Faculty Research Interests

My research primarily focuses on organized labor in America. This work has explored the history and function of AFL-CIO central labor councils. This historical work ultimately led to research on contemporary labor councils and a co-edited book that has become the authoritative text on the subject. It also resulted in a Political Power and Social Theory article on the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), the American Labor Party, and Third Party Politics in the United States.

It also resulted in an article on the Milwaukee County Labor Council, which is one of the 50 most-cited articles in the Labor Studies Journal. My most recent work explores innovative organizing strategies being employed by the Service Employees International Unions (SEIU).

• 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 focus is analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry is critical to all areas of science. As a result, my research group has worked on many diverse projects. Examples include analysis of chocolates for metals, fish for mercury content, teas for gallic acid, an antioxidant that has beneficial health effects the efficacy of prolonging the shelf life of perishables by various means of scavenging ethylene via photooxidation, insecticides used in pet flea and tick medicines, heavy metals in stratified soils, sulfite in wines, and the physico-chemical analysis of the life cycle of fluoropolymer precursors.

A variety of instruments are used to make these determinations. Quantitation is accomplished by analysis of standards. Students have the opportunity to give presentations at conferences and present posters at adjudicated local professional meetings or within Widener on Student Project Day.

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.