price

Degree: Doctor of Philosphy

Department: Psychological Science

Phylogenomics, Systematics, and Reticulate Evolution of Lady Ferns (Athyrium) in the Americas

Defense: September 8, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Jeffords Hall, Room 234 and Teams

Advisors: Dr. Michael Sundue & Dr. David Barrington 

Degree: Doctor of Philosphy

Department: Plant Biology

Food Not Commodities: Place, Narratives, and Institutions in Building Agroecological Food Systems in Brazil

Defense: September 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Farrell Hall, Room 006 and Zoom

Advisor: Dr. Josh Farley 

Degree: Doctor of Philosphy

Department: Sustainable Development, Policy, Economics, and Governance

Investigating Chloride Transport Dynamics Across Land Cover Types, Seasons, and Hydrologic Conditions Using High-Frequency Monitoring

Defense: September 2, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Farrell Hall, Room 006 and Teams

Advisor: Andrew Schroth

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Geology

Winter’s Influence on Seasonal Nitrogen Cycling in Terrestrial Systems

Defense: September 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Farrell Hall 005/006 and Teams

Advisor: E. Carol Adair

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Natural Resources

The Complexity of Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptation Behaviors: The Role of Risk Management Policies

Defense: August 31, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Innovation E425 and Teams

Advisor: Dr. Meredith T. Niles

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Complex Systems and Data Science

Scalable Models for Realizable Flexibility in Modern Power Systems

Defense: August 28, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Lafayette L111

Advisor: Mads Almassalkhi

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Electrical Engineering

Spectroscopic Studies of Structural Distortion, Electronic Structure and Heme Reactivity In Non-Canonical Heme Oxygenases

Defense: August 28, 2026, 1:30 p.m., Waterman Building 400

Advisor: Matthew D. Liptak

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Chemistry

Climate Risk, Community Adaptation, and Resilience in Coastal Maine Through the Perspectives of Environmental Professionals

Defense: August 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Farrell Hall, Room 107

Advisor: M. Salim Uddin

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Natural Resources

A Comparative Analysis of Nutrient Export Dynamics During Winter High Flow Events in Characteristic Watersheds of the Northeastern U.S.

Defense: August 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Delehanty Hall, Room 101 and Teams

Advisor: Andrew W. Schroth, Ph.D.

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Geosciences

A Computational Framework for Modeling Character Archetypes, Interaction Dynamics, and Narrative Motifs in Ensemble Television Series

Defense: August 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Innovation E425 Conference Room and Teams

Advisor: Peter S. Dodds

Degree: Doctor of Philsophy

Department: Complex Systems and Data Science

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Based Therapy for Acute Lung Injury Targets Neutrophil Chemotaxis and Associated Inflammation

Defense: August 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m., HSRF 300 and Zoom

Advisor: Dr. Daniel J. Weiss

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences