2021

Cherish Elizabeth Ardinger
Psychology
Thesis: Determining the Impact of Repeated Binge Drinking on Corticostriatal Theta Synchrony
Advisor: Nicholas J. Grahame, Ph.D. & Christopher C. Lapish, Ph.D.
This research helps us better understand how binge drinking causes changes in the brain, which may ultimately lead to better targeted treatments for alcohol use disorder.

Meredith Rose Bauer
Psychology
Thesis: A Single Alcohol Pre-Exposure Alters Dorsolateral Striatal AMPA Receptor Dependent Binge and Compulsive-like Drinking
Advisor: Stephen L. Boehm, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand the neural mechanisms of alcohol use disorder.

Kristiana Cox
Geology
Thesis: Effect of Soil Type and Fertilizer Application Timing on Phosphorus Leaching from Gypsum-Treated Agricultural Soils
Advisor: Pierre-André Jacinthe, Ph.D.
This research will help farmers decide where and when to apply gypsum in order to control phosphorus loss from their fields and protect water quality.

Tuyen Kim Dinh
Applied Social & Organizational Psychology
Thesis: Having Responsible Power Leads to Sexual Harassment? The Exploratory Role of Moral Licensing
Advisor: Peggy S. Stockdale, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand why people with "good" or "responsible" power still engage in sexual harassment of their subordinates.

Priyanka Rakesh Gandhi
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Extracting Symptoms from Narrative Text Using Artificial Intelligence
Advisor: Xukai Zou, Ph.D.
This research will help doctors in examining medical notes and extracting keywords to understand patients' medical conditions and treat them.

Kari Marie Haines
Psychology
Thesis: Exploring the Effects of a Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) Receptor Antagonist on Habit Expression
Advisor: Cristine L. Czachowski, Ph.D.
This research will help us to better understand alcohol use disorder and its' possible causes.

Alyssa Nicole Henke
Geology
Thesis: Effects of American Colonial Settlement and Deforestation on Lacustrine Redox Conditions: Longterm Insights from Martin Lake, Indiana
Advisor: William P. Gilhooly, Ph.D.
This research shows how lake sediments can record the effects of land use change caused by human activities.

Maribel Hernandez
Psychology
Thesis: Effects of Developmental Low-level Pb Exposure on Voluntary Alcohol Consumption and Drug-Induced Behavioral Sensitization in Adulthood
Advisor: Stephen L. Boehm, Ph.D.
This research highlights the effects of low-level developmental lead exposure on behaviors associated with addiction in adulthood.

Chase Steven Howard
Geology
Thesis: Taste and Odor Event Dynamics of a Midwestern Freshwater Reservoir
Advisor: Gregory K. Druschel, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand the dynamics of algae blooms in freshwater lakes and thus how to better manage our water resources as a society.

Shirin Khazvand
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: Locus of Control and Depression as Mechanisms in the Relationship between Racial Discrimination and Substance Use
Advisor: Tamika C. Zapolski, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand the relationship between experiences of racial discrimination and substance use to better inform prevention and intervention efforts in the future.

Ayush Maharjan
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Ranking Android Applications Based on Security Vulnerabilities as Evidence
Advisor: Rajeev R. Raje, Ph.D.
When downloading Android applications we usually rely on the ratings and review in Google Play Store. In my thesis, I am developing a framework to look into security issues of Android applications as evidence that will help users to download secure applications.

Chelsey Renie Skipton Morrison
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Thesis: A Multilevel Investigation of the Relationships Between Personality and Team Role Adoption
Advisor: Peggy S. Stockdale, Ph.D. and Christopher Porter, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand how to create more effective work teams by predicting individual team members' behaviors.

Zachary Tyler Whitt
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: Mapping Recovery: A Qualitative Node Map Approach to Understanding Factors Proximal to Relapse Among Adolescents in Recovery
Advisor: Melissa A. Cyders, Ph.D.
This research will help improve treatment for adolescent substance abuse.

Brad Charles Wolfred
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Thesis: Supervisor Perceptions: Implications for Performance Management Behaviors
Advisor: Jane R. Williams, Ph.D.
This research will help us better understand the individual differences that impact the degree to which supervisors and managers engage in helping behavior towards their employees.

Muhammad Fazuan Bin Abdul Karim
Applied Social & Organizational Psychology
Thesis: The Effect of Resumé Whitening on African American Ingroup Members' Perceived Likability, Hireability, Future Encounters, and Emotional Reactions: The Role of Perceived Racial Identity
Advisor: Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, Ph.D.
This research investigates some negative consequences of engaging in resumé whitening that are coming from African American’s ingroup members.

Nyalia James-Korsuk Lui
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: A Generalized Approach to Real-time Non-intrusive Instrumentation and Monitoring of Standards-based Distributed Middleware
Advisor: James H. Hill, Ph.D.
This research may help engineers understand systems with many computers.

Laurel Anne Mikalouski
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Thesis: Giving Virtuous People the License to Harass: The Role of Responsibility-Focused Power Embodiment and Moral Licensing on Sexual Harassment Perceptions
Advisor: Peggy S. Stockdale, Ph.D.
This research shows why we let “good people” off the hook when they sexually harass.

Cameron Scott Reid
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Mutual Reinforcement Learning
Advisor: Snehasis Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D.
This research helps us understand how AIs can help each other learn in areas like robotics and self-driving.

Kumar Apurv
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Benchmark Image Dataset for E-scooter Riders with Detection and Tracking using Deep Learning
Advisor: Jiang Yu Zheng, Ph.D.
This research created an image dataset of E-scooter riders and developed an algorithm to identify E-scooter riders from humans in driving environments. The research also developed an algorithm to track riders' movement in driving scenes to avoid collisions in the future.

Eirika Osp Arnardottir
Geology
Thesis: Meteoric 10Be as a Tracer for Subglacial Chemical Weathering in East Antarctica
Advisor: Kathy J. Licht, Ph.D.
Chemical weathering, often assumed not to occur in subglacial environments, plays a major role in major global chemical cycles that control Earth’s climate. This research provides evidence for chemical weathering processes under the largest ice sheet in the world and outlines a novel method that can be used to assess the degree of chemical weathering under ice sheets.

Emily Logan Bass
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: The Relationship Between Working Alliance, Hope, and Depression in Community Mental Health Care
Advisor: Michelle P. Salyers, Ph.D.
This research may help to improve treatment outcomes in therapy for individuals with severe mental illness.

Tarah Jaymes Butcher
Psychology
Thesis: Delay Discounting in At-Risk Adolescents: Brain Mechanisms and Behavior
Advisor: Brandon Oberlin, Ph.D.
This research will help us better understand how the decision making process is altered in youth at high-risk for developing substance use disorders.

Casandra Carrillo
Biology
Thesis: The Role of TGF-β Activated Kinase (TAK1) in Diabetic Retinopathy
Advisor: Teri L. Belecky-Adams, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand how diabetes causes vision problems and develop methods of prevention in the future.

Oreoluwa Cherebin
Chemistry
Thesis: Electrochemical Tape-and-Paper-Based pH Sensors Suitable for Oral pH Measurements
Advisor: Frédérique T. Deiss, Ph.D.
This research consists in developing a pH sensor to, in the future, help prevent cavities by measuring pH in the mouth.

Arielle Ann Hogan
Geology
Thesis: Evaporating Planetesimals: A Modelling Approach
Advisor: Catherine A. Macris, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand the chemical changes that happen during the formation of a planet.

Tisianna Kembia Kamba
Biology
Thesis: Ciliary Localization of Melanin Concentrating Hormone Receptor 1 (MCHR1) in the Feeding Centers of the Murine Brain
Advisor: Nicholas F. Berbari, Ph.D.
This research will help us better understand the mechanisms behind feeding behavior that potentially influence obesity.

Alexander Kern
Geology
Thesis: Textural and Chemical Evolution of High Temperature Experiments and Tektites
Advisor: Catherine A. Macris, Ph.D.
This research will help us better understand the conditions at which tektites form.

Rachel Andrea McCue
Biology
Thesis: Effects of Hydrocephalus on Rodent Optic Nerve and Optic Disc
Advisor: Teri L. Belecky-Adams, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand more about how brain pressure influences the eyes.

Jessica Mickens
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: Evaluating the Impact of Metacognition Reflection and Insight Therapy on Social Functioning in Schizophrenia
Advisor: Kyle S. Minor, Ph.D.
This research will help examine the effects of an innovative therapy (Metacognition Reflection and Insight Therapy; MERIT) in individuals with schizophrenia. MERIT was created to help improve symptoms and daily functioning in individuals with schizophrenia.

Marina Moraes de Lima Perini
Biology
Thesis: The Role of the Primary Cilium in Bone Mechanotransduction
Advisor: Jiliang Li, Ph.D.
This research will help us develop new treatments for bone loss diseases in the future.

Evan Joseph Myers
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: Disorganized Speech and Metacognition in Schizophrenia: Differential Relations and a Comparison of Behavioral Speech Measures
Advisor: Kyle S. Minor, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand new ways of measuring disorganized speech, a major symptom of schizophrenia.

Chau Bao Nguyen
Forensic Science
Thesis: Paper Spray – Mass Spectrometry: Investigation of Sampling Devices for Illicit Drugs Detection and Quantification
Advisor: Nicholas E. Manicke, Ph.D.
This research will help develop rapid identification of drugs in forensics and customs.

Isheka S. Orr
Geology
Thesis: Characterizing Human Health Risks from Pathogen Exposure due to CSO Input in Urban Waterways by Determining the Type and Load of Fecal Coliform Bacteria (Total Coliform, Total E. Coli)
Advisor: Gabriel M. Filippelli, Ph.D.
This research seeks to better understand the impact of Combined Sewer Overflow discharges on fecal coliform and associated fecal pathogen load in urban waterways.

Agnideven Palanisamy Sundar
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Shilling Attack Detection and Prevention Using Deep Dynamic Clustering in Online Review Systems
Advisor: Xukai Zou, Ph.D.
Many spammers write deceptive reviews on online review sites to alter the credibility of a product/service. This research aims to identify such spam reviewers using a combination of both graph networks and machine learning techniques.

Rebecca Jo Pitcock
Geology
Thesis: Attributes of Organic Phosphorus Exported from a Central Indiana Agricultural Watershed: Effect of Season and Hydrologic Flowpath
Advisor: Pierre-André Jacinthe, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand organic phosphorus availability and its role in promoting harmful algal blooms.

Kaley Joann Rittichier
Computer & Information Science
Thesis: Natural Language Processing of Stories
Advisor: Snehasis Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D.
This computational research will help researchers within the humanities and social sciences process literary works to find generalizable representations of people and time periods.

Eduardo Francisco Salgado
Clinical Psychology
Thesis: Differential Factors Influencing Hispanic Latinx Adolescent Engagement in Mind-Body Skills Groups for Depression
Advisor: Michelle P. Salyers, Ph.D.
This research will help us better understand engagement patterns of adolescents in treatments for depression, especially underserved groups such as Hispanic/Latinx adolescents.

Jacob Schneider
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Thesis: Effects of Feedback Seeking Behavior on Supervisor Perceptions: Examining the Interaction of Seeking Frequency with Supervisor Implicit Person Theory and Feedback Orientation
Advisor: Jane R. Williams, Ph.D.
This research may help organizations prevent employees from being disadvantaged for asking for feedback at work.

Natalie Marie Sellnau
Forensic Science
Thesis: Electrochemical Characterization of Fentanyl for Forensic Analyses
Advisor: Frédérique T. Deiss, Ph.D.
This research will help forensic sciences by expanding the analytical tool box with additional techniques relying on oxidation and reduction reactions to detect substances, such as fentanyl.

Luke J. Thomas
Physics
Thesis: Injection Current Modulated Parity-Time Symmetry in Coupled Semiconductor Lasers
Advisor: Gautam Vemuri, Ph.D.
This work suggests a novel way to realize a testbed for studying certain aspects of fundamental quantum mechanics.

Alexandra Michelle Train
Forensic Science
Thesis: Critical Comparison of Total Vaporization-Solid Phase Microextraction vs Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction
Advisor: John V. Goodpaster, Ph.D.
This research will help compare sample preparation to show what works best for specific samples for more efficient sampling.

Leidy Daiana Trujillo
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Thesis: Phenotypicality and Ingroup Perceptions: The Role of Identity Denial
Advisor: Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, Ph.D.
This research explores the stereotypes faced by members of a group due to violations of group appearance prototypes. Specifically, this research offers information about an understudied population, Afro-Latinx, as well as expands on the effects of colorism within the Hispanic/Latinx community.

Brooke Elizabeth Vander Pas
Geology
Thesis: Carbon and Sulfur Isotope Chemostratigraphy of the Late Ordovician
Advisor: William P. Gilhooly, Ph.D.
With intense climate change and high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the Ordovician, this research involving Ordovician sediments may provide insight into future consequences of today's rising carbon dioxide levels on a regional and potentially a global scale.

Clarissa Marie Wallpe
Forensic Science
Thesis: Understanding the Relationship Between HERC2 and OCA2 Variants and Iris Pigmentation Genetics
Advisor: Susan Walsh, Ph.D.
This research will help improve eye color prediction.

Maxwell Noah Wright
Geology
Thesis: Reconstructing Late Holocene Flood Histories of the White River, Indiana
Advisor: Broxton W. Bird, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand how river flooding in the Midwest is impacted by climate change during the last ~1500 years.

Brandon Carter Wysong
Biology
Thesis: Clarifying the Role of the CST Complex in C-strand Fill-in Synthesis and Repair at Telomeres
Advisor: Lata N. Balakrishnan, Ph.D.
This research will help us understand how the DNA is maintained through life and its impact on the aging process.

Jennifer Abla Yanum
Biology
Thesis: The Role of Prolaction Receptor Signaling in Liver Homeostasis and Disease
Advisor: Guoli Dai, Ph.D.
The liver is the only organ in the body which can regenerate. My thesis focuses on elucidating the role of prolactin receptor in this wonderful phenomenon as well as in diseased and healthy livers.