Speakers: Anika Azme and Brandon Bakka
When: March 6th, 2026, 11:00am
Where: KH A445 (Lincoln) and PKI 160 (Omaha)
Anika Azme
Title: Impact of Material Functionalization and Water Chemistry on Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Remediation Using Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets
Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are persistent contaminants that threaten human health and ecosystems due to their exceptional chemical stability and resistance to conventional treatment. This study explores the functionalization of the two-dimensional inorganic nanomaterial hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) to enhance its photocatalytic performance for PFOA remediation. Hydroxyl and amine-functionalized h-BN nanosheets were synthesized and evaluated under varying water-chemistry conditions to assess their degradation efficiency and stability. These findings demonstrate the promise of surface-engineered h-BN as a
tunable and sustainable platform for next-generation PFAS treatment technologies.
Brandon Bakka
Title: Every single one of them told me to get out of there: How LGBTQ+ Engineering Students Select Doctoral Engineering Programs
Abstract: The decision to enroll in graduate school is a key milestone in the pathway to a faculty career, yet there has been little research on how LGBTQ+ students decide on a doctoral program. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with 10 LGBTQ+ doctoral students, themes of safety, belonging, and community arose in participants’ choice considerations with visit weekends often elucidating the LGBTQ+-friendliness of a program. The findings from this work can be used to better support LGBTQ+ graduate students and inform graduate student recruitment strategies.