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Open Access Theses and Dissertations

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About OATD.org

OATD.org aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions . OATD currently indexes 6,912,508 theses and dissertations.

About OATD (our FAQ) .

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We’re happy to present several data visualizations to give an overall sense of the OATD.org collection by county of publication, language, and field of study.

You may also want to consult these sites to search for other theses:

• Google Scholar
• NDLTD , the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. NDLTD provides information and a search engine for electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), whether they are open access or not.
• Proquest Theses and Dissertations (PQDT), a database of dissertations and theses, whether they were published electronically or in print, and mostly available for purchase. Access to PQDT may be limited; consult your local library for access information.

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EBSCO Open Dissertations

EBSCO Open Dissertations makes electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) more accessible to researchers worldwide. The free portal is designed to benefit universities and their students and make ETDs more discoverable. 

Increasing Discovery & Usage of ETD Research

EBSCO Open Dissertations is a collaboration between EBSCO and BiblioLabs to increase traffic and discoverability of ETD research. You can join the movement and add your theses and dissertations to the database, making them freely available to researchers everywhere while increasing traffic to your institutional repository. 

EBSCO Open Dissertations extends the work started in 2014, when EBSCO and the H.W. Wilson Foundation created American Doctoral Dissertations which contained indexing from the H.W. Wilson print publication, Doctoral Dissertations Accepted by American Universities, 1933-1955. In 2015, the H.W. Wilson Foundation agreed to support the expansion of the scope of the American Doctoral Dissertations database to include records for dissertations and theses from 1955 to the present.

How Does EBSCO Open Dissertations Work?

Your ETD metadata is harvested via OAI and integrated into EBSCO’s platform, where pointers send traffic to your IR.

EBSCO integrates this data into their current subscriber environments and makes the data available on the open web via opendissertations.org .

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Open Access Theses and Dissertations

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Dissertation Essentials

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Dissertation Resources

Completed dissertation examples.

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• NU Dissertations ProQuest - Review National University Dissertations & Theses.

Writing a dissertation is a serious and lengthy task, with so many steps to complete, revise, and perfect. The NU Dissertation Template provides a lot of helpful info, but students still often have many questions and need additional guidance.  Seeing completed examples helps a lot.  This guide will help you to access completed NU dissertations in the NU library to inspire and inform your own research and writing.

Accessing completed NU dissertations can help students with the following common issues:

• Finding examples/inspiration for methodology, focus, topic, and other “big-picture” concerns.
• Identifying specifics on length/depth/breadth of each section of the dissertation.
• Seeing examples of formatting in context, such as APA style headings.
• Understanding specific dissertation committee expectations.
• Finding new references on completed reference lists.
• Supporting your peers’ scholarly work by reading their dissertations and participating in the scholarly community.

It’s easy to locate completed NU dissertations in the NU Library!

• Log into NCUOne and click on the NU Library link  - https://resources.nu.edu
• Access the pull-down menu on left entitled “Research Resources” and click on “Find Dissertations”.
• Access the pull-down menu for Vendors/Providers in the top middle of the page and click on “ProQuest”.
• Click on ProQuest Dissertations & Theses @ Northcentral University .

Narrow your search

Once you have located the published NU dissertations, you can narrow your search, just like you would with any other library resource.  Try the following strategies to start:

• Keywords/terms that you are using in your own research.
• General area of focus (for example, “Special Education”).
• Methodological approach (for example, “Phenomenology”).
• Dates (Tip – Consider narrowing your search to only the past 5 years).
• Advisors (Dissertation Chairs).
• Committee members.
• References/citations you plan to use.
• Just like with any other library resource, you can perform an advanced search using a combination of these strategies.
• In addition to the NU dissertations, you may want to consider accessing non-NU dissertations via the general ProQuest link on the pull-down menu (see steps outlined above).  This can be helpful if your topic is extremely specific, if you are very far along in your work, and if you need to broaden your search.

Now that you have accessed the completed NU Dissertations in the NU Library, the possibilities to inspire and guide you in your own work are endless.  Be excited that one day soon, your own dissertation will be published in the NU library!

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Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD)

OATD.org provides open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 6,654,285 theses and dissertations.

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Description.

This page provides links to databases and websites to find dissertations. This includes links to general databases to find dissertations, databases focused on the humanities, foreign dissertations, dissertations on religion, and dissertations hosted by other universities.

General Databases

Humanities dissertations, foreign dissertations, religion dissertations, dissertations of universities, yale divinity library.

Science Dissertations

• Last Updated: Aug 22, 2023 5:35 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.yale.edu/dissertations

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Physical & Digital Collections

Theses & dissertations: home, access to theses and dissertations from other institutions and from the university of cambridge.

This guide provides information on searching for theses of Cambridge PhDs and for theses of UK universities and universities abroad. 

For information and guidance on depositing your thesis as a cambridge phd, visit the cambridge office of scholarly communication pages on theses here ., this guide gives essential information on how to obtain theses using the british library's ethos service. .

On the last weekend of October, the British Library became the victim of a major cyber-attack. Essential digital services including the BL catalogue, website and online learning resources went dark, with research services like the EThOS collection of more than 600,000 doctoral theses suddenly unavailable. The BL state that they anticipate restoring more services in the next few weeks, but disruption to certain services is now expected to persist for several months. For the latest news on the attack and information on the restoration of services, please follow the BL blog here:  Knowledge Matters blog  and access the LibGuide page here:  British Library Outage Update - Electronic Legal Deposit - LibGuides at University of Cambridge Subject Libraries

A full list of resources for searching theses online is provided by the Cambridge A-Z, available here .

University of Cambridge theses

Finding a cambridge phd thesis online via the institutional repository.

The University's institutional repository, Apollo , holds full-text digital versions of over 11,000 Cambridge PhD theses and is a rapidly growing collection deposited by Cambridge Ph.D. graduates. Theses in Apollo can be browsed via this link . More information on how to access theses by University of Cambridge students can be found on the access to Cambridge theses webpage.   The requirement for impending PhD graduates to deposit a digital version in order to graduate means the repository will be increasing at a rate of approximately 1,000 per year from this source.   About 200 theses are added annually through requests to make theses Open Access or via requests to digitize a thesis in printed format.

Locating and obtaining a copy of a Cambridge PhD thesis (not yet available via the repository)

Theses can be searched in iDiscover .  Guidance on searching for theses in iDiscover can be found here .   Requests for consultation of printed theses, not available online, should be made at the Manuscripts Reading Room (Email:  [email protected] Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333143).   Further information on the University Library's theses, dissertations and prize essays collections can be consulted at this link .

Researchers can order a copy of an unpublished thesis which was deposited in print form either through the Library’s  Digital Content Unit via the image request form , or, if the thesis has been digitised, it may be available in the Apollo repository. Copies of theses may be provided to researchers in accordance with the  law  and in a manner that is common across UK libraries.  The law allows us to provide whole copies of unpublished theses to individuals as long as they sign a declaration saying that it is for non-commercial research or private study.

How to make your thesis available online through Cambridge's institutional repository

Are you a Cambridge alumni and wish to make your Ph.D. thesis available online? You can do this by depositing it in Apollo the University's institutional repository. Click here for further information on how to proceed.    Current Ph.D students at the University of Cambridge can find further information about the requirements to deposit theses on the Office of Scholarly Communication theses webpages.

UK Theses and Dissertations

Electronic copies of Ph.D. theses submitted at over 100 UK universities are obtainable from EThOS , a service set up to provide access to all theses from participating institutions. It achieves this by harvesting e-theses from Institutional Repositories and by digitising print theses as they are ordered by researchers using the system. Over 250,000 theses are already available in this way. Please note that it does not supply theses submitted at the universities of Cambridge or Oxford although they are listed on EThOS.

Registration with EThOS is not required to search for a thesis but is necessary to download or order one unless it is stored in the university repository rather than the British Library (in which case a link to the repository will be displayed). Many theses are available without charge on an Open Access basis but in all other cases, if you are requesting a thesis that has not yet been digitised you will be asked to meet the cost. Once a thesis has been digitised it is available for free download thereafter.

When you order a thesis it will either be immediately available for download or writing to hard copy or it will need to be digitised. If you order a thesis for digitisation, the system will manage the process and you will be informed when the thesis is available for download/preparation to hard copy.

See the Search results section of the  help page for full information on interpreting search results in EThOS.

EThOS is managed by the British Library and can be found at http://ethos.bl.uk . For more information see About EThOS .

World-wide (incl. UK) theses and dissertations

Electronic versions of non-UK theses may be available from the institution at which they were submitted, sometimes on an open access basis from the institutional repository. A good starting point for discovering freely available electronic theses and dissertations beyond the UK is the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) , which facilitates searching across institutions. Information can also usually be found on the library web pages of the relevant institution.

The DART Europe etheses portal lists several thousand full-text theses from a group of European universities.

The University Library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses  (PQDT) database which from August 31 2023 is accessed on the Web of Science platform.  To search this index select it from the Web of Science "Search in" drop-down list of databases (available on the Documents tab on WoS home page)

PQDT includes 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations, representing 700 leading academic institutions worldwide from 1861 to the present day. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full text coverage for older graduate works. Each dissertation published since July 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The University Library only subscribes to the abstracting & indexing version of the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database and NOT the full text version.  A fee is payable for ordering a dissertation from this source.   To obtain the full text of a dissertation as a downloadable PDF you can submit your request via the University Library Inter-Library Loans department (see contact details below). NB this service is only available to full and current members of the University of Cambridge.

Alternatively you can pay yourself for the dissertation PDF on the PQDT platform. Link from Web of Science record display of any thesis to PQDT by clicking on "View Details on ProQuest".  On the "Preview" page you will see an option "Order a copy" top right.  This will allow you to order your own copy from ProQuest directly.

Dissertations and theses submitted at non-UK universities may also be requested on Inter-Library Loan through the Inter-Library Loans department (01223 333039 or 333080, [email protected] )

• Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023 9:47 AM
• URL: https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/theses

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Harvard University Theses, Dissertations, and Prize Papers

The Harvard University Archives ’ collection of theses, dissertations, and prize papers document the wide range of academic research undertaken by Harvard students over the course of the University’s history.

Beyond their value as pieces of original research, these collections document the history of American higher education, chronicling both the growth of Harvard as a major research institution as well as the development of numerous academic fields. They are also an important source of biographical information, offering insight into the academic careers of the authors.

Spanning from the ‘theses and quaestiones’ of the 17th and 18th centuries to the current yearly output of student research, they include both the first Harvard Ph.D. dissertation (by William Byerly, Ph.D . 1873) and the dissertation of the first woman to earn a doctorate from Harvard ( Lorna Myrtle Hodgkinson , Ed.D. 1922).

Other highlights include:

• The collection of Mathematical theses, 1782-1839
• The 1895 Ph.D. dissertation of W.E.B. Du Bois, The suppression of the African slave trade in the United States, 1638-1871
• Ph.D. dissertations of astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (Ph.D. 1925) and physicist John Hasbrouck Van Vleck (Ph.D. 1922)
• Undergraduate honors theses of novelist John Updike (A.B. 1954), filmmaker Terrence Malick (A.B. 1966),  and U.S. poet laureate Tracy Smith (A.B. 1994)
• Undergraduate prize papers and dissertations of philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson (A.B. 1821), George Santayana (Ph.D. 1889), and W.V. Quine (Ph.D. 1932)
• Undergraduate honors theses of U.S. President John F. Kennedy (A.B. 1940) and Chief Justice John Roberts (A.B. 1976)

What does a prize-winning thesis look like?

If you're a Harvard undergraduate writing your own thesis, it can be helpful to review recent prize-winning theses. The Harvard University Archives has made available for digital lending all of the Thomas Hoopes Prize winners from the 2019-2021 academic years.

Accessing These Materials

How to access materials at the Harvard University Archives

How to find and request dissertations, in person or virtually

How to find and request undergraduate honors theses

How to find and request Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize papers

How to find and request Bowdoin Prize papers

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Related Collections

Harvard faculty personal and professional archives, harvard student life collections: arts, sports, politics and social life, access materials at the harvard university archives.

Theses and Dissertations

Check Cornell’s library catalog , which lists the dissertations available in our library collection.

The print thesis collection in Uris Library is currently shelved on Level 3B before the Q to QA regular-sized volumes. Check with the library staff for the thesis shelving locations in other libraries (Mann, Catherwood, Fine Arts, etc.).

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses

According to ProQuest, coverage begins with 1637. With more than 2.4 million entries,  ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global  is the starting point for finding citations to doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. Dissertations published from 1980 forward include 350-word abstracts written by the author. Master’s theses published from 1988 forward include 150-word abstracts. UMI also offers over 1.8 million titles for purchase in microfilm or paper formats. The full text of more than 930,000 are available in PDF format for immediate free download. Use  Interlibrary Loan  for the titles not available as full text online.

Foreign Dissertations at the Center for Research Libraries

To search for titles and verify holdings of dissertations at the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), use the CRL catalog . CRL seeks to provide comprehensive access to doctoral dissertations submitted to institutions outside the U. S. and Canada (currently more than 750,000 titles). One hundred European universities maintain exchange or deposit agreements with CRL. Russian dissertation abstracts in the social sciences are obtained on microfiche from INION.  More detailed information about CRL’s dissertation holdings .

Please see our resource guide on dissertations and theses for additional resources and support.

• Library databases
• Library website

Publications: Dissertations & Theses

Find dissertations & theses.

• Dissertations & Theses @ Walden University The database contains full text of dissertations and theses written by Walden students.
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global The Dissertations and Theses database gives you full text access to over 3 million dissertations and theses from schools and universities around the world, including Walden dissertations. You can choose to search either all the dissertations and theses, or just those created at Walden.

Find dissertations by topic, degree, or chair

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ETD -- Doctoral Dissertations

Permanent uri for this collection.

For information about submitting electronic theses and dissertations, please see the ETD information page .

Recent Submissions

• No Thumbnail Available Item Investigating the Impact of Confinement on Collectively Migrating Cancer Cells ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-29 ) Desta, Habben Ellena ; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos ; Mao, Hai-Quan ; Wirtz, Denis ; Camley, Brian Show more Cancer metastasis is responsible for over 90% of all cancer-related deaths. The metastatic cascade is a multifaceted and complex biological process in which tumor cells acquire phenotypic changes enabling them to migrate from a primary tumor and traverse diverse physiological hurdles to form new metastases in distant tissues and organs. Classical depictions of the metastatic cascade portray single tumor cells departing from a primary tumor and embarking on an arduous journey to form new metastatic colonies. While this depiction is partly true, it fails to consider the contribution of collectively migrating circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters in tumor invasion, progression, and metastasis. Collectively migrating CTC clusters have been detected in the blood of lung cancer patients, have demonstrated increased resistance to chemotherapeutics, and exhibit a high correlation to poor patient prognosis, thereby suggesting the critical contribution of collective migration in tumor cell dissemination and metastatic spread. In vivo, metastatic cancer cells must travel through 3-dimensional (3D) fiber-, pore-, and channel-like tracks to form metastases, and these 3D tracks can range from a highly confining 3 m in width to a less confining 30 m in width, and between 100 m and 600 m in length. To recapitulate this environment for in vitro studies, we utilized bioengineering principles and a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic system equipped with an array of confining microchannel through which cells migrate. Using this system, we can directly observe and probe the mechanisms by which cancer cells migrate collectively in confining spaces. Our findings suggest a mechanism whereby confinement of collectively migrating tumor cells leads to elevated RhoA activity and myosin IIA (MIIA) contractility resulting in leader cell dissociations from collectively migrating tumor cell strands. Furthermore, our studies indicate that nuclear dynamics are tightly implicated in this process. Collective cell migration into confining microchannels promotes linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex-facilitated leader cell nuclear area expansion. This increase in leader cell nuclear area triggers the cPLA2 signaling pathway promoting downstream RhoA activity, myosin II contractility, and leader cell dissociations from collective strands. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Microfluidics Meets Personalized Medicine: Unlocking Secrets in Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-28 ) Ifemembi, Brent ; Mao, Hai-Quan ; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos ; Kokkoli, Efie ; Sofou, Stavroula ; Martin, Stuart Show more This research addresses the critical need to predict the spread of localized cancer, particularly in breast cancer and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), where metastasis and invasion drastically reduces survival rates. We developed a microfluidic assay (MAqCI) to quantify highly migratory cells and their proliferation state, predicting metastatic and invasive potential accurately. Using this assay, we identified 17 upregulated genes common in breast cancer and GBM patients, which contribute to tumorigenesis. We evaluated the efficacy of antimetastatic drugs targeting these genes and extended the prognostic utility of MAqCI to clinical tumor models, including patient-derived xenografts and fresh tumor samples. Collaborating with institutions like the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, we conducted prospective prognostic studies to correctly predict patient survival times and evaluate patient responses to chemotherapy and FDA-approved drugs. Our work aims to develop personalized therapies and improve outcomes for patients with metastatic and highly invasive cancer. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item RECONSTRUCTING BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER FUNCTION IN RETINOPATHY ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-27 ) Lin, Ying-Yu ; Duh, Elia ; Gerecht, Sharon ; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos ; Kay, Jeremy ; Jeong , Sangmoo Show more Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication found in patients with diabetes mellitus. Inner blood retinal barrier (iBRB) breakdown, which leads to a decreased blood supply to the retina, is a hallmark of DR. However, the pathogenesis of DR and the molecular mechanisms that govern iBRB breakdown remain unclear. In this thesis, our emphasis is on unraveling two pivotal events contributing to iBRB breakdown: (1) the disruption in endothelial-pericyte interactions and (2) endothelial cell dysfunction. First, we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate isogenic endothelial cells (iECs) and pericytes (iPericytes), aiming to investigate the loss of cellular communication between these two cell types in DR. We identified VEGFR2 pY951 as a crucial signaling pathway in pericyte-modulated vascular stabilization. Notably, we found that direct endothelial-pericyte contact is essential for downregulating VEGR2 pY951. The inhibition of VEGFR2 pY951 enhances iPericyte recruitment to iECs and 3D vascular networks. We observed increased pericyte engagement, enhanced vascularization, and tissue growth in the retina of both mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy and the developing healthy mouse retina. Next, we demonstrated that by modulating Norrin signaling pathways we could obtain retinal-specific endothelial cells (iRECs) and pericytes from hiPSCs. These hiPSC-derived cells exhibited phenotypic and functional similarities to human retina endothelial cells and pericytes. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Three Essays on Energy Markets ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-27 ) Yue, Haiming ; Geman, Hélyette ; Miller, John ; Hanke, Steve ; Hobbs, Benjamin ; Spady, Richard Show more In this dissertation, we focus on a traditional asset in the commodity and energy market, the crude oil refinery, and a relatively new asset, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). In addition, electricity and renewable energy sources are studied. In Chapter 2, our objective is to find the optimal transitioning time for the crude oil refinery into a greener business - the renewable diesel facility. Under the current global environment policies, a significant amount of fossil fuel reserves like crude oil will remain underground to reduce pollution. As a result, we believe crude oil refineries, which use crude oil as feedstock, will be stranded or restructured in the future. We employ a two-factor stochastic differential equation system to model the commodity price (Schwartz and Smith (2000) and Mirantes, Población, and Serna (2012)) and a novel stochastic model that incorporates the information of global temperature for carbon credits. Kalman filter is used to calibrate all model parameters. Furthermore, a new Least Squares Monte Carlo (LSMC) framework is designed specifically for our problem. Various regression techniques, such as OLS, supervised learning, and deep learning, are used to approximate the conditional expectations for the LSMC. In Chapter 3, we continue the previous study by Geman and Ma (2023) on the problem of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and flexibility options, with a focus on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the state of Texas. We propose different types of options that can be used for various flexibility-acquiring purposes. We design time series models for energy consumption, temperature, and electricity spot price. Options are priced by the Monte Carlo method and are further validated by our evaluation metrics, such as consistency, sensitivity, and reliability. Lastly, we apply the clustering method with our model-based features to divide thousands of HVACs into different fleets or groups and potentially rank them based on their overall performance. In Chapter 4, we aim to analyze the renewable generation in ERCOT and perform an empirical study of the influence of renewable energy sources (RES) on the electricity spot price. Our defined Renewable Penetration Index shows a significant increase in the use of wind and solar in Texas over the last four years. To evaluate the impact of RES on the electricity spot price, we apply different statistical methods to analyze their linear relationship, quantile relationship, and volatility regime-switching relationship. Our finding shows high renewable penetration might increase the volatility of electricity spot price and bring a statistically significant negative impact on the price. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item CYTOPLASMIC ACCUMULATION AND PLASMA MEMBRANE ASSOCIATION OF ANILLIN AND ECT2 PROMOTE CONFINED MIGRATION AND INVASION ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-27 ) Tran, Avery Thu ; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos ; Sun, Sean ; Wirtz, Denis ; Kokkoli, Efie ; Gu, Luo Show more Cells migrating in confinement experience mechanical challenges whose consequences on cell migration machinery remain only partially understood. Here, we demonstrate that a pool of the cytokinesis regulatory protein anillin is retained during interphase in the cytoplasm of different cell types. Confinement induces recruitment of cytoplasmic anillin to plasma membrane at the poles of migrating cells, which is further enhanced upon nuclear envelope (NE) rupture(s). Rupture events also enable the cytoplasmic egress of predominantly nuclear RhoGEF Ect2. Anillin and Ect2 redistributions scale with microenvironmental stiffness and confinement, and are observed in confined cells in vitro and in invading tumor cells in vivo. Anillin, which binds actomyosin at the cell poles, and Ect2, which activates RhoA, cooperate additively to promote myosin II contractility, and promote efficient invasion and extravasation. Overall, our work provides a mechanistic understanding of how cytokinesis regulators mediate RhoA/ROCK/myosin II-dependent mechanoadaptation during confined migration and invasive cancer progression. In addition to mesenchymal of bleb-based migration, cells can utilize a third migration mode in confing channel, which used water intake at the cell front and water extrusion at the cell rear to propel the cell forward, called osmotic engine migration (OEM). This water influx and efflux is facilitated by aquaporins and Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1) at the leading edge and volume-regulated anion channel LRRC8A (SWELL1) at the trailing edge. Through mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation, we discovered a novel interaction between SWELL1 and calponin-2, a mechanosensitive myosin regulator and actin stabilizer. Show more

• No Thumbnail Available Item Mechanical properties of rodent brains and neural cell response in brain aging and Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-22 ) Ding, Supeng ; Gu, Luo ; Bergles, Dwight E ; Xu, Jinchong ; Mao, Haiquan ; Lin, Dingchang Show more Mechanical properties of mammalian brains have been studied to understand brain aging and diagnose brain diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease. On cellular level, mechanical properties are involved in the mechanism of regulating cellular behaviors by cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction in neural cells. However, existing studies are limited by their focus solely on elasticity, the use of mechanical characterization techniques that are not accurate or suitable for viscoelastic living tissues, and a lack of comprehensive analysis of the relationship between mechanical properties and biological processes. This dissertation examines the elasticity, viscoelasticity, and plasticity of rodent brains as well as neural cell responses in brain aging and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease, using both bulk and localized mechanical tests. It also studies regulation of mechanical properties on neural cell functions related to aging and Alzheimer's Disease pathogenesis, including neural progenitor stem cell (NPSC) differentiation, and microglia and astrocyte recruitment. After a brief introduction of the importance of mechanical properties of mammal brains on both tissue and cellular levels, and the limitations in the existing research, this dissertation discusses three main projects. Chapter 2 explores the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on the elasticity of mouse brains. Stiffening of the entire brain, the isocortex region, and the CA1 region of the hippocampus was observed in Alzheimer's Disease mice at 6-month- and 12-month-old, but not at 1-month-old, which aligns with the progression of Alzheimer's Disease pathogenesis. This stiffening is associated with symptoms and pathological characteristics of Alzheimer's Disease, including decreased cognition, accumulation of amyloid β, and the recruitment of glial cells. Chapter 3 documents change in brain plasticity and local plasticity in the hippocampus of aging mice, another critical mechanical property that has been scarcely studied before. Viscoelastic recovery and elastic extension were also studied. Chapter 4 discusses how matrix viscoelasticity regulates the stemness maintenance and differentiation of neural progenitor stem cells, including differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Mechanotransduction studies on integrin biding, actomyosin contractility, actin polymerization and Piezo1 ion channel were performed. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Subsurface Flow and Transport Processes with Applications to Methane Variations on Mars ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-22 ) Ortiz, John Philip ; Rajaram, Harihar ; Stauffer, Philip H ; Lewis, Kevin W ; Toigo, Anthony D ; Shrestha, Shilva Show more Ground-based measurements of methane, a potential biosignature, in the atmosphere of Mars indicate that its abundance fluctuates over seasonal and sub-diurnal time scales. To date, both the source of methane on Mars and the mechanism for transmission from the subsurface to the atmosphere are not well understood, and the relative paucity of reliable measurements make it challenging to constrain the time scales of the observed methane variations. The majority of research in this area employs sophisticated global atmospheric transport and mixing models to interpret methane signatures, whereas the subsurface processes have generally been interrogated using relatively simplistic models that neglect potentially critical aspects of subsurface transport. Here I address the subsurface transport of methane on Mars using models of fractured-rock porous media gas flow and tracer transport in order to better understand the processes responsible for delivering methane from underground to the atmosphere. First, I present a gas flow and transport model to simulate methane transport from depths of 200 m to the surface of Mars driven by the barometric-pressure pumping mechanism. I determined that Mars’ atmospheric pressure fluctuations are sufficiently strong to drive significant fluxes of methane into the atmosphere from deep underground, and that the seasonality of the surface fluxes is reasonably consistent with the observed abundance variations. Next, I investigate sub-diurnal methane abundance variations to identify strategic atmospheric sampling times for the MSL Curiosity rover using a coupled subsurface-atmosphere model that predicts hourly methane abundances in northern summer. The analysis identifies two time windows not previously sampled that have high potential to constrain the apparent mid-day drop in methane abundance and modest potential to support the influence of a barometric pumping mechanism on Mars’ methane variations. Lastly, I perform a fundamental study of gas transport processes that combines laboratory experimentation and two-site adsorptive-diffusive modeling to investigate gas transport in zeolitic rock at varying degrees of saturation, which has implications for underground nuclear explosion monitoring as well as episodic gas release from hypothesized zeolitic martian methane reservoirs. I show that at lower saturations, adding water content preferentially fills zeolite pores which greatly reduces their adsorptive capacity, thereby increasing the rate of transport. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item ADVANCES IN MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES AND MICROMECHANICAL MODELING FOR GRANULAR MEDIA ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-22 ) Gupta, Adyota ; Hurley, Ryan ; Ramesh, KT ; Kamrin, Ken Show more Granular materials play an important role in a diverse set of applications, ranging from manufacturing to defense. Under compression, these materials exhibit highly heterogeneous kinematics and stresses. Their complex microstructures, stemming from diverse particle shapes, morphologies, and packings, pose challenges for predicting macroscopic behavior accurately. In this study, we investigate the influence of microstructure on macroscopic response under different loading conditions. We first investigate granular microstructure under high-strain rate loading. A crucial aspect of this investigation involves quantifying the evolution of the 3D particle dynamics. Solving for the full, time-resolved particle positions can enable the identification of highly stressed regions, areas of increased plasticity, and pore collapse. To achieve this, we developed a ``quasi digital volume correlation'' approach to capture the complete 3D kinematics of granular materials undergoing high-strain rate loading. Using this tool, we explore the effects of particle morphology and packing on the heterogeneity of particle kinematics. The results provide insights into dynamic processes at the particle scale and will help inform continuum models. We then investigate the behavior of complex granular microstructures subjected to quasi-static, small-strain loading. Under compression, these complex microstructures allow for the formation of force chains, in which columns of highly-loaded particles are supported by clusters of minimally-loaded particles. Understanding the interactions between these networks is important for better predicting macroscopic response. We propose a micromechanics model that explicitly considers both force chain structure and mesoscale interactions. This model connects micro and mesoscale phenomena to the continuum response. We finally investigate the effects of evolving granular microstructures under quasi-static, steady-state shear loading. Under steady-state shear, granular materials experience periodic stress build-up and release at the continuum scale. To further understand this behavior, we analyze the evolution of distinct contact networks, tracking the flow of energy through them. We investigate the interplay between potential energy and shear stress and its role in driving system instabilities. Ultimately, linking the microstructural evolution with global stress fluctuations can enable a better understanding and prediction of local and global instabilities. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item A THERANOSTIC APPROACH TOWARDS PROGRAMMED DEATH-LIGAND 1 (PD-L1) ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-28 ) Mishra, Akhilesh ; Bhujwalla, Zaver M ; Nimmagadda, Sridhar ; Spangler, Jamie B ; Sofou, Stavroula ; Hobbs, Robert F Show more Cancer is a highly heterogenous and complex disease. Recent advancements in understanding cancer biology have led to development of new therapies. On the forefront of new therapies is immunotherapy which helps the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer. Programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) is a crucial immune checkpoint marker that inhibits anti-tumor response by engaging with its ligand, PD-1 on cytotoxic T cells. Targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis remains avidly explored avenue clinically, however, a substantial subset of patients remains unresponsive or develop resistance. Given the intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity seen with PD-L1, accurate quantification is key to identify patients most likely to respond to PD-(L)1 targeted therapies and guiding such therapies. Molecular imaging allows non-invasive real-time mapping of its target at the whole-body level. To allow precise quantification of PD-L1, we developed, [18F]DK222, a peptide-based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent. [18F]DK222 accurately measures the varying levels of PD-L1 expression across different types of tumors and changes induced by therapy. To make a versatile and clinically relevant theranostic agent, DK223, we modified DK222 to contain a chelator suitable for gallium-68 (diagnostic) and lutetium-177 (therapy) labeling. DK223 was designed for imaging and molecular radiotherapy (MRT) of PD-L1+ tumors, which represents a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. The diagnostic arm, [68Ga]DK223, successfully detected PD-L1 expression in various cancer cell lines and xenografts, with uptake strongly correlating with PD-L1 levels. Owing to fast specific accumulation of [68Ga]DK223 in PD-L1+ lesions, it is possible to repeatedly quantify PD-L1 expression. This is particularly useful when quantifying dynamic nature of PD-L1 for patients undergoing immunotherapy. The therapeutic counterpart [177Lu]DK223 displayed potent cytotoxicity in vitro, and in vivo studies demonstrated tumor growth inhibition, particularly with fractionated [177Lu]DK223 doses. MRT with [177Lu]DK223 also increased antigen presentation via MHC-I upregulation and modulated the tumor microenvironment by reducing immunosuppressive players such as LAG-3+ immune cells. Notably, combining [177Lu]DK223 with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy showed enhanced responses, with some mice showing complete remission, suggesting a potential combination strategy for aPD-1 non-responders. This theranostic approach holds promise for personalized, image-guided radiotherapy of PD-L1-positive tumors, potentially overcoming drug resistance often seen immunotherapies. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item NANOMEDICINE BASED APPROACHES FOR TREATING MUCOSAL CONDITIONS ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-14 ) Shapiro, Rachel L ; Ensign, Laura M ; Segars, James ; Cui, Honggang ; Kokkoli, Efie Show more Local drug delivery is often preferred over systemic delivery due to a decrease in off-target effects and increase in tissue targeting. Vaginal drug delivery systems, in particular, are often preferred for treating a variety of diseases and conditions of the female reproductive tract (FRT). However, there are many anatomical and biological barriers to effective treatment via the vaginal route. Further, biocompatibility with the local tissue and microbial microenvironment is desired. Here, we investigate the use of biocompatible drug delivery vehicles for improving vaginal and mucosal drug delivery. Current vaginal products have drawbacks, including spontaneous ejection of drug-eluting rings and unpleasant discharge from vaginal creams. Here, we describe the development and characterization of a hypotonic, gel-forming, Pluronic-based delivery system for vaginal drug administration. The hypotonic, gel-forming formulation was found to form a thin, uniform gel layer along the vaginal epithelium in mice, in contrast to the rapidly forming conventional gelling formulation containing polymer above the CGC. When this vehicle was formulated in combination with a progesterone nanosuspension (ProGel), equivalent efficacy was observed in the prevention of chemically induced preterm birth (PTB) compared to commercial Crinone® vaginal cream. Further, ProGel showed marked benefits in reducing unpleasant discharge, reducing product-related toxicity, and improving compatibility with vaginal bacteria in vitro. Estradiol hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms of post-menopausal vaginal atrophy. We describe the development and characterization of a mucoinert estradiol nanosuspension (NS) formulation for improved vaginal estradiol delivery. We compare the pharmacokinetics to the clinical comparator vaginal cream (Estrace) and demonstrate increased delivery of estradiol to the vaginal tissue. We utilized ovariectomized (OVX) mice as a murine model of post-menopausal vaginal atrophy and demonstrated increased delivery of estradiol to vaginal tissue and equivalent efficacy in vaginal re-epithelialization when dosed with either the estradiol NS or Estrace cream. Further, we demonstrate compatibility of the estradiol NS with vaginal bacteria in vitro. Additionally, we formulated and utilized a sulconazole nanosuspension in a patient-like swine model of bowel strictures to prevent further fibrosis. Nanosuspensions pose a viable option for biocompatible drug delivery to and through mucosal tissues. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Critical behavior of local chemical order in a multi-principal element alloy ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-25 ) Gao, Qingyang ; Hemker, Kevin ; Chen, Mingwei ; El-Awady, Jaafar ; Sheng, Howard ; Hall, A. Shoji ; Oses, Corey Show more Chemical short-range order (CSRO) in multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) constitutes a focal point of current scientific discourse in the metallic materials community. Despite its acknowledged importance, it remains challenging to characterize the local chemical heterogeneity, especially in a quantitative manner, to unveil the origin of the chemical instability and its influence on properties of MPEAs. In this thesis, we develop a quantitative methodology that can analyze the degree of CSRO and concurrently depict corresponding atomic configurations. Using an equiatomic CoCrNi MPEA as a model system, we illustrated the evolutions of CSRO and local atomic configurations with annealing temperatures based on hybrid molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. Our quantitative analysis reveals a power-law divergence of CSRO at a critical temperature, unveiling the critical behavior of chemical instability within the MPEA. This phenomenon arises from the intricate interplay between entropy-dominant disorder and enthalpy-driven order. To further illuminate the nuanced interplay between entropy and enthalpy, we extend our investigations to non-equiatomic CoCrNi MPEAs. This study not only contributes a nuanced understanding of CSRO evolution in complex alloys but also establishes a novel avenue for portraying the intricacies of local chemical order in MPEAs. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item Multiplexed high-resolution melt for broad-range infectious pathogens identification ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-21 ) Lee, Pei-Wei ; Wang, Tza-Huei ; Carroll, Karen C. ; Hur, Claire ; Barman, Ishan ; Zhang, Sean X. Show more Toward combating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, there is a pressing demand for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately identify the causative even within complex and polymicrobial samples. Digital PCR integrated with high-resolution melt analysis (dPCR-HRM) emerges as a promising method for extensive and rapid bacterial identification. However, gaps in our comprehension of the design principles of dPCR-HRM, along with the need to expand the spectrum of identifiable species — including cross-kingdom detection — as well as enhance identification precision, are challenges that must be addressed to refine detection capabilities and improve outcomes in clinical diagnostics. In this thesis, we tackle existing diagnostic challenges by systematically studying dPCR-HRM platforms. Our systematic exploration begins with the introduction of a novel design development workflow for dPCR-HRM, which utilizes computational in silico HRM analysis to pre-screen PCR primers. This approach aims to select primers that yield digital melt curves with desirable traits: high interspecies variability and low intraspecies variability, thereby enhancing the accuracy of bacterial identification. Through this new development workflow, we also report a new digital PCR-HRM assay with improved bacteria identification accuracy (Chapter 2). To further improve accuracy and address device-related temperature variances, we've implemented an oligonucleotide-based temperature calibration method that significantly refines bacterial detection accuracy (Chapter 3). Progressing further, we report a novel strategy, the duplexed dPCR-HRM for cross-kingdom detection. This innovative assay employs two sets of universal primers for the simultaneous detection of both bacterial and fungal species, effectively overcoming the limitations inherent in traditional diagnostic methods when dealing with co-infection samples (Chapter 4). Moreover, we advance our exploration by introducing a novel multiplexed dPCR-HRM assay for broad-spectrum detection. This strategy utilizes multiple sets of universal primers targeting various regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, which diversifies the digital melt profiles of bacterial species. This diversification significantly enriches the assay's capability for broad-spectrum pathogen identification. Enhancing this multiplexed approach, we incorporate a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for deep learning analysis, ensuring precise identification of pathogens (Chapter 5). Collectively, these advancements mark a significant contribution to diagnostic methodologies, providing a comprehensive, efficient, and reliable framework for the prompt management of infectious diseases. Show more
• No Thumbnail Available Item THE IMPACT OF 3D EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX VISCOELASTICITY ON NEURAL PROGENITOR STEM CELL FATE, REACTIVE ASTROCYTE RESPONSE, AND MICROGLIA ACTIVATION ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-14 ) Kim, Joo Ho ; Wirtz, Denis ; Gu, Luo ; Bergles, Dwight ; Searson, Peter ; Xu, Jinchong Show more Brain tissue is soft and has fast stress-relaxing viscoelastic properties. Development of mechanical characterization techniques in the field further points towards the idea that brain viscoelasticity is a dynamic property that changes in the context of pathology and aging. However, we do not fully understand the effect of brain viscoelasticity in the cellular and biomolecular levels. Brain is constituted of multiple types of cells like neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocyte, neural progenitor cells, and etc., and they are all known to have different functionalities in the brain tissue. To start understanding the effects of brain viscoelasticity with such complex cellular heterogeneity, this dissertation focused on studying three different types of neural cells; neural progenitor/stem cell, astrocyte, and microglia. Tunable viscoelastic hydrogel system is used to study these neural cells on the effects of 3D viscoelastic extracellular environment. In brief this dissertation will show; 1) matrix stress-relaxation regulates neural progenitor-stem cell stemness and differentiation, 2) extracellular matrix stress-relaxation modulates reactive astrocyte phenotypes, 3) brain tissue stiffness increased with Alzheimer disease model and 3D matrix stiffness alters microglia activation. Show more

• No Thumbnail Available Item Engineering Flexible Optoelectronic Materials for Photovoltaics Applications ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-03-21 ) Li, Lulin ; Thon, Susanna M ; Foster, Amy C ; Kang, Jin U Show more Solar energy has captured the world’s attention in recent decades due to its abundance, ubiquity, long-term sustainability and environmental friendliness. It is now regarded as a significant replacement or supplement for traditional energy sources, especially in countries and areas with high solar irradiance. Current solar energy harvesting technology, as well as related optoelectronic technologies, are poised to benefit from colloidal nanomaterials, since these materials possess unique characteristics including size-dependent optical property tunability and room temperature solution-phase processing flexibility, making them ideal for low-cost thin film optoelectronic applications in novel scenarios, such as flexible displays, wearable devices, vehicular power, and building integrated photovoltaics. This thesis addresses new developments in the utilization of lead sulfide (PbS)-based colloidal quantum dots in the area of photovoltaics, using a combination of nanomaterials synthesis, optoelectronic modeling, experimental demonstration and advanced characterization. The first experimental part of this thesis focuses on the design and fabrication of diffuse light solar concentrators for enhanced solar illumination intensity on photovoltaic devices. The design based on total internal reflection accomplishes wide acceptance angle sunlight concentration without external tracking components. The experimental verification using transparent flexible silicon polymer-based optics paves the way for the deployment of building integrated photovoltaics and other off-grid energy applications. The next experimental section discusses engineering the photonic band structure in strongly absorbing materials enabling spectral selectivity in potential multi-junction photovoltaic applications. The experimental demonstration using PbS colloidal quantum dots serves as a novel method for spectral tuning in optoelectronic devices. The final experimental section demonstrates the possibility of solar cell fabrication solely via solution-phase techniques. A semi-automated spray-casting system is built for demonstration of fully spray-cast colloidal quantum dot solar cells, including the electrode materials, expanding potential applications of photovoltaics onto a larger variety of substrates and infrastructures. The broader impacts of the work described in this thesis rely on the involvement of flexible optoelectronic materials in photovoltaics. This could lead to renewable energy deployment for new applications, eventually benefiting the movement towards a world powered solely by clean and sustainable energy. Show more

• No Thumbnail Available Item Machine Learning-Accelerated Structure Characterization for Advanced Materials Design ( Johns Hopkins University , 2024-02-14 ) Jia, Haili ; Clancy, Paulette ; Taheri, Mitra ; Chan, Maria K.Y. ; Wang, Chao ; Bukowski, Brandon Show more This thesis primarily focuses on integrating first-principles calculations with machine learning (ML) algorithms to accelerate materials modeling and characterization. In the simulation realm, this thesis includes research that applies (time-dependent) density functional theory (TD)DFT across various materials, enabling the calculation of their structures and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) profiles. This includes exploring chemisorption of gases, which has provided detailed insights into adsorbate electronic structures, thereby enriching our understanding of chemisorption processes and advancing EELS applications in nanostructured surface characterization, especially in catalysis. My study on hydrogen doping in VO2 has demonstrated an effective method for the quantitative mapping of dopant distribution in quantum materials, providing pivotal insights for the design of future neuromorphic devices. Another significant aspect of my research is the investigation into alkali-metal-doped MnOx-CeO2 passive NOx absorbers. Through comprehensive DFT simulations, we have unraveled the structure of this novel material and its intricate mechanisms of NOx absorption and release, contributing significantly to advancements in low-temperature combustion and emissions control. On the ML front, a tailored method based on non-negative robust principal component analysis has been developed to overcome challenges in traditional EELS spectral imaging, such as noise reduction and spectral deconvolution. This advancement facilitates the characterization of nanomaterial systems with improved spatial-temporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratios, revealing intricate details about their structural, chemical, and electronic properties. Further extending the scope of my work, I have integrated multimodal ab initio simulations with ML for structure characterization. Leveraging XAS/EELS data across multiple elements, we have successfully predicted local structures and properties in complex materials such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide compounds. Our multimodal approach not only boosts accuracy in characterization but also strengthens noise resilience and enhances the analysis of complex constructs, which single data sources struggle to capture precisely. Overall, this thesis pioneers new methodologies in material characterization by synergizing spectroscopic analysis, theoretical insights, and machine learning. This multidisciplinary framework significantly enhances our understanding of nanoscale material properties and paves the way for innovative materials design, marking a significant leap forward in materials science. Show more
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How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide

A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece

Kelly Louise Preece

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Congratulations; you’ve finished your research! Time to write your PhD thesis. This resource will take you through an eight-step plan for drafting your chapters and your thesis as a whole. 

Organise your material

Before you start, it’s important to get organised. Take a step back and look at the data you have, then reorganise your research. Which parts of it are central to your thesis and which bits need putting to one side? Label and organise everything using logical folders – make it easy for yourself! Academic and blogger Pat Thomson calls this  “Clean up to get clearer” . Thomson suggests these questions to ask yourself before you start writing:

• What data do you have? You might find it useful to write out a list of types of data (your supervisor will find this list useful too.) This list is also an audit document that can go in your thesis. Do you have any for the “cutting room floor”? Take a deep breath and put it in a separate non-thesis file. You can easily retrieve it if it turns out you need it.
• What do you have already written? What chunks of material have you written so far that could form the basis of pieces of the thesis text? They will most likely need to be revised but they are useful starting points. Do you have any holding text? That is material you already know has to be rewritten but contains information that will be the basis of a new piece of text.
• What have you read and what do you still need to read? Are there new texts that you need to consult now after your analysis? What readings can you now put to one side, knowing that they aren’t useful for this thesis – although they might be useful at another time?
• What goes with what? Can you create chunks or themes of materials that are going to form the basis of some chunks of your text, perhaps even chapters?

Once you have assessed and sorted what you have collected and generated you will be in much better shape to approach the big task of composing the dissertation. 

Decide on a key message

A key message is a summary of new information communicated in your thesis. You should have started to map this out already in the section on argument and contribution – an overarching argument with building blocks that you will flesh out in individual chapters.

You have already mapped your argument visually, now you need to begin writing it in prose. Following another of Pat Thomson’s exercises, write a “tiny text” thesis abstract. This doesn’t have to be elegant, or indeed the finished product, but it will help you articulate the argument you want your thesis to make. You create a tiny text using a five-paragraph structure:

• The first sentence addresses the broad context. This locates the study in a policy, practice or research field.
• The second sentence establishes a problem related to the broad context you have set out. It often starts with “But”, “Yet” or “However”.
• The third sentence says what specific research has been done. This often starts with “This research” or “I report…”
• The fourth sentence reports the results. Don’t try to be too tricky here, just start with something like: “This study shows,” or “Analysis of the data suggests that…”
• The fifth and final sentence addresses the “So What?” question and makes clear the claim to contribution.

Here’s an example that Thomson provides:

Secondary school arts are in trouble, as the fall in enrolments in arts subjects dramatically attests. However, there is patchy evidence about the benefits of studying arts subjects at school and this makes it hard to argue why the drop in arts enrolments matters. This thesis reports on research which attempts to provide some answers to this problem – a longitudinal study which followed two groups of senior secondary students, one group enrolled in arts subjects and the other not, for three years. The results of the study demonstrate the benefits of young people’s engagement in arts activities, both in and out of school, as well as the connections between the two. The study not only adds to what is known about the benefits of both formal and informal arts education but also provides robust evidence for policymakers and practitioners arguing for the benefits of the arts. You can  find out more about tiny texts and thesis abstracts on Thomson’s blog.

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Write a plan

You might not be a planner when it comes to writing. You might prefer to sit, type and think through ideas as you go. That’s OK. Everybody works differently. But one of the benefits of planning your writing is that your plan can help you when you get stuck. It can help with writer’s block (more on this shortly!) but also maintain clarity of intention and purpose in your writing.

You can do this by creating a  thesis skeleton or storyboard , planning the order of your chapters, thinking of potential titles (which may change at a later stage), noting down what each chapter/section will cover and considering how many words you will dedicate to each chapter (make sure the total doesn’t exceed the maximum word limit allowed).

Use your plan to help prompt your writing when you get stuck and to develop clarity in your writing.

Some starting points include:

• This chapter will argue that…
• This section illustrates that…
• This paragraph provides evidence that…

Of course, we wish it werethat easy. But you need to approach your first draft as exactly that: a draft. It isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper. Start with whichever chapter you feel you want to write first; you don’t necessarily have to write the introduction first. Depending on your research, you may find it easier to begin with your empirical/data chapters.

Vitae advocates for the “three draft approach” to help with this and to stop you from focusing on finding exactly the right word or transition as part of your first draft.

This resource originally appeared on Researcher Development .

Kelly Louse Preece is head of educator development at the University of Exeter.

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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

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Adapted from American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Formatting:

• Italicize the title
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See Ch. 10 pp. 313-352 of APA Manual for more examples and formatting rules

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Doctoral defence of Suvi-Tuuli Puharinen, M.Sc. (Admin.) , 12 June 2024: EU environmental law obligations based on the state of waters and the marine environment challenge existing legal structures

The doctoral dissertation in the field of Environmental Law will be examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies at Joensuu campus. The public examination will be streamed online.

• Environment and natural resources

What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?

My dissertation examines a frequently used regulatory approach in EU environmental law, setting legally binding environmental quality objectives, and their effectiveness. In particular, the dissertation studies the regulatory solutions to protect waters and the marine environment in the EU Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The topic is particularly relevant and timely in the light of the EU Green Deal, which has included ambitious targets for promoting new, lower-emission industries while improving and restoring the state of the environment, including water and the marine environment. In Finland too, the green transition has been a key focus of Prime Minister Orpo's government programme and its legislative agenda. 

In terms of EU regulation, my dissertation examines how successful existing regulatory solutions for water protection and marine conservation have been in safeguarding water status. At least in Finland, water status objectives have received attention primarily due to the constraints they have imposed on the permitting of new industrial projects (most notably the Finnpulp pulp mill, which received a negative permit decision in 2019 at the KHO). 

While environmental quality objectives have created strict conditions for the permitting of new projects, their wider legal implications, particularly in terms of water and marine improvement and restoration, remain unclear. Understanding EU legislation on water and marine protection and the need for legally binding measures to protect water and the marine environment is essential.

What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?

A key finding of the study was that EU environmental law has been heavily regulated on the basis of theories and assumptions developed in other disciplines, particularly natural sciences, environmental policy and social sciences, about the effective way to manage, for example, the water environment. However, a key finding of the study is that legal regulation behaves and its effectiveness is built on a different operational logic, which needs to be approached from within the legal order. 

The EU WFD and MSFD rely on the setting of legally binding environmental quality objectives: the idea is that Member States would have a binding obligation to prevent deterioration of surface, ground and marine waters and to take active measures to improve their status. The study shows that, due to the structure of the legal order, which makes it easier to take a strict approach to new activities than to tackle old ones or to impose active environmental measures, the legal content of these directives has evolved mainly to restrict new activities. In particular, the objectives of the Water Framework Directive have become rather strict conditions for the granting of permits for new projects. 

At the same time, the Directives have failed to formulate clear legal obligations for Member States, for example, to address pollution from existing activities, to develop new instruments, for example, diffuse pollution or seek active legislative solutions to support restoration. A key finding of the study is that the structure of the legal order influences the effectiveness and efficiency with which such regulatory instruments can guide the development of water status. With regard to the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Directive, it is clear that the state of water and the seas has not improved much since the implementation of the Directives. 

The key conclusion is that, rather than using environmental law as an instrument in its own right, achieving sustainability objectives requires that legal guidance be considered specifically outside the realm of environmental law, for example studying the structural elements of the legal order and societies prevent or slow down the steering towards environmental quality objectives and how regulatory and policy instruments that shape and promote sectors of economic activity take account the need for a reduction of negative environmental impacts.

How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?

The results of the dissertation are specifically targeted at EU legislative work and can be used to assess new regulatory needs to achieve the goals of the Green Deal. The results will also be useful for national law-making in that the dissertation will provide a better understanding of Finland's EU legal obligations in the field of water and marine protection.

What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?

The main research methods used in my dissertation were regulatory theory and legal doctrinal analysis, which approached EU water and marine protection legislation as part of a broader EU legal context. My dissertation research was linked to several broader multidisciplinary research projects, most importantly the STN project  Blueadapt , the Academy project  Sushydro – towards environmentally, economically and socially sustainable hydropower management and the EU Horizon project  Crossgov .

If your doctoral dissertation consists of several articles, when was the most recent article published/will be published (estimate)?

The most recent PhD article was published in the Journal of Environmental Law in March 2024 (Vol 36, Issue 1). The article is a joint article with Mari Pihalehdo, PhD researcher at the University of Helsinki, and is entitled Uncharted Interplay and Troubled Implementation:  Managing Hydropower's Environmental Impacts under the EU Water Framework and Environmental Liability Directives .

For further information:

M.Sc. (Admin.) Suvi-Tuuli Puharinen, [email protected], p. 050 449 4701

The doctoral dissertation of Suvi-Tuuli Puharinen , M.Sc. (Admin.), entitled Normative Environmental Quality as a Regulatory Strategy in EU environmental law : Legal implications of water status objectives will be examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The Opponent in the public examination will be Professor Marleen van Rijswick of the University of Utrecht, and the Custos will be Professor Antti Belinskij of the University of Eastern Finland.

• Dissertation event online
• Dissertation online
• Environmental law