Yijia Gao (Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Economics, University of Connecticut) will defend her doctoral dissertation titled, "Competitive Incentives and Environmental Regulation: Three Essays in Environmental Economics" on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT on WebEx.

Hemp Hurd Fiber: A Viable Substitute for Peat Moss in Container Production of Horticultural Crops   Growers are interested in alternative, sustainable substrates to replace peat moss due to rising costs and awareness of the environmental damage caused by peat mining. Cultivation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) in the United States for the textile industry is expanding. A significant byproduct of hemp stem manufacturing is hurd, which consists of fibers that are too short for textile use. The feasibility of using hurd as a substitute for peat in the production of a range of crops, including potted flowering plants, vegetables, and ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials, was explored.

Dissertation Title: More Than Trauma-Bonded: Shared Strengths and Its Cognitive, Behavioral, and Affective Benefits for Intraminority Solidarity. Field of Study: Social Psychology

Samuel Haiden is a student in Dr. Gerald Berkowitz' lab. Since the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp-cannabis has been eligible for research in the US. Since, the Berkowitz lab has been a leader in the molecular genetics of trichome development and cannabinoid synthesis. This presentation is the culmination of Sam's research on photoperiodism and minor cannabinoid production in this novel field of research.

Field of Study: Systems Genomics Dissertation Title: Generation of TCR-mimic Antibody Libraries Targeted Towards NRAS Mutant Q61R

Dissertation Title: Multi-compartment proteomic signatures of sex-specific responses to exercise-heat stress and acclimation. Department of Kinesiology, CAHNR.