The applied sciences – architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, nursing, and planning – change society's conception of what is possible as a matter of course. Applied scientists make dreams real, turn ideas into practice. We embody the interface between present and future.

The Faculty of Applied Science comprises a unique constellation of professional disciplines including; Architecture & Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Nursing and Community & Regional Planning. The core purpose shared across all of our four disciplines is to discover, create and apply knowledge, provide unwavering top-tier education and champion a community of responsible professionals devoted to serving a thriving, sustainable and healthy society. Our work and the professions which our graduates represent span the entire human-centred built environment. 

The disciplines within the Faculty of Applied Science are celebrated for the scope, strength and impact of their research activities. Our Faculty claims the spotlight in the global arena for our research in clean energy, communication and digital technologies, health and health technology among many others. We offer disciplinary-specific research based graduate programs as well as a range of professional graduate programs and pride ourselves on our ability to open doors of opportunity to students beyond their time within our Faculty.

Mission
We shape the people and the professions that shape the world.
 

Research Centres

Schools / Departments

School

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Aamodt, Tor Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Computer architecture; Machine learning; Computer Architecture; graphics processor units (GPUs); Machine Learning
Abdin, Yasmine Department of Materials Engineering Materials engineering
Abdulai, Fatawu School of Nursing Clinical nursing, primary (preventive care); Health informatics; human-computer interaction; Health technology design; Informatics/Digital health; Sexual health equity
Abolmaesumi, Purang Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; Artificial Intelligence; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Technologies; Cancer Imaging; Computer Assisted Interventions; Image Guided Surgery; Machine Learning; Medical Imaging; Surgical Robotics; Ultrasound Imaging
Abughannam, Rana School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture socio-political conditions that govern architecture and urbanity
Adebar, Perry Erwin Department of Civil Engineering Concrete structures, seismic design, high-rise buildings, shear design, evaluation and repair of structures
Altintas, Yusuf Department of Mechanical Engineering Virtual Machining, Computer Control of Manufacturing Systems, CAD/CAM, CNC Design, High Speed Feed Drive Control, Real Time Interpolation and Trajectory Generation for Machine Tools, Adaptive Control, Sensor Fused Intelligent Machining, Metal Cutting Mechanics, Chatter Vibrations in Machining, Piezo -Actuator Based Precision Machining, High Speed Milling, Optimal Machining of Aerospace Parts, Dies and Molds, Automation, Precision Engineering, Electro Mechanical Systems, Modeling and Analysis of Machining Processes, Mechanics, dynamics and control of micro-machining operations
Amini, Kiana Department of Materials Engineering Materials engineering, n.e.c.; Carbon capture engineering; Chemical engineering, n.e.c.; Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion; Redox Flow Batteries; In Situ Characterization of Electrochemical Processes; Electrolyte Design and Battery Architecture; Multi-Physics Modeling of Electrochemical Systems
Angeles, Leonora School of Community and Regional Planning, Institute for Gender, Race, Sex and Social Justice Gender analysis, gender mainstreaming and other gender planning related tools, including feminist critiques and perspectives on the intergration of gender and other social axes of difference and diversity in community planning and international development work
Asselin, Edouard Department of Materials Engineering Hydrometallurgy; Materials engineering, n.e.c.; Electrometallurgy; Inorganic chemistry, n.e.c.; Corrosion; Coatings; Electrochemistry
Auxier, Jenny School of Nursing Adaptation, benefits, and usefulness of Perinatal Digital Health Services, Integration of Patient Engagement into Digital Health Services
Bacca, Mattia Department of Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; Solid Mechanics; Biophysics; Soft materials; Fracture Mechanics and Adhesion
Baldwin, Susan Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Bioprocess engineering, bioremediation, biomedical reaction modelling
Banthia, Nemkumar Department of Civil Engineering Materials engineering, concrete, advanced composite materials, shotcrete, fibre reinforcement, rebound mechanics, kinamatic studies, optimization, supplementary cementing materials in concrete
Barudin, Jessica School of Community and Regional Planning All other social sciences, n.e.c.; Indigenous health; Indigenous Planning; Traditional Indigenous medicine and treatments; health; Indigenous methodologies; Community planning; North American Indigenous languages
Bass, John School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture Constested landscapes Globalization and Contested Territory, Infrastructure, Social Equity, Visualization and Community Engagement
Baumbusch, Jennifer School of Nursing long-term residential care, family caregiving, Intellectual Disability, nursing care of older adults
Beck, Sara Department of Civil Engineering Natural environment sciences; Water quality; Innovative water treatment solutions; Ultraviolet disinfection mechanisms; Applications of UV LEDs (light emitting diodes); Water disinfection; Water reuse; Applied environmental microbiology
Berube, Pierre Department of Civil Engineering Water treatment, trace organic contaminants, membrane and advanced oxidation technologies., Drinking water treatment, filtration/membrane processes for water and wastewater treatment, distribution system water quality, advanced oxidation, wastewater reuse
Beznosov, Konstantin Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering; computer security and privacy; mobile security and privacy; online social networks security and privacy; usable security and privacy
Bi, Xiaotao Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Chemical engineering; Biomass and Bioenergy; Electrostatics of Powders; Fluidization; Fuel Cells Water Management; Green Engineering; Industrial Symbiosis; Life Cycle Analysis; Multiphase Chemical Reactors; Particle technology
Bigazzi, Alex Department of Civil Engineering Civil engineering; Transport planning; active transportation; Pedestrians; bicycles; travel behaviour; Transportation Systems; motor vehicle emissions; Climate impacts
Binet, Andrew School of Community and Regional Planning Community development / social planning; Community health and care; Equity; Participatory action research; Participatory planning; Public engagement
Boschma, Geertje School of Nursing History of nursing and health care, with special emphasis on mental health and mental health nursing
Britton, Ben Department of Materials Engineering Metals and alloy materials engineering; Manufacturing engineering; Materials characterisation & microstructure; Metallurgy; Electron diffraction & microscopy; Deformation; Microstructure/property models; Manufacturing

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Open Research Positions

This list of possible research projects is non-exhaustive. It only shows positions that are specifically advertised in the G+PS website.

Graduate Student Stories

AnnaMaria Zubieta

Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc)

Detection and Measurement of Organic Contaminants in Water

Andrew David Gunter

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)

Reducing wasted time in Field-Programmable Gate Array circuit design compilation

Jess Tran

Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering (MASc)

Justice-Oriented Pedagogies for Informal Engineering Education

Yao Zhang

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)

Development of lipid nanoparticle formulations for small molecule and gene delivery

Ryan Yeung

Master of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering (MASc)

Development and validation of a novel mixed reality and haptics enabled teleultrasound system

Muhammad Adnan

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)

Cross Stack Optimizations for large Deep Learning Models

Maggie Chong

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD)

Composites Engineering

Alexandra Rousseau

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)

Electrochemical modification of cellulose nanocrystals
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Arman Hejazi

Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc) [2021]

Job Title
Electrochemical Engineer

Employer
Agora Energy Technologies Ltd.

Duncan Chambers

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) [2021]

Job Title
Urban Farmer and Co-Operator

Employer
City Beet Farm

Michel AlSharidah

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) [2013]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
Public Authority for Applied Education and Training

Michael Wrinch

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) [2008]

Job Title
President

Employer
Hedgehog Technologies Inc.

Mehrdad Fatourechi

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) [2008]

Job Title
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Employer
BroadbandTV Corp

Mohamed Sultan Mohamed Ali

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Associate Professor

Employer
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Samer Al-Kiswany

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) [2013]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
University of Waterloo

Jasna Jankovic

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) [2011]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
University of Connecticut
All Alumni Stories

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Applied Science.

 

Potential greenhouse gas emission reduction from active transportation: Comparing travel behavior patterns
Publication: Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
UBC Author(s): Alexander York Bigazzi (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 13619209
Volume: 145
Publication Date: August 2025

View Publication
Taking stock of youth substance use portrayals: A critical content analysis of Canadian news media, 2016–2024
Publication: Social Science and Medicine
UBC Author(s): Emily Ochi (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 02779536
Volume: 379
Publication Date: August 2025

View Publication
Performance-based seismic design method of stacked modular steel building based on three-dimensional seismic isolation
Publication: Engineering Structures
UBC Author(s): Tsung-Yuan Yang (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 01410296
Volume: 336
Publication Date: 1 August 2025

View Publication
An instance mask representation for bubble size distribution in two-phase bubble flotation column based on deep learning model
Publication: Flow Measurement and Instrumentation
UBC Author(s): Sanja Miskovic (Mining Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 09555986
Volume: 104
Publication Date: August 2025

View Publication
Effects of Using Generic vs. Subject-Specific Muscle Properties on Spinal Load Prediction Across Different Posture Simulations
Publication: Journal of Biomechanics
UBC Author(s): S Sidney Fels (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00219290
Volume: 188
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
The tensile mechanics of creped fiber networks: Effects of interfacial-delamination, buckling, and damage
Publication: International Journal of Solids and Structures
UBC Author(s): Sheldon Green (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00207683
Volume: 317
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

View Publication
Distributed continuous-time unit commitment with energy storage in multi-area networks
Publication: Electric Power Systems Research
UBC Author(s): Yu Christine Chen (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 03787796
Volume: 244
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Simulation of Water Quality in Pipeline Networks: A Graph Theory Approach
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
UBC Author(s): Barbara Jean Lence (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 07339429
Volume: 151
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

View Publication
Enhancing accuracy and efficiency in cyclic liquefaction modeling: An automatic calibration framework for advanced constitutive models
Publication: Computers and Geotechnics
UBC Author(s): Mahdi Taiebat (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 0266352X
Volume: 183
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Two-pulse laser-induced spall failure of (111) twist grain boundaries in Ni bicrystals
Publication: Computational Materials Science
UBC Author(s): Mauricio Ponga de la Torre (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 09270256
Volume: 257
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
ProtoASNet: Comprehensive evaluation and enhanced performance with uncertainty estimation for aortic stenosis classification in echocardiography
Publication: Medical Image Analysis
UBC Author(s): Purang Abolmaesumi (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 13618415
Volume: 103
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Modification of SANISAND-MSf Model for Simulation of Undrained Cyclic Shearing under Nonzero Mean Shear Stress
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
UBC Author(s): Mahdi Taiebat (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 10900241
Volume: 151
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

View Publication
A novel automated soft sensor design tool for industrial applications based on machine learning
Publication: Control Engineering Practice
UBC Author(s): Yankai Cao (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 09670661
Volume: 160
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
A surface charge approach to characterize serpentine reactivity for carbon mineralization
Publication: Applied Clay Science
UBC Author(s): Marek Pawlik (Mining Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 01691317
Volume: 270
Publication Date: 15 June 2025

View Publication
Developments in Ultrasound-Based Imaging for Prostate Cancer Detection
Publication: Prostate
UBC Author(s): Septimiu Salcudean (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 02704137
Volume: 85
Page Range: 823-832
Publication Date: 15 June 2025

View Publication
Shape optimization for fluid flow with parametric level set method and deep neural networks
Publication: Computers and Fluids
UBC Author(s): Jasmin Jelovica (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science), Rajeev Jaiman (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00457930
Volume: 295
Publication Date: 15 June 2025

View Publication
Short-term conflict-based crash risk forecasting: A Bayesian conditional peak-over-threshold approach
Publication: Analytic Methods in Accident Research
UBC Author(s): Tarek Sayed (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 22136657
Volume: 46
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production in a circular CO<inf>2</inf> economy: it's role in mitigating global CO<inf>2</inf> emissions
Publication: Resources, Conservation and Recycling
UBC Author(s): David Chester Upham (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 09213449
Volume: 219
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Living with and beyond cancer: What older adults tell us about healthy aging
Publication: Journal of Geriatric Oncology
UBC Author(s): Kristen Haase (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 18794068
Volume: 16
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Denosumab treatment of giant cell tumors in the spine induces woven bone formation
Publication: JBMR Plus
UBC Author(s): Rizhi Wang (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 9
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Development of Agro-Based Engineered Biochars for Low Concentration Nitrate Adsorption: Modification Selection, Performance, Factors, Mechanism, and Reliability
Publication: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
UBC Author(s): Xiaotao Bi (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00496979
Volume: 236
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Controlled release of active food packaging by nanocarriers: Design, mechanism, models and applications
Publication: Food Packaging and Shelf Life
UBC Author(s): Orlando Rojas Gaona (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 22142894
Volume: 49
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Green waste, an untapped energy source? Reviewing the prospect of green waste as a biomass energy source
Publication: Cleaner Waste Systems
UBC Author(s): Naoko Ellis (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 11
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Geometric Study and Clinical Case Series for Mandible Reconstruction With a Single-Piece Scapular Free Flap
Publication: Head and Neck
UBC Author(s): Antony Hodgson (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science), S Sidney Fels (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 10433074
Volume: 47
Page Range: 1584-1592
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) water disinfection photoreactors: A review
Publication: Journal of Environmental Management
UBC Author(s): Fariborz Taghipour (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 03014797
Volume: 386
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication

Pages

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2025 Dr. Bonneau studied the interactions between ice structures and the ocean in Milne Fiord, Nunavut. His work led to a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the transfer of heat from the ocean to glaciers and ice shelves. This knowledge improves our ability to model and therefore predict sea level rise. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Mobaraki applied Artificial Intelligence to the welding industry by developing AI models that allow industrial robots to see and hear, enabling real-time seam tracking and defect detection. Her work in computer vision and multi-modal AI also incorporates explainable AI to build trust in automated manufacturing systems. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Ziao Wang's dissertation develops new strategies to analyze structured data like sequences and networks. His work improves how we sort items, find important elements, and match similar structures—advancing tools used in fields from computer science to social science and beyond. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Graves hiked nearly 1,000 kilometers to study how temperate lakes with weak winds may not fully mix during Fall turnover. Her study highlights the role of surface temperature and the thermal expansion coefficient in convection-driven mixing. Findings impact hydrodynamic models and climate change predictions. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Stankiewicz studied how sex-based differences influence T cell development in the human thymus. Using stem cell models, she mapped thymus niches to guide T cell growth, revealing new insights into immune development. Her work offers a novel tool to study and improve T cell therapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Fleetwood researched biobased, responsive membranes and hydrophobic coatings for waterproof, breathable materials (i.e. rain jackets). Through this work, she developed a plant-based, aqueous, water-repellent spray and a guard cell isolation protocol. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Bawafaa explored women’s experiences and perception of access to reproductive healthcare in rural Ghana. The study demonstrated that treating women as mere recipients of foreign knowledge is patronizing and overlooks existing knowledge systems that can be reconciled with best practices for desired outcomes. Findings call upon nurse leaders to restructure reproductive healthcare in rural Ghana. Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
2025 Dr. Chou greatly improved GPU ray tracing performance through hardware and software co-design. By overcoming memory and performance bottlenecks, his work advanced real-time photorealistic rendering, enabling significant progress in applications such as gaming, virtual reality, and neural graphics. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Hickey developed clinically practical methods for studying why knee replacements fail. Traditional study designs tend to be inefficient in studying this phenomenon. He developed new data analysis and medical imaging techniques which show a plausible pathway for the study of how implant placement effects the long-term survival of knee implants. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Yang examined the reliability of integrating machine learning with current rock mass characterization and classification methods. By identifying methodological challenges and developing a guideline for reliable machine learning modelling, her research provides key insights for rock engineers seeking to optimize geotechnical design practices. Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)

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Interesting Links

https://apsc.ubc.ca/about/faculty-directory
https://apsc.ubc.ca/research-partnerships
 

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UBCO researchers pioneer advanced mechanical heart valve

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