{"680592":{"#nid":"680592","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Proposal by Christina McDonald","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristina McDonald\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBioE Ph.D. Proposal Presentation\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1:30 PM on Tuesday, March 4, 2025\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocation:\u0026nbsp;2229 Ford ES\u0026amp;T\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.zoom.us\/j\/93196648297?pwd=VpJoLNe0XP5ltzyf93mXN98vCuMqGF.1\u0022\u003EZoom Link\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvisor\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;M. Saad Bhamla, Ph.D. (ChBE, Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarianne Alleyne, Ph.D. (Integrative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDavid Hu, Ph.D. (ME, Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuhang Hu, Ph.D. (ME \u0026amp; ChBE, Georgia Institute of Technology)\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETodd Sulchek, Ph.D. \u0026nbsp;(ME, Georgia Institute of Technology)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWax \u201cTails\u201d and Fairy Knots:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDynamic Functions of Passive Adornments in Planthoppers and Humans\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe striking appearance of wax \u201ctails\u201d \u2013 posterior wax projections produced by planthopper nymphs (immature form) \u2013 has captivated entomologists and naturalists alike. Despite their common presence, the functional roles of these projections are not fully understood. During their powerful jumps, nymphs experience an airborne phase, making aerial stabilization strategies an important component of their locomotion. Other wingless insects generate stabilizing aerodynamic torques from appendage movements. Similarly, we hypothesize that wax-bearing nymphs leverage their wax structures for aerial stability and subsequent successful landings. In \u003Cstrong\u003EAim 1\u003C\/strong\u003E, we analyze rotational stability and landing success rates from high-speed videos of nymph jumps with wax intact and wax removed. For \u003Cstrong\u003EAim 2\u003C\/strong\u003E, we assess the role of stabilizing drag forces and develop a computational model of nymph jumps. These findings will provide insight into the adaptive significance of wax structures, revealing the relationship between wax morphology and aerial maneuverability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second research topic shifts the study of passive adornments from insect wax to human scalp hair. Fairy knots, also known as single-strand knots, are a common occurrence in coily-curly hair. The name evokes the knots\u0027 seemingly spontaneous and precise formation on a single strand of hair, indicating that only a small fairy could tie the tiny, meticulous knot unnoticed. Once formed, fairy knots are difficult to detangle and remove leading to breakage, hindered growth, and increased surface roughness. Despite their common occurrence in coily-curly hair, the mechanisms behind fairy knot formation, although having speculated causes, have not been formally investigated. This research aims to identify the biomechanical mechanisms behind fairy knot formation.\u0026nbsp;In \u003Cstrong\u003EAim 1\u003C\/strong\u003E, we characterize fairy knot form, frequency, and location as well as use new and established hair classification methods to characterize fairy knot prone hair. \u003Cstrong\u003EAim 2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand \u003Cstrong\u003EAim 3\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eexamine how hair recoil, induced through mechanical manipulation (e.g., pulling and releasing, smoothing, and combing) or hydromechanical forces (e.g., wetting and drying), contributes to knotting. Additionally, measure relevant mechanical and physical properties of hair to link quantifiable parameters with knot formation. This research has broader implications for understanding hair behavior and can inform the development of hair care products and technologies (e.g., hairstyles) designed to prevent knot formation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWax \u201cTails\u201d and Fairy Knots:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDynamic Functions of Passive Adornments in Planthoppers and Humans\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Wax \u201cTails\u201d and Fairy Knots: Dynamic Functions of Passive Adornments in Planthoppers and Humans"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2025-02-19 16:25:20","changed_gmt":"2025-02-19 16:26:01","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2025-03-04T13:30:00-05:00","event_time_end":"2025-03-04T15:30:00-05:00","event_time_end_last":"2025-03-04T15:30:00-05:00","gmt_time_start":"2025-03-04 18:30:00","gmt_time_end":"2025-03-04 20:30:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2025-03-04 20:30:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"2229 Ford ES\u0026T","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"102851","name":"Phd proposal"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78771","name":"Public"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}