Stellar evolution and the synthesis of the elements are governed by key nuclear reactions, among which the fusion of 12C with an alpha particle to form 16O, denoted as the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction, is "of paramount importance". The ratio of carbon to oxygen produced during stellar helium burning, which is determined by the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction, allow us for example to predict the fate of massive stars, whether they end up as neutron stars or black holes. Despite five decades of study, this reaction's cross section remains poorly constrained at the astrophysically relevant energies. This thesis presents the development and implementation of a new method to measure the cross-section of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction by measuring the time-reverse process – the 16O(γ,α)12C reaction – using a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) operated in intense γ-ray beams. The first-generation optical readout TPC (O–TPC) was constructed at UConn and used at the High Intensity γ source (HIγS) facility at Duke University. Building on these results, a next-generation electronic readout TPC (eTPC) was constructed and commissioned at the University of Warsaw, incorporating a fully digital electronic readout system for high-rate data acquisition. The eTPC was exposed to quasi-monoenergetic γ-rays from 8.51–13.9 MeV, corresponding to Ecm=1.4-4.8 MeV of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction. A comprehensive analysis framework was developed to identify the 16O(γ,α)12C events and reconstruct their kinematics. This permitted angular distributions of the photo-dissociation events to be examined. The analyzed angular distributions yield results which are consistent with a fundamental prediction of quantum mechanics, a feat not seen in earlier data sets. The results demonstrate that this method can achieve accurate event reconstruction, clean event separation, accurate energy calibration, and angular resolution sufficient for astrophysical studies. This work establishes the validity of our new method for precision measurement of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction through its time reverse process. This paves the way toward future measurements at lower energies with reduced uncertainty and improved extrapolation to stellar conditions.

This dissertation focused on the design and development for fluorescent sensor array for the foodborne pathogenic bacterial and biofilm identification with machine learning techniques. it also includes the investigation of interfacial biofilm monitoring and quantification for better pathogenic biofilm control and food safety.

Social Work Dissertation Defense (Ph.D.) will be held virtually.

DNP student presenting "The Healing Power of Movement: Integrating an Evidence Based, Nurse Driven Mobility Assessment Tool as the Established Gold Standard on an Orthopedic Surgical Unit."

DNP student presenting "Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Devices for Hypertension Management in Undeserved Communities."

The Human Side of Plant Health   At the forefront of plant disease surveillance and management are extension professionals and plant diagnosticians, with the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) serving as a cornerstone of these efforts. As both endemic and emerging plant diseases spread at unprecedented rates, it is increasingly critical to identify strategies that strengthen and expand existing diagnostic and reporting systems. This work addresses these challenges through a needs assessment of the Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network (NEPDN) and an exploration of citizen science as a complementary approach to enhance plant disease monitoring, strengthen diagnostic capacity, and advance national plant biosecurity efforts.

DNP student presenting "A Gratitude-Based Journaling Intervention to Combat Burnout for Nurse Practitioners in the Outpatient Setting."

Ph.D. candidate Honglin Zhu will present his dissertation defense titled "Extraction, Nanofibrillization, and Functionalization of Chitin from Lobster Shells for Nanopriming in Microgreens." His research focuses on developing sustainable methods to convert lobster shell waste into functional chitin nanofibers and exploring their applications in enhancing microgreen growth. The defense will include an overview of green extraction technologies, nanomaterial characterization, and the agricultural and environmental significance of chitin-based innovations. All are welcome to attend and support Honglin's milestone achievement in advancing sustainable food and agricultural systems.

This dissertation defense presents a unified, learning-based framework that enhances the accuracy, robustness, and interpretability of Distribution System State Estimation (DSSE) and cyber–physical event analytics. The research develops multi-fidelity framework for uncertainty-aware state estimation and spatio-temporal deep learning architectures for detecting, classifying, and localizing cyberattacks and physical events. Validation on IEEE benchmark feeders and a real-world 2,135-node real distribution system demonstrates significant improvements in scalability, resilience, and transparency compared with traditional methods.

The doctoral dissertation oral defense of Miu Tsuji, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry (Physical Chemistry) at the University of Connecticut, will be held on December 1, 2025. The dissertation, "Chiral Bridge Effects on Radical Pair Lifetimes in D–χ–A Systems", examines how incorporating chiral BINOL bridges into donor–bridge–acceptor molecules influences electron transfer and spin dynamics. The study demonstrates the formation of long-lived radical pairs at room temperature and provides valuable insight into the role of chirality in regulating radical pair recombination and its potential connection to Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS). This research contributes to a deeper understanding of electron transfer in chiral molecular systems and highlights potential applications in spintronics and quantum information science. Faculty, students, and members of the UConn community are welcome to attend.

The doctoral dissertation oral defense of Miu Tsuji, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry (Physical Chemistry) at the University of Connecticut, will be held on December 1, 2025. The dissertation, "Chiral Bridge Effects on Radical Pair Lifetimes in D–χ–A Systems", examines how incorporating chiral BINOL bridges into donor–bridge–acceptor molecules influences electron transfer and spin dynamics. The study demonstrates the formation of long-lived radical pairs at room temperature and provides valuable insight into the role of chirality in regulating radical pair recombination and its potential connection to Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS). This research contributes to a deeper understanding of electron transfer in chiral molecular systems and highlights potential applications in spintronics and quantum information science. Faculty, students, and members of the UConn community are welcome to attend.

Dissertation title is TBD.

Dissertation title is TBD