2007 Outstanding Thesis Award
Tatjana Sikuljak, MS Plant Science
Tatjana Sikuljak's thesis, Seasonal Population Dynamics and Incidence of Xylella Fastidiosa in Potential Insect Vectors of Almond Leaf Scorch Disease, was praised by the university's committee of emeriti faculty as "fastidious, detailed, and of great importance to the Valley." For her thesis, Tatjana developed a technique for extracting DNA from insects she captured in an effort to identify the bacterium that causes Almond Leaf Scorch Disease, a debilitating condition that can lead to the death of almond trees. The research is of great significance because the bacterium causing almond leaf scorch is also the cause of Pierce's Disease in grapes, which poses a serious economic threat to growers in California. Tatjana's thesis chair Dr. Andrew Lawson further praised Tatjana's work, stating that the techniques she developed will likely be used in further insect vector studies. According to Dr. Lawson, Tatjana's ingenuity, work ethic, and exceptional academic ability--along with her activity in the professional community--promise an excellent career in research entomology for her. The rest of Tatjana's thesis committee was James Farrar of the Plant Science Department and Russell Groves and Jianchi Chen of the USDA.
(Above: Tatjana is hooded at the Hooding Ceremony)
On occasion, the This year the Outstanding Thesis Committee will award awarded an Honorable Mention. This year Honorable Mention goes to Travis Koll (MA in English, Literature option) for his thesis, Restoring Hardy's Fate, which the committee praised as a "deep and thoroughgoing analysis of a social scene in which women and children were maltreated." The committee further stated that Travis's work was "beautifully written and reflects maturity and insight." Travis's thesis committee consisted of English Department faculty Ruth Jenkins, John Beynon, and Chris Henson.