海角社区

Each year, the 海角社区 Alumni Association and the 海角社区 Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School recognize two 海角社区 doctoral students whose research and writing demonstrate superior scholarship.

海角社区 Alumni Association 2024 Distinguished Dissertation Award in Science, Engineering and Technology

The 海角社区 Alumni Association 2024 Distinguished Dissertation Award in Science, Engineering and Technology is awarded to Dimitrios Kranas from Thessaloniki, Greece, who joined 海角社区 and the Hearne Institute of Theoretical Physics under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Physics Ivan Agullo in 2018. His dissertation, 鈥淓ntanglement in the Hawking Effect: From Astrophysical to Optical Black Holes,鈥� opens a promising window for the observability of the quantum origin of the Hawking effect in the lab using different input quantum states of light. Kranas received his Ph.D. in physics from the 海角社区 College of Science in August of last year and now works as a postdoctoral researcher at Ecole Normale Sup茅rieure in Paris, France.

鈥淚t was in the lively ambiance of the enchanting city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece I first developed a passion for solving riddles and understanding the mysteries of nature,鈥� Kranas said. 鈥淭his led me to pursue a degree in physics and delve deeper into theoretical physics.鈥�

Kranas investigates the confluence of field theory, general relativity and quantum information.

鈥淎t the heart of theoretical physics lies the tantalizing challenge of reconciling Einstein鈥檚 theory of relativity with the enigmatic realm of quantum mechanics,鈥� Kranas said. 鈥淢y scholarly pursuits are centered on unraveling this intricate connection, with a specific focus on investigating the quantum properties of matter in the presence of gravitational influences, such as particle creation in the vicinity of black holes and during the cosmic expansion.鈥�

 

The runner up for the award this year is Michael McGee from Livermore, California, whose dissertation, 鈥淭issue Resident Regulatory T Cells and Immunopathology during Influenza Infections,鈥� was developed under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Pathobiological Sciences Weishan Huang. McGee has received three degrees in animal sciences and pathobiological sciences from 海角社区 and currently works as a postdoctoral researcher in the 海角社区 School of Veterinary Medicine. There, he works to identify new targets for disease prevention and therapeutic intervention during respiratory viral infections in both humans and animals.

鈥淢y research focuses on how the immune system balances the need to clear a virus versus preventing damage to healthy tissue during influenza infection,鈥� McGee said. 鈥淎s we have seen for many years with flu, and more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, both uncontrolled viral replication and an exaggerated pro-inflammatory immune response can be major drivers of morbidity and mortality.鈥�

Josephine A. Roberts 海角社区 Alumni Association 2024 Distinguished Dissertation Award in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

The Josephine A. Roberts 海角社区 Alumni Association 2024 Distinguished Dissertation Award in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is awarded to Aaron Wood from Arlington, Texas, who besides his academic pursuits has worked as both an actor and director for the 海角社区 School of Theatre and Theatre Baton Rouge. His dissertation, 鈥淧roud of Your Boy: Toxic Masculinity, Boyhood and the American Musical,鈥� traces the cultural historiography of the phrase 鈥渂oys will be boys鈥濃�攅specially, the pattern of white male excusal the phrase embodies through passive acceptance of white boy violence. He does this through a survey of onstage depictions of boyhood in musical theatre. Wood received his Ph.D. in theater from the 海角社区 School of Theatre in December of last year under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Theatre History Shannon Walsh.

鈥淢y dissertation looks to the musicals Newsies, West Side Story, Heathers, and Dear Evan Hansen as case studies for the generational idea of manhood as aggressive, competitive and violent and the harmful impact of white patriarchal ideals on white masculinity itself,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淚 hope that by dismantling the structures that perpetuate toxic boyhood and advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate vision of manhood, we may see a paradigmatic shift towards a more sustainable, healthy image of ideal masculinity.鈥�

 

The runner up for the award this year is Jessica Stroope from Manhattan, Kansas, who received her Ph.D. in kinesiology in 2023 with Professor Alex Garn, interim director of the 海角社区 School of Kinesiology, as her advisor. Her dissertation, 鈥淎ctive Transportation, Context and Community Participation: Engaged Citizens and Destination-Based Walking and Biking鈥� investigates how biking and walking for transportation relates to behaviors of community participation, such as attending community meetings, contacting elected officials, or working together with neighbors to solve a problem. Stroope currently serves as a research associate and physical activity specialist for the Healthy Communities program in the 海角社区 AgCenter under the direction of Associate Professor of Nutrition and Food Sciences Denise Holston. There, Stroope works with extension agents and community coalitions across Louisiana to improve walkability and increase access to physical activity opportunities, particularly in rural areas.

鈥淯nderstanding how behaviors of walking and biking for transportation relate to community involvement is important for policy and local decision-making,鈥� Stroope said.