Canadian Immigration Updates

Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more

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

Pages

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

Muhammad Adnan

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)

Cross Stack Optimizations for large Deep Learning Models

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

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.

 

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
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 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
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
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
A graph neural network surrogate model for multi-objective fluid-acoustic shape optimization
Publication: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
UBC Author(s): Rajeev Jaiman (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00457825
Volume: 441
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Cyclist Perception-Reaction Time and Stopping Sight Distance for Unexpected Hazards
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering Part A: Systems
UBC Author(s): Alexander York Bigazzi (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 24732907
Volume: 151
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Revealing the invisible dimensions of electrochemical carbon capture technologies through in situ/operando techniques
Publication: Materials Today Energy
UBC Author(s): Kiana Amini (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 50
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Comfort in Providing Care and Associations With Attitudes Towards Substance Use: A Survey of Mental Health Clinicians at an Urban Hospital in Vancouver, Canada
Publication: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
UBC Author(s): Angela Russolillo (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science), Emily Ochi (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 13510126
Volume: 32
Page Range: 774-782
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
In-situ austenite grain growth measurements in an X80 line pipe steel
Publication: Materials Characterization
UBC Author(s): Matthias Militzer (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 10445803
Volume: 224
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
A Bayesian framework for quantifying uncertainty in the thermal history of curing composite structures
Publication: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
UBC Author(s): Anoshiravan Poursartip (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science), Reza Vaziri (Civil Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 1359835X
Volume: 193
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Tailoring pore structure in nanocellulose cryogels: Enhancing thermal and electromagnetic interference shielding properties
Publication: Carbohydrate Polymers
UBC Author(s): Orlando Rojas Gaona (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 01448617
Volume: 357
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Bed-of-Nails effect: Unraveling the insertion behavior of aerosol jet 3D printed microneedle array in soft tissue
Publication: Extreme Mechanics Letters
UBC Author(s): Mattia Bacca (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 77
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Influence of pH on copper tailings sedimentation: A systematic approach to analyzing differential settling
Publication: Powder Technology
UBC Author(s): Marek Pawlik (Mining Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00325910
Volume: 458
Publication Date: 31 May 2025

View Publication
Boosting water flux and dye removal: Advanced composite membranes incorporating functionalized AC-PAA for wastewater treatment
Publication: Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Edouard Asselin (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 1226086X
Volume: 145
Page Range: 705-720
Publication Date: 25 May 2025

View Publication
The peel strength (cohesive/adhesive) of amine-associating polymers
Publication: Polymer
UBC Author(s): Savvas Hatzikiriakos (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 00323861
Volume: 326
Publication Date: 9 May 2025

View Publication
Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
Publication: Advanced Science
UBC Author(s): Orlando Rojas Gaona (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 12
Publication Date: 8 May 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
2024 Dr. Pokhrel studied the role of geothermal energy for global decarbonization potential. He developed numerical models to understand the physical behavior of complex subsurface reservoirs for extracting geothermal energy. Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
2024 Health monitoring is essential to enable timely and appropriate care for newborns. However, this is limited in low-to-middle-income countries due to insufficient resources and health staff. Dr. Grooby examined accessible newborn health monitoring. He developed software to monitor heart and lung health using digital stethoscopes and video cameras. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Pourzahedi's research delved into the dynamics of gas propagation inside complex fluids, offering strategies to manipulate gas presence inside such media. Relevant to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds, understanding gas behavior in these fluids holds significant importance for sustainability and environmental preservation. Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Schmidt designed and researched methods for efficiently tracking organ surfaces during surgery. He designed multiple algorithms to track tissue motion along with a dataset to evaluate performance for applications of tissue tracking. His research in efficient tracking will enable applications in surgical robotics, such as autonomy. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Zaman investigated how state & nonstate actors intervene in disaster resilience planning, exposing disparities between international standards & local contexts using Pakistan as case study. Criticizing top-down governance, her research advocates prioritizing basic human needs alongside resilience for community wellbeing amidst climate crises. Doctor of Philosophy in Planning (PhD)
2024 Dr. Asadi developed sustainable solutions utilizing ion exchange and electrochemical processes for effectively treating per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances, commonly known as "forever chemicals," from water sources. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Purevjav examined current water use practices in two mining regions in Mongolia. Her findings identified processes that help to improve access to water and water quality for local communities. The findings contribute to the discussion of water sustainability in mining regions. Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Primbetova has developed methods to produce therapeutic T cells and megakaryocytes using biomaterials and stem cells. Her research enables advancements of cellular therapies for blood-related diseases and genetic conditions. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kourehpaz enhanced seismic risk assessment methodologies for building structures by incorporating site-specific hazard considerations and addressing various sources of uncertainty in risk models. He employed statistical and machine learning methods to improve the accuracy of regional earthquake-induced damage and economic loss estimates. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2024 Dr. Rad's research centered on enhancing devices that provide a tactile sense of simulated environments. Her work elevated the quality of interactions and perception in dynamic environments. Her findings hold promise for critical fields like medical training and telesurgery, where interaction precision is vital for patient safety. Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)

Pages

Interesting Links

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

Next-gen technology helps high-rises ride out earthquakes

Next-gen technology helps high-rises ride out earthquakes emma.fennell Tue, 05/13/2025 - 09:14 Engineering Dr. Tony Yang and team in Shanghai This article originally appeared on UBC News...

Learn More

Dr. Gabriel Potvin recognized with 3M National Teaching Fellowship

Dr. Gabriel Potvin recognized with 3M National Teaching Fellowship suhani.syal Mon, 05/12/2025 - 12:52 Awards Engineering This article originally appeared on Dr. Gabriel Potvin, Associate Professor of...

Learn More

Accounting for climate change: New experiential learning opportunities

Accounting for climate change: New experiential learning opportunities emma.fennell Tue, 04/15/2025 - 12:49 Engineering External This article originally appeared on UBC Sustainability...

Learn More

Research Excellence Clusters Funded in 2025/26

Research Excellence Clusters Funded in 2025/26 emma.fennell Mon, 04/14/2025 - 10:32 Research Excellence External This article originally appeared on UBC Research + Innovation. Research Excellence...

Learn More

UBC Engineering faculty and grad students recognized with Killam teaching awards

UBC Engineering faculty and grad students recognized with Killam teaching awards emma.fennell Tue, 04/08/2025 - 16:14 Awards From left: Naoko Ellis, Jenna Usprech, Ahmad Mohammadpanah This article originally...

Learn More

UBC Nursing researchers among 2024/25 Community-University Engagement Support recipients

UBC Nursing researchers among 2024/25 Community-University Engagement Support recipients emma.fennell Tue, 04/08/2025 - 12:46 Nursing Research Excellence External This article originally appeared on...

Learn More