BY

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. I would not be here without all of the love and support offered by all. Extra special thanks to the following people: My advisor, Andreas Stein. For your kindness, encouragement, support, understanding, and never-ending patience when I needed it the most. Thank you. My (unofficial) second advisor, Philippe Bühlmann. You were also there for me from the very beginning (less than a month after I began working for Andreas in June 2006). I appreciate all of the help you provided, the unlimited access to your lab, and making me feel like part of your group. Professor Bill Smyrl, for being generous with your time and knowledge, and for unrestricted access to your labs. My Bühlmann group collaborators (and friends) Dr. Chun-Ze Lai and Dr. Eric Olson. It was truly a pleasure to work with both of you. Additional thanks are offered on the following pages. My Stein group colleagues and friends. Dr. Nicholas Ergang, for passing along his battery project wisdom; Dr. Zhiyong Wang, for his generosity with his time an