Faculty Research Interests

• Neurocognitive function in substance use disorders
• Healthcare service utilization in this population

My research interests focus on the intersection of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), with a particular emphasis on materials characterization and surface engineering. My work involves exploring the mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale, enhancing the precision and capabilities of 3D printing technologies, and developing innovative methodologies for improving manufacturing processes.

My research interests focus in the area of orthopedics, manual therapy, and clinical education.

My focus and research interest is in developing remote teaching models for the field of ultrasound and developing more generic applications of this tool.

My research activities focus on the design and fabrication of mechanical systems, including robotics, mechanisms, machine/human interaction, and rehabilitation machines.

• Service learning 
• Community engagement
• Medical science
• Global health

My research interests include implicit memory and memory improvement strategies.

I am involved in pedagogical research related to advanced-level undergraduate computer science courses, focusing on simulations and active learning strategies. I routinely attend conferences on computer science education and their affiliated workshops. 

My earlier research was in the area of programming language theory. It involved crafting formal specifications of program transformations and optimizations as well as the mathematical proofs verifying the safety and correctness of those specifications.  
 

My research focuses on the phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial communities across gradient-driven ecosystems, from soils to estuaries to the deep sea. In these environments, microbes drive major biogeochemical cycles. Yet our understanding of how microbes transform carbon and nutrient compounds, the taxa involved in these reactions, and the impact microbes have on ecosystem function remains poorly constrained. Using both field and laboratory experiments coupled with next-generation sequencing, my research examines the functional adaptations and shifts in population structure of microbial communities across physical, chemical, and biological gradients. By determining how and why microbial community structure, genomic potential, and gene expression change across environmental gradients, we can better predict how ecosystems and their resident communities will respond to environmental change. 

My current projects include assessment of microbial diversity in grassland soils of Northeastern PA as well as studying the microbial populations associated with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Lake Erie.

My research centers on psychology and the law. In particular, I am interested in jury decision-making, forensic assessments, and experiences of correctional personnel (primarily mental health professionals). I currently have many ongoing research projects in various stages of development. 

My research interests are focused on the development and application of state-of-the-art thermal-fluid simulation tools for complex configurations and mission-critical facilities. My current interest is in the area of the fluid-structure interactions in micro-scaled air and underwater vehicles. 

My research interests include numerical analysis and modeling and simulation dynamic and ballistic behavior of transparent and opaque ceramics; optimizing the properties of existing materials or the production of new materials with the aid of high energy fields (electric, electromagnetic, magnetic, acoustic); characterization of materials using various methods such as optical and electronic microscopy, nanohardness, and tensile testing

My research interest is gun violence and how the experience has been perceived by the individual. It is important to understand the initial perception of the experience and the ongoing impact of the event.

I research the intersections between children, parents, and the media. This research varies from studying children's television content to helping parents use media as teachable moments with their children.

My research interests center around the visualization of geographic space for any purpose. This area of research is called "geovisualization." I specialize in the geovisualization of natural habitats, engineered projects, subsurface geology, surface and ground water hydrology, geophysical data, and urban attributes. For example, I have recently been involved in modeling rainfall runoff streamflow characteristics for a local watershed while assisting a local community analyze the spatial distribution of crime. My research includes geovisualization for local projects, as well as international projects in Costa Rica, the Amazon jungle in Peru, and the Tibetan Plateau of China.

My clinical research interests relate to providing evidence to support occupational therapy interventions and provide effective, quality care to the clients we serve.

• Clinical supervision and mentorship in social work practice
• Impact of communication technology
•  Mindfulness and self-care
• Trauma awareness
• Social work values and ethics

My research interests include 19th- and 20th-century narrative works. I have published articles on works of literature from the Andean region and Mexico as well as on Latin American Jewish writers, Latin American globalization, and so-called narco-literature.

My research interests focus on the use of qualitative methods to examine the narratives of older adults. More specifically, I have been using narrative approaches to examine the oral histories of older adults in China and transgender older adults in the U.S. and Thailand. Past research has included an emphasis on grandparent caregivers of grandchildren; Soviet immigrant Jews, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, and Cambodians caring for their parents; older volunteers; and clinical use of behavior modification and older adults.

My research focuses on the diverse interface between plants and insects. Plant-insect interactions are incredibly diverse and can largely be divided into interactions where plants co-opt insects as pollen vectors (for plant reproduction) and interactions where insects utilize plants as food sources and brood sites. Frequently these two sets of interactions are interrelated. I find it important to consider (1) insect perception of plant cues such as scent, color, shape, and texture, and (2) the multiple contexts in which plant cues, especially scent, may be used by the insect community.

Specifically, I am interested in ecological (multi-trophic) interactions related to floral and vegetative scents and how plant-to-insect olfactory signals function in concert with visual and/or tactile plant cues.