Among the most critical elements of any doctoral exam, from the perspective of those who coordinate these complexities, is the search for a strong Chair. Yet this search serves as a perennial challenge to the Doctoral Examinations team. We consider ourselves very lucky indeed if we issue fewer than 10 invitations before confirming 1 chair for an upcoming exam. It is not at all unusual in some disciplines to invite 30 or more chairs before some gracious faculty member agrees to help us out.
If you would like to contribute your time and wisdom to UBC’s doctoral exams:
- Please have a look at the list of upcoming exams below and if one interests you, please send us an email to graduate.doctoral@ubc.ca
- Or send us an email detailing the areas that interest you and days/times that you might be generally available and we'll contact you as new exams are scheduled. Again, send an email to graduate.doctoral@ubc.ca
Please bear in mind that the chair cannot be affiliated with the candidate’s graduate program, or a member of the supervisor's department..
Thursday, September 18, 2025 9:00 AM - Room 200
Ilke Geladi
(Resources, Environment and Sustainability)
Understanding Ecological, Evolutionary, and Social Dynamics of Birds, Farmers and the Agricultural Landscape of Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
Supervisor(s): Professor Claire Kremen
Thursday, September 25, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 200
Atharva Dilip Korde
(Mathematics)
Some Invariants for Surfaces with an Automorphism
Supervisor(s): Professor Kai Behrend
Thursday, September 25, 2025 1:00 PM - Zoom
Ugur Meric Dikbas
(Experimental Medicine)
Structural and Biochemical Characterization of HOXB13 a Prostate-Specific Transcription Factor
Supervisor(s): Professor Nathan Lack
Monday, September 29, 2025 9:00 AM - Room 200
Po Yuan Fu
(Genome Science and Technology)
Untangling Sources of DNA Methylation Variability in the Context of Developmental and Rare Diseases
Supervisor(s): Professor Michael S Kobor
Monday, September 29, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 203
Pablo Gonzalez Moctezuma
(Forestry)
Big Policies for Small-Scale Farmers: A Data-Driven Assessment of the Coverage and Environmental Impact of the Sembrando Vida Initiative in Mexico
Supervisor(s): Professor Jeanine Rhemtulla
Thursday, October 2, 2025 4:00 PM - Room 200
Lara Sarlak
(Anthropology)
Disposing the Displaced: The Violent Governance of Waste and Recycling in Istanbul
Supervisor(s): Dr Alexia Bloch
Friday, October 3, 2025 4:00 PM - Room 203
Rajneesh Bains
(Chemistry)
Discovery, Characterization, and Engineering of Carbohydrate Active Enzymes
Supervisor(s): Professor Stephen G Withers
Monday, October 6, 2025 12:30 PM - Buchanan Penthouse (501), Buchanan, 1866 Main Mall
Kousaku Yui
(Philosophy)
Socio-Functionalism: A Theory of Persons and Selves
Supervisor(s): Professor Eric A Margolis
Monday, October 6, 2025 4:00 PM - Zoom
Daniel Rojas Lozano
(Political Science)
Strategic Concessions: Elites, Redistribution, and Social Stability in Latin America
Supervisor(s): Professor Alan M. Jacobs, Professor Michael Weaver
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 1:00 PM - Zoom
Dalia Alghamdi
(Bioinformatics)
Introduction of Omics Metadata into Biobanking Ontology
Supervisor(s): William Hsiao
Friday, October 17, 2025 9:00 AM - Room 200
Ziyue Zhang
(Chemical and Biological Engineering)
Rheology Aging and Adhesion to Aminated Polyolefins
Supervisor(s): Dr Savvas Hatzikiriakos
Friday, November 21, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 200
Jessica Wind
(Language and Literacy Education)
Making it Work: Cultural Discourse in Dungeons & Dragons Homebrew Communities of Practice
Supervisor(s): Professor Jennifer Jenson