b'Stephani Suset Martinez Barrera .San Pedro Sula, HondurasB.S., Lindenwood UniversityElucidating the Roles of Septin Proteins in Thermotolerance and Cell Wall Integrity in Cryptococcus neoformansAdvised by Dr. Lukasz Kozubowski Stephani received the Department of Genetics and Biochemistrys Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Fellowship in 2022. She was also recognized with the NSF Rising Scientist Award at The Allied Genetics Conference in 2024.Biological SciencesAmanda Marie Palecek McClung . Cleveland, OhioB.S., University of Akron; M.S., Clemson UniversityPelvic Sucker Design in Waterfall Climbing Fishes: Variation in Morphological Form and Adhesive Performance to Inspire Biomimetic InnovationAdvised by Dr. Rick Blob ChemistryXudong Huai . Weihai, ChinaB.S., Qingdao University of Science and TechnologyStudying the Chemical-Property Relationship in Magnetic and Optical Materials: Spin S = 3/2 Systems of Neodymium, Manganese, and Cobalt OxyanionsAdvised by Dr. Thao Tran Xudong was named the chemistry departments Outstanding Graduate Researcher in 2023 and Graduate Faculty Award in 2024.Ming Lei Xian, ChinaB.S., Shaanxi Normal UniversitySingle Charge Carrier Dynamics in Single Polymer ChainAdvised by Dr. Jason D. McNeill Environmental ToxicologyCatherine Sumner Athens, GeorgiaB.S., University of GeorgiaAssessment of TCE and Chiral PCB Dechlorination Rate, Congener Diversity, and Enantioselectivity in Town Creek, South Carolina, U.S.A. Sediment MicrocosmsAdvised by Dr. Cindy Lee and Dr. Kevin FinneranCatherine was awarded the Farvolden Scholarship at the National Groundwater Association conference in 2023 and has completed the certificate for Engineering and Science Education. She has accepted a postdoctoral position with the EPA at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.30'