Engineering Commons^™

Advanced Analytical Biosensing For Cancer Detection And Neural Diagnostics Using Tapered Optical Fiber (Tof), Protonic, And High Throughput Microplate –Based Technologie, Bayan Hassan Alharbi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the development and application of advanced biosensing technologies to enhance early disease detection, neurological diagnostics, and bioactive compound evaluation. The research spans four key areas. First, it introduces tapered optical fiber (TOF)-based plasmonic biosensors for the non-invasive detection of prostate cancer, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional diagnostic methods.

Second, it explores the use of fluorescent biosensors to test the Transmembrane Electrostatically Localized Proton (TELP) theory, shedding light on the role of localized protons in neuronal signaling and energy transfer. Third, the work presents a high-throughput, microplate-based biosensing platform for analyzing mitochondrial function under nanosecond …

Inter-Cellular Forces Modulate Cell-Ecm Traction Forces, Zaria Booth

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Epithelial cells are among the most abundant cell types in the human body, making up sheets of epithelial tissues that cover the linings of organs and body cavities. Cellular adhesion and force transmission across epithelial tissues are crucial in maintaining tissue integrity and ensuring proper tissue regeneration. Defects in cellular force transmission have been found in various diseases, including cancer. Force transmission at cell-cell and cell-ECM junctions drive cell survival and development. It has been previously shown that changes in cell-ECM traction directly modulates forces at cell-cell contacts. In this study, we aim to determine the effects of perturbations in …

Analysis On Plasma Propulsion Thruster Material Reconfiguration For Thrust Stabilization, Chinedumu Chidiebere Okafo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Rocket propulsion has been a primary focus for scientific and technical advancement supporting space exploration. For long-duration, low-thrust space missions, propulsion systems designed with plasma energy as the primary source for generating thrust are of high interest. Plasma energy, like electric propulsion, involves the excited state of ionized atoms, where the ionized particles are separated and then act as a propellant to push a spacecraft in the intended direction for flight. Although more energy efficient compared to traditional rocket systems, plasma propulsion has the deficiency of consistent erosion of the metallic containment substrate, as plasma is being generated and released …

Mission Engineering Competencies Workshop Report: Roles, Responsibilities, And Skills, James D. Moreland, Jr. (Editor), Thomas Irwin, Robert-Allen Baker

Center for Mission Engineering (CME) Publications

This report summarizes the findings of a two-day Old Dominion University Mission Engineering Workshop involving the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the University of New South Wales, and Old Dominion University, focused on defining the roles, competencies, and skills essential to Mission Engineering. It presents a structured competency framework and offers recommendations to guide workforce development, training, and cross-agency collaboration in support of complex, mission-driven systems.

Towards Efficient Privacy-Preserving Deep Learning: He-Friendly Structures, Flexible Pruning, He-Efficient Architectures, And Secure Transformer Token Drop, Yifei Cai

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Deep learning (DL) has become a powerful tool for solving complex problems, but developing DL models typically requires vast datasets, high computational resources, and expert knowledge—barriers that limit accessibility. Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) addresses this challenge by allowing resource-rich providers to deliver pre-trained DL models as services. However, privacy concerns arise: clients hesitate to share sensitive data, while providers protect their proprietary models. To address this, privacy-preserving MLaaS integrates cryptographic techniques into DL computations, as seen in frameworks like Cryptonets, SecureML, GAZELLE, CrypTFlow2, Cheetah, and BOLT. Among them, Homomorphic Encryption (HE) enables computation on encrypted data but remains …

Electron Beam Irradiation Effects On Bulk Metals And High Entropy Alloys (Crmnv And Crmntiv) And The Synthesis And Characterization Of Irradiation-Induced Damage In Polycrystalline Metal And High Entropy Alloy Thin Films, Najmin Ara Sultana

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Accelerator beam exit windows are designed to withstand intense radiation and mechanical stress while preserving beam transmission and structural integrity. This dissertation explores the structural and mechanical responses of pure metals and high-entropy alloys (HEAs), in both bulk and thin-film forms, under high-dose electron beam (e-beam) irradiation to identify optimal materials for next-generation accelerator exit windows. Monte Carlo simulations using FLUKA, conducted at Jefferson Lab, revealed that amongst Ni, Ti, Cr, and V, Ni exhibits the highest power dissipation, while Ti depicts the lowest power dissipation, with Cr and V demonstrating intermediate characteristics. Bulk polycrystalline (PC) and single-crystalline (SC) samples …

Ac Electric Fields Manipulate And Concentrate Dna Molecules On Electrodes, Akila Wijesinghe, Dharmakeerthi Nawarathna

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Point-of-care (POC) electric field-based biosensors have emerged as a promising tool to detect early cancer biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNA (miRNA), and proteins. To be effective in screening in clinical settings, these biosensors must be simple and easy to use. In this study, we have studied the manipulation of short DNA molecules suspended in a sessile drop to achieve this goal. Alternative current (AC) electric fields were used to polarize DNA molecules and produce dielectrophoretic (DEP) force on DNA molecules. DEP force is used to manipulate polarized DNA molecules towards the higher electric field gradients (toward the …

Frontlines Of Influence: State Vs. Nonstate Disinformation Campaigns, Lily Wershbale

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper examines the evolution of disinformation campaigns conducted by state and nonstate actors, focusing specifically on Russia and the Islamic State as representative case studies. Through historical examples and qualitative comparative analysis, this research identifies the similarities and differences in disinformation’s role in actors’ core missions, resource allocation, and targeting decisions. This paper further explores the implications of artificial intelligence on disinformation campaigns, investigating how emerging technology will impact the influence operations of state governments and nonstate organizations alike. The findings reveal that while the ultimate intent of both state and non-state actors is to destabilize societies, their approaches …

Selective Lithium Extraction Using Ion-Sieves From Geothermal Brine, Agyare Asante, Abigail Berardi, Jayla Standin, Elliott Walker, Ujjwal Pokharel, Sandeep Kumar

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Lithium (Li) is a critical component in modern green energy technologies, serving as the cornerstone for advanced batteries used in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics. To address the increasing global demand for lithium, this study explores the synthesis and performance of ion-sieve novel adsorbents derived from the spinel-type precursor Li₄Mn_4.5Zr_0.5O₁₂ (LMZO). The precursor was produced using an economical solid-phase reaction that involved lithium, manganese, magnesium, and zirconium salts. This was followed by a two-stage calcination process involving 200 K for 2 hours and 450 K for 24 hours. Acid activation …

Carbon Accountability Scores: A Process-Oriented Approach For Carbon Offsetting Using Ai Agents, Joshit Mohanty, Vaishali Vaishali

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Conventional carbon offset programs rely on quantified emissions to determine balancing requirements. While this approach offers a standardized means of measuring carbon output, it often provides industries with a loophole—allowing them to offset their emissions by purchasing equivalent credits for activities such as tree planting rather than tackling inefficiencies at the source. This research proposes a process-based framework called Carbon Accountability Scores (CA scores) to offer a proactive strategy for assessing and reducing carbon footprints. Instead of focusing on the mere balancing of emitted and sequestered carbon, CA scores integrate an organization’s operational processes into the calculation, thereby offering the …

Digital Thread: Bridging Macro–Micro Services In System-Of-Systems, Joshit Mohanty

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Organizations and industries increasingly rely on distributed services in decentralized environments—ranging from large-scale, system-of-system architectures to fine-grained, agent-based microservices. While this distributed paradigm offers flexibility and innovation, it presents critical challenges such as interoperability gaps, inconsistent data formats, and a lack of holistic oversight. Traditional integration approaches, including ad-hoc middleware or enterprise service buses, tend to solve these issues reactively. As a result, technical debt accumulates, stakeholder misalignments persist, and scaling to new demands becomes complex.

This research proposes digital thread (DT) as the unifying framework to create an authoritative source of truth: a continuous flow of information across the …

Meta-Clustering For Specialized Language Models: Enhancing Contextual Adaptation And Mitigating Hallucinations In Diverse Healthcare Environments, Joshit Mohanty, Vaishali Vaishali, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Large Language Models (LLMs) have significantly advanced conversational AI by enabling dialogic information-seeking and task execution across diverse domains. However, their extensive parameters and broad domain scope lead to “data hallucinations.” These shortcomings are particularly evident in dynamic and diverse environments like India’s healthcare sector, where myriad languages, regional practices, and cultural nuances demand specialized, localized expertise rather than one-size-fits-all generalist models. This paper introduces a meta-clustering framework that integrates Distilled Language Models (DLMs) and Small/Specialized Language Models (SLMs) with meta-learning principles to address these limitations. By drawing on evidence from works such as MedHalu and Med-HALT, the framework seeks …

Tamos: Task-Aware Multi-Agent Orchestrator System, Joshit Mohanty, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly at the core of multi-agent systems (MAS). However, the high resource demand, error propagation, and lack of adaptive evaluation mechanisms pose significant challenges in deploying these agentic solutions at scale. To address these concerns, this research proposes a Task-Aware Multi-Agent Orchestrator System designed to refine the agentic framework, categorizing tasks autonomously, assigning specialized evaluation datasets, and balancing token usage against functional effectiveness. This approach underscores robust data management, including AsyncHow, Mosaic AI, and Synthetic Preference Optimization (PO) corpora. Each dataset targets specific dimensions of agent performance, such as dynamic task decomposition and tool integration …

Graphtreemed: A Hybrid Graph-Tree Rag Architecture For Mission-Critical Medical Applications, Joshit Mohanty, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Sumit Lahiri

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Studies within engineering management indicate that decision-making is often based on the cognitive processing of grouped and pictographic information clusters entangled with high-level pattern recognition. Similarly, graph-based retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures substantially improve diagnostic accuracy and interpretability, while tree-structured systems reduce critical misses through hierarchical reasoning. However, existing solutions often lack a unified framework that seamlessly integrates these two paradigms to address the multifaceted demands of mission-critical healthcare settings. This proposal introduces GraphTreeMed, a novel hybrid RAG architecture designed to harness the complementary strengths of graph-based and tree-based retrieval mechanisms, thereby advancing the safety and efficacy of clinical decision support …

12 - Hydrogen Energy Lab, Xiaoyu Zhang

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Research Lab Showcase

01 - Design Of Ion-Sieve For Selective Adsorption Of Lithium From Geothermal Brine, Agyare Asante, Abigail Berardi, Jayla Standin, Elliott Walker, Alvin Spruill, Ujjwal Pokharel, Sandeep Kumar

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries necessitates efficient and sustainable lithium extraction technologies. Geothermal brines provide an alternative lithium source; however, their complex ionic composition challenges selective lithium recovery. Hydrogen manganese oxides (H₄Mn_4.5O₁₂) are widely studied as lithium-ion sieves due to their high selectivity for lithium ions. Still, its structural instability and manganese dissolution during adsorption-desorption cycles limit long-term performance. This study introduced zirconium (Zr) doping into the spinel-type Li₄Mn₅O₁₂ precursor through a one-step calcination process (450 °C for 24 hours at 10 °C min^-1), ensuring an …

Why Do Different Llms Give Different Answers To The Same Question? Model Uncertainty And Variability In Llm-Based Intrusion Detection Systems Ranking, Charlise Calloway

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly applied across business, education, and cybersecurity domains. However, LLMs can yield varied outputs for the same query due to differences in architecture, training data, and response generation mechanisms. This paper examines model variability and uncertainty by comparing the responses of three LLMs—ChatGPT-4o, Gemini 2.0 Flash, and DeepSeek-V3--to a query on ranking practical intrusion detection systems (IDS). The analysis highlights key similarities and differences in the models’ outputs, offering insight into their respective reasoning and consistency.

Securing Biometric Data, Alyssa F. Carroll

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Biometric data has been widely adopted across various sectors, including digital identity, artificial intelligence (AI), border control, digital wallets, and national identification systems. While biometric identifiers—such as fingerprints, retina scans, and facial recognition—offer reliable and convenient authentication, they also raise significant concerns regarding privacy and security. This paper examines how biometric data is stored, the vulnerabilities it faces, and the most effective methods for safeguarding it. By highlighting the critical importance of biometric data protection, this study reviews current research on approaches, strategies, and policies that enhance security while preserving the functionality and efficiency of biometric systems.

82 - Characterization Of Manganese Ferrites For Combined Mph/Mpi Treatments, Alana Canty, Robert Ivkov, Hayden Carlton

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Magnetic particle hyperthermia (MPH) is a form of cancer treatment in which cancer cells are made more susceptible to treatments, primarily radiation, through heating. The heat is generated from exciting magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) within an alternating magnetic field (AMF)—nanoparticles which have been injected into a tumor—and both the heating quality and imaging quality of these MNPs are determined by their magnetic properties, with the primary one being anisotropy. Magnetic nanoparticles have been introduced as both a treatment option as well as a diagnostic tool through magnetic particle imaging (MPI). When used as a diagnostic tool, MNPs act as tracers to …

65 - Evaluating Drone-Based Stem Camps For Enhanced Engagement And Sel Development, David Morgan

Undergraduate Research Symposium

STEM camps are programs designed to promote exposure to learning associated with science, technology, engineering, and math educational outcomes. However, there is a significant gap in participation for Black and Brown individuals in STEM careers. This study seeks to understand how STEM programs during out-of-school time may support students from underrepresented communities and foster future interest in STEM-related careers. This study employs a retrospective qualitative research design investigating program participation in a week-long STEM camp in Hampton, Virginia. Thirty middle and high school students participated in the curriculum, technical drone skills, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and social awareness. These findings …

40 - Design, Fabrication, And Installation Of Morphing Control Surfaces For Small-Scale Uas, Kyle Purser

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Morphing control surface technology, inspired by organic structures and compliant mechanisms, offers significant potential for enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency and performance of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Despite these benefits, its adoption has been hindered by complexities in design, manufacturing, and installation, particularly when compared to traditional flap systems. This research explores the design, fabrication, and integration of morphing control surfaces for small-scale UAS using additive manufacturing techniques. To reduce costs and streamline the design process, fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing was employed for component fabrication. An off-the-shelf Horizon Sport Cub S2 served as the testing platform, modified with a …

31 - Shaped Adversarial Patches, Huong Quach

Undergraduate Research Symposium

In recent years, the development and deployment of computer vision models have become widespread, with applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to security systems. Among these, object detection algorithms like YOLO are particularly significant due to their real-time performance and accuracy in identifying and localizing objects within an image. However, the robustness of these models is increasingly challenged by adversarial attacks, which are deliberate manipulations designed to deceive the model's predictions.

In this paper, I present an approach to advancing the deception capabilities of adversarial patches, specifically targeting YOLO-based person detectors. The objective is to design and implement shaped adversarial patches …

A Theoretical Framework For Examination Of Context In Complex System Governance, Meggan M. Schoenberg

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

“A complex system’s identity and viability are directly related and affected by its context. It is important to identify, monitor, and manage (or mitigate risk) system contextual elements” (Keating C. B. et al., 2022, p. 209). Despite this importance, there is very limited research and literature on complex systems context. This research seeks to expand our understanding of complex system context and improve our ability to govern complex technology development programs effectively. The ability to analyze complex systems and their problems is necessary for this improvement.

A “clear understanding of the specific complex system context is fundamental to the process …

Valorization Of Industrial Wastes To Low-Carbon Minerals, Nandan Nag

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study concentrates on developing methods for utilizing industrial waste materials such as red mud and phosphate slag. In this study, an electrochemical process was developed for recovering iron metal powder from red mud. Red mud is a waste material from aluminum refineries. Although red mud can be utilized as a construction and building material, its use is becoming controversial due to its high metal content, which contributes to its toxicity. However, the high iron oxide content in red mud makes it a good feedstock for producing iron. In this project, we employed an electrochemical technique for extracting iron powder …

Investigating The Discrepancies Between Acoustic And Radar Measurements Of Water Level Using Data Analysis And Computational Modeling, Ohiedul Haque Mohammad Asad

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Observations indicate that there is a discrepancy between water level measurements from NOAA’s acoustic gauges and radar gauges. NOAA’s acoustic gauges use a downward-looking acoustic sensor that measures the instantaneous distance from the sensor to the water level. To create a calm water surface for measurements, the sensor is placed in a PVC tube that penetrates the water surface to a certain depth. This tube is called the stilling well. In this thesis, discrepancies in water level measurements from acoustic and radar sensors were explored through data analysis and computational modeling. Specifically, the correlations between the error, which is defined …

Network Analysis Of Sociotechnical Systems, Siva Kadiresan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Sociotechnical networks have become integral frameworks in the accomplishment of organizational objectives by increasingly diverse, cross-functional, and technology-enabled modern teams. In cross-disciplinary teamwork, multiple mediating and moderating factors appear to lend context to the effects of team diversity faultlines on team outcomes. In the several decades of research into teamwork from a network perspective, there has been a paucity of empirical studies that examine how team transition processes and cross-disciplinary connections influence the impact of faultlines on team performance. This study investigates the association among perceived teamwork effectiveness, transition processes, cross-functional team connections, and faultlines in the context of sociotechnical …

Modeling The Impacts Of Disruptive Events On Driving Behaviors, Transportation Safety, And Equity: Advanced Statistical Insights From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Xiaomeng Dong

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation aims to understand how disruptive events —particularly the COVID-19 pandemic—affect driving behaviors, transportation safety and equity by leveraging advanced statistical modeling techniques and data from Virginia. This research pursues three overarching objectives. First, it employs multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) to uncover the complex interrelationships among risky driving behaviors, injury severity, and pandemic-related factors, delineating the mechanisms through which COVID-19 has impacted crash outcomes via changing risky driving behaviors. Second, it leverages hidden Markov models to trace shifts in safety states over the pre-, during-, and post-pandemic periods, determining whether and when safety conditions return to pre-pandemic norms. …

Characterization Of Cure And Temperature Dependent Properties Of Filament Wound Composite Structures, Aaron Riley Sinkler

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Residual stress development in filament wound composites presents a critical challenge for the fabrication of thick composite structures exposed to elevated temperatures during operation. This study focused on determining temperature and cure dependent material properties to aid in understanding the residual stress build-up during the cure. Material characterization of a filament wound composite materials was performed by investigating thermo-chemical shrinkages in resin, lamina, and bi-lamina configurations. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of both the neat resin and the fiber was measured, and the gel point and chemical shrinkage of the neat resin were investigated. A filament wound unidirectional laminate …

Testing Autonomy: Hybrid Scenario Synthesis, Benjamin E. Hargis

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Hybrid Scenario Synthesis merges static and adaptive techniques to generate interactions that rigorously assess autonomous performance under multi-factor testing. Multifactor scenarios employ multiple individual stimuli to rigorously test system responses in complex settings. Static Scenario Testing involves scripted test cases that simulate specific conditions or events. These scenarios represent typical situations an autonomous system might encounter. The benefits of static testing include early defect detection, focused review by trained experts, and efficiency. In multi-factor scenarios, however, statically defined scenario factors are not able to guarantee meaningful interactions as the presence of other factors may invalidate underlying assumptions regarding the system …

From Image Enhancement To Model Protection Integrating Generative Ai And Secure Learning In Computer Vision, Mohammad Shahab Uddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation aims to address critical challenges in the field of computer vision and machine learning, focusing on three key areas: image translation, denoising, and model security. The research encompasses novel methodologies and models that significantly advance existing techniques. This dissertation will not only provide valuable contributions to the academic community but also hold significant potential for practical applications in domains ranging from surveillance to autonomous systems.

Consequently, this dissertation proposes three goals. First, we present new approaches for converting optical videos to infrared videos using deep learning. To apply powerful deep learning based algorithms for object detection and classification …