of the Requirements

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervising professor Dr. Esther Betrán for her guidance and for constantly pushing me to better myself during the course of my studies as a masters candidate. I would also like to thank Dr. Cédric Feschotte and Dr. Pawel Michalak for taking the time and effort to serve on my supervising committee and for their invaluable comments on my research. I am thankful for all the teachers I have had as a student whom are too numerous to name. I feel that, in every class, I have learnt valuable things that have change the way I think and contributed to make me who I am. Special thanks are in order for the other members of the Betrán lab especially Javier, Mansi, Mehran, Claudio and Taniya, for their support and advice during my time working in the lab. Also I want to thank my office-mates John Morse, Robert Makowsky, and Christian Cox along with office neighbor Brian Fontenot who are always good for a lively discussion/argument and even better for a hearty laugh. Finally, I am grateful for my family who has always been there for me. I love you all