This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance and support of my family, friends, and academic community. Without them, I would never have made it to this point, and I owe them the deepest gratitude. I’d first like to thank my adviser, Dr. Joanne Slavin, for providing me with countless opportunities and the flexibility to pursue my interests. Her knowledge, advice, and ability to put things in perspective were invaluable throughout this process. Joanne has been an absolute pleasure to work with and I feel very lucky to have been a part of her lab. I’d also like to thank my committee members – Dr. Will Thomas, Dr. Catherine Kotz, and Dr. Kim Robien – for their time, insightful feedback, and their ability to get me to thi...