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..
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
Thursday, October 9, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 200
Brett Collinge
(Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Integrating Molecular Approaches to Advance the Diagnostic Framework of Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas
Supervisor(s): Professor David Scott, Professor Christian G. Steidl
Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 200
Alida O'Connor
(Forestry)
Understanding Collaborative Landscape Governance to Inform Integrated Landscape Approaches: Evidence from Ghana and Zambia
Supervisor(s): Professor Terry Sunderland
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 9:00 AM - 5108, Earth Sciences Building, 2207 Main Mall
Shane O'Neill
(Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences)
Role of Transient Pore Pressures and Effective Stresses in Progressive Slope Failure
Supervisor(s): Dr Roger D. Beckie, Professor Erik Eberhardt
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 1:00 PM - 5018, Biodiversity Research Centre, 2212 Main Mall
Penelope Kahn
(Zoology)
Genetic Mechanisms and Fitness Consequences of Rapid Evolution in Severe and Complex Metal-Contaminated Environments: Evolutionary Rescue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Supervisor(s): Professor Sarah Otto
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 2:00 PM - 5104, Earth Sciences Building, 2207 Main Mall
Jeroen Goumans
(Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences)
Geochemical Tracing and Characterization of Subduction-Zone Fluids and Fluid-Rock Interaction in Modern-Style and Archean Tectonic Systems
Supervisor(s): Professor Matthijs Arjen Smit
Friday, October 24, 2025 12:30 PM - Room 200
Isaiah Betinol
(Chemistry)
Data-Driven Approaches to Interrogate Selectivity and Generality in Asymmetric Catalysis
Supervisor(s): Professor Jolene Reid
Monday, November 3, 2025 9:00 AM - Room 200
Fiza Arshad
(Neuroscience)
Audiovisual Cues and Immersion across Gambling and Sports: Cognitive, Behavioral, and Physiological Perspectives
Supervisor(s): Professor Catharine A. Winstanley, Professor Luke Clark