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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
Dixon, David Department of Materials Engineering Fixed-bed leaching
Dreisinger, David Department of Materials Engineering Hydrometallurgy; Leaching
Dumont, Guy A Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering biomedical engineering; automatic drug delivery; mobile health; global health; anesthesia; physiological monitoring;, Adaptive control, predictive control, control of distributed parameters systems, advanced process control, applications of wavelet analysis, biomedical applications of control, pulp and paper process control
Dunbar, W Scott Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering Industrial biotechnology; Economics and business administration; biotechnology applications in mineral resources; mining industry business model innovation
Dutta, Souradeep Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Reinforcement learning; Cyber-physical systems; Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning
Elfring, Gwynn Department of Mechanical Engineering Theoretical Fluid Mechanics, Complex Fluids, Cell Biomechanics, Capillary Phenomena, Applied Mathematics
Ellis, Naoko Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Chemical engineering; Chemical Processes; CO2 capture and utilization; Interdisciplinary teaching and learning; multiphase systems; thermochemical conversion of biomass
Elmo, Davide Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering philosophy of engineering; rock engineering; geosciences; Numerical modelling; Machine Learning
Englezos, Petros Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Carbon capture engineering
Fannin, R Jonathan Department of Civil Engineering Shear wave velocity for the detection of fines loss in soils, internal erosion in earth dams, seepage-induced instability in gap-graded soils, grain shape and the strength of sands, filtration compatibility of woven and nonwoven geotextiles, pullout resistance of geogrids in static and dynamic loading, debris flow travel distance on steep mountainous terrain, slope stability in engineering practice
Fedorova, Alexandra Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering design of system software: the software that manages the hardware and decides how to allocate its resources to applications; building better performance tools.
Fels, S Sidney Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; Human Computer Interaction; biomechanical modeling of human anatomy; Machine Learning; new interfaces for musical expression; speech synthesis
Feng, James Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Department of Mathematics Chemical engineering; Mathematics and statistics; Biophysics; Complex fluids; Fluid mechanics; Mathematical biology
Feng, Steve Department of Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering; Modelization and Simulation; Software (Tools); Machining and Assembling; Milling; Prototyping; 3D Laser Scanning; 3D Printing; Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM); Geometric Modeling; Machining Simulation; Multi-Axis CNC Machining
Foster, Johan Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Chemical engineering; 3D Printing; Biomaterials; Biomedical Devices; Bioproducts; Cellulose Nanomaterials; Fibers; Polymers
Frigaard, Ian Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mathematics Fluid mechanics (visco-plastic fluids)
Frostad, John Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Chemical engineering; Food sciences (including food engineering); Emulsions; Physics of Soft Matter; Agricultural Sprays; Food Physics; Interfacial Rheology; Novel Instrumentation; Foams
Fujita, Mari School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture Globalization and contested territory, urbanism, contemporary theory, spatial and cultural effects of globalism, material studies, wearables, gallery installations, interiors, building designs, urban proposals
Garbi, Rafeef Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Bioinformatics; Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; Artificial Intelligence; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Technologies; Computer Vision; Deep Learning; image analysis; Imaging; Machine Learning; Medical Image Computing
Garrett, Bernard Mark School of Nursing Nursing; Health Care Technologies; Ethics and Health; Deception in Healthcare; Media Influence on Behavior; Virtual Reality (VR); Augmented reality; Evidence-based practice; Alternative Medicine; CAM; Healthcare Regulation
Goodyear, Trevor School of Nursing
Gopalakrishnan, Sathish Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering computer and software systems, real-time and embedded computing (computer systems as part of the real world); cyber-physical systems, Real-time systems, distributed systems, resource management
Gopaluni, Bhushan Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Modelling and experiment design, identification for control
Grecov, Dana Department of Mechanical Engineering Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation; Tribology
Green, Sheldon Department of Mechanical Engineering Fluid Mechanics; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; building ventilation; railroads; papermaking

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

Arash Mousemi

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)

Numerical simulation of turbulent reactive flows

Juri Kim

Doctor of Philosophy in Planning (PhD)

Examining the impacts of barriers and facilitators on post-pandemic economic recovery in Vancouver neighbourhoods

Ian Hill

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)

Optimal experiment design for accelerated testing of integrated circuit wear-out reliability

Melanie Mackay

Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)

Critical elements in the coalfields of British Columbia

Rubaiya Rumman

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)

Wood fly ash-based self-healing concrete using encapsulated chemical agents

Yas Oloumi Yazdi

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)

Alignment of magnetic microstructures in an injectable spinal cord injury treatment: Simulation and generation of configurable magnetic fields

Grady Thompson

Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MASc)

Analysis of stochastic directed acyclic graphs

Brent Peekeekoot

Master of Architecture (MARCH)
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Andrew Ibey

Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering (MEng) [2009]

Job Title
Acting Manager, Biomedical Engineering

Employer
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Andreanne Doyon

Master of Arts in Planning (MAP) [2009]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
Simon Fraser University

Sazid Zaman

Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering (MASc) [2010]

Job Title
Civil (Hydraulic) Engineer

Employer
SNC-Lavalin
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.

 

Solar-Driven Carbon Dioxide Capture Using a Photoelectrochemical Redox Flow System
Publication: ACS Energy Letters
UBC Author(s): Alexandra Tavasoli (Mechanical Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 10
Page Range: 2952-2959
Publication Date: 13 June 2025

View Publication
Asymmetric Braided Artificial Muscles with Precise Electrothermal Actuation Control Enabled by Deep Learning
Publication: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
UBC Author(s): John Madden (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 19448244
Volume: 17
Page Range: 34241-34254
Publication Date: 11 June 2025

View Publication
Interfacial Stabilization of Green and Food-Safe Emulsions through Complexation of Tannic Acid and Nanochitins
Publication: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
UBC Author(s): Orlando Rojas Gaona (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 19448244
Volume: 17
Page Range: 34647-34658
Publication Date: 11 June 2025

View Publication
Hybrid Nanofiber-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesters: Sunlight-Driven Operation in Low-Humidity and Low-Illumination Environments
Publication: ACS Nano
UBC Author(s): Orlando Rojas Gaona (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 19360851
Volume: 19
Page Range: 20881-20891
Publication Date: 10 June 2025

View Publication
Paired Electrosynthesis Using Bio-Oils: Guaiacol Hydrodeoxygenation Coupled with Glycerol Oxidation in a Stirred Slurry Reactor
Publication: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
UBC Author(s): Elod Lajos Gyenge (Chemical & Biological Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 13
Page Range: 7803-7811
Publication Date: 2 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
Transgender Youth's Perspectives on the Relationships Between Pregnancy, Contraceptives, and Dysphoria
Publication: Journal of Adolescent Health
UBC Author(s): Elizabeth Saewyc (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 1054139X
Volume: 76
Page Range: 1062-1068
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
Nanohydrometallurgy with Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles: A Sustainable Solution for Critical Metal Retrieval from Phosphogypsum
Publication: Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy
UBC Author(s): Wenying Liu (Materials Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 21993823
Volume: 11
Page Range: 1689-1703
Publication Date: 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
Multi-modal data improves real-time defect classification deep learning models for fillet joints in gas metal arc welding
Publication: International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
UBC Author(s): Guy A Dumont (Electrical & Computer Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 02683768
Volume: 138
Page Range: 5309-5317
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Prediction of Circulation Load of Side-Flanged High-Pressure Grinding Rolls Closed-Circuit Crushing
Publication: Minerals
UBC Author(s): Bern Klein (Mining Engineering / Faculty of Applied Science)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: 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
“A very different place from when the pandemic started”: Lessons learned for improving systems of care for families of children with medical complexity
Publication: Journal of Child Health Care
UBC Author(s): Jennifer Baumbusch (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 13674935
Volume: 29
Page Range: 339-352
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
Understanding Nurse Retention at a Mental Health and Addictions Facility During a Dual Pandemic
Publication: Canadian Journal of Nursing Research
UBC Author(s): Farinaz Havaei (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science), Kristen Haase (School of Nursing / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 08445621
Volume: 57
Page Range: 188-198
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Operationalizing the Capabilities Approach to Understand Neighborhood Well-Being in a Participatory Action Research Study
Publication: Journal of Planning Education and Research
UBC Author(s): Andrew Binet (School of Community and Regional Planning / Faculty of Applied Science)
ISSN: 0739456X
Volume: 45
Page Range: 351-368
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. Thandi's research resulted in the development of a validated electronic frailty screening tool for older adults, the first of it's kind in Canada. This tool is ready for pilot implementation within primary care and provides a tremendous opportunity to detect and manage frailty to improve older adults' holistic health and quality of life . Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
2025 Dr. Berjisian studied how cyclists balance time and energy during daily trips. Using GPS data, she found that road grade, sex, traffic controls, and facility types influence cyclists' choice of speed. Her research supports designing infrastructure for riders of all ages and abilities. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Yavarinasab studied how bacteria can produce electricity. He found a way to measure their electrical activities and created a simple sensor to detect chemicals such bacteria release. His discoveries could support the development of low-cost, bacteria-powered batteries to provide electricity in off-grid areas and during emergencies. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Manu investigated critical relationships between measured and perceived indoor environmental quality, occupant well-being, and productivity in home-based workspaces. Her findings underscore the pivotal role subjective IEQ experiences play in shaping occupant health, offering essential guidance to designers, researchers, and policy-makers. Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
2025 Building codes in North America currently aim to protect lives, but do not ensure a building is functional after a large earthquake. Dr. Blowes evaluated the risk of long post-earthquake recovery times and identified factors that drive this risk. Her research also proposed methods to include recovery in future seismic design provisions. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Pratap Ghanathe's research enhances artificial intelligence for tiny, battery-powered devices. His innovations in compact neural networks and hardware optimization enhance speed, efficiency, and reliability. These advances enable smart sensors to operate longer on minimal energy, making intelligent technology more accessible and sustainable. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Hosseini conducted an assessment of seismic force modification factors for conventional construction reinforced concrete shear wall structures in Canada using the performance-based unified procedure. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Wang focuses on standardizing the procedure for creating digital replicas of real-world systems, particularly in industrial manufacturing. Her work spans from initial modeling to model updating and enabling interactions between the digital replica and the physical system. This research will enhance manufacturing efficiency and productivity. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Jabbarvaziri studied wireless communication for 5G and future networks. He developed new retransmission methods for massive machine type communications and deep learning techniques for robust high-speed communications. His work informs the design of future wireless systems that are more reliable and adaptive. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2025 Dr. Bashir developed clean energy processes for green alkaline peroxide production and carbon dioxide utilization by addressing electrode stability and scale-up challenges associated with two phase electrochemical processes. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)

Pages

Interesting Links

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

UBC Applied Science researchers receive over $9.7M in federal funding

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UBC Faculty of Applied Science appoints two Associate Deans

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UBC scientists propose blueprint for 'universal translator' in quantum networks

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30 years of sparking discovery

30 years of sparking discovery suhani.syal Wed, 06/18/2025 - 12:31 Engineering Geering Up This article originally appeared on Geering Up celebrates a major milestoneGeering Up Engineering Outreach had no...

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The UBC Pipeline Integrity Institute (PII) Celebrates a Decade of Excellence in Pipeline Education and Research

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UBC Applied Science 2023/24 Annual Research Report Showcases Impact and Innovation

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