DEDICATION     ( 致谢 )

 

兹将本论文献给我的家人:母亲,父亲,哥哥,嫂子,和伴侣。

 

感谢你们给予我的爱,支持,和奉献。

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Translation from Chinese:

This dissertation is dedicated to my immediate family members: my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and spouse.  Thank you for all of your love, support, and sacrifice throughout my life.

 

 

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

            Paul Chin was born on November 30, 1979 in Hong Kong en route to the United States.  Twenty-one days later he transitioned to the United States of America with his mother.  He spent the first nine years of his life in Flushing, New York, and the latter nine years of his childhood in Burlington, Massachusetts.  Paul was a part-time Chinese restaurant front desk worker, part-time hospital volunteer, part-time actor in crazy high school videos, but a full-time wise-cracking Bostonian.

            After graduating with his high school diploma in 1997 from Burlington High School, he attended Cornell University for his undergraduate degree in Ithaca, New York.  He volunteered substantially in his fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, was active in the AIChE student chapter, and co-oped at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.  He graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering in May 2001.

            In August 2001, he enrolled as a graduate student in the chemical engineering department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.  He was heavily involved in graduate life, from vice president of the chemical engineering graduate student association to graduate recruiting captain.  He obtained his Masters of Science (thesis) in June 2004, focusing on structured platinum/iron catalytic supports for PEM fuel cell applications.  He was co-advised by Drs. George W. Roberts and James J. Spivey.  His doctoral research, under the direction of Dr. David F. Ollis, focused on experimental and kinetic modeling of titanium dioxide thin films as a photocatalyst for environmental remediation.  After graduation, he will pursue an industrial career in Boston, Massachusetts, or be drafted as a short stop for the Pawtucket Red Sox.

 

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

            First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor Dr. David F. Ollis for his direction and discussion.  Without him I would not have achieved my goals for this dissertation.  I also thank the State of North Carolina for funding this research project.

            This Ph.D. research would not have been completed without the help of others at NC State.  These people include Professors George W. Roberts and Christine S. Grant, A. Evren Ozcam, and Yazan A. Hussain for research advice.  Characterization work was accomplished with help from Jeong-Seok Na and the Martin research group.  We also thank the Genzer, Velev, Grant, Fedkiw, and Khan research groups for use of their equipment.  Finally, we acknowledge Professor Marc A. Anderson and Jennifer Sanfilippo of his University of Wisconsin, Madison, group for advice on the preparation of TiO2 sol-gel materials.

            There is a special group of graduate student friends whom without their support and understanding in my life I would not have made it past my first year.  Thank you Joan D. Patterson, Angelica M. Sanchez, Brian G. Prevo, and M. Omon Herigstad for making my seven years here wonderful.  Additionally, I acknowledge the Roberts research group for their continual support, especially Laura Beth Dong and Nathanial A. Cain.

            I am a firm believer of the work hard, play hard mentality, and sports fall in the latter category.  I am grateful of my dodgeball team, PimpÕs Revenge, for giving me a constructive outlet to release my research aggressions.  Past and current members include: Courtney and Travis Shillings, Joan Patterson, Matt Walker, Angelica Sanchez, Vinnie Verruto, Samantha Kwan, Erin Dunbar, Erin Phelps, Jamie Matsik, Andrew Loebl, Kristen Roskov, Brendan Miller, Michael Weiger, Keith Gawrys, Sam and Jenn Keys, Dave Trettel, Nancy Santagata, and Casey Galvin.  In addition, I thank the Wednesday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon volleyball players I had the pleasure to play with on a regular basis.  Thank you for helping me keep my sanity and for all the welts on my body from the spikes.

            I thank the Raleigh Toastmasters club, especially W. Stan Taylor, W. Rick Jernigan, and Adrienne L. Toghraie, for teaching me the skill set required to be a confident public speaker.  The ability to get up in front of a crowd and to speak without breaking out in a massive sweat has helped me through my graduate career, and life in general.

            Church has played an important role in my life in Raleigh, and I sincerely thank those whom I connected with at Sacred Heart Cathedral.  It was a pleasure to coach these fine students in CanÕt Judge A Powder By Its Color: Joseph Palko, Nicole Centeno, Alexandra Hubbell, and Becky Gamble.  I thank Honor M. Gifford and the DeWolf family, especially my goddaughter Caroleen, for welcoming me when I first arrived to the parish family.  Other friends in Christ include Jay Butler and Monsignor Gerard (Jerry) M. Sherba; both have helped me through my perpetual search for enlightenment.  Last, I acknowledge those at Saint MichaelÕs Episcopal Church who have welcomed me and taught me about their faith, especially Reverend S. Greg Jones, Frank S. Haynes, and Marion B. ÒChipÓ Chase III.

            I would like to thank the Triangle Red Sox Nation, especially Sean G. Bunn, for becoming my adopted baseball family in a place where professional baseball can be as foreign a sport as cricket.  I will carry the memories of the 2007 World Series with me as I leave my family of friends from there.

            I acknowledge Haiou Yang for translating my Dedication section into Chinese.

            I would like to thank my family members, especially my parents Yock Lai and Mee Chew, my brother Benjamin, and my sister-in-law Urvi.  Without them I would not have made it this far in life.  They have been there for me every step of the way, have always loved me unconditionally, and have aided me through all of my tough decisions.

            Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Christopher A. Post, whom without his full love, support, and sacrifice I never would have realized my full potential.  I thank him everyday of my life.