2020 Texas Tech University Outstanding
Thesis and Dissertation Award Recipients

Texas Tech University’s Graduate School recognized work displayed in students’ theses and dissertations for the annual 2020 awards.

The first-place dissertation award winners are entered into the Council of Graduate School’s annual CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competition, which honors the dissertations that represent original work and significant contributions to the discipline being considered for the year. Students are nominated by their faculty representatives.

Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering

1st place master's thesis – Yves Tchatchoua - Department of Electrical Engineering
Software Defined Radio (SDR) based Non-Contact Vital Signs (NCVS) Sensor System
Major Advisor: Dr. Yu-Chun Donald Lie
1st place doctoral dissertation – Dr. Md Jasim Uddin - Department of Chemical Engineering
Allergen-free Pollen Shell as a Novel Biomaterial for Oral Vaccine Delivery: Development, Characterization, In Vivo Efficacy, and Mechanistic Insight
Major Advisor: Dr. Harvinder Gill
2nd place doctoral dissertation – Dr. Yeqin Wang - Department of Wind Science & Engineering
Control of Power Electronic Converters for Microgrids
Major Advisor: Dr. Beibei Ren

Social Sciences

1st place master's thesis – Ethan Sabala - Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
Essays in Trade Policy Analysis: Chinese Tariffs on US Agricultural Markets
Major Advisor: Dr. Stephen Devadoss
1st place doctoral dissertation – Dr. Cary Oldham - Department of Human Development & Family Studies
A Longitudinal Study of the Timing of First Sex in Romantic Relationships and Subsequent Relationship Quality
Major Advisor: Dr. Sylvia Niehuis
2nd place doctoral dissertation – Dr. Cara Lawson - Department of Agricultural Communications
The Media’s Influence on Public Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Rural Opioid Epidemic
Major Advisor: Dr. Courtney Myers

The Graduate School recognizes theses and dissertations of mathematics, physical sciences, engineering and social sciences in even numbered years, and biological life sciences, humanities and fine arts in odd years.