That this thesis exists at all is completely thanks to my advisor, Jeff Fessler. Jeff has been the best mentor, manager, sounding board, ed-itor, and guide I could have hoped for. I am enormously grateful for both the latitude and structure has given me over the past five years. If there is anything useful in this thesis, it is almost certainly his doing. The University of Michigan has been a wonderful place to be thanks to my fantastic professors and colleagues. I want to thank my committee for carving out time for me from their already insane schedules. Their feedback has made this a substantially stronger thesis. I am also grate-ful to my group mates – particularly Hung Nien and Donghwan Kim – for their invaluable perspectives, and for making a potentially lonely time enjoyable. The last five years have been incredibly enjoyable thanks to my friends in Ann Arbor. To my housemates, Nick and Mitch; classmates, Matt, Rob, Paul, Pat, and Eric; and to Christie, Steve, Mike, and the many