The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nThis year\, the exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios\, Art and Design Studios\, The New Bedford Art Museum . Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each location. P lease join us for the AHA! Night Receptions with ArtTALKS on Thursday\, Ap ril 9 and Thursday\, May 14 at 6 PM.
\nExhibition Dates: April 9 – May 14\, 2026
\nOpening Reception: April 9\, 5-8pm
\nAHA! N ight Reception with ArtTALKS: Thursday\, April 9 at 6 PM
\nAHA! Nigh t Reception with ArtTALKS: Thursday\, May 14 at 6 PM
\nNon-AHA! Nigh t Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM\; free entrance with UM assD ID
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/eve nts/cms/new-bedford-art-museum-mfa-thesis-exhibtion-1.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T200000 LOCATION:New Bedford Art Museum MFA Thesis Exhibtion SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:New Bedford Art Museum MFA Thesis Exhibtion UID:b43e829eabd7c80de6debd1d747e47ca@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts DESCRIPTION:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing the artwork of graduating Master o f Fine Arts students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman, Argha van Booyeh, Immer Cook, Ali Masoumzadeh, Allison Morones, Maya August Palm er, MITRAAVRS, Sarah Valinezhad, and Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting, drawing, ceramics, digital me dia, and site-specific installation. Art and Design Studios: Dartmouth Tow ne Center Plaza, 458 State Rd. North Dartmouth, MA 02747 Exhibition Dates: April 16 – May 9, 2026 Closing Reception: Thursday, May 7, 4-6 PM Galle ry Hours: Daily 9 AM to 6 PM Free and open to the public. This year, the M FA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios, Art and Design Studios, and The New Bedford Art Museum. Each student exhi bits different pieces of their work in each location.\nEvent page: https:/ /www.umassd.edu/events/cms/art-and-design-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibition-1. php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nArt and Design Studios:
\nDartmouth Towne Center Plaz a\, 458 State Rd. North Dartmouth\, MA 02747
\nExhibition Dates: Apr il 16 – May 9\, 2026
\nClosing Reception: Thursday\, May 7\, 4-6 P M
\nGallery Hours: Daily 9 AM to 6 PM
\nFree and open to the p ublic.
\nThis year\, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios\, Art and Design Studios\, and The New Bed ford Art Museum. Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in e ach location.
Event page: https://www.umassd.ed u/events/cms/art-and-design-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibition-1.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260416T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T235900 LOCATION:Art and Design Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Art and Design Studios MFA Thesis Exhibition UID:dc5e996c55cbf8b6d67f2cf4d2a41650@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts DESCRIPTION:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing the artwork of graduating Master o f Fine Arts students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman, Argha van Booyeh, Immer Cook, Ali Masoumzadeh, Allison Morones, Maya August Palm er, MITRAAVRS, Sarah Valinezhad, and Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting, drawing, ceramics, digital me dia, and site-specific installation. This year, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios, Art and Design Studi os, The New Bedford Art Museum. Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each location. Hatch Street Studios (Studio 215) 88 Hatch Street, New Bedford, MA 02745 Exhibition Dates: April 17 – May 14, 2026 Gallery Hours: Tue. and Thur. 12-4 PM; Fri. and Sat. 2-6 PM Reception: Sat urday, April 18, 5-7 PM, welcome remarks 5:30 PM Hatch Street Open Studios : Saturday, May 9, 10 AM to 6 PM Free and open to the public.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/hatch-street-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibit ion-1.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nThis year\, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios\, Art and Design Studios\, The New Bedford Art Museum. Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each location.
\nHatch Street Studios (Studio 215)
\n88 Hatch Str eet\, New Bedford\, MA 02745
\nExhibition Dates: April 17 – May 14 \, 2026
\nGallery Hours: Tue. and Thur. 12-4 PM\; Fri. and Sat. 2-6 PM
\nReception: Saturday\, April 18\, 5-7 PM\, welcome remarks 5:30 PM
\nHatch Street Open Studios: Saturday\, May 9\, 10 AM to 6 PM
\nFree and open to the public.
Event page: htt ps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/hatch-street-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibition- 1.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T235900 LOCATION:Hatch Street Studios (Studio 215) SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Hatch Street Studios MFA Thesis Exhibition UID:dfe217c92145fe1e0c332efc9eeba6c8@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:SMAST,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Department of Fisheries Oceanography PhD Dissertation Defense"H andling uncertainty in fisheries management: Developing tools in support o f Management Strategy Evaluation"By: Amanda R. Hart AdvisorDr. Gavin Fay ( UMass Dartmouth) Committee Members Dr. Steven X. Cadrin (UMass Dartmouth), Dr. Lauran Brewster (UMass Dartmouth), Dr. Geret DePiper (Texas A&M Unive rsity Corpus Christi), and Dr. Allan Hicks (International Pacific Halibut Commission) Monday April 27, 20261:30 PMSMAST East 101-103836 S. Rodney Fr ench Blvd, New Bedfordand via Zoom Abstract: Sustainable fisheries managem ent requires an understanding of interactions between fish, marine environ ments, fishing activities, and fisheries governance. Managing with imperfe ct information about these interactions can result in undesirable differen ces between the expected and realized management outcomes. Management Stra tegy Evaluation (MSE) is a model simulation method that rigorously tests m anagement alternatives before they are implemented to help align expected and realized management outcomes. Tests can be conducted in the context of natural variability, uncertain stock status, and imperfect management imp lementation to assess potential trade-offs between management alternatives and identify alternatives that are robust to these uncertainties. The goa l of this dissertation is to develop tools that support the integration of MSE into existing management processes, using three case studies from the Northeast U.S. as examples. Chapter 1 demonstrates the viability of stati stical tree analysis to synthesize MSE results for an Ecosystem-Based Fish eries Management (EBFM) case study. Chapter 2 expands the realism of this MSE framework to include technical interactions for multi-species groundfi sh fisheries and assess their impact on EBFM performance. Chapter 3 develo ps a novel visualization tool to communicate MSE outcomes for Atlantic her ring. These studies highlight opportunities to advance MSE applications to support both scientific and regulatory decision making by improving workf low reproducibility, streamlining results communication and leveraging syn chronicity between MSE and EBFM to advance modeling. Join Meetinghttps://u massd.zoom.us/j/94634734564Note: Meeting ID and passcode required, email c ontact to obtainFor additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut a t c.rumbut@umassd.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/-hand ling-uncertainty-in-fisheries-management-developing-tools-in-support-of-ma nagement-strategy-evaluation-presented-by-amanda-r-hart.php\nEvent link: h ttps://umassd.zoom.us/j/94634734564 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Department of Fisheries Oceanog raphy
\nPhD Dissertation Defense
"Handling uncertainty in fishe
ries management: Developing tools in support of Management Strategy Evalua
tion"
By: Amanda R. Hart
Advisor
Dr. Gavin Fay (UMass Da
rtmouth)
Committee Members
\nDr. Steven X. Cadrin (UMass Dar tmouth)\, Dr. Lauran Brewster (UMass Dartmouth)\, Dr. Geret DePiper (Texas A&M University Corpus Christi)\, and Dr. Allan Hicks (International Pacif ic Halibut Commission)
\nMonday April 27\, 2026
1:30 PM
SM
AST East 101-103
836 S. Rodney French Blvd\, New Bedford
and via
Zoom
Abstract:
\nSustainable fisheries management requires an understanding of interactions between fish\, marine environments\, fish ing activities\, and fisheries governance. Managing with imperfect informa tion about these interactions can result in undesirable differences betwee n the expected and realized management outcomes. Management Strategy Evalu ation (MSE) is a model simulation method that rigorously tests management alternatives before they are implemented to help align expected and realiz ed management outcomes. Tests can be conducted in the context of natural v ariability\, uncertain stock status\, and imperfect management implementat ion to assess potential trade-offs between management alternatives and ide ntify alternatives that are robust to these uncertainties. The goal of thi s dissertation is to develop tools that support the integration of MSE int o existing management processes\, using three case studies from the Northe ast U.S. as examples.
\nChapter 1 demonstrates the viability of stat istical tree analysis to synthesize MSE results for an Ecosystem-Based Fis heries Management (EBFM) case study. Chapter 2 expands the realism of this MSE framework to include technical interactions for multi-species groundf ish fisheries and assess their impact on EBFM performance. Chapter 3 devel ops a novel visualization tool to communicate MSE outcomes for Atlantic he rring. These studies highlight opportunities to advance MSE applications t o support both scientific and regulatory decision making by improving work flow reproducibility\, streamlining results communication and leveraging s ynchronicity between MSE and EBFM to advance modeling.
\nJoin Meetin
g
https://umassd.zoom.
us/j/94634734564
Note: Meeting ID and passcode required\, email c
ontact to obtain
For additional information\, please contact Callie R
umbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/-handling-uncertainty-in-fisheri
es-management-developing-tools-in-support-of-management-strategy-evaluatio
n-presented-by-amanda-r-hart.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/94634734564
Advisor: Dr. Haiping Xu
Co
mmittee Members: Dr. Adnan El-Nasan and Dr. Joshua Carberry
A
bstract: Storms remain among the most serious hazards in maritime environm
ents\, where rapidly changing weather conditions can threaten human life a
nd disrupt vessel operations. Existing storm detection and forecasting met
hods often rely on satellite observations and large-scale numerical weathe
r models\, both of which require substantial computational resources and s
table communication links that may be unavailable at sea. In addition\, ma
ny machine learning approaches depend on large labeled datasets and predef
ined storm categories\, limiting their ability to detect rare\, rapidly de
veloping\, or previously unseen events. This thesis presents an unsupervis
ed\, sensor-based framework for early storm formation detection using mult
ivariate meteorological time-series data collected from onboard instrument
s. The proposed approach uses directly measurable variables\, including su
rface pressure\, wind speed\, sea surface temperature\, near-surface air t
emperature\, and dew point temperature\, without relying on external data
sources. A temporal autoencoder is trained exclusively on fair-weather obs
ervations to learn the normal temporal behavior of atmospheric conditions.
During real-time operation\, deviations from this learned baseline are qu
antified through reconstruction error\, enabling the system to identify an
omalous patterns associated with early storm development. To improve relia
bility in practical deployment\, the framework incorporates persistence-ba
sed alerting and statistically derived anomaly thresholds based on fair-we
ather variability. The system is evaluated using both synthetic storm scen
arios and real storm events derived from historical storm archives. Result
s demonstrate that the proposed method consistently detects storm formatio
n with reasonable lead times and provides meaningful early warnings in pra
ctice\, making it a practical and robust solution for enhancing maritime s
afety in remote or resource-limited environments.
All CIS gra
duate students are encouraged to attend. For further information please co
ntact Dr. Haiping Xu at hxu@umassd.edu
UMassD Cyber Security Education Club (CSEC) jointly with COE National Cybersecurity Center & ECE Seminar< /p>\n
Annual Guest Lecture for ECE548/488 Cyber Threats and Security Man agement
\nTopic:
\nLeadership & Character Lessons Learned fr om the Boston Marathon Bombing
\nSpeaker:
\nJohn Petrozzelli\, Director\, MassCyberCenter\, Boston\, MA
\nAbstract: John will disc uss lessons he learned while investigating the Boston Marathon Bombing. He will further discuss skills he developed over his career that helped him to contribute to a diverse and talented team of investigators who successf ully argued for the prosecution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
\nBiography: John Petrozzelli is the Director of MassCyberCenter\, a public agency wit hin the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative dedicated to enhancing cybe rsecurity resiliency and workforce development across the Commonwealth. Jo hn began his career as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force in 19 98 and served in the Republic of Korea in 1999. In September 2001\, while supporting C-17 missions\, he deployed to Sicily and Germany to support fo rward operating bases during the initial phases of the US war in Afghanist an. John entered on duty with the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst in 200 4. In 2013 John was a day shift intelligence supervisor during the Boston Marathon Bombing manhunt and led the computer forensic review of all subje cts’ digital media. In 2016 he earned a Master of Science in Information Security from Boston University and became FBI Boston’s Chief Security Officer.
\nBefore joining the MassCyberCenter\, John was the Direc tor of Cybersecurity for Magna5's Boston Metro Area. He managed day-to-day operations of the company’s Boston Security Operations Center.
\nThe Seminars is open to the public free of charge.
\nFor further inf ormation\, please contact Dr. Hong Liu via email at hliu@umassd.edu.
\n
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/national-cybersecurity-center--ece-s eminar.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T163000 LOCATION:Science & Engineering Building (SENG), Room 222 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:National Cybersecurity Center & ECE Seminar UID:8a5cc417449bb0874ce212e80322d052@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Leduc Center for Civic Engagement,Student Affairs DESCRIPTION:Join the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at the 2026 Celebrat ion of service on Monday, April 27th from 6:00PM – 7:30PM at the Claire T. Carney Library, Grand Reading Room. Featuring presentations from the cu rrent Claire T. Carney Leader Cohort, introductions to the next Cohort, an d a service recognition ceremony celebrating: AmeriCorps Members, America Reads Leaders, and students qualifying for a cord/stole for graduation. RS VP on CorsairEngage: https://givepul.se/m2umuk \nEvent page: https://www. umassd.edu/events/cms/leduc-center-for-civic-engagement-celebration-of-ser vice.php\nEvent link: https://givepul.se/m2umuk X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Join the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at the 2026 Celebration of service on Monday\, April 27th from 6:00PM – 7:30PM at the Claire T. Carney Library\, Grand Reading Room. F eaturing presentations from the current Claire T. Carney Leader Cohort\, i ntroductions to the next Cohort\, and a service recognition ceremony celeb rating: AmeriCorps Members\, America Reads Leaders\, and students qualifyi ng for a cord/stole for graduation.
\nRSVP on CorsairEngage: https:/ /givepul.se/m2umuk
Event page: http
s://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/leduc-center-for-civic-engagement-celebratio
n-of-service.php
Event link: ht
tps://givepul.se/m2umuk
Abstract:
\nType Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are common luminous astrophysical transients. SNe I a are thought to originate from the thermonuclear runaway of a mass accret ing white dwarf (WD) in binary systems. While SNe Ia have demonstrated the ir importance in measuring the expansion rate of the universe and the chem ical evolution of galaxies\, key questions about their progenitors and exp losion mechanisms are still open. In recent years\, the helium-ignited bin ary WD merger has emerged as a robust channel leading to normal SNe Ia. In this channel\, two unequal mass WDs with thin surface helium layers begin mass transfer (accretion) from the lower mass (secondary) WD onto the hig her mass (primary) WD. During this accretion\, the surface helium layer de tonation on the primary can trigger another detonation near its core\, whi ch leads to complete disruption of the primary WD. The secondary WD is imp acted by the ejected material and potentially also triggers helium and cor e detonations.
\nThis Ph.D. thesis aims to investigate the end-to-en d evolution of the helium-ignited binary WD merger channel–from the gene ration of physically consistent initial conditions of the binary systems t o the supernova remnant phase of the ejecta. We will employ the FLASH-X hy drodynamical simulation framework to capture the full 3D evolution of the binary WD system. For accurate modeling of these systems\, our ongoing eff orts focus on improving the existing gravity solvers by implementing flux- conservative numerical approaches for angular momentum and total energy co nservation in the framework of FLASH-X. With these new developments\, the resulting models will be post-processed with radiation transport codes (Su perNu\, Sedona) to generate synthetic spectra. The systematic comparison b etween models and observations of SNe Ia will help constrain progenitor sc enarios and improve our understanding of the explosion physics of these ev ents.
\nADVISOR(s): Dr. Robert Fisher\, Department of Physics (Rober t.fisher@umassd.edu)
\nCOMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Sigal Gottlieb\, Depar tment of Mathematics Dr. Vijay Varma\, Department of Mathematics
Eve nt page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms /eas-doctoral-proposal-defense--by-vrutant-vikasbhai-mehta.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T153000 LOCATION:TXT 105 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:EAS Doctoral Proposal Defense by Vrutant Vikasbhai Mehta UID:2c806d256eb6be37c828c59746ae5e26@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Study Abroad DESCRIPTION:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question a bout the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Stop by the International Programs Office’s virtual advising session! Studen ts will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Email intl_programs @umassd.edu for the zoom link. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/even ts/cms/study-abroad-virtual-advising.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question about the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Stop by the International Programs Office’s vir tual advising session! Students will be seen on a first come\, first se rved basis. Email intl_programs@umassd.edu for the zoom link.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/study-abroad-virtua l-advising.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T153000 LOCATION:Zoom; Contact intl_programs@umassd.edu for link SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Study Abroad Virtual Advising UID:dd988ddddab21f5c601d39298f94f23d@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Nursing and Health Sciences,Lectures and Seminars,The sis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Title: Enhancing Staff Knowledge and Confidence in the Manageme nt of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD): A Quality Improvement (QI) Initiative Student: Jonadab Erhahon, MSN, RN, PMHNP Facul ty Mentor: Mark Adelung, PhD, RN, CPH Committee Member: Kristopher Jackson , PhD, MPH, AGACNP-BC, CNE, FAANP Clinical Site Mentor: Katina Herron, MSN , NP-C Date: 4/29/2026 Time: 9:00AM Zoom: Please contact dhoffman@umassd.e du for link. Abstract Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms o f dementia (BPSD), including agitation, aggression, anxiety, and wandering , are prevalent among nursing home residents and pose significant care cha llenges. Although nonpharmacological interventions are recommended as firs t-line management, antipsychotic medications remain widely used despite as sociated risks. At Victory Nursing Home, reliance on these medications hig hlighted the need to strengthen staff competency in nonpharmacological app roaches. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project wa s to evaluate whether a structured educational intervention could improve nursing home staff knowledge and confidence in the nonpharmacological mana gement of BPSD. Methods: A single-group pretest–posttest design was use d with 34 nursing home staff (RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and activities personnel). Participants completed the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT) and t he Confidence in Dementia (CODE) scale before and after an educational pro gram focused on communication strategies, environmental modifications, and person-centered care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests, with qualitative feedback analyzed using content analysis. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed i n both knowledge and confidence following the intervention. Mean DKAT scor es increased from 15.29 to 18.56 (p < .001), and CODE scores increased fro m 34.21 to 41.50 (p < .001). Qualitative findings indicated increased conf idence in applying strategies such as validation, redirection, and environ mental modification, while also identifying barriers including staffing co nstraints and limited time. Conclusion: A structured educational interven tion effectively improved staff knowledge and confidence in nonpharmacolog ical management of BPSD. Strengthening staff competency in person-centered dementia care may help reduce reliance on antipsychotic medications and i mprove resident outcomes. Continued organizational support is needed to su stain practice change.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/coll ege-of-nursing-and-health-sciences-dnp--defense---jonadab-erhahon-msn-rn-p mhnp.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Title: Enhancing Staff Knowledg e and Confidence in the Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptom s of Dementia (BPSD): A Quality Improvement (QI) Initiative
\nStuden t: Jonadab Erhahon\, MSN\, RN\, PMHNP
\nFaculty Mentor: Mark Adelung \, PhD\, RN\, CPH
\nCommittee Member: Kristopher Jackson\, PhD\, MPH \, AGACNP-BC\, CNE\, FAANP
\nClinical Site Mentor: Katina Herron\, M SN\, NP-C
\nDate: 4/29/2026
\nTime: 9:00AM
\nZoom: Pleas e contact dhoffman@umassd.edu< /a> for link.
\nAbstract
\nBackground: Behavioral and psychol ogical symptoms of dementia (BPSD)\, including agitation\, aggression\, an xiety\, and wandering\, are prevalent among nursing home residents and pos e significant care challenges. Although nonpharmacological interventions a re recommended as first-line management\, antipsychotic medications remain widely used despite associated risks. At Victory Nursing Home\, reliance on these medications highlighted the need to strengthen staff competency i n nonpharmacological approaches.
\nPurpose: The purpose of this qua lity improvement (QI) project was to evaluate whether a structured educati onal intervention could improve nursing home staff knowledge and confidenc e in the nonpharmacological management of BPSD.
\nMethods: A single -group pretest–posttest design was used with 34 nursing home staff (RNs\ , LPNs\, CNAs\, and activities personnel). Participants completed the Deme ntia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT) and the Confidence in Dementia (CODE ) scale before and after an educational program focused on communication s trategies\, environmental modifications\, and person-centered care. Data w ere analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests\, wit h qualitative feedback analyzed using content analysis.
\nResults: Statistically significant improvements were observed in both knowledge and confidence following the intervention. Mean DKAT scores increased from 15 .29 to 18.56 (p < .001)\, and CODE scores increased from 34.21 to 41.50 (p < .001). Qualitative findings indicated increased confidence in applying strategies such as validation\, redirection\, and environmental modificati on\, while also identifying barriers including staffing constraints and li mited time.
\nConclusion: A structured educational intervention eff ectively improved staff knowledge and confidence in nonpharmacological man agement of BPSD. Strengthening staff competency in person-centered dementi a care may help reduce reliance on antipsychotic medications and improve r esident outcomes. Continued organizational support is needed to sustain pr actice change.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T100000 LOCATION:Zoom SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:College of Nursing and Health Sciences DNP Defense - Jonadab Erhahon, MSN, RN, PMHNP UID:9cce0f640dd206433212457d805677e6@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Nursing and Health Sciences,Lectures and Seminars,The sis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Title: An Evidence-Based Training Program to Improve Communicat ion and De-escalation Skills in Medical-Surgical Nurses Student: David Hee ps, BS, ADN, RN Faculty Mentor: Mark Adelung, PhD, RN, CPH Committee Membe r: Michelle Glowny, PhD, RN, CNE Clinical Site Mentor: Carolyn Harding, DN P, RN Date: April 29, 2026 Time: 10:00AM Zoom: Please contact dhoffman@ umassd.edu for link. Abstract Background: Medical-surgical nurses frequ ently care for patients with mental health conditions yet often feel unpre pared to manage escalating behaviors, which can contribute to decreased co nfidence, increased workplace violence, and poorer patient outcomes. The p urpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to implement a nd evaluate a brief, evidence-based educational intervention focused on co mmunication and verbal de-escalation skills to improve nurses’ mental he alth knowledge and perceived competence in managing escalating behavioral health events. Methods: This project used a quantitative, quasi-experiment al one-group pretest–posttest design with a qualitative component. Medic al-surgical nurses (N = 11) participated in an online, asynchronous, narra ted PowerPoint training module. Outcomes were measured using the validated Behavioral Health Care Competency (BHCC) survey before and after the inte rvention. Data were analyzed using paired samples t-tests and effect sizes . Results: Results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall BHCC scores, with a 16.7% increase from pretest to posttest (p = .005) and a large effect size (d = 1.10). Significant improvements were al so observed across all four subscales, with the greatest improvement in pr actice/intervention competency (d = 1.24). Qualitative feedback supported these findings, with participants reporting increased confidence, improved ability to recognize early signs of agitation, and greater use of de-esca lation strategies. Participants also identified ongoing educational needs, particularly related to psychotropic medications and managing delirium. C onclusions: Despite limitations such as a small sample size, single-site d esign, and short-term evaluation, findings suggest that a brief educationa l intervention can meaningfully improve nurses’ behavioral health knowle dge and confidence. This project supports integrating structured communica tion and de-escalation training into orientation and ongoing education for medical-surgical nurses to support safer patient care and reduce workplac e risk.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/college-of-nursing- and-health-sciences-dnp--defense---david-heeps-bs-adn-rn.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Title: An Evidence-Based Traini ng Program to Improve Communication and De-escalation Skills in Medical-Su rgical Nurses
\nStudent: David Heeps\, BS\, ADN\, RN
\nFaculty Mentor: Mark Adelung\, PhD\, RN\, CPH
\nCommittee Member: Michelle Glowny\, PhD\, RN\, CNE
\nClinical Site Mentor: Carolyn Harding\, DN P\, RN
\n\n
Date: April 29\, 2026
\nTime: 10:00AM
\ nZoom: Please contact dhoff man@umassd.edu for link.
\n\n
Abstract
\nBackgroun d: Medical-surgical nurses frequently care for patients with mental health conditions yet often feel unprepared to manage escalating behaviors\, whi ch can contribute to decreased confidence\, increased workplace violence\, and poorer patient outcomes. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practi ce (DNP) project was to implement and evaluate a brief\, evidence-based ed ucational intervention focused on communication and verbal de-escalation s kills to improve nurses’ mental health knowledge and perceived competenc e in managing escalating behavioral health events.
\nMethods: This p roject used a quantitative\, quasi-experimental one-group pretest–postte st design with a qualitative component. Medical-surgical nurses (N = 11) p articipated in an online\, asynchronous\, narrated PowerPoint training mod ule. Outcomes were measured using the validated Behavioral Health Care Com petency (BHCC) survey before and after the intervention. Data were analyze d using paired samples t-tests and effect sizes.
\nResults: Results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall BHCC score s\, with a 16.7% increase from pretest to posttest (p = .005) and a large effect size (d = 1.10). Significant improvements were also observed across all four subscales\, with the greatest improvement in practice/interventi on competency (d = 1.24). Qualitative feedback supported these findings\, with participants reporting increased confidence\, improved ability to rec ognize early signs of agitation\, and greater use of de-escalation strateg ies. Participants also identified ongoing educational needs\, particularly related to psychotropic medications and managing delirium.
\nConclu sions: Despite limitations such as a small sample size\, single-site desig n\, and short-term evaluation\, findings suggest that a brief educational intervention can meaningfully improve nurses’ behavioral health knowledg e and confidence. This project supports integrating structured communicati on and de-escalation training into orientation and ongoing education for m edical-surgical nurses to support safer patient care and reduce workplace risk.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T110000 LOCATION:Zoom SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:College of Nursing and Health Sciences DNP Defense - David Heeps, BS, ADN, RN UID:36c5cf7b5486aef0fc4696e3f0dc26b1@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:College of EngineeringData Science Master's Thesis Defense "Ev aluating the Impact of Data Drift on Deep Learning Models for Bitcoin Pric e Forecasting" By Adithi Madduluri Advisor: Dr. Donghui Yan, Mathemati cs, UMass Dartmouth Committee Members:Dr. Yuchou Chang, Computer and Info rmation Science Department, UMass DartmouthDr. Long Jiao, Computer and Inf ormation Science Department, UMass Dartmouth Thursday, April 29, 202610:3 0 am to 11:30 am Via Zoom: Please contact Adithi Madduluri (amadduluri@um assd.edu) or Dr. Yan (dyan@umassd.edu) for the zoom link and passcode A bstract: Cryptocurrency markets are non-stationary, making price forecasti ng inherently unreliable over time. This study examines whether the choice of target variable has more impact on forecast stability than the choice of model architecture. Five models are evaluated across two target formula tions: raw Bitcoin price and 1-hour percentage change. The models tested a re Naive Forecast, ARIMA, LSTM, Bidirectional LSTM, and GRU, each trained and assessed over a 27-day test window using live data collected at 5-minu te intervals across a rolling six-week period. Drift detection using the W asserstein distance confirmed that raw price exhibits significantly greate r distributional shift than percentage change over the same timeframe. Mod els trained on raw price produced directional accuracy below 50% across al l learned architectures, with visible degradation over the test window. Th e Naive Forecast outperformed all learned models on both RMSE ($110.34) an d MAE ($66.08). Models trained on percentage change maintained substantial ly higher accuracy: LSTM achieved 74.7% directional accuracy, while BiLSTM and GRU both reached 72.8%, with no comparable decay observed. The result s indicate that model decay in Bitcoin forecasting is driven primarily by data drift in the target variable rather than by limitations in the predic ting architecture. When the target is stationary, all models tested retain their accuracy across the full evaluation window. All Data Science and C omputer Science Graduate Students are encouraged to attend. For more info rmation, please contact Dr. Donghui Yan at dyan@umassd.edu.\nEvent page: h ttps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/evaluating-the-impact-of-data-drift-on-de ep-learning-models-for-bitcoin-price-forecasting.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:College of Engineering
Dat
a Science Master's Thesis Defense
"Evaluating the Impact of D
ata Drift on Deep Learning Models for Bitcoin Price Forecasting"
By Adithi Madduluri
Advisor:
Dr. Donghui Yan\, Ma
thematics\, UMass Dartmouth
Committee Members:
Dr. Yucho
u Chang\, Computer and Information Science Department\, UMass Dartmouth
Dr. Long Jiao\, Computer and Information Science Department\, UMass Dar
tmouth
Thursday\, April 29\, 2026
10:30 am to 11:30 am
Via Zoom: Please contact Adithi Madduluri (amadduluri@umassd.e
du) or Dr. Yan (dyan@umassd.edu) for the zoom link and passcode
<
br />Abstract: Cryptocurrency markets are non-stationary\, making price fo
recasting inherently unreliable over time. This study examines whether the
choice of target variable has more impact on forecast stability than the
choice of model architecture. Five models are evaluated across two target
formulations: raw Bitcoin price and 1-hour percentage change. The models t
ested are Naive Forecast\, ARIMA\, LSTM\, Bidirectional LSTM\, and GRU\, e
ach trained and assessed over a 27-day test window using live data collect
ed at 5-minute intervals across a rolling six-week period. Drift detection
using the Wasserstein distance confirmed that raw price exhibits signific
antly greater distributional shift than percentage change over the same ti
meframe. Models trained on raw price produced directional accuracy below 5
0% across all learned architectures\, with visible degradation over the te
st window. The Naive Forecast outperformed all learned models on both RMSE
($110.34) and MAE ($66.08). Models trained on percentage change maintaine
d substantially higher accuracy: LSTM achieved 74.7% directional accuracy\
, while BiLSTM and GRU both reached 72.8%\, with no comparable decay obser
ved. The results indicate that model decay in Bitcoin forecasting is drive
n primarily by data drift in the target variable rather than by limitation
s in the predicting architecture. When the target is stationary\, all mode
ls tested retain their accuracy across the full evaluation window.
All Data Science and Computer Science Graduate Students are encourag
ed to attend.
For more information\, please contact Dr. Dongh
ui Yan at dyan@umassd.edu.
Advisor: Dr. Donghui Yan
\ nCommittee Members:
\nDr. Yuchou Chang\, Computer and Information Science Department\, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
\nDr. Lo ng Jiao\, Computer and Information Science Department\, University of Mass achusetts Dartmouth
\nAbstract:
\nCryptocurrency markets are n on-stationary\, making price forecasting inherently unreliable over time. This study examines whether the choice of target variable has more impact on forecast stability than the choice of model architecture. Five models a re evaluated across two target formulations: raw Bitcoin price and 1-hour percentage change. The models tested are Naive Forecast\, ARIMA\, LSTM\, B idirectional LSTM\, and GRU\, each trained and assessed over a 27-day test window using live data collected at 5-minute intervals across a rolling s ix-week period. Drift detection using the Wasserstein distance confirmed t hat raw price exhibits significantly greater distributional shift than per centage change over the same timeframe. Models trained on raw price produc ed directional accuracy below 50% across all learned architectures\, with visible degradation over the test window. The Naive Forecast outperformed all learned models on both RMSE ($110.34) and MAE ($66.08). Models trained on percentage change maintained substantially higher accuracy: LSTM achie ved 74.7% directional accuracy\, while BiLSTM and GRU both reached 72.8%\, with no comparable decay observed. The results indicate that model decay in Bitcoin forecasting is driven primarily by data drift in the target var iable rather than by limitations in the predicting architecture. When the target is stationary\, all models tested retain their accuracy across the full evaluation window.
Event page: https:/ /www.umassd.edu/events/cms/data-science-ms-thesis-defense-by-adithi-maddul uri.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T113000 LOCATION:Virtual SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Data Science MS Thesis Defense by Adithi Madduluri UID:1864a9f190042b542241e7db371023b1@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,College of Engineering,Graduate Stu dies,Lectures and Seminars,SMAST,SMAST Seminar Series,STEM DESCRIPTION:Seminar Announcement Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences "Coastal Cities: Managing Urban Impacts Below the Waterline" Katherine Da ffornDistinguished Professor and Director of the Stone Living Lab, UMass B ostonWednesday, April 29, 202612:30 - 1:30 pmSMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom Abstract: Coastal cities are increasingly shaped by human activity, yet ma ny of the impacts occur below the waterline. My research has focused on un derstanding how urban stressors such as artificial structures, stormwater, and industrial pollution impact on marine ecosystems, and how we can desi gn solutions to mitigate these impacts. Artificial structures like seawall s, pilings and pontoons tend to create featureless surfaces that lack the complexity of natural habitats, reduce biodiversity, and create a niche fo r invasive species. Through the Living Seawalls project in Australia, I’ ve worked with collaborators to develop and test eco-engineered panels tha t add habitat complexity and support native species. These panels have now been installed in more than 10 countries around the world and are providi ng insight into how different geometries perform under different environme ntal conditions. Through this project I have also explored how ecological principles can inform port design to reduce the risk of marine invasions, using biosecurity research to guide infrastructure planning. Other stresso rs associated with coastal cities include the contaminants introduced by s tormwater. My work on the structural and functional impacts of contaminant s has included measuring the responses of macro- and micro-organisms to st ormwater. In collaboration with the City of Sydney, I’ve also investigat ed whether sediment-dwelling organisms (bioturbators) can help remediate s tormwater-contaminated sediments by enhancing microbial processes. Industr ial pollution is another persistent stressor, and I’ve been using enviro nmental DNA (eDNA) to detect changes in benthic communities and assess eco system health. In my talk I’ll also introduce the work of the Stone Livi ng Lab in Boston, where we are applying nature-based approaches to build c oastal resilience with the support of different government, community and industry stakeholders. Together, these projects aim to inform sustainable design and management of urban coastal environments. Join Meeting https:// umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069270 Note: Meeting ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain. For additional information, please contact Callie Rumb ut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/ smast-deos-seminar-coastal-cities-managing-urban-impacts-below-the-waterli ne-by-katherine-dafforn.php\nEvent link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069 270 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Seminar Announcement
\nDe partment of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences
\n"Coastal Cities: Managing Urban Impacts Below the Waterline"
\nKatherine Dafforn
Disting
uished Professor and Director of the Stone Living Lab\, UMass Boston
Wednesday\, April 29\, 2026
12:30 - 1:30 pm
SMAST E 101-10
3 and via Zoom
Abstract:
\nCoastal cities are increasingly s haped by human activity\, yet many of the impacts occur below the waterlin e. My research has focused on understanding how urban stressors such as ar tificial structures\, stormwater\, and industrial pollution impact on mari ne ecosystems\, and how we can design solutions to mitigate these impacts. Artificial structures like seawalls\, pilings and pontoons tend to create featureless surfaces that lack the complexity of natural habitats\, reduc e biodiversity\, and create a niche for invasive species. Through the Livi ng Seawalls project in Australia\, I’ve worked with collaborators to dev elop and test eco-engineered panels that add habitat complexity and suppor t native species. These panels have now been installed in more than 10 cou ntries around the world and are providing insight into how different geome tries perform under different environmental conditions. Through this proje ct I have also explored how ecological principles can inform port design t o reduce the risk of marine invasions\, using biosecurity research to guid e infrastructure planning. Other stressors associated with coastal cities include the contaminants introduced by stormwater. My work on the structur al and functional impacts of contaminants has included measuring the respo nses of macro- and micro-organisms to stormwater. In collaboration with th e City of Sydney\, I’ve also investigated whether sediment-dwelling orga nisms (bioturbators) can help remediate stormwater-contaminated sediments by enhancing microbial processes. Industrial pollution is another persiste nt stressor\, and I’ve been using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect cha nges in benthic communities and assess ecosystem health. In my talk I’ll also introduce the work of the Stone Living Lab in Boston\, where we are applying nature-based approaches to build coastal resilience with the supp ort of different government\, community and industry stakeholders. Togethe r\, these projects aim to inform sustainable design and management of urba n coastal environments.
\nJoin Meeting
\nhttps://umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069270\n
Note: Meeting ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain.
\nFor additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumb ut@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/smast-deos
-seminar-coastal-cities-managing-urban-impacts-below-the-waterline-by-kath
erine-dafforn.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069270
Join millions of people across the world that will wear jeans with a purpose\, support survivors\, and ed ucate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence. Learn more at denimday.org
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/denim-d ay-photo-booth.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T160000 LOCATION:Campus Center SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Denim Day Photo Booth UID:c147c4fa9839abf9de4b86da2865a31a@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Topic: Spectral Projection Model for Electromagnetic Scattering from Conducting Objects Abstract: Electromagnetic analysis for many years has depended on both analytical and numerical methods. Analytical methods could provide accurate solutions, but they could only be used for basic s hapes like circular cylinders and spheres. As electromagnetics became more demanding, there have been situations with shapes that are irregular and asymmetrical, where analytical techniques are not easily applicable. For t his reason, numerical techniques such as the Method of Moments (MoM) have become widely used, although they can be computationally expensive, especi ally for large-scale problems. The objective of this study was to test the validity of the alternative techniques developed at UMassD known as the S pectral Projection Model (SPM) by systematically comparing its results wit h those obtained using the Method of Moments (MoM) when applied to scatter ing form circular and elliptical cylinders. The MoM technique is used to s olve integral equations by discretizing them and converting it into a syst em of linear equations. The key idea behind SPM is to exploit the addition theorem of Hankel functions, which allows Green’s function to be decomp osed into a series of angular modes. Each mode represents a global wave pa ttern that wraps around the object. Rather than computing interactions bet ween individual surface elements, the problem is reformulated in terms of determining the amplitude of each angular mode. Both methods were implemen ted and tested under identical conditions, and their results were analyzed in terms of accuracy, convergence, and computational efficiency. The SP M produced good agreement with Method of Moments techniques. This work aim s to determine whether SPM can serve as a reliable and efficient alternati ve to conventional numerical methods in the analysis of electromagnetic sc attering. Advisor(s): Dr. Dayalan P. Kasilingam, Professor, Dept. of Elect rical & Computer Engineering, UMASS Dartmouth Committee Members: Dr. David A. Brown, Professor, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMASS Da rtmouth; Dr. Paul J. Gendron, Professor, Dept. of Electrical & Computer En gineering, UMASS Dartmouth NOTE: All ECE Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend. All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the publi c. *For further information, please contact Dr. Dayalan Kasilingam via ema il at dkasilingam@umassd.edu.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/c ms/elee-research-component-of-phd-qualifier-exam-by-temegni-ulrich-bertaud .php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Topic: Spectral Projection Mode l for Electromagnetic Scattering from Conducting Objects
\nAbstract: Electromagnetic analysis for many years has depended on both analytical a nd numerical methods. Analytical methods could provide accurate solutions\ , but they could only be used for basic shapes like circular cylinders and spheres. As electromagnetics became more demanding\, there have been situ ations with shapes that are irregular and asymmetrical\, where analytical techniques are not easily applicable. For this reason\, numerical techniqu es such as the Method of Moments (MoM) have become widely used\, although they can be computationally expensive\, especially for large-scale problem s. The objective of this study was to test the validity of the alternative techniques developed at UMassD known as the Spectral Projection Model (SP M) by systematically comparing its results with those obtained using the M ethod of Moments (MoM) when applied to scattering form circular and ellipt ical cylinders. The MoM technique is used to solve integral equations by d iscretizing them and converting it into a system of linear equations. The key idea behind SPM is to exploit the addition theorem of Hankel functions \, which allows Green’s function to be decomposed into a series of angul ar modes. Each mode represents a global wave pattern that wraps around the object. Rather than computing interactions between individual surface ele ments\, the problem is reformulated in terms of determining the amplitude of each angular mode. Both methods were implemented and tested under ident ical conditions\, and their results were analyzed in terms of accuracy\, c onvergence\, and computational efficiency. The SPM produced good agreeme nt with Method of Moments techniques. This work aims to determine whether SPM can serve as a reliable and efficient alternative to conventional nume rical methods in the analysis of electromagnetic scattering.
\nAdvis or(s): Dr. Dayalan P. Kasilingam\, Professor\, Dept. of Electrical & Compu ter Engineering\, UMASS Dartmouth
\nCommittee Members: Dr. David A. Brown\, Professor\, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering\, UMASS Dar tmouth\; Dr. Paul J. Gendron\, Professor\, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering\, UMASS Dartmouth
\nNOTE: All ECE Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend. All interested parties are invited to attend. Open t o the public.
\n*For further information\, please contact Dr. Dayala n Kasilingam via email at dkasilingam@umassd.edu.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T150000 LOCATION:Lester W. Cory Conference Room, Science & Engineering Building (SENG), Room 213A SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:ELEE Research Component of PhD Qualifier Exam by Tem egni Ulrich Bertaud UID:7a5296ae5d98465eaaef75f6ed901fff@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Study Abroad DESCRIPTION:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question a bout the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Have q uestions about scholarships available to support your study abroad experie nce? Stop by the International Programs Office (IPO) in the Library 233! Students will be seen on a first come, first served basis. \nEvent pa ge: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/study-abroad-walk-in-advising.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question about the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Have questions about scholarships available to support your study abroad experience? Stop by the International Programs Office (IPO) in the Library 233! Students will be seen on a first come\, first served basis.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/event s/cms/study-abroad-walk-in-advising.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T170000 LOCATION:Library 233 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Study Abroad Walk-in Advising UID:2aa280786a1192acf1e536e65e86a5ee@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Financial Aid DESCRIPTION:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 Financial Aid Service s wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Ser vices for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and learning more about financial aid.Particip ants must bring their own laptop.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/even ts/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109-1.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs i n SENG 109
\nFinancial Aid Services wants to remind all students to
file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG
109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and le
arning more about financial aid.
Participants must bring thei
r own laptop.
Event page: https://www.uma ssd.edu/events/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109-1.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T160000 LOCATION:SENG 109 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 UID:df538200ad2c92bbd4c3dd33e8767137@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Honors College DESCRIPTION:The Commonwealth Honors Scholars, Class of 2026 will be present ing their APEX Posters at the 41st Annual Honors College Convocation on We dnesday, April 29th in the Marketplace. There will be over 75 posters repr esenting all five colleges. All are welcome to attend from 3:00-5:00pm. Li ght refreshments will be served. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/eve nts/cms/41st-annual-honors-college-convocation.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:The Commonwealth Honors Scholar s\, Class of 2026 will be presenting their APEX Posters at the 41st Annual Honors College Convocation on Wednesday\, April 29th in the Marketplace. There will be over 75 posters representing all five colleges. All are welc ome to attend from 3:00-5:00pm. Light refreshments will be served.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/41st-annual-ho nors-college-convocation.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T170000 LOCATION:The Marketplace SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:41st Annual Honors College Convocation UID:a3f475e5389564c6ec97e8125e3fed04@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars,SMAST,SMAST Seminar Series,STEM DESCRIPTION:Seminar Announcement Department of Fisheries Oceanography "Nove l Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture Projects in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, and the Northern Mariana Islands" Michael ChambersAssociate Res earch Professor, University of New Hampshire Wednesday, April 29, 20263:00 - 4:00 pmSMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom Abstract: Interest in integrated mu ltitrophic (IMTA) farming technologies is growing in the US, Gulf of Ameri ca, and the Pacific. This type of aquaculture incorporates lower trophic s pecies that extract inorganic and organic nutrients from a fed species. Th is technique has been demonstrated by the University of New Hampshire with steelhead trout, blue mussel, and sugar kelp from a floating sea structur e called the AquaFort. This farming approach reduces nitrogen input to the environment and produces additional species to be sold thus increasing th e economic viability of a farm. The platform is used for aquaculture educa tion, training, research and demonstration. This small-scale approach ease s the permitting process, informs the public on responsible farming method s and provides fresh seafood to local markets. A second IMTA project has c ommenced offshore of Dauphin Island, AL. This project is funded by the Gul f States Marine Fisheries Commission and is currently producing red drum, eastern oysters, and Gracilaria. A third project is underway on Saipan in the Northern Marina Islands. This project is in the permitting phase and is currently collecting environmental data for a site offshore of Garapan. The status of these projects will be presented. Join Meeting https://um assd.zoom.us/j/93758230260 Note: Meeting ID and passcode required. Please email contact to obtain. For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events /cms/smast-seminar---dfo-novel-integrated-multitrophic-aquaculture-project s-in-the-gulf-of-maine-gulf-of-mexico-and-the-northern-mariana-islands-by- michael-chambers.php\nEvent link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Seminar Announcement
\nDe partment of Fisheries Oceanography
\n"Novel Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture Projects in the Gulf of Maine\, Gulf of Mexico\, and the North ern Mariana Islands"
\nMichael Chambers
Associate Research Prof
essor\, University of New Hampshire
Wednesday\, April 29\, 2026
3:00 - 4:00 pm
SMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom
Abstract:
\ nInterest in integrated multitrophic (IMTA) farming technologies is gro wing in the US\, Gulf of America\, and the Pacific. This type of aquacultu re incorporates lower trophic species that extract inorganic and organic n utrients from a fed species. This technique has been demonstrated by the U niversity of New Hampshire with steelhead trout\, blue mussel\, and sugar kelp from a floating sea structure called the AquaFort. This farming appro ach reduces nitrogen input to the environment and produces additional spec ies to be sold thus increasing the economic viability of a farm. The platf orm is used for aquaculture education\, training\, research and demonstrat ion. This small-scale approach eases the permitting process\, informs the public on responsible farming methods and provides fresh seafood to local markets. A second IMTA project has commenced offshore of Dauphin Island\, AL. This project is funded by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and is currently producing red drum\, eastern oysters\, and Gracilaria. A third project is underway on Saipan in the Northern Marina Islands. This project is in the permitting phase and is currently collecting environment al data for a site offshore of Garapan. The status of these projects will be presented.
\nJoin Meeting
\nhttps://u massd.zoom.us/j/93758230260
\nNote: Meeting ID and passcode requ ired. Please email contact to obtain.
\nFor additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu
Event pag
e: https://www
.umassd.edu/events/cms/smast-seminar---dfo-novel-integrated-multitrophic-a
quaculture-projects-in-the-gulf-of-maine-gulf-of-mexico-and-the-northern-m
ariana-islands-by-michael-chambers.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93758230260
On Wednesday\, April 29th\, joi
n us at CVPA 153 at 5:00 PM for a the screening of Sofia Coppola’s accla
imed film Lost in Translation.
This is the last movie of our film ser
ies: In/Between Worlds: Expressions of Displacement in Global Cinema\, whe
re we have been featuring movies connected to cultural dislocation and dis
placement. Set in Tokyo\, the movie follows two strangers\, an aging Ameri
can actor and a young woman\, who find themselves adrift in a foreign city
.
The screening will be introduced by Nicholas Santavicca\, Associ ate Professor of English & Communication at the University of Massachusett s Dartmouth. He is also the founding Director of the American Language & C ultures Institute. With over 15 years of experience teaching language educ ation in both K–12 and higher education settings (including in the U.S.\ , China\, and Spain)\, Professor Santavicca specializes in rethinking asse ssment\, curriculum design\, and school policy for multilingual and multic ultural students\, as well as international students.
\nThis is a wo nderful opportunity to begin closing the semester by enjoying a film about human connection in a globalized world and engaging in conversation with your peers.
\nCome early\, grab some pizza\, and settle in for the m ovie!
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T193000 LOCATION:CVPA 153 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Screening of Lost in Translation – In/Between Worlds: Expressions of Displacement in Global Cinema UID:84113cb1dbb6a9521e06d5a397948792@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Student Affairs DESCRIPTION:Hey Veterans! Please join us for the last Grub and Gather of th e semester, Grub 'N Go, on Thursday, April 30th from 12pm to 3pm. Sandwich es and salads will be served. Best of luck on finals! \nEvent page: https ://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/veterans-grub-n-go.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Hey Veterans! Please join us fo r the last Grub and Gather of the semester\, Grub 'N Go\, on Thursday\, Ap ril 30th from 12pm to 3pm. Sandwiches and salads will be served. Best of l uck on finals!
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/veterans-gru b-n-go.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T150000 LOCATION:Campus Center SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Veterans Grub 'N Go UID:f6d6ede3ad2243cb122acfdc6ddfdec9@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,College of Engineering,Graduate Stu dies,Lectures and Seminars,SMAST,STEM,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Department of Fisheries Oceanography PhD Dissertation Defense " Beyond the observer's gaze: an integrated approach to detection, estimatio n, and mitigation of observer and deployment effects in fisheries monitori ng" By: Debra Duarte AdvisorSteven X. Cadrin (UMass Dartmouth) Committee M embers Pingguo He (UMass Dartmouth), Gavin Fay (UMass Dartmouth), Geret De Piper (Texas A&M), and Anna Malak Mercer (NOAA) Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00 PM SMAST East 102-103 836 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford and via Zoom Abstract: Observers are deployed on commercial fishing trips to colle ct representative samples of discard rates. However, fishers may change th eir fishing behavior when an observer is onboard (i.e., “observer effect ”) or observer programs may over- or under-sample portions of the fleet (i.e., “deployment effect”). If the extent of these effects is substan tial, observer data will not be representative of unobserved trips, potent ially biasing the estimation of discards. This sampling bias can impact ca tch monitoring, stock assessments, and fishery management. The goal of thi s dissertation was to evaluate how well we can detect these types of effec ts, understand their impacts on catch and discard estimates, and explore m itigation strategies. The New England multispecies groundfish fishery was used as a test case throughout. Chapter 1 examined the performance of seve ral published methods for detecting an observer effect using a simulation of observer and deployment effects at varying sampling ratios (i.e., obser ver coverage) for several sample statistics. The simplest methods (t-test and F-test for difference of means and variances) provided an accurate but imprecise estimate of the observer effect size and only when there were n o deployment effects. A generalized linear mixed effects model (GLMM) was also not reliable for detecting small bias but was not confounded by deplo yment effects and was relatively robust to changing coverage rates. The mo st complicated tests involved comparing differences in trip characteristic s between subsequent trips for observed-unobserved and unobserved-unobserv ed pairs. These tests were able to detect smaller observer effects and wer e not confounded by deployment effects but were unreliable at high coverag e rates (>60%), producing both high false positive and false negative rate s. Sensitivity tests also showed differing detection accuracy as the distr ibution of the metric of interest changed. No single method was reliable a cross all conditions, indicating that the choice of method should depend o n the specific characteristics of the fishery. Chapter 2 compared the impa ct of observer and deployment effects on catch and discard estimates from multiple methods: stratified ratios, generalized additive models, generali zed linear models, and random forest models. Several methods were robust t o the impact of deployment effects, but the preferred model differed by sp ecies, and variability between iterations was high for some species. When an observer effect reduced only the proportion of catch discarded, models for estimating total catch were relatively unaffected, but discard estimat es were underestimated in all models. In contrast, when the observer effec t altered fishing behavior (e.g., fishing location or gear configuration), model estimates were biased for both catch and discards. Chapter 3 create d a framework for determining observer coverage needs to meet precision ta rgets for science and management. This framework was used to evaluate trad eoffs between observer coverage and integration of reference fleets with h igh fidelity data and fewer incentives to change behavior on observed trip s, such as electronic monitoring or cooperative research study fleets. The design of the program with respect to observer coverage (equal or unequal for reference fleet participants vs. non-participants) and discard estima tion (stratified or unstratified) was critical for accurate estimates, eve n in the absence of observer effects. A cohesive program must consider tra deoffs of data precision, logistics, quality, cost, and safety. These find ings underscore the importance of representative sampling, appropriate est imation models, and thoughtful design to produce accurate estimates for sc ience and management. Observer and deployment effects may be an inescapabl e outcome of deploying observers on a subset of fishing vessels, but there are viable options for dealing with them. Detection, estimation, and miti gation must be considered together rather than in isolation to avoid biase d estimates, which could lead to inaccurate assessments and errors in stoc k management. Join Meeting https://umassd.zoom.us/j/95408579777 Note: Meet ing ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain For additional infor mation, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/dfo-phd-dissertation-defense-beyond-the- observers-gaze-.php\nEvent link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/95408579777 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Department of Fisheries Oceanog raphy
\nPhD Dissertation Defense
\n"Beyond the observer's gaze : an integrated approach to detection\, estimation\, and mitigation of obs erver and deployment effects in fisheries monitoring"
\nBy: Debra Du arte
\nAdvisor
Steven X. Cadrin (UMass Dartmouth)
Commi ttee Members
\nPingguo He (UMass Dartmouth)\, Gavin Fay (UMass Dartm outh)\, Geret DePiper (Texas A&M)\, and Anna Malak Mercer (NOAA)
\nThursday April 30\, 2026
\n1:00 PM
\nSMAST East 102-103
\n836 S. Rodney French Blvd\, New Bedford
\nand via Zoom
\nAb stract:
\nObservers are deployed on commercial fishing trips to coll ect representative samples of discard rates. However\, fishers may change their fishing behavior when an observer is onboard (i.e.\, “observer eff ect”) or observer programs may over- or under-sample portions of the fle et (i.e.\, “deployment effect”). If the extent of these effects is sub stantial\, observer data will not be representative of unobserved trips\, potentially biasing the estimation of discards. This sampling bias can imp act catch monitoring\, stock assessments\, and fishery management. The goa l of this dissertation was to evaluate how well we can detect these types of effects\, understand their impacts on catch and discard estimates\, and explore mitigation strategies. The New England multispecies groundfish fi shery was used as a test case throughout.
\nChapter 1 examined the p erformance of several published methods for detecting an observer effect u sing a simulation of observer and deployment effects at varying sampling r atios (i.e.\, observer coverage) for several sample statistics. The simple st methods (t-test and F-test for difference of means and variances) provi ded an accurate but imprecise estimate of the observer effect size and onl y when there were no deployment effects. A generalized linear mixed effect s model (GLMM) was also not reliable for detecting small bias but was not confounded by deployment effects and was relatively robust to changing cov erage rates. The most complicated tests involved comparing differences in trip characteristics between subsequent trips for observed-unobserved and unobserved-unobserved pairs. These tests were able to detect smaller obser ver effects and were not confounded by deployment effects but were unrelia ble at high coverage rates (>60%)\, producing both high false positive and false negative rates. Sensitivity tests also showed differing detection a ccuracy as the distribution of the metric of interest changed. No single m ethod was reliable across all conditions\, indicating that the choice of m ethod should depend on the specific characteristics of the fishery.
\n< p>Chapter 2 compared the impact of observer and deployment effects on catc h and discard estimates from multiple methods: stratified ratios\, general ized additive models\, generalized linear models\, and random forest model s. Several methods were robust to the impact of deployment effects\, but t he preferred model differed by species\, and variability between iteration s was high for some species. When an observer effect reduced only the prop ortion of catch discarded\, models for estimating total catch were relativ ely unaffected\, but discard estimates were underestimated in all models. In contrast\, when the observer effect altered fishing behavior (e.g.\, fi shing location or gear configuration)\, model estimates were biased for bo th catch and discards.\nChapter 3 created a framework for determini ng observer coverage needs to meet precision targets for science and manag ement. This framework was used to evaluate tradeoffs between observer cove rage and integration of reference fleets with high fidelity data and fewer incentives to change behavior on observed trips\, such as electronic moni toring or cooperative research study fleets. The design of the program wit h respect to observer coverage (equal or unequal for reference fleet parti cipants vs. non-participants) and discard estimation (stratified or unstra tified) was critical for accurate estimates\, even in the absence of obser ver effects. A cohesive program must consider tradeoffs of data precision\ , logistics\, quality\, cost\, and safety. These findings underscore the i mportance of representative sampling\, appropriate estimation models\, and thoughtful design to produce accurate estimates for science and managemen t. Observer and deployment effects may be an inescapable outcome of deploy ing observers on a subset of fishing vessels\, but there are viable option s for dealing with them. Detection\, estimation\, and mitigation must be c onsidered together rather than in isolation to avoid biased estimates\, wh ich could lead to inaccurate assessments and errors in stock management.\n
Join Meeting
\nhttps://umassd.zoom.us/j/95408579777
\nNote: Meeting ID and passcode required. Email contact to obtain
\ nFor additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbu t@umassd.edu
Event page: https://w
ww.umassd.edu/events/cms/dfo-phd-dissertation-defense-beyond-the-observers
-gaze-.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/95408579777
Following the infamous 9/11 ter rorist strikes on American targets in 2001 the US launched “Operation En during Freedom\,” beginning two decades of military action in Afghanista n against Al Qaida and the Taliban. Recruits from the Afghan National Army were sent to America to train alongside US Special Forces\; they then ser ved for a decade alongside the elite Special Forces teams as commandos and interpreters. Amid the chaos of America’s troop withdrawal during the 2 021 collapse of the Afghan army and government\, these Afghan comrades wer e left behind to face the wrath of a vengeful Taliban.
\nGreen Beret veteran Lt. Col. Scott Mann will share his remarkable account about how a group of retired US Special Forces operatives came together for one last mission to honor a promise made to their former brothers-in-arms. "Operati on Pineapple Express" ultimately succeeded in extracting over five hundred abandoned Afghan soldiers\, interpreters\, and at-risk family members. Hi s book\, Operation Pineapple Express\, is a gripping account of the heroism\, service\, and loyalty demonstrated in this final\, unsanctio ned\, rescue mission.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T164500 LOCATION:CVPA 153 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Operation Pineapple Express: The daring rescue of st randed Afghan partners at the close of America's War on Terror UID:777a92f2cb6b345e4ed34387096c1cbe@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Rebecca Hutchinson Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Immer Mowry Cook Topic: Found and Made: Ceramics in Integrate d Compositional Systems Date: May 1st, 2026 Time: 10:00am Location: ADS, 4 58 State Rd. North Dartmouth Towne Center, North Dartmouth, MA. 02747 Abst ract: I create temporary systems of structural dependency that use hybrid forms and improvised supports to convey a spectrum of stability and precar iousness. I explore the relationship of natural growth and constructed fra gments in temporary ecosystems that question how bodies and structure adap t, lean and persist in unstable environments. Through iteration and experi mentation, I position myself as a student of the materials and objects I w ork with. I prioritize their intrinsic properties and the ways they can fi t together to form larger structures, rather than their intended uses. My sculptures combine lushly glazed, highly crafted ceramic forms with other materials to explore the relationship between organic form, structural sup port, and material tension. I combine biomorphic shapes with industrial an d found materials to create systems that appear to lean, balance, and rely on one another. Soft, bodily forms interact with rigid frameworks, sugges ting both growth and constraint while emphasizing the physical forces of w eight, gravity, and balance. This work draws inspiration from the material experimentation and expressive surfaces of Arlene Shechet, the careful at tention to structure and craft found in the sculpture of Martin Puryear, a nd the transformative assemblage of industrial materials associated with J ohn Chamberlain. While these influences inform my practice, my sculptures emphasize provisional construction and visible support systems, presenting sculpture as an evolving structure where organic forms and built framewor ks coexist in unstable but generative balance.\nEvent page: https://www.um assd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-immer-mowry-cook .php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Rebecca Hutchinson
\nSubject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Immer Mowry Cook
\ nTopic: Found and Made: Ceramics in Integrated Compositional Systems
\nDate: May 1st\, 2026
\nTime: 10:00am
\nLocation: ADS\, 4 58 State Rd. North Dartmouth Towne Center\, North Dartmouth\, MA. 02747
\nAbstract:
\nI create temporary systems of structural dependenc y that use hybrid forms and improvised supports to convey a spectrum of st ability and precariousness. I explore the relationship of natural growth a nd constructed fragments in temporary ecosystems that question how bodies and structure adapt\, lean and persist in unstable environments. Through i teration and experimentation\, I position myself as a student of the mater ials and objects I work with. I prioritize their intrinsic properties and the ways they can fit together to form larger structures\, rather than the ir intended uses.
\nMy sculptures combine lushly glazed\, highly cra fted ceramic forms with other materials to explore the relationship betwee n organic form\, structural support\, and material tension. I combine biom orphic shapes with industrial and found materials to create systems that a ppear to lean\, balance\, and rely on one another. Soft\, bodily forms int eract with rigid frameworks\, suggesting both growth and constraint while emphasizing the physical forces of weight\, gravity\, and balance.
\nThis work draws inspiration from the material experimentation and express ive surfaces of Arlene Shechet\, the careful attention to structure and cr aft found in the sculpture of Martin Puryear\, and the transformative asse mblage of industrial materials associated with John Chamberlain. While the se influences inform my practice\, my sculptures emphasize provisional con struction and visible support systems\, presenting sculpture as an evolvin g structure where organic forms and built frameworks coexist in unstable b ut generative balance.
Event page: http s://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-immer- mowry-cook.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T110000 LOCATION:UMass Dartmouth Art & Design Studio SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Immer Mowry Co ok UID:59c4d91bec24ce23ee36b8fa2c1f0a05@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Rebecca Hutchinson Subject: Master of Thesis Defense b y: Yaren Yildiz Topic: From Drawing to Clay: Layering, Pressure, and Densi ty as Material Strategies for Articulating the Body as Visceral and in Flu x Date: May 1st, 2026 Time: 11: 00 AM Location: UMass Dartmouth CVPA Art & Design Studio Abstract: This thesis explores the body as sensation rather than representation through ceramic sculpture and drawing. Grounded in a drawing-based practice, the work approaches clay as a responsive and trans formative material that records touch, pressure, and time. Rather than dep icting the human figure, the sculptures evoke bodily states through fragme nted, organic forms that suggest tension, movement, and instability. The c onceptual framework of the thesis is informed by Francis Bacon’s emphasi s on sensation over representation, as discussed in his conversations with David Sylvester and in Gilles Deleuze’s The Logic of Sensation. Additio nal influences include the films of David Cronenberg, particularly their d epiction of bodies that appear strangely alive, as well as the drawings of Hans Bellmer, whose intense line quality and physical immediacy resonate with clay’s material behavior. Drawing functions alongside ceramics as a parallel site of inquiry, informing the buildup, density, and surface log ic of the sculptural work. Through variations in scale and physical presen ce, the work emphasizes embodiment as a relational and experiential condit ion. By prioritizing material intensity and transformation, this thesis po sitions ceramics and drawing as interconnected practices that engage the b ody through sensation rather than visual representation.\nEvent page: http s://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-yaren- yildiz.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Rebecca Hutchinson
\nSubject: Master of Thesis Defense by: Yaren Yildiz
\nTopic: Fro m Drawing to Clay: Layering\, Pressure\, and Density as Material Strategie s for Articulating the Body as Visceral and in Flux
\nDate: May 1st\ , 2026
\nTime: 11: 00 AM
\nLocation: UMass Dartmouth CVPA Art & Design Studio
\nAbstract:
\nThis thesis explores the body as sensation rather than representation through ceramic sculpture and drawin g. Grounded in a drawing-based practice\, the work approaches clay as a re sponsive and transformative material that records touch\, pressure\, and t ime. Rather than depicting the human figure\, the sculptures evoke bodily states through fragmented\, organic forms that suggest tension\, movement\ , and instability.
\nThe conceptual framework of the thesis is infor med by Francis Bacon’s emphasis on sensation over representation\, as di scussed in his conversations with David Sylvester and in Gilles Deleuze’ s The Logic of Sensation. Additional influences include the films of David Cronenberg\, particularly their depiction of bodies that appear strangely alive\, as well as the drawings of Hans Bellmer\, whose intense line qual ity and physical immediacy resonate with clay’s material behavior. Drawi ng functions alongside ceramics as a parallel site of inquiry\, informing the buildup\, density\, and surface logic of the sculptural work.
\nThrough variations in scale and physical presence\, the work emphasizes em bodiment as a relational and experiential condition. By prioritizing mater ial intensity and transformation\, this thesis positions ceramics and draw ing as interconnected practices that engage the body through sensation rat her than visual representation.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-y aren-yildiz.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T120000 LOCATION:UMass Dartmouth CVPA Art & Design Studio SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Yaren Yildiz UID:66d6d6897fe59539eb97d98cbfc5da12@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Paula Becker Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Def ense by: Allison Morones Topic: Wild Cactus: an original puppet show ab out the American southwest Date: May 1st, 2026 Time: 11:15am Location: UMass Dartmouth Art and Design Studios, North Dartmouth, MA Ab stract: Theatrical storytelling is an inherent part of human culture and the driving force behind my art practice; my new play is a hero’s epic journey through physical trials and emotional isolation; akin to Dante tru dging through an indifferent Inferno. Mixing my understanding of fiber art s and theatrical storytelling, as a theatre costume designer and fabricato r, I’ve worked to recreate natural textures with unnatural materials usi ng old techniques that predate the technological advances of the 1900’s: a 23-yard-long moving panorama to change background locations, an origina l score, and a mix of handmade marionette and rod puppets. With these too ls, the audience recaptures the full body experience of childhood wonder as they watch a puppet show about the trials of youth. \nEvent page: ht tps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-alli son-morones.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Paula Becker
\nSubject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Allison Morones
\nTopic: Wild Cactus: an original puppet show about the American southwest
\nDate: May 1st\, 2026
\nTime: 11:15am
\nL ocation: UMass Dartmouth Art and Design Studios\, North Dartmouth\, MA \n
Abstract:
\nTheatrical storytelling is an inherent part of human culture and the driving force behind my art practice\; my new play i s a hero’s epic journey through physical trials and emotional isolation\ ; akin to Dante trudging through an indifferent Inferno. Mixing my underst anding of fiber arts and theatrical storytelling\, as a theatre costume de signer and fabricator\, I’ve worked to recreate natural textures with un natural materials using old techniques that predate the technological adva nces of the 1900’s: a 23-yard-long moving panorama to change background locations\, an original score\, and a mix of handmade marionette and rod p uppets. With these tools\, the audience recaptures the full body experie nce of childhood wonder as they watch a puppet show about the trials of yo uth.
Event page: https://www.umassd. edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-allison-morones.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T111500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T121500 LOCATION:UMass Dartmouth Art and Design Studios, North Dartmouth, MA SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Allison Moron es UID:408433975b74669cc848f08d0e5c7652@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:SMAST,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences MS Thesis Defense "O ptical Characterization of Particle Size Distributions and Their Relations hip to Phytoplankton Pigment Composition in the Northern Gulf of Mexico" B y: Kara Falvey Advisor Steven Lohrenz (UMass Dartmouth) Committee Member s Geoffrey Cowles (UMass Dartmouth), and Jefferson Turner (UMass Dartmouth ), Friday May 1, 2026 12:00 PM SMAST East 102-103 836 S. Rodney French Blv d, New Bedford and via Zoom Abstract: Optical characterization of particle size distributions, particle volumes, and particle number concentrations was conducted and compared to phytoplankton size classes as inferred from phytoplankton pigment composition in the region of the northern Gulf of Me xico (nGOM) influenced by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River systems. U sing a Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometer (LISST 100X), we acqui red vertical profiles of particle concentration and size from nearshore es tuarine regions to open ocean waters. Profiles of spectral beam attenuatio n using an underwater absorption and attenuation spectrometer (AC-9) were acquired alongside the LISST measurements. These optical observations were compared to phytoplankton size classes as inferred from phytoplankton pig ment composition. Strong spatial gradients in particle volume and number c oncentration were observed in conjunction with variations in the magnitude of beam attenuation, with higher values in the estuary and inner shelf wa ters. The observed relationship between the spectral slope of the beam att enuation, γ, corrected for colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorp tion, and the slope of the LISST-derived particle size distribution, ξ, f ollowed general theoretical expectations, although there were notable devi ations, particularly at estuary and inner shelf stations. The near-surface particle number and volume concentrations were examined in relation to wa ter mass type as well as in relation to phytoplankton composition and size class as inferred from high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment analyses. Near-surface particle volume and number concentration were high est in estuary waters as compared to outer shelf waters. The median fracti on of total chlorophyll associated with the microphytoplankton size fracti on (20 – 200 μm) was lower for mid-shelf stations compared to estuary a nd inner shelf stations. The median total volume fraction of larger partic les in the size range (20 – 200 μm) for inner and mid-shelf stations wa s significantly lower than for estuary stations. Outer shelf stations demo nstrated relatively large variability in chlorophyll fractions associated with the different size classes. Subsurface peaks were evident in vertical profiles of particle volume and number concentration and coincided with d istinct in phytoplankton pigment composition, providing insight about vert ical variations in community composition in relation to physical gradients . These findings provide novel information about particle characteristics and their relationship to phytoplankton composition in the nGOM. Join Meet ing https://umassd.zoom.us/j/92975455209 Note: Meeting ID and passcode req uired, email contact to obtain. For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/ events/cms/optical-characterization-of-particle-size-distributions-and-the ir-relationship-to-phytoplankton-pigment-composition-in-the-northern-gulf- of-mexico-by-kara-falvey.php\nEvent link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/9297545 5209 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Department of Estuarine and Oce an Sciences
\nMS Thesis Defense
\n"Optical Characterization of Particle Size Distributions and Their Relationship to Phytoplankton Pigme nt Composition in the Northern Gulf of Mexico"
\nBy: Kara Falvey\n
Advisor
\nSteven Lohrenz (UMass Dartmouth)
\nCommittee Members
\nGeoffrey Cowles (UMass Dartmouth)\, and Jefferson Turner ( UMass Dartmouth)\,
\nFriday May 1\, 2026
\n12:00 PM
\nSM AST East 102-103
\n836 S. Rodney French Blvd\, New Bedford
\na nd via Zoom
\nAbstract:
\nOptical characterization of particle size distributions\, particle volumes\, and particle number concentration s was conducted and compared to phytoplankton size classes as inferred fro m phytoplankton pigment composition in the region of the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) influenced by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River systems. Using a Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometer (LISST 100X)\, we ac quired vertical profiles of particle concentration and size from nearshore estuarine regions to open ocean waters. Profiles of spectral beam attenua tion using an underwater absorption and attenuation spectrometer (AC-9) we re acquired alongside the LISST measurements. These optical observations w ere compared to phytoplankton size classes as inferred from phytoplankton pigment composition. Strong spatial gradients in particle volume and numbe r concentration were observed in conjunction with variations in the magnit ude of beam attenuation\, with higher values in the estuary and inner shel f waters. The observed relationship between the spectral slope of the beam attenuation\, γ\, corrected for colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption\, and the slope of the LISST-derived particle size distribution \, ξ\, followed general theoretical expectations\, although there were no table deviations\, particularly at estuary and inner shelf stations. The n ear-surface particle number and volume concentrations were examined in rel ation to water mass type as well as in relation to phytoplankton compositi on and size class as inferred from high-pressure liquid chromatography (HP LC) pigment analyses. Near-surface particle volume and number concentratio n were highest in estuary waters as compared to outer shelf waters. The me dian fraction of total chlorophyll associated with the microphytoplankton size fraction (20 – 200 μm) was lower for mid-shelf stations compared t o estuary and inner shelf stations. The median total volume fraction of la rger particles in the size range (20 – 200 μm) for inner and mid-shelf stations was significantly lower than for estuary stations. Outer shelf st ations demonstrated relatively large variability in chlorophyll fractions associated with the different size classes. Subsurface peaks were evident in vertical profiles of particle volume and number concentration and coinc ided with distinct in phytoplankton pigment composition\, providing insigh t about vertical variations in community composition in relation to physic al gradients. These findings provide novel information about particle char acteristics and their relationship to phytoplankton composition in the nGO M.
\nJoin Meeting
\nhttps://umassd.zoom.us/j/92975455209
\nNote: Meeting ID and passcode required\, email contact to obtain.
\nFor additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@u massd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/optical-characterization
-of-particle-size-distributions-and-their-relationship-to-phytoplankton-pi
gment-composition-in-the-northern-gulf-of-mexico-by-kara-falvey.php
Event link: https://umassd
.zoom.us/j/92975455209
Advisor: Rebecca Hutchinson \n
Subject: Master of Thesis Defense by: Alison Bergman
\nTop ic: Layered Explorations: Weaving a World of Wonder
\nDate: Ma y 1st\, 2026
\nTime: 12: 00 AM
\nLocation: UMass Dartmouth CVPA Art & Design Studio
\nAbstract:
\nThrough a hybrid p ractice that merges sculpture\, painting\, printmaking\, fiber\, and insta llation\, I use space as a medium to create a wondrous environment\, where endless points of view emerge out of my exploratory artistic process with vibrant colors\, lines\, and shapes. Printed clay forms\, woven forms and painted and collaged walls interact\, emphasizing lightness and playfu l possibility. My ceramics practice seeks to transform moments of imperf ection into opportunities for renewal\, creating sculptures where repair a nd readjustment become generative and where the possibility for joy can fu nction with deliberate intention. Individual ceramic elements are assemb led\, rearranged\, and placed in dialogue with painted walls\, allowing co lor and pattern to move between surface and object\, offering observers sa turated views. This fluid relationship between wall\, sculpture\, and spac e reflects an ongoing process of improvisation and reconstruction. The s pace is cared for but not fussy\, as I actively reject the prevalence of p erfectionism in favor of acceptance and joy.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-t hesis-defense-by-alison-bergman-.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T130000 LOCATION:UMass Dartmouth CVPA Art & Design Studio SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Alison Bergman UID:5f730c572b7eb93797241927dff905f8@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Paula Becker Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defen se by: Arghavan Booyeh Topic: Woven Courage Date: May 1, 2026 Time: 2:00 P M Location: Hatch Street Studios Abstract: Woven Courage explores fiber ar t as a site where cultural heritage and storytelling intersect, expressing the duality of women’s experiences as both delicate and resilient, soft yet powerful. Drawing on a background in law, the work engages themes of human rights and women’s resistance in Iran, using symbols such as the C ypress (Sarv) and paisley (Botteh) to embody transformation, grief, and en during hope. Through maximalist sculptural forms, the thesis reveals the p aradox of women’s extraordinary strength alongside the unsustainable bur dens they carry, positioning each woven thread as an act of protest, memor y, and collective resilience.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/c ms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-arghavan-booyeh.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Paula Becker
\nS ubject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Arghavan Booyeh
\nTop ic: Woven Courage
\nDate: May 1\, 2026
\nTime: 2:00 PM
\nLocation: Hatch Street Studios
\nAbstract:
\nWoven Courage explores fiber art as a site where cultural heritage and storytelling intersect\, expressing the duality of w omen’s experiences as both delicate and resilient\, soft yet powerful. D rawing on a background in law\, the work engages themes of human rights an d women’s resistance in Iran\, using symbols such as the Cypress (Sarv) and paisley (Botteh) to embody transformation\, grief\, and enduring hope. Through maximalist sculptural forms\, the thesis reveals the paradox of w omen’s extraordinary strength alongside the unsustainable burdens they c arry\, positioning each woven thread as an act of protest\, memory\, and c ollective resilience.
Event page: https: //www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-arghavan -booyeh.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T150000 LOCATION:Hatch Street Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Arghavan Booy eh UID:db102d6bf1542ec09dcbec338e914498@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Elena Peteva Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defen se by: Maya August Palmer Topic: Microlandscapes and the Ordinary: An Expl oration in Space and Belonging Committee: Elena Peteva, Serra Victoria Fel ls, Suzy Schireson, Jess Worby Date: May 1, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM Location: N ew Bedford Art Museum Abstract Due to the evolution and expansion of human society and infrastructure, the ecosystem where the human and non-human r eside has become a novel, constantly shifting landscape. This thesis appro aches painting as an ecological encounter at ground level, where insects, soil, plant matter, and human discard gather in quiet, unplanned relations hips. Informed by a background in biology and neuroscience, the work recon textualizes traditions of scientific illustration, still life, and Dutch t rompe l’oeil to attend to interaction, decay, and the extended life cycl es of objects beyond human intention or use. Rendered on translucent Dura- Lar plastic and placed directly on the floor, the paintings inhabit the vi ewer’s space rather than remaining distant, asking for bodily awareness, patience, and care. These constructed micro-worlds depict semi-urban ecos ystems in which organic and inorganic matter coexist without hierarchy, gr anting insects, trash, soil, and infrastructure a shared dignity and agenc y. Influenced by Object-Oriented Ontology and materialist philosophy, the work resists anthropocentric narratives in favor of networks of relation, material persistence, and recontextualization over time. Contemporary arti st inspirations include Ellen Altfest, Josephine Halvorson, and Antonio Lo pez Garcia. Through meticulous rendering, site-responsive placement, and t he subtle uncanniness of simulation, this body of work invites viewers to slow down, crouch close, and encounter the overlooked not as symbol or met aphor, but as a living presence within contemporary ecological landscapes. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis -defense-by-maya-august-palmer.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Elena Peteva
\nS ubject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Maya August Palmer
\nTopic: Microlandscapes and the Ordinary: An Exploration in Space and Belon ging
\nCommittee: Elena Peteva\, Serra Victoria Fells\, Suzy Schires on\, Jess Worby
\nDate: May 1\, 2026
\nTime: 2:00 PM
\nL ocation: New Bedford Art Museum
\nAbstract
\nDue to the evolut ion and expansion of human society and infrastructure\, the ecosystem wher e the human and non-human reside has become a novel\, constantly shifting landscape. This thesis approaches painting as an ecological encounter at g round level\, where insects\, soil\, plant matter\, and human discard gath er in quiet\, unplanned relationships. Informed by a background in biology and neuroscience\, the work recontextualizes traditions of scientific ill ustration\, still life\, and Dutch trompe l’oeil to attend to interactio n\, decay\, and the extended life cycles of objects beyond human intention or use. Rendered on translucent Dura-Lar plastic and placed directly on t he floor\, the paintings inhabit the viewer’s space rather than remainin g distant\, asking for bodily awareness\, patience\, and care. These const ructed micro-worlds depict semi-urban ecosystems in which organic and inor ganic matter coexist without hierarchy\, granting insects\, trash\, soil\, and infrastructure a shared dignity and agency. Influenced by Object-Orie nted Ontology and materialist philosophy\, the work resists anthropocentri c narratives in favor of networks of relation\, material persistence\, and recontextualization over time. Contemporary artist inspirations include E llen Altfest\, Josephine Halvorson\, and Antonio Lopez Garcia. Through met iculous rendering\, site-responsive placement\, and the subtle uncanniness of simulation\, this body of work invites viewers to slow down\, crouch c lose\, and encounter the overlooked not as symbol or metaphor\, but as a l iving presence within contemporary ecological landscapes.
Event page : https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master- of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-maya-august-palmer.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T150000 LOCATION:New Bedford Art Museum SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Maya August Pa lmer UID:f839fc9e114b94a21bced29114b13023@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Financial Aid DESCRIPTION:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 Financial Aid Service s wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Ser vices for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and learning more about financial aid.Partcipa nts must bring their own laptop.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/event s/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs i n SENG 109
\nFinancial Aid Services wants to remind all students to
file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG
109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and le
arning more about financial aid.
Partcipants must bring their
own laptop.
Event page: https://www.umassd .edu/events/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109.php
< /body> DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T160000 LOCATION:SENG 109 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 UID:3f9346611291a24894fc048855b19a29@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Jess Worby Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Mitra Ponthan Topic: Narrating Instability: Hypertext and the Fragmen ted Self Date: May 1, 2026 Time: 3:30 PM Location: Hatch St. Studios Abstr act: We live through digital systems that reshape how we understand identi ty, memory, and selfhood. Hello – It’s You is an interactive, web-base d project that explores this condition through a nonlinear, hypertext-driv en interface. Combining illustration, text, animation, and code, the work takes the form of a desktop-like environment where users navigate a digita l mind that is fragmented and unstable. Rather than presenting a single na rrative, the project invites viewers to piece together meaning through exp loration. As they move through different pathways, they encounter multiple versions of the self – past, present, and imagined – existing simulta neously within the system. This experience reflects the instability of ide ntity, especially in this digital age, where memory is selective and the s elf is continuously reconstructed. Drawing on concepts from ergodic litera ture, cultural theory, postmodernism, and hauntology, this thesis frames f ragmentation as a deliberate methodological approach, one that mirrors how identity is formed: through constructed narratives that are repeated, rev ised, and reinterpreted over time. By slowing down navigation and making t he process of discovery visible, Hello – It’s You encourages viewers t o reflect on how they construct their own identities – and how those ide ntities continue to evolve.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms /master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-mitra-ponthan.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Jess Worby
\nSub ject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Mitra Ponthan
\nTopic: Narrating Instability: Hypertext and the Fragmented Self
\nDate: May 1\, 2026
\nTime: 3:30 PM
\nLocation: Hatch St. Studios
\n< p>Abstract:\nWe live through digital systems that reshape how we un derstand identity\, memory\, and selfhood. Hello – It’s You is an interactive\, web-based project that explores this condition through a nonlinear\, hypertext-driven interface. Combining illustration\, text\, animation\, and code\, the work takes the form of a desktop-like environment where users navigate a digital mind tha t is fragmented and unstable.
\nRather than presenting a single narr ative\, the project invites viewers to piece together meaning through expl oration. As they move through different pathways\, they encounter multiple versions of the self – past\, present\, and imagined – existing simul taneously within the system. This experience reflects the instability of i dentity\, especially in this digital age\, where memory is selective and t he self is continuously reconstructed.
\nDrawing on concepts from er godic literature\, cultural theory\, postmodernism\, and hauntology\, this thesis frames fragmentation as a deliberate methodological approach\, one that mirrors how identity is formed: through constructed narratives that are repeated\, revised\, and reinterpreted over time.
\nBy slowing d own navigation and making the process of discovery visible\, Hello – It’s You encourages viewers to r eflect on how they construct their own identities – and how those identi ties continue to evolve.
Event page: https ://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-mitra-p onthan.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T163000 LOCATION:Hatch Street Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Mitra Ponthan UID:11824963518ce4f64354ee1e96f34ff9@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes is/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Jess Worby Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Sarah Valinezhad Topic: The Women of Pomegranate Garden: Visual Expre ssions of Memory, Womanhood, and Resistance Date: May 1, 2026 Time: 4:30 P M Location: Hatch St. Studios Abstract: This thesis centers on my painting practice as an exploration of memory, displacement, and endurance within the interior lives of women. Rooted in feminist thought and informed by Ir anian cultural history, the work treats domestic space as emotional archit ecture, rooms shaped by silence, care, restriction, and resilience. Throug h figurative painting, patterned interiors, and a palette grounded in pome granate red, I construct psychological spaces where beauty and danger coex ist. Drawing from Persian visual traditions such as carpet weaving and orn ament, pattern functions as a carrier of memory rather than decoration, si multaneously sheltering and enclosing the figure. Influenced by feminist a rt and artists including Arghavan Khosravi, Hung Liu, Louise Bourgeois, Re mbrandt, and Salman Toor, the work emphasizes atmosphere over narrative an d emotional truth over representation. These paintings operate as acts of remembrance and quiet resistance, translating silenced histories into visi ble form while holding fragility and strength in balance.\nEvent page: htt ps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-sarah -valinezhad.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Jess Worby
\nSub ject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Sarah Valinezhad
\nTopi c: The Women of Pomegranate Garden: Visual Expressions of Memory\, Womanho od\, and Resistance
\nDate: May 1\, 2026
\nTime: 4:30 PM
\nLocation: Hatch St. Studios
\nAbstract:
\nThis thesis cente rs on my painting practice as an exploration of memory\, displacement\, an d endurance within the interior lives of women. Rooted in feminist thought and informed by Iranian cultural history\, the work treats domestic space as emotional architecture\, rooms shaped by silence\, care\, restriction\ , and resilience. Through figurative painting\, patterned interiors\, and a palette grounded in pomegranate red\, I construct psychological spaces w here beauty and danger coexist.
\nDrawing from Persian visual tradit ions such as carpet weaving and ornament\, pattern functions as a carrier of memory rather than decoration\, simultaneously sheltering and enclosing the figure. Influenced by feminist art and artists including Arghavan Kho sravi\, Hung Liu\, Louise Bourgeois\, Rembrandt\, and Salman Toor\, the wo rk emphasizes atmosphere over narrative and emotional truth over represent ation.
\nThese paintings operate as acts of remembrance and quiet re sistance\, translating silenced histories into visible form while holding fragility and strength in balance.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis-defen se-by-sarah-valinezhad.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T173000 LOCATION:Hatch St. Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Sarah Valinezh ad UID:d36047de3a84248ea91886d76f4f5e5d@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering DESCRIPTION:Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory Open House Full Moon\nEvent page: ht tps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/hirshfeld-dowd-observatory-open-house.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory Open House
\nFull Moon
Event page: https://www.umassd. edu/events/cms/hirshfeld-dowd-observatory-open-house.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T200000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T220000 LOCATION:Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory Field SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory Open House UID:177eadb8be43d6c08e07109886919ce1@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Training DESCRIPTION:Open to Faculty and Staff.Learn how to look up Budget Balances, Revenue and Expense Details, Open Encumbrances and Transaction Detail usi ng the Department Management dashboard for financials. Please registe r. Email jschlesinger@umassd.edu to sign up and receive location/zoom details. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/summit-fina ncial-reporting-101.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Open to Faculty and Staff.
Learn how to look up Budget Balances\, Revenue and Expense Det
ails\, Open Encumbrances and Transaction Detail using the Department Manag
ement dashboard for financials.
Please register. Email jschlesinger@umassd.edu to sign u p and receive location/zoom details.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/summit-financial-reporting-101.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T111500 LOCATION:Zoom SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Summit Financial Reporting 101 UID:34885e0533fd934a1e2d132ba203cfd0@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Women's and Gender Studies,Student Affairs DESCRIPTION:Stop by the Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality for some cooki es and condoms!\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/cookies--co ndoms.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Stop by the Center for Women\, Gender & Sexuality for some cookies and condoms!
Event page: https://www.umas sd.edu/events/cms/cookies--condoms.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T160000 LOCATION:Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Cookies & Condoms UID:92a1d2ace6e6e5ed6bdcfd88bfd1ec9f@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertation s DESCRIPTION:Partial abstract: Microplastic pollution is a critical global e nvironmental challenge, impacting marine ecosystems, human health, and coa stal economies, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Caribbean a nd developing countries. Defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm, microplastics are difficult to remove and can easily enter food chains and water systems. For the entire abstract, advisor, and committee members, please contact: mrahman15@umassd.edu or scunha@umassd.edu.\nEvent page: h ttps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/mechanical-engineering--industrial-system s-engineering-ms-project-presentation-by-myriam-iralien.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Partial abstract: Microplastic pollution is a critical global environmental challenge\, impacting marine ecosystems\, human health\, and coastal economies\, particularly in vulner able regions such as the Caribbean and developing countries. Defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm\, microplastics are difficult to remove and can easily enter food chains and water systems. For the entire abst ract\, advisor\, and committee members\, please contact: mrahman15@umassd.edu or scunha@umassd.edu.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T120000 LOCATION:ZOOM (for the Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode, please contact: mrahman15@umassd.edu -or- scunha@umassd.edu SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Mechanical Engineering / Industrial Systems Engineer ing MS Project Presentation by Myriam Iralien UID:2f60d2a6c5d7ac2188502d9a8237200b@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Study Abroad DESCRIPTION:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question a bout the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Stop by the International Programs Office’s virtual advising session! Studen ts will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Email intl_programs @umassd.edu for the zoom link. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/even ts/cms/study-abroad-virtual-advising.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Interested in studying abroad? Do you have a quick question about the opportunities that are available or the overall process? Stop by the International Programs Office’s vir tual advising session! Students will be seen on a first come\, first se rved basis. Email intl_programs@umassd.edu for the zoom link.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/study-abroad-virtua l-advising.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T153000 LOCATION:Zoom; Contact intl_programs@umassd.edu for link SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Study Abroad Virtual Advising UID:64883e9212c16d8a4c9f2bc64210cbed@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:In this project, Berlinguet explores what it means to design fo r online audiences. In today's world of technologies, we have created a ne w way to communicate and interact with audiences. This new community, a so cial community, has been created. Changing the way, we study design elemen ts and build connections with audiences forever. What does this new world look like, and how do we design it? Berlinguet presents her thesis portfol io which explores these issues.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events /cms/thesis-defense-designing-for-the-future.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:In this project\, Berlinguet ex plores what it means to design for online audiences. In today's world of technologies\, we have created a new way to communicate and interact with audiences. This ne w community\, a social community\, has been created. Changing the way\, we study design elements and build connections with audiences forever. What does this new world look like\, and how do we design it? Berlinguet presen ts her thesis portfolio which explores these issues.
Event pa ge: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/thesis-defense-designi ng-for-the-future.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T181500 LOCATION:Centennial Way Modular Building, M2 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Thesis defense: "Designing for the Future" UID:4ee791b6ee60ad87de425cc036a6de9a@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:This portfolio displays the projects, research, and resources I have collected for communication strategies in early childhood education. I surveyed over 25 teacher resource websites, created 50+ original activi ties for K-5 students, and established a set of reference binders filled w ith games, STEM projects, and SEL strategies. Each resource I have collect ed is always free, easy to use, and adaptable to fit specific needs of stu dents. I have collected a set of communication strategies that develop cla ssroom community building, boost social emotional learning skills, and cre ate meaningful engagement. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events /cms/omeara-thesis-defense-communication-strategies-in-early-childhood-edu cation.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
Eve nt page: https://www.uma ssd.edu/events/cms/omeara-thesis-defense-communication-strategies-in-early -childhood-education.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T181500 LOCATION:Centennial Way Modular Building, M2 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:O'Meara Thesis Defense: "Communication Strategi es in Early Childhood Education" UID:2a0780c4cd4b95f90f2927e3b615d9db@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:In this project, Tameron Carter explores how writing assignment s are composed for accessibility. Writing instruction pedagogy has recentl y found an increasing need for interlocking accessibility research and sta ndards with course and material composition. As a result of this identifie d need, scholars have performed a great deal of research on accessibility standards and barriers measurable effects on diverse student bodies.This p roject builds on this research and utilizes the coding of a limited sample of college-level writing assignments with some degree of reflective compo nents, seeking to understand linguistic, cognitive, cultural, and educatio nal theories of accessibility in practice. The project analyzes a series o f ten assignments gathered from five different professors who spent some p art of their academic journey (as students and/or instructors) in the Engl ish and Communication Department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmo uth.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/carter-thesis-defense- accessibility-gaps--overlaps-in-college-level-writing-assignment-compositi on.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:In this project\, Tameron Carte r explores how writing assignments are composed for accessibility. Writing instruction peda gogy has recently found an increasing need for interlocking accessibility research and standards with course and material composition. As a result o f this identified need\, scholars have performed a great deal of research on accessibility standards and barriers measurable effects on diverse stud ent bodies.This project builds on this research and utilizes the coding of a limited sample of college-level writing assignments with some degree of reflectiv e components\, seeking to understand linguistic\, cognitive\, cultural\, a nd educational theories of accessibility in practice. The project analyzes a series of ten assignments gathered from five different professors who s pent some part of their academic journey (as students and/or instructors) in the English and Communication Department at the University of Massachus etts Dartmouth.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260505T181500 LOCATION:Centennial Way Modular Building, M2 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Carter Thesis Defense: "Accessibility Gaps & ; Overlaps in College-Level Writing Assignment Composition" UID:8eb2253c91fd8a9f94c12d6cc066faad@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:EAS Doctoral Dissertation Defense by by Guancheng Zhou Date: We dnesday May 6, 2026 Time: 10:30am Topic: Towards Diagnosis, Fairness, and interpretation of Machine Learning Algorithms Location: Library 314 Abstra ct: A number of machine learning algorithms have delivered superior empiri cal performance. However, the understanding of their mechanisms has been h ampered by the black-box nature of the algorithms. In this proposal, we ap proach the problem from two different lens. One is visualization, with a data-driven geometry following kernel—the rpf-kernel, which can extract complex and highly nonlinear patterns beyond the usual principal component analysis. The other is the diagnosis perspective. Specifically, we perfor m a diagnostic analysis to data points under a given algorithm and hope to use this as a proxy to understand the algorithm. Random Forests classific ation is used as an example algorithm for our study. We borrow two metrics , leverage and influence, from statistics regression to measure the import ance of data points, while extending their definition to a small neighborh ood of data points. Also studied is a related issue of fairness—whether the algorithm delivers a response that is fair in terms of some given metr ic, for example the gender of the associated subjects. K-means clustering is studied, and a computational efficient post-algorithm adjustment method is proposed. Experiments show that the proposed method is effective in i mproving the fairness while maintaining the clustering performance. Variab le importance is of major significance in the practice of statistical anal ysis and model interpretation. However, current methods do not consider th e correlation between variables, we proposed a method to solve this proble m and obtained a more reasonable variable importance. ADVISOR(S): Dr. Do nghui Yan, Department of Mathematics (dyan@umassd.edu) COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Haiping Xu, Department of Computer& Information Science Dr. Hongkang Xu, Department of Accounting & Finance Dr. Long Jiao, Department of Comput er & Information Science NOTE: All EAS Students are ENCOURAGED to atten d.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/eas-doctoral-dissertatio n-defense-by-guancheng-zhou.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:EAS Doctoral Dissertation Defen se by
\nby Guancheng Zhou
\nDate: Wednesday May 6\, 2026
\nTime: 10:30am
\nTopic: Towards Diagnosis\, Fairness\, and interpr etation of Machine Learning Algorithms
\nLocation: Library 314
\nAbstract:
\nA number of machine learning algorithms have delivere d superior empirical performance. However\, the understanding of their mec hanisms has been hampered by the black-box nature of the algorithms. In th is proposal\, we approach the problem from two different lens. One is vis ualization\, with a data-driven geometry following kernel—the rpf-kernel \, which can extract complex and highly nonlinear patterns beyond the usua l principal component analysis. The other is the diagnosis perspective. Sp ecifically\, we perform a diagnostic analysis to data points under a given algorithm and hope to use this as a proxy to understand the algorithm. Ra ndom Forests classification is used as an example algorithm for our study. We borrow two metrics\, leverage and influence\, from statistics regressi on to measure the importance of data points\, while extending their defini tion to a small neighborhood of data points. Also studied is a related iss ue of fairness—whether the algorithm delivers a response that is fair in terms of some given metric\, for example the gender of the associated sub jects. K-means clustering is studied\, and a computational efficient post- algorithm adjustment method is proposed. Experiments show that the propose d method is effective in improving the fairness while maintaining the clu stering performance. Variable importance is of major significance in the p ractice of statistical analysis and model interpretation. However\, curren t methods do not consider the correlation between variables\, we proposed a method to solve this problem and obtained a more reasonable variable imp ortance.
\nADVISOR(S): Dr. Donghui Yan\, Department of Mathematics
\n(dyan@umassd.edu)
\nCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:
\nNOTE: All EAS Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/eas-doctoral-dissertation-defense-b y-guancheng-zhou.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T123000 LOCATION:LIB 314 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:EAS Doctoral Dissertation Defense by Guancheng Zhou UID:4c466374f959b1b06c9c641b9ea8c4c1@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertation s DESCRIPTION:Topic: An efficient and secure messaging protocol (ESMP) for interacting with microcontrollers over MQTT - A framework for creating dyn amic IoT hardware Abstract: While the Internet of Things (IoT) is set to grow to 40 billion connected devices by 2030, developing an IoT product i s still incredibly complex. The process of developing a single IoT product requires a person (or team) to have expertise spanning firmware developme nt, hardware development, and web development. Due to the complexity durin g the development process, IoT products are often single purpose, communic ate using proprietary protocols to servers in unknown locations, and their functionality cannot be extended by a user after deployment. Research int o creating frameworks that allow machine to machine (M2M) communication an d simplified development, such as Firmata and ASIP, face limitations in ef ficiency, extensibility, and security. This thesis proposes ESMP, an Eff icient and Secure Messaging Protocol. ESMP is designed for bi-directional M2M communication, where both the server and the microcontroller use a com mon language to communicate. To do this, ESMP is combining Google’s Prot ocol Buffer format, the MQTT protocol, and security at the transport-layer . ESMP messages use a “super message” design which wraps all sub-mes sages into a single schema to reduce the number of managed MQTT subscripti ons. It comprises a network architecture using MQTT where the embedded dev ice shares the same set of protocol buffer schemas with the MQTT broker. S ecurity at the application layer is approached using username/password aut hentication; unique client identification, and packet data is SSL-encrypte d. Whereas regular embedded firmware has predefined hardware behavior as p art of its firmware, the ESMP client is a “blank slate” that receives commands from the ESMP broker. Using a RPC-like action mechanism, an ESMP client allows a ESMP broker to dynamically control its hardware. An open-s ource GUI tool allows users to visually construct and send protocol buffer messages to an ESMP client. An overhead evaluation of the payload showe d ESMP’s protocol buffer schema produced the smallest payload size when compared to XML, JSON, and plain-text data encoding. The latency evaluatio n showed ESMP’s RTT latency to be slower than the ASIP baseline, but wit h this trade-off justified because the device communicates over WiFI rathe r than wired Ethernet, allowing it to be deployed anywhere in the field. T he viability of ESMP was proven by using ESMP to construct a real-world Io T application, a door sensor which sends its status to the ESMP broker whe n it is open. Finally, the extensibility of ESMP was validated by adding n ew functionality to ESMP with minimal impact to device flash/RAM utilizati on. ESMP demonstrates a viable solution for efficient and secure M2M com munication for the IoT. It presents a way to extend the functionality of a n IoT product without compromising security or data efficiency. The feasib ility of this solution has been validated by its adoption into Adafruit’ s WipperSnapper firmware, an open source IoT firmware deployed on thousand s of devices, enabling users to build IoT products and projects without pr ogramming. Advisor(s): Dr. Hong Liu, Commonwealth Professor, Dept. of El ectrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Dartmouth Committee Members: Dr. Ruolin Zhou, Associate Professor, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineeri ng, UMass Dartmouth; Dr. Limor Fried, Founder & Engineer, Adafruit Industr ies Note: All ECE Graduate Students are encouraged to attend. All interest ed parties are invited to attend. Open to the public. For further informat ion, please contact Dr. Hong Liu email at hliu@umassd.edu Zoom Link: htt ps://umassd.zoom.us/j/93281343753Meeting ID: 932 8134 3753 Passcode: 51824 7\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/cpe-master-of-science-the sis-defense-by-brent-rubell---ece-department.php\nEvent link: https://umas sd.zoom.us/j/93281343753 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Topic: An efficient and secur e messaging protocol (ESMP) for interacting with microcontrollers over MQT T - A framework for creating dynamic IoT hardware
\nAbstract: Whil e the Internet of Things (IoT) is set to grow to 40 billion connected devi ces by 2030\, developing an IoT product is still incredibly complex. The p rocess of developing a single IoT product requires a person (or team) to h ave expertise spanning firmware development\, hardware development\, and w eb development. Due to the complexity during the development process\, IoT products are often single purpose\, communicate using proprietary protoco ls to servers in unknown locations\, and their functionality cannot be ext ended by a user after deployment. Research into creating frameworks that a llow machine to machine (M2M) communication and simplified development\, s uch as Firmata and ASIP\, face limitations in efficiency\, extensibility\, and security.
\nThis thesis proposes ESMP\, an Efficient and Secu re Messaging Protocol. ESMP is designed for bi-directional M2M communicati on\, where both the server and the microcontroller use a common language t o communicate. To do this\, ESMP is combining Google’s Protocol Buffer f ormat\, the MQTT protocol\, and security at the transport-layer.
\nESMP messages use a “super message” design which wraps all sub-messag es into a single schema to reduce the number of managed MQTT subscriptions . It comprises a network architecture using MQTT where the embedded device shares the same set of protocol buffer schemas with the MQTT broker. Secu rity at the application layer is approached using username/password authen tication\; unique client identification\, and packet data is SSL-encrypted . Whereas regular embedded firmware has predefined hardware behavior as pa rt of its firmware\, the ESMP client is a “blank slate” that receives commands from the ESMP broker. Using a RPC-like action mechanism\, an ESMP client allows a ESMP broker to dynamically control its hardware. An open- source GUI tool allows users to visually construct and send protocol buffe r messages to an ESMP client.
\nAn overhead evaluation of the payl oad showed ESMP’s protocol buffer schema produced the smallest payload s ize when compared to XML\, JSON\, and plain-text data encoding. The latenc y evaluation showed ESMP’s RTT latency to be slower than the ASIP baseli ne\, but with this trade-off justified because the device communicates ove r WiFI rather than wired Ethernet\, allowing it to be deployed anywhere in the field. The viability of ESMP was proven by using ESMP to construct a real-world IoT application\, a door sensor which sends its status to the E SMP broker when it is open. Finally\, the extensibility of ESMP was valida ted by adding new functionality to ESMP with minimal impact to device flas h/RAM utilization.
\nESMP demonstrates a viable solution for effic ient and secure M2M communication for the IoT. It presents a way to extend the functionality of an IoT product without compromising security or data efficiency. The feasibility of this solution has been validated by its ad option into Adafruit’s WipperSnapper firmware\, an open source IoT firmw are deployed on thousands of devices\, enabling users to build IoT product s and projects without programming.
\nAdvisor(s): Dr. Hong Liu\, C ommonwealth Professor\, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering\, UMass Dartmouth
\nCommittee Members:
Dr. Ruolin Zhou\, Associate
Professor\, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering\, UMass Dartmouth\;
Dr. Limor Fried\, Founder & Engineer\, Adafruit Industries
Note: All ECE Graduate Students are encouraged to attend. All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
\nFor further information\, please contact Dr. Hong Liu email at hliu@umassd.edu
\nZoom Link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93281343753<
/a>
Meeting ID: 932 8134 3753
Passcode: 518247
Event page
: https://www.umassd.edu/event
s/cms/cpe-master-of-science-thesis-defense-by-brent-rubell---ece-departmen
t.php
Event link: ht
tps://umassd.zoom.us/j/93281343753
Abstract:
\nWhile the Int ernet of Things (IoT) is set to grow to 40 billion connected devices by 20 30\, developing an IoT product is still incredibly complex. The process of developing a single IoT product requires a person (or team) to have exper tise spanning firmware development\, hardware development\, and web develo pment. Due to the complexity during the development process\, IoT products are often single purpose\, communicate using proprietary protocols to ser vers in unknown locations\, and their functionality cannot be extended by a user after deployment. Research into creating frameworks that allow mach ine to machine (M2M) communication and simplified development\, such as Fi rmata and ASIP\, face limitations in efficiency\, extensibility\, and secu rity.
\nThis thesis proposes ESMP\, an Efficient and Secure Messagin g Protocol. ESMP is designed for bi-directional M2M communication\, where both the server and the microcontroller use a common language to communica te. To do this\, ESMP is combining Google’s Protocol Buffer format\, the MQTT protocol\, and security at the transport-layer.
\nESMP message s use a “super message” design which wraps all sub-messages into a sin gle schema to reduce the number of managed MQTT subscriptions. It comprise s a network architecture using MQTT where the embedded device shares the s ame set of protocol buffer schemas with the MQTT broker. Security at the a pplication layer is approached using username/password authentication\; un ique client identification\, and packet data is SSL-encrypted. Whereas reg ular embedded firmware has predefined hardware behavior as part of its fir mware\, the ESMP client is a “blank slate” that receives commands from the ESMP broker. Using a RPC-like action mechanism\, an ESMP client allow s a ESMP broker to dynamically control its hardware. An open-source GUI to ol allows users to visually construct and send protocol buffer messages to an ESMP client.
\nAn overhead evaluation of the payload showed ESMP
’s protocol buffer schema produced the smallest payload size when compar
ed to XML\, JSON\, and plain-text data encoding. The latency evaluation sh
owed ESMP’s RTT latency to be slower than the ASIP baseline\, but with t
his trade-off justified because the device communicates over WiFI rather t
han wired Ethernet\, allowing it to be deployed anywhere in the field. The
viability of ESMP was proven by using ESMP to construct a real-world IoT
application\, a door sensor which sends its status to the ESMP
broker
when it is open. Finally\, the extensibility of ESMP was validated by add
ing new functionality to ESMP with minimal impact to device flash/RAM util
ization.
ESMP demonstrates a viable solution for efficient and sec ure M2M communication for the IoT. It presents a way to extend the functio nality of an IoT product without compromising security or data efficiency. The feasibility of this solution has been validated by its adoption into Adafruit’s WipperSnapper firmware\, an open source IoT firmware deployed on thousands of devices\, enabling users to build IoT products and projec ts without programming.
Event page: h
ttps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/electrical-engineering-ms-thesis-defense-
by-brent-rubell.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/
93281343753?pwd=UWd5TGsweFpyMC9ydWhzaWErZnlndz09
Title:
\nStories of Syn ergy: Collaborative Practices Between Special and Science Educators for In clusive Science Education
\nDisse
rtation Advisor:
Stephen B. Witzig (Education Department)
Co
mmittee Members:
Shakhnoza Kayumova (Education Department) and Matthe
w Taylor (Salve Regina University)
Abstract:
\nThis study employs Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) narrative inquiry framework to e xplore the lived school experiences of special education teachers and gene ral education science teachers in public inclusion elementary settings as they collaborate to support their shared students with exceptionalities wi thin the general education setting. This research centers around the parti cipants’ stories in situ as they unfolded across the three dimensions o f narrative inquiry: the temporality dimension\, personal/social dimension \, and the place or sequences of places dimension. Narrative threads revea l that participants story collaboration as a lived\, relational experience shaped by time\, institutional contexts\, and interpersonal relationships rather than as the implementation of formal co‑teaching models.
\nThe conceptual framework supports how Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) n arrative inquiry captures participants’ embodied stories across the thre e dimensions of the narrative inquiry space. Key substantive constructs th at guided the study include the storytellers’ preparedness to teach scie nce content to students with exceptionalities\, the affordances and challe nges of elementary science education in inclusion settings\, the partnersh ips needed to support students with exceptionalities’ access to rigorous science instruction\, and how participants negotiate their roles and resp onsibilities when creating and implementing curricular accommodations. The se constructs\, in conversation with the history of special education in t he United States and Massachusetts\, are present in the temporality and pl ace dimensions of narrative inquiry. This narrative inquiry aims to tell t he participants’ narratives of how they live collaboration in real time\ , including how collaborative practices evolve across sustained partnershi ps and are disrupted by shifting roles\, schedules\, and institutional con straints.
\nThree pairs of in‑service teachers were interviewed us ing semi‑structured narrative interviews in conjunction with observation of collaborative opportunities and artifact analyses of inclusion science lessons. Participants’ stories highlight how collaboration often occurs informally and “on the fly\,” shaped by limited planning time and the marginalization of elementary science relative to tested subject areas\, while simultaneously creating flexible\, inquiry‑based learning spaces t hat support multiple entry points for students with exceptionalities. Narr ative threads illuminated that teachers’ preparedness and collaborative roles are deeply influenced by institutional structures and professional h istories rather than individual willingness or expertise alone. Through th ese storied accounts\, collaboration emerges as uneven and continually neg otiated\, grounded in trust\, shared responsibility\, and moral commitment to students with exceptionalities.
\nThis qualitative study contrib utes a narrative account detailing in-service educators’ collaborative e fforts in inclusion settings\, reframing collaboration as lived relational work rather than a technical practice to be implemented. Through the thre e pairs of in-service educators’ stories\, five narrative threads emerge d: 1) collaboration between science and special educators is fluid\; 2) co llaboration between science and special educators is improvised in constra ined places\; 3) participants’ stories position science inclusive educat ion as marginalized\; 4) there is ongoing tension between participants’ aspirational views of collaboration and their enacted collaboration\; and 5) specific institutional structures continue to inhibit students with exc eptionalities’ access to science content within Massachusetts inclusion classrooms as highly contextual places. These storied experiences hold imp lications for educational policies\, in‑service professional development \, building‑based school schedules\, and pre‑service teacher education .
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/event
s/cms/melissa-cieto---stem-education-dissertation-defense.php
Event
link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/91802967143?pwd=tsflWJvunrvYP0y1
ducXPa6c25A2bV.1
Abstract:
\nQuar k confinement is a phenomenon observed in the strong interaction that cann ot be derived using conventional perturbative techniques and requires alte rnative approaches. Since the the-ory becomes strongly coupled in the infr ared regime\, perturbative methods fail to reproduce the hadron mass spect rum and the approximately linear Regge behavior observed experimentally.\n
This thesis investigates various approaches to quark confinement an d develops criteria to classify different families of potentials based on whether they can produce confinement. The study be-gins with the generaliz ed SU(3) framework developed by Dr. Hsu\, using the quadratic confining po tential that arises directly from generalized SU(3) symmetry. In this appr oach\, confinement is described purely from the boundary gauge theory by c onstructing an effective quark potential from generalized SU(3) transforma tions. The resulting energy spectrum is computed and compared with the exp erimental baryon mass spectrum to assess how well this framework captures confinement behavior.
\nTo further classify potentials capable of ex hibiting confinement and to filter out non-viable cases\, the AdS/QCD soft -wall model is considered\, in which confinement is encoded through a dila ton profile that vanishes at the boundary and produces a discrete spectrum through a Schr¨odinger-like equation. By fitting the radial nucleon traj ectory\, a holographic scale κ = 0.48 GeV is extracted\, consistent with phenomenological expectations for linear Regge behavior. However\, in this model confinement is introduced through the choice of background fields r ather than being derived dynamically from the spacetime geometry.
\nThe analysis is then extended to the Einstein–dilaton action\, where sol ving the coupled equa-tions of motion determines whether confinement emerg es self-consistently from gravity. In this framework\, I also study IHQCD- type potentials and impose swampland- and bootstrap-inspired constraints\, including conditions on RG flow monotonicity\, background smoothness\, sp ectral positivity and discreteness\, and stability under parameter variati ons\, in order to filter out the class of viable confining models.
\nThis analysis shows that only a restricted class of potentials satisfies all the imposed constraints\, leading to a progressive shrinking of the al lowed parameter space and providing a systematic way to identify viable co nfining models and reproduce linear Regge behavior.
\nAdvisor:
Dr. J.P. Hsu\, Department of Physics (jhsu@umassd.edu)
Committe M
embers:
Dr. David Kagan\, Department of Physics
Dr. Robert Fish
er\, Department of Physics
Note:
All PHY Graduate Students
are encouraged to attend.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/physics-master-of- science-thesis-defense-by-anudeep-davuluru.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T143000 LOCATION:SENG 201 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Physics Master of Science Thesis Defense by Anudeep Davuluru UID:61fdc33b3cff9f7cb31c0b4a21bdd685@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Academic Affairs,College of Arts and Sciences,College of Enginee ring,Graduate Studies,Lectures and Seminars,Research DESCRIPTION:Mitochondria of eukaryotic cells contain tubular networks that are critical to a cell’s energy production. Mitochondrial tubular netw orks overwhelmingly have nodes of only degree 1 or 3, with degree 3 predom inating (approx. 80%). An abstract mitochondrial graph is a graph with ve rtices of only degree 1 or 3. We describe recent work of Mostov, Lewis and Marshall showing via random graphs that combinatorial constraints alone, without additional biological considerations, predict that mitochondrial n etworks contain a large, connected component. We detail joint work with El isha Rogatch, in progress, on assessing synchronizability of connected abs tract mitochondrial graphs via the ratio R of the maximum eigenvalue of th e unnormalized Laplacian matrix of the graph (diagonal degree matrix – a djacency matrix) to the smallest non-zero eigenvalue of the Laplacian (Fie dler eigenvalue). We describe statistics of the values for R that indicate as the fraction of degree 1 vertices increases mitochondrial tubular netw orks become increasingly far from synchronizable for purely graph-theoreti c reasons. Reference: Mostov, R., Lewis, G. R., Das, M. & Marshall, W. F. (2026). Combinatorial constraints predict that mitochondrial networks cont ain a large component. bioRxiv, 2026-03.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd. edu/events/cms/joint-data-and-computational-science-seminar-series-graph-t heoretic-properties-of-mitochondrial-tubular-networks.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Mitochondria of eukaryotic cell s contain tubular networks that are critical to a cell’s energy producti on. Mitochondrial tubular networks overwhelmingly have nodes of only deg ree 1 or 3\, with degree 3 predominating (approx. 80%). An abstract mitoc hondrial graph is a graph with vertices of only degree 1 or 3. We describe recent work of Mostov\, Lewis and Marshall showing via random graphs that combinatorial constraints alone\, without additional biological considera tions\, predict that mitochondrial networks contain a large\, connected co mponent. We detail joint work with Elisha Rogatch\, in progress\, on asses sing synchronizability of connected abstract mitochondrial graphs via the ratio R of the maximum eigenvalue of the unnormalized Laplacian matrix of the graph (diagonal degree matrix – adjacency matrix) to the smallest no n-zero eigenvalue of the Laplacian (Fiedler eigenvalue). We describe stati stics of the values for R that indicate as the fraction of degree 1 vertic es increases mitochondrial tubular networks become increasingly far from s ynchronizable for purely graph-theoretic reasons.
\nReference: Mosto v\, R.\, Lewis\, G. R.\, Das\, M. & Marshall\, W. F. (2026). Combinatorial constraints predict that mitochondrial networks contain a large component . bioRxiv\, 2026-03.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T143000 LOCATION:TXT105A SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Joint Data and Computational Science Seminar Series: Graph-theoretic properties of mitochondrial tubular networks UID:79ae1650f16b8a03d281ec70b372c977@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Training DESCRIPTION:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue an d Expense, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft F inance. Open to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu \nEvent page : https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financial-reporting-and-bud get-inquiry-training--.php\nEvent link: https://www.umassd.edu/peoplesoftf inance/training/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue and Expe nse\, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft Financ e.
\nOpen to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financi
al-reporting-and-budget-inquiry-training--.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.ed
u/peoplesoftfinance/training/
Abstract:
\nType Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are among the most common types of luminous astrop hysical transients. They are thought to arise from the thermonuclear explo sion of mass-accreting white dwarfs (WDs) in binary systems. Due to their consistent peak luminosities\, SNe Ia are used as standardizable candles t o measure the expansion rate of the universe. A subluminous subclass of th ese events\, known as Type Iax supernovae\, is believed to be the result o f a failed or partial detonation of WDs. Pa 30 has recently been identifi ed as the remnant of the historical supernova SN 1181\, which reveals an u nusual filamentary morphology with a WD at its center. Recent studies ind icate that SN 1181 was likely a sub-luminous event\, classified as a Type Iax supernova\, possibly originating from a merger between carbon-oxygen (C/O) and oxygen-neon (O/Ne) WDs.
\nIn this thesis\, we investigate failed detonations of Type Iax supernovae within the context of the double -degenerate merger channel. Specifically\, we consider a binary system co nsisting of a C/O WD and an O/Ne WD. In this scenario\, the secondary C/O WD is tidally disrupted and merges with the O/Ne WD\, forming an accretion disk around the primary. Due to instabilities within the disk\, a carbon detonation is triggered on the surface of the primary\, while leaving it l argely intact. The total nuclear energy released in this event is lower th an that of a normal SNe Ia\, consistent with the properties of the SNe Iax . We further explore the detonation mechanism\, the characteristics of the resulting remnant\, and the broader implications of this model for unders tanding the physics of Type Iax supernovae.
\nAdvisor:
Dr. Robe
rt Fisher\, Department of Physics (Robert.fisher@umassd.edu)
Commi
ttee members:
Dr. David Kagan\, Department of Physics
Dr. Renuka Rajapkse\, Department of Physics
\n
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/eve nts/cms/physics-master-of-science-thesis-defense--by-chackochan-joji.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T144500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T161500 LOCATION:SENG 201 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Physics Master of Science Thesis Defense by Chackoc han Joji UID:004d2c662a8db852a2a0dae55b34eda8@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Financial Aid DESCRIPTION:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 Financial Aid Service s wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Ser vices for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and learning more about financial aid.Particip ants must bring their own laptop.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/even ts/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109-1.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs i n SENG 109
\nFinancial Aid Services wants to remind all students to
file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in SENG
109 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-4pm for help filing your FAFSA and le
arning more about financial aid.
Participants must bring thei
r own laptop.
Event page: https://www.uma ssd.edu/events/cms/financial-aid-fafsa-help-labs-in-seng-109-1.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T160000 LOCATION:SENG 109 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Financial Aid FAFSA Help Labs in SENG 109 UID:2e7b874b32f25af96bb33b8d58cd76d8@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Dining DESCRIPTION:A special late-night breakfast, join us for fun festivities, ra ffles, and giveaways! Questions? Email us at dining@umassd.edu First seat ing: 9:30-10:30pm Second seating: 11:00-midnight\nEvent page: https://www. umassd.edu/events/cms/moonlight-breakfast.php\nEvent link: https://dineonc ampus.com/umassd/events X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:A special late-night breakfast\, join us for fun festivities\, raffles\, and giveawa ys! Questions? Email us at dining@umassd.edu
\nFirst seating: 9:30-10:30pm
\nSecond seating: 11:00-midnight
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/moonlight-breakfast.php<
/a>
Event link: https:
//dineoncampus.com/umassd/events
Faculty Supervisor:
Dr. G
okhan Kul\, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Committee Member
s:
Dr. Joshua Carberry\, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Dr. Yuchou Chang\, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Abstrac t:
\nUnmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs are becoming frequently used i n the military and in law enforcement applications. For the military\, the y not only provide additional surveillance but aid in recon\, combat\, and protection. Drones in law enforcement are considered force multipliers by organizations like the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center\, and that gives officers multifunctional tools that can assist in daily duties. How ever\, it should be noted that when UAVs fly\, the environment they are in can be unpredictable. UAVs are vulnerable to the environment and to auton omous path determination attacks which can lead to deviation from its path or crashing. While many anomaly detection methods exist\, a significant p ortion relies on limited amount of raw data\, more so does not account for the physics of the world and the relationships between that and the drone ’s physical sensors. The method presented in this paper is an anomaly detection framework that uses a reinforcement learning (RL) deep Q-network (DQN) to learn from real flight data to find normal and anomalous behavio rs. In this paper\, we will compare the effectiveness of using raw data an d sensor fused data to train the RL. The main contribution of this paper t o the existing research is the various sensor fusions created to detect ma lfunctions and anomalies of the physical sensors. Sensor-fused data involv es cross-verifying data through sensor v sensor checks\, sensor v physics checks and physics v physics. To further elaborate\, sensor v sensor fusio ns involve comparing two values to each other while sensor v physics fusio ns compare a sensor value to a mathematical computation using the data. Ph ysics v physics sensor fusions involve comparing two laws of physics to ea ch other. Unlike many existing machine learning (ML) solutions which rely on raw datasets\, the solution presented compares this method to normalize d sensor fused data based on drone-specific aerodynamics before evaluation . After running evaluations\, we found that the sensor fused (and normaliz ed) model consistently achieved higher rewards during training compared to the raw data. The sensor fused model was also superior when it came to an omaly detection. For the rewards for the DQN\, the reward total for the se nsor fused data was over two times more than the raw data (32605 vs 74060) . Furthermore\, there was no case in which the accuracy score or the F1 sc ore was higher for the baseline raw data than it was for the sensor fused. The lowest accuracy for the sensor fused was 82.78% while for raw it was 67.07%. What was significant\, however\, was seeing that the combo fused d ata performed poorly in comparison to the sensor fused\, and in some cases worse than the raw data. For the F1 scores\, there was no case in which t he combo fused had detected any true anomalies leading to an average of 0% across the board for both testing datasets. This research has application s in military defense\, law enforcement\, and commercial uses. Its main pu rpose is malfunction detection\, so it’s useful for anyone who needs hig hly secure\, tamper-proof autonomous navigation. The goal for this researc h is the eventual integration of this framework into UAVs so it can be use d in real-time. The main goal is to integrate multi-UAV communication netw orks such as blockchain smart contracts where drones can monitor each othe r and tell operators about potential malfunctions before the drone crashes .
\nFor further information please contact Dr Gokhan Kul at gkul@umassd.edu.
Event page: https:
//www.umassd.edu/events/cms/finding-malfunctions-in-uavs-physical-sensors-
using-reinforcement-learning-sensor-fusion-v-raw-data.php
Event lin
k: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2719811093827?p=KtSBWMxZOo55nt9oIu
Pathway to Type Iax Supernovae:
3D Hydrodynamical Sim. of Oxygen-Neon and Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarf
by Chackochan Joji
Abstract:
\nType Ia supernovae ( SNe Ia) are among the most common types of luminous astrophysical transien ts. They are thought to arise from the thermonuclear explosion of mass-acc reting white dwarfs (WDs) in binary systems. Due to their consistent peak luminosities\, SNe Ia are used as standardizable candles to measure the ex pansion rate of the universe. A subluminous subclass of these events\, kno wn as Type Iax supernovae\, is believed to be the result of a failed or pa rtial detonation of WDs. Pa 30 has recently been identified as the remnan t of the historical supernova SN 1181\, which reveals an unusual filament ary morphology with a WD at its center. Recent studies indicate that SN 11 81 was likely a sub-luminous event\, classified as a Type Iax supernova\, possibly originating from a merger between carbon-oxygen (C/O) and oxygen -neon (O/Ne) WDs.
\nIn this thesis\, we investigate failed detonatio ns of Type Iax supernovae within the context of the double-degenerate merg er channel. Specifically\, we consider a binary system consisting of a C/ O WD and an O/Ne WD. In this scenario\, the secondary C/O WD is tidally di srupted and merges with the O/Ne WD\, forming an accretion disk around the primary. Due to instabilities within the disk\, a carbon detonation is tr iggered on the surface of the primary\, while leaving it largely intact. T he total nuclear energy released in this event is lower than that of a nor mal SNe Ia\, consistent with the properties of the SNe Iax. We further exp lore the detonation mechanism\, the characteristics of the resulting remna nt\, and the broader implications of this model for understanding the phys ics of Type Iax supernovae.
\nAdvisor:
Dr. Robert Fisher\, Dep
artment of Physics (Robert.fisher@umassd.edu)
Committee Members:
Dr. David Kagan\, Department of Physics
Dr. Renuka
Rajapkse\, Department of Physics
Note:
All PHY Graduate Stu
dents are encouraged to attend.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/physics-maste r-of-science-thesis-defense-by-chackochan-joji.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T110000 LOCATION:SENG 201 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Physics Master of Science Thesis Defense by Chackoch an Joji UID:d75df78087250009beea95dfad24daf0@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Graduate Studies,Lectures and Seminars,Th esis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Self-gravity plays a crucial role in the a strophysics of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Understanding the extreme phys ics of these events demands accurate hydrodynamical simulations enabled by multiphysics frameworks such as FLASH. In these simulations, direct pairw ise gravitational interactions scale as N2, which can quickly become expan sive for large scale simulations. To reduce the computational cost, FLASH employs approximation methods, including fast multipole and BHTree solvers , where the computational cost scales linearly with the system. Within thi s framework, FLASH uses an operator-split approach to couple separately ev olved hydrodynamics and gravity at each timestep. My thesis focuses on the BHTree solver and quantifies its suitability for SNe Ia applications thro ugh targeted verification and performance studies. I evaluate force accura cy and conservation behaviour across test problems, and compare BHTree aga inst other gravity solvers to characterize the relevant accuracy-cost trad eoff for production simulations. The resulting methodology is intended to guide solver selection and simulation setup for large self-gravitating cal culations, and to support the broader goal of reliable, scalable computati onal tools for stellar explosions and related astrophysical fluid systems. Advisor: Dr. Robert Fisher, Department of Physics, (Robert.fisher@umassd. edu) Committee members: Dr. Renuka Rajapakse, Department of PhysicsD r. Janyi Wang, Department of Physics Note: All PHY Graduate Students a re encouraged to attend.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/tr ee-based-gravity-solver-for-3d-hydrodynamical-simulations-of-binary-white- dwarfs-merger-type-ia-supernovae.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Abstract:
\nSe lf-gravity plays a crucial role in the astrophysics of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Understanding the extreme physics of these events demands accura te hydrodynamical simulations enabled by multiphysics frameworks such as F LASH. In these simulations\, direct pairwise gravitational interactions sc ale as N2\, which can quickly become expansive for large scale simulations . To reduce the computational cost\, FLASH employs approximation methods\, including fast multipole and BHTree solvers\, where the computational cos t scales linearly with the system. Within this framework\, FLASH uses an o perator-split approach to couple separately evolved hydrodynamics and grav ity at each timestep.
\nMy thesis focuses on the BHTree solver and q uantifies its suitability for SNe Ia applications through targeted verific ation and performance studies. I evaluate force accuracy and conservation behaviour across test problems\, and compare BHTree against other gravity solvers to characterize the relevant accuracy-cost tradeoff for production simulations. The resulting methodology is intended to guide solver select ion and simulation setup for large self-gravitating calculations\, and to support the broader goal of reliable\, scalable computational tools for st ellar explosions and related astrophysical fluid systems.
\nAdvisor:
Dr. Robert Fisher\, Department of Physics\, (Robert.fisher@umassd.e
du)
Committee members:
Dr. Renuka Rajapakse\, Departme
nt of Physics
Dr. Janyi Wang\, Department of Physics
Note: All PHY Graduate Students are encouraged to attend.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T114500 LOCATION:SENG 201 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Tree based gravity solver for 3D hydrodynamical simu lations of binary white dwarfs merger type Ia supernovae UID:a73e3edb99edebfde16191425ccacd56@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:ABSTRACT: Micro-nano robots represent an exciting area in robot ics research, involving tiny devices capable of navigating and interacting within the nano-scale world. For the complete ABSTRACT and more informa tion, please contact: kihan.park@umassd.edu -or- scunha@umassd.edu. AD VISOR: Dr. Kihan Park, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UMas s Dartmouth College of Engineering. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Wenzhen Huang , Professor, and Dr. Hangjian Ling, Associate Professor; both of the UMass Dartmouth Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering. Op en to the public. All MNE students are encouraged to attend. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/mechanical-engineering-ms-thesis-d efense-by-mr-menaka-konara.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:ABSTRACT: Micro-nano robots rep resent an exciting area in robotics research\, involving tiny devices capa ble of navigating and interacting within the nano-scale world.
\nF or the complete ABSTRACT and more information\, please contact: kihan.pa rk@umassd.edu -or- scunha@umassd.edu. ADVISOR: Dr. Kihan Park\, Assistan t Professor of Mechanical Engineering\, UMass Dartmouth College of Enginee ring.
\nCOMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Wenzhen Huang\, Professor\, and Dr. Hangjian Ling\, Associate Professor\; both of the UMass Dartmouth Mechani cal Engineering Department\, College of Engineering.
\nOpen to the public. All MNE students are encouraged to attend.
Event page : https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/mec hanical-engineering-ms-thesis-defense-by-mr-menaka-konara.php
< /body> DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T120000 LOCATION:SENG-110 (Science & Engineering Building, Room 110 / Materials Science Lab) SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Mechanical Engineering MS Thesis Defense by Mr. Mena ka Konara UID:147c91a8b0e4c7e21a1f5c435761ec01@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars DESCRIPTION:Abstract: In the emerging field of gravitational wave astronomy , the data collected by gravitational-wave (GW) observatories is key to un derstanding the universe. However, in addition to astrophysical signals, t he data consists of non-stationary detector noise and transient bursts of noise known as glitches. These glitches impact the ability to both observe and characterize incoming gravitational-wave signals. Thus, it is imperat ive that we study these glitch populations to improve our sensitivity to r eal signals and provide feedback to instrumentalists. Current glitch mitig ation pipelines use glitch spectrogram images, which have been used to tra in many state-of-the-art glitch analysis tools. While this approach has pr oven to be effective, many aspects of the glitch, such as phase informatio n, short-glitch events, and time localization, are lost. Due to these limi tations of frequency-domain analysis, there is a need for glitch analysis tools that operate in the time domain. In this work, we present the first large- scale glitch time-domain model reconstruction analysis on glitch da ta from LIGO’s third observation run. We introduce a machine-learning ba sed tool to assess the quality of glitch time-domain reconstructions by ut ilizing non-Gaussianity tests to analyze glitch residuals and enabling the optimization of time-series models for various LIGO glitch classes. Using this framework, we demonstrate how large-scale time-domain datasets of re al, noise-free detector glitches can be rapidly produced and assessed, pav ing the way for improved glitch population studies and future developments in classification and simulation tools. Advisor: Dr. Sarah Caudill, Depar tment of Physics (scaudill@umassd.edu) Note: All PHY Graduate Students are encouraged to attend. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/p hysics-master-of-science-project-presentation-by-bhaskar-verma.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Abstract:
\nIn the emergi ng field of gravitational wave astronomy\, the data collected by gravitati onal-wave (GW) observatories is key to understanding the universe. However \, in addition to astrophysical signals\, the data consists of non-station ary detector noise and transient bursts of noise known as glitches. These glitches impact the ability to both observe and characterize incoming grav itational-wave signals. Thus\, it is imperative that we study these glitch populations to improve our sensitivity to real signals and provide feedba ck to instrumentalists. Current glitch mitigation pipelines use glitch spe ctrogram images\, which have been used to train many state-of-the-art glit ch analysis tools. While this approach has proven to be effective\, many a spects of the glitch\, such as phase information\, short-glitch events\, a nd time localization\, are lost. Due to these limitations of frequency-dom ain analysis\, there is a need for glitch analysis tools that operate in t he time domain. In this work\, we present the first large- scale glitch ti me-domain model reconstruction analysis on glitch data from LIGO’s third observation run. We introduce a machine-learning based tool to assess the quality of glitch time-domain reconstructions by utilizing non-Gaussianit y tests to analyze glitch residuals and enabling the optimization of time- series models for various LIGO glitch classes. Using this framework\, we d emonstrate how large-scale time-domain datasets of real\, noise-free detec tor glitches can be rapidly produced and assessed\, paving the way for imp roved glitch population studies and future developments in classification and simulation tools.
\nAdvisor:
Dr. Sarah Caudill\, Departmen
t of Physics (scaudill@umassd.edu)
Note:
All PHY Graduate St
udents are encouraged to attend.
Event p age: https://www.umassd.edu/events/c ms/physics-master-of-science-project-presentation-by-bhaskar-verma.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T120000 LOCATION:SENG 201 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Physics Master of Science Project Presentation by Bh askar Verma UID:90a506501aaec381233b306dbbeff773@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts DESCRIPTION:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing the artwork of graduating Master o f Fine Arts students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman, Argha van Booyeh, Immer Cook, Ali Masoumzadeh, Allison Morones, Maya August Palm er, MITRAAVRS, Sarah Valinezhad, and Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting, drawing, ceramics, digital me dia, and site-specific installation. Please join us for the closing recept ion at the Art and Design Studios on Thursday, May 7th, at 4 PM. Free and open to the public. This year, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in th ree locations: Hatch Street Studios, Art and Design Studios, and The New B edford Art Museum. Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each location. Art and Design Studios: Dartmouth Towne Center Plaza, 45 8 State Rd. North Dartmouth, MA 02747 Exhibition Dates: April 16 – May 9 , 2026 Closing Reception: Thursday, May 7, 4-6 PM Gallery Hours: Daily 9 A M to 6 PM Free and open to the public.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu /events/cms/art-and-design-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibition.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nPlease join us for the closing reception at the Art and Des ign Studios on Thursday\, May 7th\, at 4 PM. Free and open to the public.< /p>\n
This year\, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locatio ns: Hatch Street Studios\, Art and Design Studios\, and The New Bedford Ar t Museum. Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each loc ation.
\nArt and Design Studios:
\nDartmouth Towne Center Pl aza\, 458 State Rd. North Dartmouth\, MA 02747
\nExhibition Dates: A pril 16 – May 9\, 2026
\nClosing Reception: Thursday\, May 7\, 4-6 PM
\nGallery Hours: Daily 9 AM to 6 PM
\nFree and open to the public.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/event s/cms/art-and-design-studios-mfa-thesis-exhibition.php
< /html> DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260507T180000 LOCATION:Art and Design Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Art and Design Studios MFA Thesis Exhibition UID:ac996d93b2b9c2da244931635c69d7b3@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TIG Weldments of Dissimilar Aluminum Alloys and Optimization Using Grey Relat ed Analysis (GRA). ADVISOR: Dr. Wenzhen Huang, Professor, Department of Me chanical Engineering, UMass Dartmouth. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Md Habibor R ahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Da rtmouth and Dr. Hamed Samandari, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Dartmouth. For the ABSTRACT and ZOOM link /Meeting ID/Passcode, please contact scunha@umassd.edu. Thank you!\nEven t page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/mechanical-engineering--ise-ms-p roject-presentation-by-mr-sanath-kosuru-padmanabha-raju-sanath-k-p.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:TOPIC: Study on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TIG Weldments of Dissimilar Aluminum Alloys a nd Optimization Using Grey Related Analysis (GRA).
\nADVISOR: Dr. We nzhen Huang\, Professor\, Department of Mechanical Engineering\, UMass Dar tmouth.
\nCOMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Md Habibor Rahman\, Assistant Profe ssor\, Department of Mechanical Engineering\, UMass Dartmouth and Dr. Hame d Samandari\, Associate Teaching Professor\, Department of Mechanical Engi neering\, UMass Dartmouth.
\nFor the ABSTRACT and ZOOM link/Meeting ID/Passcode\, please contact scunha@umassd.edu. Thank you!
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T120000 LOCATION:ZOOM SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Mechanical Engineering / ISE MS Project Presentation by Mr. Sanath Kosuru Padmanabha Raju (Sanath K P) UID:9e82f737ee213f48f0afe2cab70b3a06@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,College of Engineering,Graduate Stu dies,Lectures and Seminars,SMAST,STEM,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Department of Fisheries Oceanography MS Thesis Defense"Sink or Source? The attraction versus production theory at an offshore wind farm u sing black sea bass as a case study"By: Andie Painten AdvisorDr. Kevin Sto kesbury (UMass Dartmouth) Committee MembersDr. Geoffrey Cowles (UMass Dart mouth), Dr. Sam Truesdell (NOAA) Friday May 8, 202610:00 AMSMAST East 101- 103836 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedfordand via Zoom Abstract: Offshore w ind farms introduce complex habitat into historically sandy areas, potenti ally attracting structure-seeking species. This habitat may provide favora ble conditions for food and shelter to support complete life cycles, poten tially increasing local abundance or establishing new populations. This pr oject evaluated the suitability of the Vineyard Wind 1 development area fo r each life-history stage of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) using data from a suite of fisheries monitoring surveys and available life histo ry literature. Spatial and temporal trends in distribution, derived from c atch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) estimates for larval, juvenile, and adult blac k sea bass, revealed an absence of larvae and only a transient presence of juveniles and adults. Analyses of diet, sex, and maturity were consistent with existing literature, including feeding patterns and lack of spawning in the study area. Results further suggest that the introduction of compl ex habitat will provide suitable spawning habitat and increased available food sources; these strong attractants may result in the increased occurre nce of black sea bass to turbines. If turbines are used as spawning habita t this may alter larval dispersal. Larval distribution may also be affecte d by changing hydrodynamic conditions in the windfarm area. This research constitutes the baseline information required to determine if windfarms wi ll act as a population sink (attracting but not producing new black sea ba ss populations) or source (completing the life cycle in a new area resulti ng in population expansion). Join Meetinghttps://umassd.zoom.us/j/98953871 07Note: Meeting ID and passcode required, please email contact to obtain. For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umass d.edu\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/dfo-ms-thesis-defense -sink-or-source-by-andie-painten.php\nEvent link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j /9895387107 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Department of Fisheries Oceanog raphy
\nMS Thesis Defense
"Sink or Source? The attraction versu
s production theory at an offshore wind farm using black sea bass as a cas
e study"
By: Andie Painten
Advisor
Dr. Kevin Stokesbury
(UMass Dartmouth)
Committee Members
Dr. Geoffrey Cowles (UMas
s Dartmouth)\, Dr. Sam Truesdell (NOAA)
Friday May 8\, 2026
1
0:00 AM
SMAST East 101-103
836 S. Rodney French Blvd\, New Bedfo
rd
and via Zoom
Abstract:
\nOffshore wind farms introdu ce complex habitat into historically sandy areas\, potentially attracting structure-seeking species. This habitat may provide favorable conditions f or food and shelter to support complete life cycles\, potentially increasi ng local abundance or establishing new populations. This project evaluated the suitability of the Vineyard Wind 1 development area for each life-his tory stage of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) using data from a sui te of fisheries monitoring surveys and available life history literature. Spatial and temporal trends in distribution\, derived from catch-per-unit- effort (CPUE) estimates for larval\, juvenile\, and adult black sea bass\, revealed an absence of larvae and only a transient presence of juveniles and adults. Analyses of diet\, sex\, and maturity were consistent with exi sting literature\, including feeding patterns and lack of spawning in the study area. Results further suggest that the introduction of complex habit at will provide suitable spawning habitat and increased available food sou rces\; these strong attractants may result in the increased occurrence of black sea bass to turbines. If turbines are used as spawning habitat this may alter larval dispersal. Larval distribution may also be affected by ch anging hydrodynamic conditions in the windfarm area. This research constit utes the baseline information required to determine if windfarms will act as a population sink (attracting but not producing new black sea bass popu lations) or source (completing the life cycle in a new area resulting in p opulation expansion).
\nJoin Meeting
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/9895387107
Note: Mee
ting ID and passcode required\, please email contact to obtain.
Fo r additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd .edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/ events/cms/dfo-ms-thesis-defense-sink-or-source-by-andie-painten.phpEvent link: https://umassd .zoom.us/j/9895387107
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T110000 LOCATION:SMAST East 101-103 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:DFO MS Thesis Defense: Sink or Source? by Andie Pain ten UID:5cfde667fa711681fc7831d3ecb811c3@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Disser tations DESCRIPTION:PhD Advisor: Dr. Michael Sheriff Committee Members: Dr. Eri n Bromage (UMass Dartmouth), Dr. Robert Gegear (UMass Dartmouth), and Dr. Jaqueline Blundell (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada). Abstract : Free-living animals encounter a wide range of ecological and environmen tal stressors throughout their lifetime, which can shape both cognitive pe rformance and neural function. While cognitive abilities, particularly lea rning and memory, are critical for responding effectively to these stresso rs, evidence suggests that stress exposure –in particular glucocorticoid hormones – can, in turn, affect cognition. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these bidirectional interactions remain poorly unde rstood, especially in wild systems. Thus, in this dissertation, I investig ated how chronic predation risk and glucocorticoid hormones influence cogn ition in wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). I further examined the effects of predation risk on the relationship between neuronal activat ion patterns and cognitive performance. In Chapter 2, I show that chronic predation risk did not impair learning but had a small effect on short-ter m memory, it may be that altered exploration strategies help animals maint ain learning performance under chronic predation risk conditions. In Chapt er 3, I show that glucocorticoids had no effect on associative learning an d short-term memory, but did affect spatial learning and short-term memory , and the opposite pattern was true for long-term memory. Finally, in Chap ter 4, I show how predation risk reduced neuronal activation patterns in t he hippocampus and alters the relationship between neuronal activation pat terns and cognitive performance. Overall, this work provides novel insight into how predation risk and stress hormones shape cognition and brain fun ction in wild animals. These findings highlight the importance of studying neurobiological mechanisms in ecologically relevant contexts to better un derstand how animals maintain adaptive function under chronic environmenta l stress.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/biology-phd-disse rtation-defense-by-carolina-c-ganci.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:PhD Advisor: Dr. Michael Sheriff
\nCommittee Members: Dr. Eri n Bromage (UMass Dartmouth)\, Dr. Robert Gegear (UMass Dartmouth)\, and Dr . Jaqueline Blundell (Memorial University of Newfoundland\, Canada).
\nAbstract: Free-living animals encounter a wide range of ecological and environmental stressors throughout their lifetime\, whic h can shape both cognitive performance and neural function. While cognitiv e abilities\, particularly learning and memory\, are critical for respondi ng effectively to these stressors\, evidence suggests that stress exposure –in particular glucocorticoid hormones – can\, in turn\, affect cogni tion. However\, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these bidirectio nal interactions remain poorly understood\, especially in wild systems. Th us\, in this dissertation\, I investigated how chronic predation risk and glucocorticoid hormones influence cognition in wild white-footed mice (Per omyscus leucopus). I further examined the effects of predation risk on the relationship between neuronal activation patterns and cognitive performan ce. In Chapter 2\, I show that chronic predation risk did not impair learn ing but had a small effect on short-term memory\, it may be that altered e xploration strategies help animals maintain learning performance under chr onic predation risk conditions. In Chapter 3\, I show that glucocorticoids had no effect on associative learning and short-term memory\, but did aff ect spatial learning and short-term memory\, and the opposite pattern was true for long-term memory. Finally\, in Chapter 4\, I show how predation r isk reduced neuronal activation patterns in the hippocampus and alters the relationship between neuronal activation patterns and cognitive performan ce. Overall\, this work provides novel insight into how predation risk and stress hormones shape cognition and brain function in wild animals. These findings highlight the importance of studying neurobiological mechanisms in ecologically relevant contexts to better understand how animals maintai n adaptive function under chronic environmental stress.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/biology-phd-d issertation-defense-by-carolina-c-ganci.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260508T130000 LOCATION:SENG Bldg., Room# 305 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Biology PhD Dissertation Defense by Carolina C. Ganc i UID:d89e7e80f5ac41f8c49bee03bb9219d9@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Graduate Studies,Lectures and Seminars,Th esis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Gokhan Kul, Computer & Information Scie nce/Data Science Committee Members: Dr. Gavin Fay, SMAST / Fisheries Oce anographyDr. Ashokkumar Patel, Computer & Information Science/Data Science Dr. Asif Turzo, Computer & Information Science/Data Science Abstract: Pr ocess based marine ecosystem models such as Atlantis Provide high fidelity simulations of species interactions and environmental dynamics, but their computational cost limits their use in real time forecasting and large sc ale scenario analysis. This study proposes a deep learning based surrogate modeling framework to emulate Atlantis simulations and enable efficient p rediction of marine framework to emulate Atlantis simulations and enable e fficient prediction of marine biomass dynamics in the Northeast U.S. Large Marine Ecosystem. Unlike traditional approximation approaches, the propos ed method focuses on learning spatio temporal dependencies directly from s imulation outputs. Atlantis data spanning 1964 - 2020 across multiple guil ds and spatial polygons are structured into temporal sequences incorporati ng environmental drivers such as temperature and salinity. A Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) architecture is employed to capture both forward and backward temporal relationships and model nonlinear ecosystem behavior. The surrogate achieves strong predictive performance, with an R 2 score of 0.90 on held out test data, while maintaining consistency acros s ecological groupings. In addition to accuracy, the model significantly r educes computational overhead compared to full Atlantis simulations, enabl ing rapid multi step forecasting and scalable exploration of management sc enarios. These results demonstrate that deep sequence models can serve as effective surrogates for complex ecological simulators, providing a practi cal pathway toward real time, data driven decision support in ecosystem ba sed fisheries management. For further information please contact Dr. Go khan Kul at gkul@umassd.edu.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cm s/surrogate-modeling-of-atlantis-deep-learning-approaches-for-predicting-a nd-forecasting-biomass.php\nEvent link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2 7173518080619?p=89Z8ItRNZFdiQC8x2x X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Faculty Supervisor:
Dr. G
okhan Kul\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Committe
e Members:
Dr. Gavin Fay\, SMAST / Fisheries Oceanography
Dr. A
shokkumar Patel\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Dr. A
sif Turzo\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Abstract:< /p>\n
Process based marine ecosystem models such as Atlantis Provide hig h fidelity simulations of species interactions and environmental dynamics\ , but their computational cost limits their use in real time forecasting a nd large scale scenario analysis. This study proposes a deep learning base d surrogate modeling framework to emulate Atlantis simulations and enable efficient prediction of marine framework to emulate Atlantis simulations a nd enable efficient prediction of marine biomass dynamics in the Northeast U.S. Large Marine Ecosystem. Unlike traditional approximation approaches\ , the proposed method focuses on learning spatio temporal dependencies dir ectly from simulation outputs. Atlantis data spanning 1964 - 2020 across m ultiple guilds and spatial polygons are structured into temporal sequences incorporating environmental drivers such as temperature and salinity. A B idirectional Long Short Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) architecture is employed to capture both forward and backward temporal relationships and model nonline ar ecosystem behavior. The surrogate achieves strong predictive performanc e\, with an R2 score of 0.90 on held out test data\, while maintaining con sistency across ecological groupings. In addition to accuracy\, the model significantly reduces computational overhead compared to full Atlantis sim ulations\, enabling rapid multi step forecasting and scalable exploration of management scenarios.
\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/surrogate-modeling
-of-atlantis-deep-learning-approaches-for-predicting-and-forecasting-bioma
ss.php
Event link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2717351808
0619?p=89Z8ItRNZFdiQC8x2x
The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nPlease join us for Open Studios at Hatch Street Studios\, 8 8 Hatch Street\, New Bedford\, MA 02745 on Saturday\, May 9th\, 10 AM-6 PM . This event\, featuring over 75 New Bedford artists\, provides a unique o pportunity to see behind the scenes\, meet the artists\, and support the l ocal creative community. Free and open to the public.
\nThis year\, the MFA Thesis Exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Stu dios\, Art and Design Studios\, and The New Bedford Art Museum. Each stude nt exhibits different pieces of their work in each location.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/hatch-street-stu dios-mfa-thesis-exhibition.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T180000 LOCATION:Hatch Street Studios SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Hatch Street Studios MFA Thesis Exhibition UID:53cb09d3224bb547e0eca14e664b2488@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Graduate Studies,Lectures and Seminars,Th esis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Gokhan Kul, Computer & Information Scie nce Committee Members: Dr. Adnan El-Nasan, Computer & Information ScienceD r. John Rahme, Computer & Information Science Abstract: Memory allocators perform a fundamental task in ensuring dynamic memory is allocated to pro cesses in a way that is efficient in both time and space domains. They do this by reducing the number of kernel calls performed, maintaining high sp atial and cache locality, and keeping the number of pages in use to a mini mum. However, there is a fundamental constraint towards the efficiency of an allocator. External fragmentation is an unavoidable consequence of dyna mic allocation, yet there is little consensus on how precisely to measure fragmentation; There is vanishingly little analysis on how different fragm entation metrics perform or when each should be used. A better understandi ng of fragmentation and how to measure it is vital in advancing allocator design and designing programs that respect allocators’ assumptions. Th ere is a large myriad of work introducing various metrics for measuring fr agmentation or describing allocators that reduce fragmentation in some nov el way under particular workloads. However, there is a gap in modern work determining the efficacy of the numerous proposed fragmentation metrics, w hen they should be used, and how to compare them between each other. Many papers discussing fragmentation produced under some workload or allocator don’t describe which metric is being used. This disjoint approach to mea suring fragmentation leads to confusion and imprecision. Much of the work on fragmentation is old, dating back 50 years. Newer work tends to be focu sed on allocation on either large clusters or databases, or in optical net work allocation rather than memory. Additionally, there has been a focus o n analyzing synthetic traces (and how precisely to generate synthetic trac es), rather than using traces from real workloads on real machines. This w ork attempts to unify the understanding of fragmentation through comparati ve analysis on real workloads. This work introduces a pipeline for benchma rking external fragmentation metrics using real memory traces. First is a method of collecting memory traces of multi-threaded and multi-process sys tems, tracking every call to the allocation library. Next a method of comp uting the fragmentation of these traces at variable timesteps through the parent process’ lifetime. And finally, a method of plotting metrics over time against each other and against the overall memory usage of that proc ess. 6 metrics are compared in this work, including two novel metrics; AEF M and NAEFM, and one metric that has escaped academic review; ESP. The ESP metric performs extremely well, holding high average correlation with oth er metrics, while maintaining much more stability on shorter applications. For longer running applications, many metrics quickly lose specificity, r eaching their maximum value quite quickly and staying there. NAEFM, SSFM, and EBFM maintain usefulness across the lifetime of longer running program s. This work has applications in a wide range of areas. It is naturally of interest to kernel or allocator developers. Future work which takes adv antage of findings from this comparative analysis may produce more efficie nt allocators on small and personal computers. A better understanding of m emory degradation over time will result in more efficient applications, re ducing the overall resource burden of everyday computing. Additionally, th ere may be applications in adjacent fields as found with optical network a llocation. For further information please contact Dr. Gokhan Kul at gku l@umassd.edu. \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/benchm arking-of-memory-fragmentation-metrics-on-real-allocation-traces.php\nEven t link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/28305274898079?p=Hq5YC1bJl1SW8ioW En X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Faculty Supervisor:
Dr. G
okhan Kul\, Computer & Information Science
Committee Members:
Dr. Adnan El-Nasan\, Computer & Information Science
Dr. John Rahme\
, Computer & Information Science
Abstract: Memor y allocators perform a fundamental task in ensuring dynamic memory is allo cated to processes in a way that is efficient in both time and space domai ns. They do this by reducing the number of kernel calls performed\, mainta ining high spatial and cache locality\, and keeping the number of pages in use to a minimum. However\, there is a fundamental constraint towards the efficiency of an allocator. External fragmentation is an unavoidable cons equence of dynamic allocation\, yet there is little consensus on how preci sely to measure fragmentation\; There is vanishingly little analysis on ho w different fragmentation metrics perform or when each should be used. A b etter understanding of fragmentation and how to measure it is vital in adv ancing allocator design and designing programs that respect allocators’ assumptions. There is a large myriad of work introducing various metrics for measuring fragmentation or describing allocators that reduce fragment ation in some novel way under particular workloads. However\, there is a g ap in modern work determining the efficacy of the numerous proposed fragme ntation metrics\, when they should be used\, and how to compare them betwe en each other. Many papers discussing fragmentation produced under some wo rkload or allocator don’t describe which metric is being used. This disj oint approach to measuring fragmentation leads to confusion and imprecisio n. Much of the work on fragmentation is old\, dating back 50 years. Newer work tends to be focused on allocation on either large clusters or databas es\, or in optical network allocation rather than memory. Additionally\, t here has been a focus on analyzing synthetic traces (and how precisely to generate synthetic traces)\, rather than using traces from real workloads on real machines. This work attempts to unify the understanding of fragmen tation through comparative analysis on real workloads. This work introduce s a pipeline for benchmarking external fragmentation metrics using real me mory traces. First is a method of collecting memory traces of multi-thread ed and multi-process systems\, tracking every call to the allocation libra ry. Next a method of computing the fragmentation of these traces at variab le timesteps through the parent process’ lifetime. And finally\, a metho d of plotting metrics over time against each other and against the overall memory usage of that process. 6 metrics are compared in this work\, inclu ding two novel metrics\; AEFM and NAEFM\, and one metric that has escaped academic review\; ESP. The ESP metric performs extremely well\, holding hi gh average correlation with other metrics\, while maintaining much more st ability on shorter applications. For longer running applications\, many me trics quickly lose specificity\, reaching their maximum value quite quickl y and staying there. NAEFM\, SSFM\, and EBFM maintain usefulness across th e lifetime of longer running programs. This work has applications in a w ide range of areas. It is naturally of interest to kernel or allocator dev elopers. Future work which takes advantage of findings from this comparati ve analysis may produce more efficient allocators on small and personal co mputers. A better understanding of memory degradation over time will resul t in more efficient applications\, reducing the overall resource burden of everyday computing. Additionally\, there may be applications in adjacent fields as found with optical network allocation.
\nFor further in formation please contact Dr. Gokhan Kul at gkul@umassd.edu.
\n
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/benchmarking-
of-memory-fragmentation-metrics-on-real-allocation-traces.php
Event
link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/28305274898079?p=Hq5YC1bJl1SW
8ioWEn
Faculty Supervisor:
Dr. Go
khan Kul\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Committee M
embers:
Dr. Gavin Fay\, SMAST Fisheries & Oceanography
Dr. Firas
Khatib\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Dr. Ashokkumar
Patel\, Computer & Information Science/Data Science
Abstract: Mari ne ecosystem models such as Atlantis valuable insight into multispecies in teractions\, spatial dynamics and fisheries management\, but their high co mputational cost limits rapid scenario analysis and real-time decision mak ing. This study presented a data-driven ecosystem emulator for the Northea st U.S. Atlantis model using automated machine learning approaches. A larg e -scale dataset (~3.4 million records) spanning 1964-2020 was constructed \, integrating biomass of species functional groups\, spatial polygons\, temporal indices and environments variables such as temperature and salini ty. The emulator framework employed automated machine learning techniques\ , including Random Forest and Extra tress regression\, with model selectio n and hyperparameter optimization performance using AutoML strategies. In addition\, AutoKeras was utilized to explore neural network architectures in an automated manner\, enabling data-driven model allocation\, lagged va riables to capture ecological inertia and time-aware transformations. Mode l performance was evaluated using out-of-sample temporal validation\, recu rsive back testing\, and ecological plausibility assessments. Result demon strated string predictive performance\, with species -level R2 values freq uently exceedinag 0.90 and overall model accuracy approaching 94%. The emu lator achieved high computational efficiency\, with end-to-end prediction completed in under few seconds\, substantiality reducing runtime compared to traditional Atlantis simulations. This work established a scalable and efficient AutoML-driven alternative to process-based ecosystem model\, ena bling rapid biomass estimation and supporting data-driven fisheries manage ment and ecosystem analysis.
\nFor further information please cont act Dr. Gokhan Kul at gkul@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.u
massd.edu/events/cms/emulating-marine-ecosystem-dynamics-a-machine-learnin
g-approach-for-biomass-prediction-and-forecasting.php
Event link: <
a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/210134622120814?p=HF1gXRarGipViGB
pda">https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/210134622120814?p=HF1gXRarGipViGBpda
Title:
\nEvaluation of ex tracellular vesicles released by 3D spheroids and 2D conventional cell cul ture of the SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line
\nAbstract:
\nCance r cells communicate with the surrounding tumor microenvironment and establ ish a metastatic niche through the secretion of small extracellular vesicl es (sEVs)\, which are referred to as exosomes. These exosomes play a criti cal role in cancer progression by transferring bioactive cargo\, including proteins\, lipids\, mRNAs\, miRNAs\, and DNA fragments\, to healthy cells \, thereby enabling distant organ colonization and metastasis. SKOV3\, a w idely used human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line\, is traditionally cultu red under anchorage-dependent (2D monolayer) conditions\; however\, suspen sion culture more faithfully mimics the three-dimensional\, non-adherent m icroenvironment encountered in vivo\, giving rise to altered cell signalli ng\, spheroid formation\, and distinct exosome release profiles. This stud y compares the characteristics of exosomes secreted by SKOV3 cells under 2 D and 3D conditions\, isolated through ultrafiltration and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)\, D ynamic Light Scattering (DLS)\, Raman spectroscopy\, and Flow Cytometry we re used for the characterization. Multivariate analysis across FastGrow an d McCoy's media as exosome collection media identified the principal compo nents governing exosome physical properties\, while optimized SEC runs dem onstrated how Sepharose 2B and 6B columns yield exosomal fractions. Additi onal investigations included spheroid growth analysis\, refractive index a nalysis\, storage effects\, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)\, and BCA protein estimation in exosomal fractions. This study presents an acce ssible and reproducible isolation protocol that lowers the technical barri er across laboratory settings\, laying the groundwork for non-invasive exo some-based cancer screening.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/bmebt-ms-thesis-defense-by-shrimathi-
venugopalakrishnan.php
Event link: https://umassd.zoom.us
/j/96638190702?pwd=SYKURVzk7JtCHoW0zM4UvgNJCbHVc7.1
Advisor: Dr. Mark Silby
\nCommittee members: Dr. Christopher Brigham\, Dr. Robert Drew
\nAbstract: Rhizobacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 are importa nt contributors to plant health due to their involvement in nutrient uptak e\, regulation of plant immunity\, and inhibition of pathogens. P. fluores cens Pf0-1 mediates movement by using microscopic hair-like structures cal led flagella. Flagella synthesis is controlled by the bacterial enhancer b inding protein (bEBP) FleQ\; fleQ mutants are unable to swim. Taylor et al .\, (2015) showed that fleQ mutants eventually regain motility due to new mutations in ntrB and ntrC which result in elevated activation of NtrC and off-target binding of the bEBP NtrC to FleQ-controlled promoters. We hypo thesized that if mutations that activate bEBPs can lead to crosstalk betwe en regulatory networks\, environmental signals that activate bEBPs may als o influence crosstalk in a post-translational manner. We tested whether gl utamate or alpha ketoglutarate which are predicted to activate AauR and Mi fR respectively could restore motility in the Pf0-1 fleQ mutant and found that the addition of glutamate restored motility. However\, deletion of aa uR did not abolish motility restoration\, indicating that a different bEBP was important. Surprisingly\, deletion of ntrC rendered glutamate unable to promote motility restoration\, demonstrating that in the presence of gl utamate wildtype NtrC can functionally replace FleQ in P. fluorescens. Mea surement of transcription of the gene flhA which is normally FleQ-controll ed confirmed that in the presence of glutamate\, NtrC is capable of regula ting expression of flagella genes. This research looks to provide an insig ht on how crosstalk between different regulatory pathways can increase the adaptability of bacteria in complex natural environments.
E vent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/biology-ms-t hesis-defense-by-sharon-jacob-.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T130000 LOCATION:SENG 118 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Biology MS Thesis Defense by Sharon Jacob UID:e244c603b9d3e7bc43cfe9021a36141e@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Disser tations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Dr. Mark Silby Committee: Dr. Christopher Brigham, Dr. Robert Drew Abstract: Rhizobacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0- 1 are important contributors to plant health due to their involvement in n utrient uptake, regulation of plant immunity, and inhibition of pathogens. P. fluorescens Pf0-1 mediates movement by using microscopic hair-like str uctures called flagella. Flagella synthesis is controlled by the bacterial enhancer binding protein (bEBP) FleQ; fleQ mutants are unable to swim. Ta ylor et al., (2015) showed that fleQ mutants eventually regain motility du e to new mutations in ntrB and ntrC which result in elevated activation of NtrC and off-target binding of the bEBP NtrC to FleQ-controlled promoters . We hypothesized that if mutations that activate bEBPs can lead to crosst alk between regulatory networks, environmental signals that activate bEBPs may also influence crosstalk in a post-translational manner. We tested wh ether glutamate or alpha ketoglutarate which are predicted to activate Aau R and MifR respectively could restore motility in the Pf0-1 fleQ mutant an d found that the addition of glutamate restored motility. However, deletio n of aauR did not abolish motility restoration, indicating that a differen t bEBP was important. Surprisingly, deletion of ntrC rendered glutamate un able to promote motility restoration, demonstrating that in the presence o f glutamate wildtype NtrC can functionally replace FleQ in P. fluorescens. Measurement of transcription of the gene flhA which is normally FleQ-cont rolled confirmed that in the presence of glutamate, NtrC is capable of reg ulating expression of flagella genes. This research looks to provide an in sight on how crosstalk between different regulatory pathways can increase the adaptability of bacteria in complex natural environments.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/biology-master-thesis-defense-by-sharon -jacob.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Dr. Mark Silby
\nCommittee: Dr. Christopher Brigham\, Dr. Robert Drew
\nAbstract: R hizobacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 are important contribut ors to plant health due to their involvement in nutrient uptake\, regulati on of plant immunity\, and inhibition of pathogens. P. fluorescens Pf0-1 m ediates movement by using microscopic hair-like structures called flagella . Flagella synthesis is controlled by the bacterial enhancer binding prote in (bEBP) FleQ\; fleQ mutants are unable to swim. Taylor et al.\, (2015) s howed that fleQ mutants eventually regain motility due to new mutations in ntrB and ntrC which result in elevated activation of NtrC and off-target binding of the bEBP NtrC to FleQ-controlled promoters. We hypothesized tha t if mutations that activate bEBPs can lead to crosstalk between regulator y networks\, environmental signals that activate bEBPs may also influence crosstalk in a post-translational manner. We tested whether glutamate or a lpha ketoglutarate which are predicted to activate AauR and MifR respectiv ely could restore motility in the Pf0-1 fleQ mutant and found that the add ition of glutamate restored motility. However\, deletion of aauR did not a bolish motility restoration\, indicating that a different bEBP was importa nt. Surprisingly\, deletion of ntrC rendered glutamate unable to promote m otility restoration\, demonstrating that in the presence of glutamate wild type NtrC can functionally replace FleQ in P. fluorescens. Measurement of transcription of the gene flhA which is normally FleQ-controlled confirmed that in the presence of glutamate\, NtrC is capable of regulating express ion of flagella genes. This research looks to provide an insight on how cr osstalk between different regulatory pathways can increase the adaptabilit y of bacteria in complex natural environments.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/biology-master-thesis-defense -by-sharon-jacob.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T130000 LOCATION:SENG-118 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Biology Master Thesis Defense by Sharon Jacob UID:716f75ce4d9609d0429338c09ec06734@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Arts and Sciences,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Disser tations DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Michael Sheriff Committee Members: Professor Mark Silb y, Professor Genny Kozak, and Professor Vanni Bucci (UMass Chan Medical). Abstract: Predators influence prey not only by killing them, but also by a ltering how they behave and function in the face of chronic risk. In this dissertation, I examine whether the gut microbiome can help reveal how ani mals experience environmental stress, and whether it can contribute to the assessment of wild animal welfare. Using white-footed mice (Peromyscus le ucopus) as a study system, I combine a conceptual review with captive and free-living experiments to test how chronic auditory predator cues affect the microbiome, fecal glucocorticoids, and behavior. Across these studies, predation risk was associated with shifts in gut-microbial community stru cture and temporal dynamics, with the strongest patterns emerging at the l evel of overall community reorganization rather than consistent changes in alpha diversity or single taxa. In free-living mice, microbial responses to predation risk were only weakly aligned with endocrine and behavioral m easures, suggesting that responses to fear in the wild are often subtle, m ultidimensional, and not necessarily coupled across biological systems. To gether, this work shows that the gut microbiome is sensitive to ecological ly relevant stressors and may provide a useful new tool for understanding animal welfare under natural conditions.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.e du/events/cms/the-cascading-effects-of-predation-risk-in-the-wild-how-the- gut-microbiome-mediates-the-adaptive-fear-response.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Michael Sheriff
\n< p>Committee Members: Professor Mark Silby\, Professor Genny Kozak\, and Pr ofessor Vanni Bucci (UMass Chan Medical).\nAbstract: Predators infl uence prey not only by killing them\, but also by altering how they behave and function in the face of chronic risk. In this dissertation\, I examin e whether the gut microbiome can help reveal how animals experience enviro nmental stress\, and whether it can contribute to the assessment of wild a nimal welfare. Using white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) as a study sy stem\, I combine a conceptual review with captive and free-living experime nts to test how chronic auditory predator cues affect the microbiome\, fec al glucocorticoids\, and behavior. Across these studies\, predation risk w as associated with shifts in gut-microbial community structure and tempora l dynamics\, with the strongest patterns emerging at the level of overall community reorganization rather than consistent changes in alpha diversity or single taxa. In free-living mice\, microbial responses to predation ri sk were only weakly aligned with endocrine and behavioral measures\, sugge sting that responses to fear in the wild are often subtle\, multidimension al\, and not necessarily coupled across biological systems. Together\, thi s work shows that the gut microbiome is sensitive to ecologically relevant stressors and may provide a useful new tool for understanding animal welf are under natural conditions.
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T110000 LOCATION:CCB-340 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:The Cascading Effects of Predation Risk in the Wild: How the Gut Microbiome Mediates the Adaptive Fear Response UID:e3803796cca8993d036c30b4a76b24b8@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertation s DESCRIPTION:Partial abstract: Small manufacturing facilities frequently fac e challenges stemming from disorganized layouts, inadequate management pra ctices, and reactive maintenance procedures. These conditions generate o perational waste and create bottlenecks that reduce production efficiency. .. For the full abstract, advisor and committee members please contact S ue Cunha (scunha@umassd.edu). Thank you!\nEvent page: https://www.umassd .edu/events/cms/mechanical-engineering-ms-project-presentation-by-mr-joshu a-letizia.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Partial abstract: Small manufac turing facilities frequently face challenges stemming from disorganized la youts\, inadequate management practices\, and reactive maintenance procedu res. These conditions generate operational waste and create bottlenecks that reduce production efficiency... For the full abstract\, advisor and committee members please contact Sue Cunha (scunha@umassd.edu). Thank y ou!
Event page: https://ww w.umassd.edu/events/cms/mechanical-engineering-ms-project-presentation-by- mr-joshua-letizia.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T120000 LOCATION:SENG-110 (Materials Science Lab) -and- on ZOOM (for Zoom info, ple ase contact: scunha@umassd.edu) SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Mechanical Engineering MS Project Presentation by Mr . Joshua Letizia UID:41c3180e3b641c678e8275f0b7f99060@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:Committee Members:Dr. Firas Khatib, Computer and Information Sc ience Department, University of Massachusetts DartmouthDr. Christopher Hix enbaugh, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Date & Time: 05/14/2026 (Thursday), 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Eastern Time)Room: DION 311 Abstract: The second-g eneration Neural Networks have evolved in recent years, which have become more complex architectures such as spiking neural networks and quantum neu ral networks. However, the computational resource restriction of neural ne tworks on edge devices is still challenging. The thesis investigates stabl e learning and compute-resource efficiency on spiking neural networks and quantum neural networks. Other common qualities like high performance (e.g ., high accuracy, high reward), robustness, convergence, predictability, a nd fast running times were also considered in one or more studies. The con tributions of the thesis have several folds. The first study was using aud io data; one reason was to verify if a trend called temporal information c oncentration is present in the spiking neural network. We also gathered ot her findings, such as dataset complexity impacting Fisher Information, rel ated to temporal information dynamics. The second study on multimodal spik ing neural networks explored the effects of audio and image noise. The res ults show the multimodal model outperformed its unimodal counterparts, but certain configurations of image noises, audio noises, and noise levels pe rformed better than others. A third study on spiking neural networks revea led that temporal information concentration was not present in quantizatio n-aware-training variants, but an increase in Fisher Information was found in those variants. In one of the quantum neural network studies with rein forcement learning, we found faster initial convergence, longer decreasing in standard deviation and policy entropy, and a few correlations as well related to average reward and policy entropy. In the second study on quant um neural networks, structured pruning is found to sharpen decisiveness an d reveal bad pruning paths, while overparameterization can help exploratio n. All these studies try to address maintaining or improving stable learni ng, if the models are computation-resource efficient enough to be realisti c. All CIS and Data Science Graduate Students are encouraged to attend. Fo r further questions please contact Dr. Yuchou Chang at ychang1@umassd.edu\ nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/stable-and-compute-resource -efficient-learning-with-spiking-and-quantum-neural-networks-methods-and-i nsights.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Committee Members:
Dr. Fir
as Khatib\, Computer and Information Science Department\, University of Ma
ssachusetts Dartmouth
Dr. Christopher Hixenbaugh\, Naval Undersea War
fare Center
Date & Time: 05/14/2026 (Thursday)\, 10:30 AM - 11:30
AM (Eastern Time)
Room: DION 311
Abstract:
\nThe seco nd-generation Neural Networks have evolved in recent years\, which have be come more complex architectures such as spiking neural networks and quantu m neural networks. However\, the computational resource restriction of neu ral networks on edge devices is still challenging. The thesis investigates stable learning and compute-resource efficiency on spiking neural network s and quantum neural networks. Other common qualities like high performanc e (e.g.\, high accuracy\, high reward)\, robustness\, convergence\, predic tability\, and fast running times were also considered in one or more stud ies. The contributions of the thesis have several folds. The first study w as using audio data\; one reason was to verify if a trend called temporal information concentration is present in the spiking neural network. We als o gathered other findings\, such as dataset complexity impacting Fisher In formation\, related to temporal information dynamics. The second study on multimodal spiking neural networks explored the effects of audio and image noise. The results show the multimodal model outperformed its unimodal co unterparts\, but certain configurations of image noises\, audio noises\, a nd noise levels performed better than others. A third study on spiking neu ral networks revealed that temporal information concentration was not pres ent in quantization-aware-training variants\, but an increase in Fisher In formation was found in those variants. In one of the quantum neural networ k studies with reinforcement learning\, we found faster initial convergenc e\, longer decreasing in standard deviation and policy entropy\, and a few correlations as well related to average reward and policy entropy. In the second study on quantum neural networks\, structured pruning is found to sharpen decisiveness and reveal bad pruning paths\, while overparameteriza tion can help exploration. All these studies try to address maintaining or improving stable learning\, if the models are computation-resource effici ent enough to be realistic.
\nAll CIS and Data Science Graduate Stud ents are encouraged to attend.
\nFor further questions please contac t Dr. Yuchou Chang at ychang1@umassd.edu
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T113000 LOCATION:Dion 311 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Stable and Compute-Resource Efficient Learning with Spiking and Quantum Neural Networks: Methods and Insights UID:fd15454796e8d320e0fd7fba32eac640@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Lectures and Seminars,Thesis/Dissertation s DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Christopher Brigham, Ph.D. (Associate Teaching Profess or, BNG) Committee members: Milana Vasudev, Ph.D. and Tracie Ferreira, Ph. D. Abstract: The global accumulation of petroleum-based plastics, coupled with the vast underutilization of chitin-rich shellfish waste, underscores the need for microbial platforms capable of converting renewable waste st reams into biopolymers. Cupriavidus necator, a leading producer of polyh ydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), cannot naturally degrade chitin, whereas Serrat ia marcescens possesses a highly efficient chitinolytic system that inclu des genes ctb, chiR, chiB, chiW, and chiX. This project aims to engi neer C. necator with these S. marcescens genes to enable extracellu lar chitin depolymerization and subsequent assimilation of N-acetyl-D-gl ucosamine for PHA biosynthesis. The cloned construct will be evaluated fi rst in E. coli and subsequently in C. necator to assess functional secretion and chitinase activity using colloidal chitin agar, followed by growth and polymer production studies in liquid media, with PHB quantified through crotonic acid conversion and HPLC analysis. Together, these exp eriments establish a proof-of-concept system for transforming chitin wast e into biodegradable bioplastic precursors.\nEvent page: https://www.umass d.edu/events/cms/masters-thesis-defense-by-aiden-morgado.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Christopher Brigham\, Ph.D. (Associate Teaching Professor\, BNG)
\nCommittee members: Mila na Vasudev\, Ph.D. and Tracie Ferreira\, Ph.D.
\nAbstract: The globa l accumulation of petroleum-based plastics\, coupled with the vast underut ilization of chitin-rich shellfish waste\, underscores the need for microb ial platforms capable of converting renewable waste streams into biopolyme rs. Cupriavidus necator\, a leading producer of polyhydroxyalkanoates (P HAs)\, cannot naturally degrade chitin\, whereas Serratia marcescens po ssesses a highly efficient chitinolytic system that includes genes ctb\, chiR\, chiB\, chiW\, and chiX. This project aims to engineer C. ne cator with these S. marcescens genes to enable extracellular chitin d epolymerization and subsequent assimilation of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine fo r PHA biosynthesis. The cloned construct will be evaluated first in E. c oli and subsequently in C. necator to assess functional secretion an d chitinase activity using colloidal chitin agar\, followed by growth and polymer production studies in liquid media\, with PHB quantified through crotonic acid conversion and HPLC analysis. Together\, these experiments establish a proof-of-concept system for transforming chitin waste into b iodegradable bioplastic precursors.
Event page: https: //www.umassd.edu/events/cms/masters-thesis-defense-by-aiden-morgado.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T140000 LOCATION:Textile Building 219 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Masters thesis defense by Aiden Morgado UID:a290064afa841a310da9d4b34220050b@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Provost's Office DESCRIPTION:Please join the Faculty Senate for its May meeting where we dis cuss issues concerned with academic matters and matters relating to the in tellectual life of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The Faculty Senate meeting is open to the public; however, only elected Senators may v ote on issues presented to the Senate. For your information, If you misse d any of our meetings or want to refresh your memory, the Faculty Senate h as been recording its meetings, \nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/event s/cms/may-faculty-senate-meeting.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Please join the Faculty Senate for its May meeting where we discuss issues concerned with academic matter s and matters relating to the intellectual life of the University of Massa chusetts Dartmouth.
\nThe Faculty Senate meeting is open to the publ ic\; however\, only elected Senators may vote on issues presented to the S enate. For your information\,
\nIf you missed any of our meetings o r want to refresh your memory\, the Faculty Senate has been recording its meetings\,
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/may-facul ty-senate-meeting.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T170000 LOCATION:Grand Reading Room SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:May Faculty Senate Meeting UID:34ef649485bd7e743fd61e2bc6e770aa@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Center for Women, Gender, and Sexuality,Student Affairs DESCRIPTION:UMass Dartmouth is so proud of our queer scholars graduating th is May!Are you a queer student graduating this May? Join us for Lavender C elebration, an afternoon of queer joy!Cash bar.RSVP by May 1st2026 Lavende r Celebration Registration\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/ lavender-celebration.php\nEvent link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ ResponsePage.aspx?id=DWyNMi8PdkuTEJdiuhw-LVqPznbXmBhGis4ct0TlqZNUN1g3SDQ3W FJBVTkyQjcxUk0xMjdJNlVNQS4u&origin=QRCode X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:UMass Dartmouth is so proud of
our queer scholars graduating this May!
Are you a queer student
graduating this May? Join us for Lavender Celebration\, an afternoon of q
ueer joy!
Cash bar.
RSVP by May 1st
2026 Lavender Celebration Registration
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/lavender-celebration.php<
/a>
Event link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/Respo
nsePage.aspx?id=DWyNMi8PdkuTEJdiuhw-LVqPznbXmBhGis4ct0TlqZNUN1g3SDQ3WFJBVT
kyQjcxUk0xMjdJNlVNQS4u&\;origin=QRCode
The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much-anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing th e artwork of graduating Master of Fine Arts students from the College of V isual and Performing Arts. This year’s exhibition celebrates the work of graduates Alison Bergman\, Arghavan Booyeh\, Immer Cook\, Ali Masoumzadeh \, Allison Morones\, Maya August Palmer\, MITRAAVRS\, Sarah Valinezhad\, a nd Yaren Yıldız. The creative work of these graduating students includes painting\, drawing\, ceramics\, digital media\, and site-specific install ation.
\nThis year\, the exhibition takes place in three locations: Hatch Street Studios\, Art and Design Studios\, The New Bedford Art Museum . Each student exhibits different pieces of their work in each location. P lease join us for the second round of ArtTALKS on Thursday\, May 14th\, at 6 PM.
\nExhibition Dates: April 9 – May 14\, 2026
\nAHA! Night Reception with ArtTALKS: Thursday\, May 14 at 6 PM
\nNon-AHA! Night Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM\; free entrance wit h UMassD ID
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/e vents/cms/new-bedford-art-museum-mfa-thesis-exhibtion.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T200000 LOCATION:New Bedford Art Museum SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:New Bedford Art Museum MFA Thesis Exhibtion UID:460a6d8685dc7afd74b908d2d5733a96@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:College of Engineering,Graduate Studies,Thesis/Dissertations DESCRIPTION:BMEBT MS Thesis Defense by Abid Neron Date: May 15, 2026 Time: 11 AM Location: TEX 219 Title: Investigation of the OCY454-12H Cell Line a s an In Vitro Model for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Bone Dysfuncti on Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a globally prevalent metab olic disorder increasingly recognized for its detrimental effects on skele tal integrity. Patients with T2DM exhibit increased bone fragility, which results in a heightened risk of bone traumas, yet the underlying mechanism s remain poorly understood. Chronic hyperglycemia and the production of ad vanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are thought to play a critical role i n skeletal deterioration by activating the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) pathway, promoting inflammation and bone resorption. Despite this association, the cellular responses of osteocytes to varying glycemic conditions have not been fully characterized in vitro. This study investigates the OCY454-12H cell line, an osteocyte-like, murine-derived conditionally immortalized model with enhanced SOST expression, as an in v itro model for T2DM-associated bone dysfunction. Cells were exposed to var ying glucose concentrations for 10 days to model hyperglycemic conditions. Then, gene and protein expression levels of key biomarkers, SOST and RAGE , were quantified using qPCR and ELISA analyses. Significant glucose-depen dent increases in gene and protein expression were identified, with 22 mM and 34 mM glucose groups most closely matching biomarker profiles reported in T2DM-associated bone dysfunction in vivo. These findings provide preli minary support for the OCY454-12H cell line as a platform for investigatin g hyperglycemia-induced osteocyte dysfunction and establish candidate gluc ose concentrations for future in vitro T2DM bone models. Advisor: Dr. Lamy a Karim, Dept. of Bioengineering (lkarim@umassd.edu) Committee Members: Dr . Tracie Ferreira, Dept. of BioengineeringDr. Laura Hanzly, Dept. of Bioen gineering All BMEBT graduate students are encouraged to attend, and all in terested parties are invited.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/c ms/bmebt-ms-thesis-defense-by-abid-neron.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:BMEBT MS Thesis Defense by Abid Neron
\nDate: May 15\, 2026
\nTime: 11 AM
\nLocation: T EX 219
\nTitle: Investigation of the OCY454-12H Cell Line as an In V itro Model for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Bone Dysfunction
\n< p>Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a globally prevalent metabo lic disorder increasingly recognized for its detrimental effects on skelet al integrity. Patients with T2DM exhibit increased bone fragility\, which results in a heightened risk of bone traumas\, yet the underlying mechanis ms remain poorly understood. Chronic hyperglycemia and the production of a dvanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are thought to play a critical role in skeletal deterioration by activating the receptor for advanced glycatio n end-products (RAGE) pathway\, promoting inflammation and bone resorption . Despite this association\, the cellular responses of osteocytes to varyi ng glycemic conditions have not been fully characterized in vitro. This st udy investigates the OCY454-12H cell line\, an osteocyte-like\, murine-der ived conditionally immortalized model with enhanced SOST expression\, as a n in vitro model for T2DM-associated bone dysfunction. Cells were exposed to varying glucose concentrations for 10 days to model hyperglycemic condi tions. Then\, gene and protein expression levels of key biomarkers\, SOST and RAGE\, were quantified using qPCR and ELISA analyses. Significant gluc ose-dependent increases in gene and protein expression were identified\, w ith 22 mM and 34 mM glucose groups most closely matching biomarker profile s reported in T2DM-associated bone dysfunction in vivo. These findings pro vide preliminary support for the OCY454-12H cell line as a platform for in vestigating hyperglycemia-induced osteocyte dysfunction and establish cand idate glucose concentrations for future in vitro T2DM bone models.\nAdvisor: Dr. Lamya Karim\, Dept. of Bioengineering (lkarim@umassd.edu)
\nCommittee Members:
Dr. Tracie Ferreira\, Dept. of Bioengineering
Dr. Laura Hanzly\, D
ept. of Bioengineering
All BMEBT graduate students are encouraged to attend\, and all interested parties are invited.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/bmebt-ms-thesis-defense-by-abid- neron.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T120000 LOCATION:TEX 219 SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:BMEBT MS Thesis Defense by Abid Neron UID:34fd24a2799a4789d693ff7d150c8d31@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Black History 4 Seasons,Frederick Douglass Unity House,Student A ffairs DESCRIPTION:ALANA is a celebration of success for ALANA – African / Afric an American / Black; Latino / Latina / Hispanic; Asian / Pacific Islan der; Native American / Indigenous / First nation – students. This event culminates with the presentation of traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth gradu ation stoles. The Kente stole signifies students’ “rite of passage” and the commencing of their leadership in the world. Graduates will wear t he Kente stoles at their respective university graduations. This is a prou d moment for our students and their loved ones. We look forward to seeing the next class of students collect their stoles and proudly represent thei r excellence.\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/alana-celebra tion-and-kente-stole-presentation.php\nEvent link: https://www.umassd.edu/ events/alana/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:ALANA is a celebration of succe ss for ALANA – African / African American / Black\; Latino / Latina / Hispanic\; Asian / Pacific Islander\; Native American / Indigenous / Fir st nation – students. This event culminates with the presentation of tra ditional Ghanaian Kente cloth graduation stoles. The Kente stole signifies students’ “rite of passage” and the commencing of their leadership in the world. Graduates will wear the Kente stoles at their respective uni versity graduations. This is a proud moment for our students and their lov ed ones. We look forward to seeing the next class of students collect thei r stoles and proudly represent their excellence.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/alana-celebration-and-kent
e-stole-presentation.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.edu/events/alana/
Department of Estuarine and Oce an Sciences
\nPhD Dissertation Defense
\n"Waves and Vortices i
n the Ocean - From Theory to Practice"
By: Bailey Remy
Adviso
r:
Dr. Miles Sundermeyer (UMass Dartmouth)
Committee Members:
Dr. Geoffrey Cowles (UMass Dartmouth)\, Dr. Banafsheh Seyed-Aghazade
h (UMass Dartmouth)\, and Dr. Marie-Pascale Lelong (NorthWest Research Ass
ociates)
Monday May 18\, 2026
11:00 AM
SMAST East 101-10
3
836 S. Rodney French Blvd\, New Bedford
and via Zoom
A bstract:
\nInternal waves (IWs) are ubiquitous in the ocean and cont ribute significantly to the global ocean energy balance by cascading tidal and wind-driven energy to dissipative scales. Vortical motions (VMs)\, wh ich exist at scales similar to IWs\, carry potential vorticity (PV) and in fluence ocean circulation\, mixing\, and climate variability. Distinguishi ng these motions remains a fundamental challenge\, as nonlinear interactio ns in fully developed flows obscure their individual signatures. This diss ertation addresses two aspects of IWs and VMs in the ocean. Chapters 1 and 2 investigated mechanisms of energy exchange between IWs and VMs\, and th e physical signatures and associated dynamics of reduced stratification re gions in the ocean. Chapter 3 examined the use of IW and VM signatures to detect underwater wakes in realistic ocean environments.
\n\n< p>Chapter 1 examined energy exchange between IWs and VMs in the ocean\, fo cusing on the contrasting roles of linear and nonlinear flow components in shaping available potential vorticity (APV) fields. In numerical simulati ons initialized with a Garrett-Munk IW spectrum\, energy was rapidly proje cted onto the linear VM basis by nonlinear triad interactions. Idealized s imulations of a single linear IW\, a balanced vortex\, and an adjusting de nsity anomaly exposed limitations of the linear flow decomposition: Lagran gian particle tracking revealed that linear APV differed from total APV du e to nonlinear vortex stretching terms\, causing the linear decomposition to overestimate the PV-carrying component of flow. These results suggest t hat apparent rapid VM generation can sometimes reflect nonlinear artifacts rather than true PV modification.\n
Chapter 2 examined the prevalen ce and nature of reduced stratification regions in the ocean relative to I W and VM dynamics. Occupying between ~5% and 25% of the model domain\, suc h regions exhibited distinct morphological and dynamical signatures consis tent with linear theory. Regions of reduced stratification that projected onto linear VMs exhibited aspect ratios exceeding the canonical N0/f scal ing\, and horizontal scales exceeding the local Rossby deformation radius. Regions that projected onto linear IWs more closely follow theoretical wa ve scaling and propagation characteristics. Lagrangian particle tracking a nd spectral shear-to-strain ratios further distinguished propagating wave motions from materially conserved vortical motions. Additionally\, the gen eration of VM stratification anomalies was found to be energetically more consistent with prolonged mixing events (time scales longer than a buoyanc y period) than intense short-term mixing events. These findings confirm th at reduced stratification regions in the ocean can result from both intern al wave straining and persistent vortical motions\, and that certain inter actions between them are consistent with current dynamical understanding o f both phenomena.
\nBuilding on increased understanding of the relat ionship between IWs and VMs in the ocean\, Chapter 3 explored the generati on and evolution of IWs and VMs in the wake of a towed body\, and their ex ploitation for the purposes of wake detection. Numerical simulations initi alized using an idealized late wake approximation showed that the vortex s treet generated by the wake was readily detected via potential enstrophy e ven amid a strong background IW field. IWs radiated during buoyant collaps e of the wake were also readily detected among varying background conditio ns due to their highly coherent radiation pattern. Wake evolution depended on both nondimensional and dimensionful parameters associated with the wa ke\; vortex evolution time scales varied with Froude number\, while wave d etectability was primarily influenced by wake diameter modulating signal i ntensity. Overall\, these results suggest that\, when carefully considered \, both IW and VM signatures of submerged wakes can be readily detected un der a wide range of conditions even amid the “noisy” background intern al wave field of the ocean.
\nJoin Meeting
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/95380787170
N
ote: Meeting ID and passcode required- email contact to obtain.
Fo r additional information\, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu
Event page: https:/
/www.umassd.edu/events/cms/deos-phd-dissertation-defense-waves-and-vortice
s-in-the-ocean---from-theory-to-practice-by-bailey-remy.php
Event l
ink: https://umassd.zoom.us
/j/95380787170
Undergraduate & Graduat e Student Ceremony I
\nCressy Field at 10 a.m. on Thursday\ , May 21\, 2026 - Add t o Calendar.
\nFor students from the:
\nTentative Schedule:
\ n
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/
events/cms/undergraduate--graduate-student-commencement-ceremony-i.php
Event link: https://www
.umassd.edu/commencement/
Doctoral Ceremony
\nMain Auditorium at 4 p.m. on Thursday\, May 21\, 2026 - Add to Calendar.
\nTentative Sc hedule:
\nEvent page: https://www.umass
d.edu/events/cms/doctoral-commencement-ceremony.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.edu/commenc
ement/
Undergraduate & Graduat e Student Ceremony II
\nCressy Field at 10 a.m. on Friday\, May 22\, 2026 - Add to Calendar.
\nFor students from th e:
\nTentative Schedule:
\nEvent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/undergraduate--graduate-student-comm
encement-ceremony-ii.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.edu/commencement/
School of Law Ceremony< /strong>
\nMain Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on Friday\, May 22\, 2026 - Add to Calendar.
\nTentative Schedule:
\nEvent pa
ge: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/school-of-law-commencement
-ceremony.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.edu/law/commencement/
Hosted by the University of Ma ssachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology
\nS cientist Stories is a live\, participatory event that brings together ea rly career scientists at UMass Dartmouth and community members to share and hear stories about science\, the environment\, and our human connecti on to it. Featuring live storytellers telling short 5–8-minute stories in New Bedford\, MA\, this is a unique opportunity for storytellers to s hare their stories of hope with the community in a relatable\, entertaini ng and engaging way to a large and diverse audience.
\nStorytelle rs will be selected from a range of backgrounds and experiences and will r eceive support and 1 on 1 coaching to craft compelling\, heartfelt stori es —whether through moments of resilience in the face of environmental challenges\, surprising connections between people and place\, or personal journeys sparked by science. Whether funny\, poignant\, or powerful\, eac h story will shine a light on the personal connections of scientists to their science.
\nStorytellers may be students\, staff\, a nd early career faculty at UMass Dartmouth with a science-related story to tell. We define “science” very broadly\, and include social\, natur al\, physical\, and related sciences.
\nThe event will t
ake place at The First Unitarian Church in New Bedford\, located at 71 8th Street\, New Bedford\, MA. There will be street parking avail
able and the rear entrance is fully accessible.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/umass-dartmout h-scientist-stories-a-live-storytelling-event.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T210000 LOCATION:First Unitarian Church of New Bedford SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:UMass Dartmouth Scientist Stories: A Live Storytelli ng Event UID:5a3ce6050e8980a506feee7993eec032@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Training DESCRIPTION:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue an d Expense, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft F inance. Open to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu \nEvent page : https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financial-reporting-and-bud get-inquiry-training--.php\nEvent link: https://www.umassd.edu/peoplesoftf inance/training/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue and Expe nse\, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft Financ e.
\nOpen to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financi
al-reporting-and-budget-inquiry-training--.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.ed
u/peoplesoftfinance/training/
Open to Faculty and Staff.
Learn how to look up Budget Balances\, Revenue and Expense Det
ails\, Open Encumbrances and Transaction Detail using the Department Manag
ement dashboard for financials.
Please register. Email jschlesinger@umassd.edu to sign u p and receive location/zoom details.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/summit-financial-reporting-101.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260604T151500 LOCATION:Zoom SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Summit Financial Reporting 101 UID:821af8757f8917dd3ae8ce22e2ec148b@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Black History 4 Seasons DESCRIPTION:The NAACP New Bedford Chapter’s annual Freedom Fund Breakfast is a longstanding community tradition that honors local leaders, celebrat es civil rights advocacy, and raises funds to support scholarships and ong oing equity work across the region. The event brings together students, ed ucators, activists, and community partners for a morning of recognition, r eflection, and inspiration, highlighting award recipients whose service an d leadership advance justice and strengthen the New Bedford community.\nEv ent page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/naacp-new-bedford-freedom-fund -breakfast.php X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:The NAACP New Bedford Chapter ’s annual Freedom Fund Breakfast is a longstanding community tradition t hat honors local leaders\, celebrates civil rights advocacy\, and raises f unds to support scholarships and ongoing equity work across the region. Th e event brings together students\, educators\, activists\, and community p artners for a morning of recognition\, reflection\, and inspiration\, high lighting award recipients whose service and leadership advance justice and strengthen the New Bedford community.
Event page: ht tps://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/naacp-new-bedford-freedom-fund-breakfast.p hp
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260606T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260606T110000 LOCATION:Century House, Acushnet MA SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:NAACP New Bedford Freedom Fund Breakfast UID:5537aa8f6169124a183250b7a7277265@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT CATEGORIES:Training DESCRIPTION:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue an d Expense, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft F inance. Open to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu \nEvent page : https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financial-reporting-and-bud get-inquiry-training--.php\nEvent link: https://www.umassd.edu/peoplesoftf inance/training/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Learn how to look up budget balances and run monthly Revenue and Expe nse\, Open Encumbrance and Transaction Detail reports in PeopleSoft Financ e.
\nOpen to Faculty and Staff. Please register via email to receive zoom link and room details. email: jschlesinger@umassd.edu
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/peoplesoft-financi
al-reporting-and-budget-inquiry-training--.php
Event link: https://www.umassd.ed
u/peoplesoftfinance/training/
Open to Faculty and Staff.
Learn how to look up Budget Balances\, Revenue and Expense Det
ails\, Open Encumbrances and Transaction Detail using the Department Manag
ement dashboard for financials.
Please register. Email jschlesinger@umassd.edu to sign u p and receive location/zoom details.
Event page: https://www.umassd.edu/events/cms/summit-financial-reporting-101.php
DTSTAMP:20260426T200456 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260716T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260716T151500 LOCATION:Zoom SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Summit Financial Reporting 101 UID:8ac6d5f4eb9e4cdb6146de523f9339d4@www.umassd.edu END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR