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The Power of Visualizing One’s Engineering Journey: An Intersectional Exploration of Undergraduate Women’s Self-Efficacy
No full textThis dissertation explores the experiences of undergraduate women in engineering to examine how they describe their journeys, construct counter-narratives that challenge dominant discourses, and use visual storytelling to reflect on intersectional identity and self-efficacy. Despite ongoing diversity efforts, women remain underrepresented in engineering, constrained by stereotypes, exclusionary cultures, and limited opportunities for creative self-reflection. Informed by intersectional feminism, counter-narrative, and self-efficacy frameworks, this study explores the potential of creative and reflective practices as a medium through which women articulate their lived experiences and strengthen their voices and confidence within engineering education.
Using a comparative case study design, this research examined the experiences of two minoritized undergraduate women in engineering through semi-structured interviews, reflective worksheets, and visual storytelling sessions supported by pre- and post-surveys on self-efficacy, integrating qualitative and descriptive measures to explore how they articulated identity and self-efficacy. Thematic and multimodal analyses revealed that early exposure to STEM and supportive networks nurtured motivation, while gendered expectations and the constant need to prove competence shaped participants’ confidence and sense of belonging.
Through the creation and narration of visual representations of their journeys, participants transformed self-doubt into mastery experiences and reframed challenges as catalysts for growth. Both women redefined what it means to be an engineer by connecting technical skill with creativity, ethical purpose, and social responsibility.
These findings suggest that visual storytelling offers a powerful and reflective medium through which women can critically examine and reauthor their engineering identities. Beyond serving as an individual tool for reflection, it also functions as a collective practice that opens dialogue about intersectional barriers and inclusion within engineering culture. The study contributes both methodologically and pedagogically by integrating arts-based and feminist approaches into engineering education, positioning visual storytelling as a reflective practice and research tool that strengthens women’s self-efficacy, professional identity, and engagement in equitable learning environments
Building Science Teachers’ Empathy and Perspective-Taking through Continuous Professional Development to Improve Support for Multilingual Learners
No full textSchool districts across the United States are experiencing a rapid increase in multilingual learner (ML) enrollments, prompting school leaders to seek effective ways to support teachers in meeting these students’ needs. In-service teachers require comprehensive preparation to instruct MLs effectively.
However, general education teachers, particularly science teachers, often report feeling underprepared to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students and lack the pedagogical knowledge and strategies necessary to support them. One approach to fostering professional growth and instructional transformation is positioning educators as learners through immersive language experiences, where they encounter a language in which they are not yet proficient. Such experiences can heighten empathy for MLs’ linguistic challenges while shaping teachers' perceptions, attitudes, and instructional practices. A lack of empathy can hinder teachers’ ability to understand and address MLs’ unique needs, making it a critical disposition for effectively educating culturally and linguistically diverse students.
This study examines how a language immersion experience influences science teachers’ empathy, reflection, and instructional transformation. Specifically, it explores how immersion fosters greater awareness of MLs’ experiences, promotes instructional shifts, and supports thedevelopment of more inclusive teaching strategies in science classrooms.
Keywords: multilingual learners, empathy, transformational learning, language immersion, professional developmen
Civilization’s Discontents: Building Worlds Beyond Colonial Capitalism in the Pacific Northwest
No full textThis study analyzes the world-building practices of anti-civilizationists, a loose network of predominantly white and working-class people based in the Pacific Northwest. Anti-civilizationists identify ‘civilizations’—defined as a large-scale, stratified, agricultural societies dependent on the domestication of nonhuman beings—as wellsprings of social and ecological oppression. Inspired by anthropological theories of non-agrarian lifeways, they seek to develop egalitarian, multispecies communities with the aim of disavowing capitalism, coloniality and state power. To this end, some form small, land-based communities in which to collectively work toward non-hierarchical social relations, and material self-sufficiency disengaged from agro-industrial economies. Meanwhile, many seek to support Indigenous sovereignty as people aware of their positions as settlers. However, attempting to live outside of ‘civilization’ in the contemporary Pacific Northwest is a complex undertaking, and proponents navigate everyday life within and without the systems they seek to refuse.
This dissertation draws from 24 months of fieldwork in two rural anti-civilizationist communities located in different parts of western Washington state, and a network of theorists and proponents based in Eugene, Oregon. I use participant observation and semi-structured interviews to document and analyze their diverse attempts to build worlds beyond contemporary civilization. Through these combined research methods, I focus specifically on anti-civilizationists’ efforts to: live autonomously from the state and capitalism, foster egalitarian social and ecological relations, and support Indigenous sovereignty. Further, I examine how anthropological literatures are selected, interpreted and incorporated within this milieu.
This research demonstrates that anti-civilizationists often use and repurpose aspects of the structures they seek to ultimately abandon, in order to build their alternative worlds. In creative and complex ways, they navigate spaces in between their political ideals and the compromised conditions of the present. I investigate how this plays out specifically through property relations, work systems, regional questions of decolonization, and shifts toward animist ontologies.
This research carries implications for understanding how potentialities emerge within the interstices of dominant structures in ways that support, rather than negate, their political horizons; how the reworking of more-than-human relationalities extends from the ethical to the ontological realm; and how settler movements for autonomy grapple with coloniality, and with how they can best support Indigenous sovereignty. Moreover, this work demonstrates how readers of anthropology outside of the academy draw from anthropological theories to scaffold their imaginaries of alternative ways of living within the here and now
Forms of Phenomenology in 20th-Century Prose: A Dialectical Examination
No full textThis dissertation begins as an attempt to conceive of a throughline for 20th-century prose without reference to modernism and postmodernism. This is taken to be especially necessary given the ways in which the modernism/postmodernism framework has failed to account for various trends, but, for the purposes of this dissertation, most especially autofiction. The dissertation does not commence at the beginning of the 20th century, but at its end, also extending into the 21st. In my attempt to understand how Handke and Knausgaard come to write as they do in genealogical terms, the dissertation goes back to the beginning of the 20th century and offers a narrative of how, throughout 20th-century prose, phenomenology has been present in a variety of forms –or has at the very least been a tenable mode of critical analysis for that literature, as many critics assent.
What is perhaps of special note in this dissertation is the way in which I allow the typological paradigm of each chapter to deconstruct itself. It begins with a comparative study of Peter Handke and Karl Ove Knausgaard and their autofiction in the first chapter. In the context of the analysis of Handke’s bibliography in the first chapter, I show how the properly Heideggerian phenomenological quality of his middle period of work soon gives way to the prolix and the self-referential in his late novels. In the second chapter, a substantial engagement with scholars’ attempts to frame Marcel Proust and Louis-Ferdinand Céline as Merleau-Pontian phenomenologists instead becomes an analysis of the ways in which they fail to fall in line with Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of the body. In the third chapter, I attempt to account for how the depiction of an excess of worldly phenomena in “chaotic” novels by Joseph McElroy, Alexander Goldshtein, Thomas Pynchon, and Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz malfunctions the text of these novels. This analysis proceeding with reference most especially to Martin Heidegger and Fredric Jameson.
The final chapter of the dissertation shows what happens when the ostensibly phenomenological writers I am treating attempt to order the phenomena of the world as it is (rather than as it ought to be) into a Hegelian Geist. Even before this chapter, the ways in which Hegel’s dialectical phenomenology interrupts and interferes with phenomenology as such, are a leitmotif of the dissertation. In the fourth chapter, I find that Hegelian idealism becomes a radically negative doctrine when its method is applied to the horrors of the 20th century. Writers like Vladimir Sorokin, Andrei Platonov, J.G. Ballard, Samuel Delany, and Michael Lentz are brought to bear in this portion of the text.
Finally, the attempt to erect phenomena up into a new Geist that ends up being so Abject (in the sense of Julia Kristeva’s Powers of Horror) is shown to necessitate the return to autofiction performed by Handke and Knausgaard in the first chapter. Proust and Céline’s retreat from the grand narratives of the 19th century giving way to an even more reduced retreat at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st.. This dissertation does not finally insist on phenomenology as a vital form of criticism
The Role of Leptin in Metabolic Programming
No full textA wide range of developmental exposures can influence the establishment of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone onto metabolically relevant organs, such as the pancreas, liver, kidney, and adipose tissues, but little is known about the underlying mechanism. Previous studies have shown that rearing mice at an ambient temperature of 30°C vs. 22°C from birth to 8 weeks of life programs lasting effects on SNS tone onto interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the capacity to respond to a chronic cold challenge.
We used this system to define a critical period of development and a molecular mediator of these effects. We compared the number of sympathetic neurons in the stellate ganglion labeled with a cholera toxin subunit B retrograde trace from BAT (SGBAT) across the first 8 weeks of life in C57BL6/J mice reared at 30°C vs. 22°C. There is a marked decrease in the number of SGBAT neurons after weaning in 30°C-reared mice until 8 weeks of age.
Analysis of the transcriptional profiles of BAT via bulk RNA-Seq in mice raised at 30°C vs. 22°C revealed that leptin is differentially expressed during the critical period. Complementary leptin gain- and loss-of-function studies support the idea that leptin expression in BAT, and not from the circulation, establishes BAT SNS tone during development. Mechanisms identified here will provide a framework for analogous studies of SNS tone in other organs that are also implicated in developmental programming of health and disease
Heterogeneity Across Scales: Linking Movement, Contact, and Landscape to Canine Distemper Virus Transmission in New York City Raccoons
No full textUrbanization alters wildlife behavior, movement, and contact structure, reshaping the ecological processes that underpin pathogen transmission and persistence. Using raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV; Morbillivirus canis) as a model system, this dissertation integrates movement ecology, spatial modeling, and genomic epidemiology to evaluate how heterogeneity across scales of transmission mediates pathogen circulation and persistence within New York City’s urban landscape.
At the individual scale (Chapter 1), hidden Markov models applied to fine-scale GPS data revealed that raccoon movement responds predictably to the cadence of urban residential trash availability, with increased exploratory and encamped behaviors on trash nights indicative of temporally cued foraging.
At the dyadic scale (Chapter 2), resource-selection analyses of high-resolution co-occurrence data showed that raccoons were more likely to come into contact near specific resources, with the strongest effect observed for anthropogenic resources. Multivariate analyses identified distinct contact typologies including prolonged male-male encounters near human subsidies, female-female interactions at natural features, and transient male-female encounters, demonstrating that sex and resource distribution jointly structure contact heterogeneity.
To assess how these behavioral patterns influence realized transmission (Chapter 3), whole genome CDV sequences from a local (within-patch) outbreak were used to reconstruct transmission networks (“who infected whom”). Transmission chains were male-biased and spatially localized, with spread centered around resource-rich, urban edges. Stochastic epidemic simulations demonstrated that incorporating trait-based (raccoon sex) structure prolonged and amplified outbreaks, emphasizing how within-patch dynamics regulate local epidemic trajectories.
Scaling to the city level (Chapter 4), continuous phylogeographic reconstruction of CDV dispersal using whole viral genomes collected during a 2022-2024 epizootic showed metapopulation-like spread, characterized by localized amplifications in subpopulations connected by infrequent natural dispersal or human-mediated movements. Collectively, these findings demonstrate how behavioral and spatial heterogeneity interact to propagate local transmission events into persistent, citywide circulation
Illusion beyond the Fourth Wall: Ludwig Tieck in the Folds of Performance Studies
No full textSince the historical avantgarde declared war on the fourth wall in the early twentieth century, the notion of theatrical illusion has seemed at odds with any kind of critical performance aesthetics. In this dissertation, I examine how this opposition has shaped the disciplines of theater and performance studies, informing both the division of dramatic from postdramatic theater as well as the critique of representational aesthetics. I illustrate how these dualities inform a particular view of theater history and illusion’s place within it, which I contest by examining the theater writings of Ludwig Tieck (1773-1853).
Associated with German romanticism, Tieck’s plays have long served as exemplary works of a quintessentially unstageable genre. But through my analysis of his historical and dramaturgical essays, I demonstrate that Tieck’s vision of theater simply exceeds the historical frameworks produced by a field grounded in anti-illusion bias. I adopt his play about the performance of a play by the same name, Der gestiefelte Kater (1797), to illustrate how Tieck’s depiction of illusion theater stages an intervention into the discussion of theater around 1800, liberally crossing the fourth wall in order to advance a less restrictive notion of illusion. By locating aesthetic effect in the interplay of perception and imagination, empathy and enchantment, Tieck’s model of illusion advances the mission he assigns to the institution of public theater: overcoming partisanship by revealing the dogmatic dimensions of paratheatrical discourses
Hidden in the Heat: Exploring Socio-Spatial Inequalities and Educational Challenges in Karachi’s Heatwaves
No full textThis study examines how discourse surrounding heat waves impacts the educational trajectories and community resilience in Karachi’s Machar Colony, an informal settlement severely affected by climatic extremes. Through a detailed anthropological and sociolinguistic discourse analysis, the research delves into the sociospatial dynamics of disaster response and educational continuity, bridging ecological, political, economic and cultural perspectives. The research highlights how narratives around heatwaves shape public understanding and policy responses, focusing on human and educational dimensions rather than broader economic and health impacts. The vulnerability of Machar Colony’s residents to heat waves is exacerbated by infrastructural inadequacies and historical neglect, making them particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of extreme temperatures. By examining government policies, media portrayals and educational materials, the study explores how these narratives influence community perceptions and actions regarding climate adaptation. The study also considers the role of madrassahs (Islamic schools) in shaping community responses to climate challenges. It investigates whether these religious educational institutions reinforce passive attitudes towards climate change or serve as catalysts for enhancing community resilience. In highlighting the interaction between educational disruptions and climate extremes, this research underscores the need for integrated strategies that enhance resilience and educational continuity. By providing a nuanced understanding of how discourse shapes lived experience in high-risk environments, the study aims to inform effective context-specific policy responses to enhance disaster preparedness and educational resilience in urban informal settlements
Uruguay’s Livestock Sector: Lessons for Sustainable Development
No full textThe successful development of Uruguay's livestock sector demonstrates how a small, export- oriented economy can develop an environmentally efficient and technologically advanced agricultural system through strategic policy implementation and institutional coordination. This case study examines the evolution and current state of Uruguay's livestock system, with particular attention to the innovations, institutions and partnerships that have enabled its success. It aims to serve as a resource for countries seeking to enhance their livestock sectors through sustainable practices and institutional development. Although the case study focuses on the Uruguayan livestock system, we will discuss how the advances in the sector are part of a larger and related agricultural innovation ecosystem that includes mapping soil quality/productivity, public/private extension, planning for forestry expansion, regulations for soil conservation, and many others
Discerning the Influence of Cationic and Aromatic Amino Acid Identity on Biomolecular Condensates
No full textThe crowded cellular milieu contains a dry weight of up to 90 percent macromolecules, with proteins making up 20 to 30 percent of that mass. Through billions of years of evolution, eukaryotic cells have developed internal membrane bound organelles that further organize the crowded cytosol, and separate incompatible reactions and processes. This high level of organization lends itself to efficient nutrient uptake, energy production, cell to cell signaling, protein folding, and macromolecule recycling.
Although membrane-bound organelles have been widely studied since the mid 18th century, recent discoveries have uncovered the role of biomolecular condensates (BMC), also known as membraneless organelles (MBO), in a number of cellular functions. BMCs are defined by a dense region of macromolecules that spontaneously coalesce within cells. One of the chief phenomena that regulates condensate formation is liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), in which macromolecules will spontaneously demix from their environment and form highly dynamic, macromolecule-rich liquid droplets that are energetically separated from the surrounding dilute phase. The role of BMCs in RNA metabolism, mechanical and thermal stress responses, as well as heterochromatin packing in the nucleus has been widely studied. In addition, their aberrant role in a number of prion-related diseases has also been critically reported on.
At the same time, our understanding of the molecular interactions underpinning BMC behavior has also gained a large degree of interest, with wide ranging advancements in our ability to understand and predict the biomacromolecules that are able to engage with and form BMCs. Some of the more common structural motifs that are found to promote phase separation are large disordered domains, highly charged blocks separated by uncharged or nonpolar regions, and the ability to complex with oppositely charged polymers; primarily RNA. Nevertheless, our understanding of the role primary amino acid content confers on condensate dynamics remains poorly understood.
In this dissertation, I aim to uncover the specific role of aromatic and cationic side chain composition on BMC characteristics. To achieve these goals, I use in vitro assays composed of purified protein and RNA, as well as a BL21 strain of E. coli (NiCo21) as a model organism to study the impact of sequence-level cationic protein variants in a simple living system. I also created a panel of four engineered charge variant proteins (GFP(0) and GFP(+6)) derived from superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) with poly-lysine or poly-arginine tags appended to the C-terminus.
I first investigated discrepancies within the phase boundary of the engineered proteins in complex with RNA due to the charge and sequence variations. I next uncovered the impact of non-covalent interactions on these condensates, using NaCl, 1,6-hexanediol, and urea to understand the role of simple electrostatics, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding, respectively. These studies revealed that although there are minimal changes in the initial phase boundary between arginine and lysine-based variants, there are significant increases to electrostatic interaction strength that is attributable to the change in amino acid composition. Hydrophobics played no role in the behavior of these engineered condensates and hydrogen bonding played an equivalent role across all constructs.
I also found that the in vitro results were quantifiable and replicated in the E. coli experiments. I found that there was a higher ratio of protein in the condensate compared to the cytoplasm in GFP(+6) and arginine tagged variants compared to GFP(0) and lysine tagged variants. In addition, the percent of cells with condensates was found to increase along the same hierarchy. Using an RNA hairpin-specific ligand, I was able to observe mRNA co-localizing with GFP at the poles of cells that form condensates, while DNA was excluded and relegated to the midcell. Using Fluorescent Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) on cells with condensates, it was revealed that arginine-based condensates have a much slower recovery rate, and a smaller fraction of mobile protein, showing that protein mobility within the dense phase is lowered in arginine-based condensates.
When expanding the scope from engineered condensates to endogenously phase separating proteins, I once again found that arginine promotes increased condensate formation relative to lysine. I also provide preliminary evidence that of the three aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine), tryptophan promotes condensate formation in biological systems at a higher rate than the other two amino acids, and results in an overall reduction in protein mobility in the dense phase.
In this dissertation, I provide evidence for rules to further understand the chemical grammar of BMC formation. These studies lay the foundation for the prediction of protein likely to engage with BMCs, and also provides crucial information for the design of synthetic membraneless organelles