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Copyright by Athena Ranice Stacy 2011 - The University of Texas at ...

Copyright by Athena Ranice Stacy 2011 - The University of Texas at ...

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Acknowledgments<br />

I first want to give many thanks to Volker Bromm for his years <strong>of</strong><br />

careful guidance and encouragement, and for his vital role in the shaping <strong>of</strong><br />

this dissert<strong>at</strong>ion. This work would not have been possible without him. I am<br />

also gr<strong>at</strong>eful for the scientific support <strong>of</strong> the members <strong>of</strong> my committee: Avi<br />

Loeb, Harriet Dinerstein, Neal Evans, Milos Milosavljevic, and Craig Wheeler.<br />

Next, let me express my appreci<strong>at</strong>ion to the numerous fellow gradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />

students and postdocs who provided me with much scientific insight and many<br />

illumin<strong>at</strong>ing discussions, as well as plenty <strong>of</strong> good times outside <strong>of</strong> our beloved<br />

RLM.<br />

Finally, I would like to thank my family for always being there for me.<br />

Dad instilled in me an appreci<strong>at</strong>ion for m<strong>at</strong>h and a fascin<strong>at</strong>ion for science <strong>at</strong><br />

an early age, and Mom helped me to stay confident and keep the worries <strong>of</strong><br />

gradu<strong>at</strong>e life in perspective. Jerry was always the good big brother th<strong>at</strong> never<br />

forgot to check on me even if he was thousands <strong>of</strong> miles away, while Apollo<br />

always understood my experiences as a grad student and, when I was faced<br />

with challenges, reminded me th<strong>at</strong> the challenge is exactly wh<strong>at</strong> makes science<br />

rewarding.<br />

v

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