Steady and Oscillatory Nanoparticle Transport In Hydrogels

Defense: March 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Innovation E432

Advisor: Jeffrey S. Marshall

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Optimization and Physical Realization of Computational Granular Metamaterials

Defense: March 16, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Innovation E325

Advisor: Joshua Bongard

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Computer Science

Ecological Context Drives Dsease Dynamics in Amphibian Systems

Defense: March 6, 2026, 11:00a.m., Waterman Memorial Lounge

Advisor: Brittany A. Mosher, Ph.D.

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Natural Resources

Weight-inclusive Nutrition Education in High School Health Classrooms: An Exploratory Study

Defense: March 5, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Waterman 402 and Teams

Advisor: Dr Lizzy Pope

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Food Systems

A Dual-Function Nanoparticle Platform for Imaging and Treating Inflammation

Defense: March 5, 2026, 11:00 a.m., MedEd 200 and Teams

Advisor: Amber Doiron, M.S., Ph.D.

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Biomedical Engineering

Psychological Trauma, Existential Isolation, and Associated Clinical Outcomes

Defense: March 3, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Email toleskow@uvm.edu for link to attend remotely.

Advisor: Elizabeth C. Pinel

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Finding Structure in Cross-View Geo-Localization: From Geometric Learning to Multimodal Reasoning

Defense: March 2, 2026, 3:00 p.m., Innovtion E325 and Teams

Advisor: Safwan Wshah

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Computer Science

Shifting Teacher Beliefs: An Inquiry into Communities of Practice as Sites for Transformational Learning

Defense: March 2, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Waterman 427A and https://go.uvm.edu/jeanie26

Advisor: Dr. Brit M. Williams

Degree: Doctor of Education

Department: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Natural and Biorational Winegrape Management in Vermont: Current Industry Experience and Best Management Practices

Defense: March 2, 2026, 10:15 a.m., James M. Jeffords Hall 234

Advisor: Terence Bradshaw, Ph.D.

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Plant and Soil Science

Nutritional Strategies to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions and Improve the Production Efficiency of Lactating Dairy Cows

Defense: February 26, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Mann Hall 205A and Teams (virtual attendance is advised to due limited seating)

Advisor: Dr Sarah Morrison

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Animal Biosciences

Coping with a Warming World: How Developmental Environment Shapes Plasticity in Thermal Tolerance and Gene Expression Responses

Defense: February 26, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Jeffords 127 and Teams

Advisor: Dr. Melissa Helen Pespeni

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Biology

A Novel Spheroid System for Advancing Circadian Therapeutics and the Study of Sex-Dependent Pineal Biology

Defense: February 25, 2026, 1:30 p.m., Health Science Research Facility (HSRF) 400 or Zoom

Advisor: James Stafford, Ph.D.

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Towards Developing Raman Spectroscopic Methods for Structural Analysis of Amyloid Fibrils in Alzheimer's Disease Brain Tissue

Defense: February 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Lafayette Hall L111 and Teams

Advisor: David Punihaole

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Chemistry

Trawl and Error: Designing a Forage Fish Bottom Trawling Survey on Lake Champlain

Defense: February 20, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Aiken 311 and Teams

Advisor: Dr. Ellen Marsden

Degree: Master of Science

Department: Natural Resources

Margins of the Medical School Curriculum: Centering Student Experience in the Pursuit of Health Equity

Defense: February 20, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Watermand 427A

Advisor: Dr. Bernice Garnett

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Education Leadership and Policy Studies

Enhancing Readiness of the New England Dairy Industry to Mitigate Foot-And-Mouth Disease Impacts: Biosecurity, Modeling, and Policy Approaches

Defense: February 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Allen House 104 (French Family Classroom), Teams

Advisor: Julia M. Smith

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Animal Biosciences

Reframing School Mental Health: A Strengths-Based Approach to Reducing Student Mental Health Needs

Defense: February 19, 2026, 3:00 p.m., Waterman 427A 

Advisor: Jessica Strolin, Ph.D.

Degree: Doctor of Education

Department: Education Leadership and Policy Studies