For many Bucknell seniors, the honors thesis represents the culmination of years of intellectual curiosity, persistence and growth. Spanning disciplines from chemistry to literary studies, these projects challenge students to move beyond coursework and into original research. For seniors Zach Wasserman ’26, Maddy Grieco ’26 and Sanoosha Sahni ’26, the thesis process was not only academically rigorous, but also deeply personal, shaping their interests, careers and confidence as scholars.
Zach Wasserman ’26: Rethinking Mental Health Measurement
Zach Wasserman, a Psychology and Italian Studies double major and Anthropology minor, centered his Psychology thesis on improving how mental health disorders are measured. His project, titled “A Psychometric Evaluation of Obsessive-Compulsive Items in the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)-Self Report among Caregivers of Children,” examined alternatives to traditional diagnostic systems.
“My thesis was an analysis of a different way of measuring mental health disorders,” Wasserman explained. “Instead of using the DSM-5, I analyzed the HiTOP, which is a dimensional model of psychopathology, and my thesis was set to establish the reliability and validity of this measure specifically for children with OCD.”
Ultimately, his findings challenged the model’s effectiveness. “My thesis found that it is not actually valid as a measure which has implications for its use on a general level,” he said.
Wasserman’s interest in the topic stemmed from hands-on experience. “I am extremely interested in Clinical Psychology research and gravitated towards OCD because of my previous internship with children with internalizing disorders,” he said. “In this internship I saw the effects OCD can have on kids and felt like it was something that I wanted to look more into.”
The year-long process was transformative. “It was unlike any other project that I have done before because it requires a full-year of your time and your devotion to one single project,” he said. “It started with just the idea… and it just started growing from there.”
While completing the thesis brought relief, it also marked the end of something meaningful. “It was an awesome feeling. It was finally over, although it was bittersweet,” he reflected. “It was hard to just stop working on it all together because it was over.”
Looking ahead, Wasserman will work as a Clinical Research Assistant at Brown University Health, a role closely tied to his thesis work. “I do think that the thesis is what helped me land the role,” he said. “Being an independent researcher is something that a thesis teaches you.”
Maddy Grieco ’26: Exploring the Cultural Weight of the Body
For English – Literary Studies and Italian Studies double major, Maddy Grieco, the thesis process explored how literature reflects and critiques societal expectations placed on women’s bodies. Her project, “Undetermining the Overdetermined Body: Anorexia Nervosa and Selfhood in “What I Lost” by Alexandra Ballard,” explores how eating disorders are represented in young adult literature.
“My thesis broadly discusses the intersection between eating disorders and young adult fiction,” Grieco said. “I examine how the conditions, experiences, expectations, values and ideas of a contemporary moment are mapped onto the site of a woman’s body.”
Her work analyzed multiple external influences—including “the fashion industry, maternal relationships and generational transmission, and the institutional recovery center”—and how they shape the protagonist’s experience with anorexia.
Grieco was motivated by a broader cultural question. “Women’s bodies are always depicted and torn apart in the media, but we are rarely hearing from the women themselves,” she said. “The space of young adult literature, however, gives a platform for adolescent women to discuss and detail their own experiences (in their own words!).”
Unlike some thesis writers, Grieco benefited from a structured start. “I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take a Senior Thesis course in the fall, which helped break the project into stages,” she said. She developed a disciplined routine, setting aside time each week for research and writing.
Even so, challenges emerged. “When writing a thesis of this length, it is easy to run into ‘plot holes’,” she noted, describing moments where she had to revisit and verify her arguments.
Defending her thesis, however, was a highlight. In describing the defense, she said: “Completely rewarding! I loved interacting and engaging with the audience. Answering insightful and thoughtful questions showed me the value of research; seeing others learn—and want to learn—was inspiring.”
After graduation, Grieco will work as an Editorial Assistant at the literary agency Joelle Delbourgo Associates, a path closely aligned with her academic interests. Reflecting on the experience, she encourages others to take on the challenge. “It is YOUR project, and you choose its direction,” she said.
Sanoosha Sahni ’26: Advancing Chemistry Through Experimentation
Chemistry major and Philosophy minor, Sanoosha Sahni, approached her Chemistry thesis through experimental research, contributing new insights to the study of nanoparticles. Her project, “Modeling Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Precursors: Growth of an Undecanuclear Iron(III) Cluster,” focused on understanding how nanoparticle precursors form and evolve.
“Iron oxide nanoparticles can be made to specific sizes,” Sahni explained. “And those sizes make them have certain magnetic properties used in MRIs, biosensors and drug deliveries.”
Her research sought to improve reproducibility in creating these particles. “To figure out how to get a very reproducible product every time, we need to explore these systems a bit more,” she said.
Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Sahni tracked molecular changes in a novel way. “We use fluorine NMR to be able to track where these fluorine atoms go and what kind of structures they make,” she said.
Her work led to a significant discovery. “My work found that… there’s actually a discrete cluster with 11 irons in the center. That was something that was not previously known in the field,” she said.
Sahni’s path to the project began early. “I was asked by my professor to join his lab after freshman year,” she said. Over time, her interest deepened, particularly due to the medical applications.
Unlike many thesis projects, hers extended over multiple years. “The project has been ongoing since my junior year,” she explained. The experimental nature of her work brought frequent challenges. “Sometimes [research] doesn’t happen the way we think it happens,” she said. “It’s very much… trial and error.” Even technical issues posed obstacles, including “the NMR being broken over the summer.”
Despite the difficulties, completing her thesis was deeply rewarding. “It was really nice… like a neat little bow to tie on my 3.5 years of research,” she said. “It was nice to get to show people that this is what I do most of my time here on campus.”
Sahni plans to apply to medical school while continuing to work as an EMT, potentially pursuing an MD or a combined MD-PhD. “I want to be able to do both,” she said, referring to research and clinical practice.
Across disciplines, these three seniors share a common takeaway: the honors thesis is as much about the process as the final product. Whether challenging established models, analyzing cultural narratives or uncovering new scientific findings, their work reflects the depth of inquiry and dedication that defines Bucknell’s academic experience.
