The Graduate Student Association (GSA) and the Graduate College welcome the Drexel community to join us for our March Books & Bagels: Conversations on Interdisciplinary Research program, which includes lunch, on Friday, March 17 at 12 p.m. in the Graduate Student Lounge where we will hear from the following graduate students and faculty moderator.

Can't make it? Join us online.

Tirimba Obonyo

Expertise on Boards of Directors and the Market for Directors with Acquisition Experience
PhD, Finance, LeBow College of Business

Summary: I use mergers and acquisitions to investigate whether firms construct boards that are consistent with the firm's expertise needs. I find that firms engaging in acquisitions have significant depth of experience on their boards compared to non-acquiring firms. However, I also find that experienced directors on acquiring firms have been involved in significantly worse acquisitions. 

Valerie Tutwiler

Blood clot contraction: An important pathogenic factor in thrombosis? 
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Summary: Thrombotic conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, which are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, results when a clot blocks blood flow to the heart or the brain. We study how clot contraction, the volume shrinkage of the clot, differs between healthy people and patients with diseases such as ischemic stroke, deep vein thrombosis and sickle cell disease. We hope that a more detailed understanding of these processes and how they influence blood clot resolution can lead to better diagnostics and/or treatments. 

Chris Laincz, PhD

Faculty Moderator
Associate Professor of Economics, LeBow College of Business
Director, PhD Program, LeBow College of Business
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Graduate College