All living things depend on the sustainability of the earth’s resources, and understanding how to protect and better manage those limited resources is crucial to our survival. Critical environmental issues like water pollution, food shortages and rising temperatures could have a catastrophic effect on our ability to meet basic human needs in the near future. Experts in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems are working on solutions to many of these challenges.

Our researchers are studying everything from climate change and storm water management to the relationship between food, nutrition, diet and health. The research discoveries being made here have the potential to reach across borders for world-wide applications.

We are also sharing what we’ve learned with the next generation of scientists - our students. They come to us with a strong sense of global responsibility, passionate about creating positive and lasting change on issues of importance. We believe that by providing them with the opportunity to learn outside the traditional classroom - taking part in a community-based experiential learning project or studying overseas - we can enhance their education and help them develop to their full potential.

 

 

Research Centres

Research Facilities

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems offers unique hands-on learning sites for graduate students, in addition to traditional labs where food science, food processing, and nutrition and health research take place.

UBC Farm is 24-hectare site on UBC Vancouver campus, which is a living laboratory that contains agricultural, forest, and transitional landscape areas for interdisciplinary field research. The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) located at UBC Farm is a unique research centre that aims to understand and fundamentally transform local and global food systems towards a more sustainable, food secure future.

The Dairy Education and Research Centre, located a 2-hour drive from UBC Vancouver campus, is an internationally recognized dairy cattle research centre supporting the development and adaptation of new technologies for the dairy industry in British Columbia and beyond. The Centre has a large research herd that can provide sufficient numbers of experimental animals at a given physiological stage to meet most research requirements. These features support a vibrant critical mass of students, postdoctoral fellows, staff, visiting scientists, and faculty. A 10,800 square-foot student residence building opened in September 2015, which allows students and researchers to live on-site at the Agassiz, B.C. research station, and more closely monitor their research projects in dairy cattle welfare, animal reproduction, and resource recovery.

The Wine Research Centre has sites at both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses, with modern and fully equipped laboratories. Researchers in the Wine Research Centre also have access to the outstanding research facilities in the Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) which is conveniently located adjacent to the Centre. The MSL has established itself as a force in the global biotechnology research community. Research areas include grapes, vineyards, and soils; wine and fermentation; winery performance and sustainability; and wine territory competitiveness.
 

 

Research Highlights

In the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, our researchers are focused on finding viable solutions to pressing global crises and are known worldwide for their innovation and leadership in areas such as food science, dairy reproduction and animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, and community health and nutrition.

Our researchers have attracted millions of dollars in research funding from sources including Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Michael Smith Scholar, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Our experts are conducting ground-breaking research in many areas including:

  • animal biology, health, and welfare;
  • ecofriendly alternatives in pest management;
  • food technology, genomics, and safety;
  • food processing and food waste management;
  • plant and soil health;
  • watershed management;
  • food security and sovereignty;
  • community health and nutrition;
  • agricultural land use and impact.

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

Name Research Interests
Barichello, Richard Agricultural economics
Black, Jennifer Human nutrition and dietetics; Community Health / Public Health; food banks; food environments; Nutrition; Public health; school food environments; social determinants of health
Black, Thomas Andrew Biometeorology; Soil physics; Microclimate modification
Brar, Gurcharn Plant biology; Cereal pathology (wheat and barley in particular); Functional pathogenomics; Fungal biology; Genetics of host-pathogen interactions - disease resistance in crop plants; Plant imaging; Population genetics and genomics; Resistance breeding
Carrillo, Juli Plant-insect interactions; Agroecology; Invasive species; evolution; Ecology; community ecology; Environmental Change; Plant evolution; Population Ecology
Castellarin, Simone viticulture and grapevine physiology; physiological and molecular aspects that underlay fruit ripening and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and how they are modulated by the environment and viticultural practices; molecular viticulture
Cerri, Ronaldo Animal and dairy sciences; Animal behaviour; Animal developmental and reproductive biology; Animal physiology; Agricultural Machinery and Technology; Animal Production; Animal Reproduction; Biotechnology and Activity monitors; Dairy cattle reproduction; Endocrine Regulation; Endometrium-conceptus cross communication; Estrous cycle physiology in cattle; Inflammation and stress; Production medicine in dairy cattle
Cohen, Tamara understanding the interplay between different lifestyle behaviours; how eating behaviours relate to weight management; Obesity
Cornelis, Jean Thomas Earth and related environmental sciences; Pedology; Biogeochemistry; Soil-Plant Interactions
Dee, Derek Environment and natural resources economics; Food sciences (including food engineering); Natural resource management; Agri-food Transformation Products; aspartic proteases; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Biophysics; Enzymes and Proteins; food chemistry; food proteins; funtional amyloid; meat analogues; Nanomaterials; Nutriceuticals and Functional Foods; prions; protein aggregation; protein engineering; Protein Folding; protein nanofibrils; Proteins; psychrophilic enzymes
Frommel, Andrea Animal physiology, environmental stress; Sustainable Aquaculture; climate change; Early development in fish; Alternative feeds in aquaculture; Fish physiology
Gulati, Sumeet Agricultural economics; Economics of Human Wildlife Conflict; Economics of Urban Transportation; Effectiveness of Carbon Taxes; Effectiveness of Environmental Policy; International Trade and its Effect on the Environment; Political Economy of Environmental and Trade Policy
Jessri, Mahsa Human nutrition and dietetics; Community Health / Public Health; Epidemiology; Nutrition; Health Policies; Lifestyle Determinants and Health; Health Promotion; Health Prevention; Statistics and Probabilities; Preventive Medicine; Artificial Intelligence; Chronic Disease Prevention; clinical epidemiology; Dietary Assessment; Dietary Pattern Modeling; Dietetics; Machine Learning; Nutritional Epidemiology; predictive analytics; Public and Population Health; Simulation
Jovel, Eduardo Ethnobotany, mycology, natural product chemistry and Aboriginal health
Karakochuk, Crystal Dawn Human nutrition and dietetics; Nutrition; Global Health and Emerging Diseases; Hematology; Biochemical markers of iron status; Clinical dietetics; Determinants and causes of anemia; Inherited blood disorders (sickle cell, thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency); International nutrition; Maternal and child nutrition; Micronutrients (namely iron, folic acid, and zinc); Risk-benefit of micronutrient supplementation
Kitts, David Food chemistry and toxicology, cellular and molecular mechanism, oncology
Knipfer, Thorsten
Krzic, Maja Soil sciences; Soil quality; Soil management
Lamers, Yvonne Human nutrition and dietetics; Nutrition; Nutrients; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Breast Feeding and Infant Nutrition; Clinical Chemistry; Maternal and child health; Micronutrients; Newborn Screening; Nutritional Biochemistry; Nutritional Biomarker; Periconceptional folic acid supplementation; Pregnancy; Prenatal Supplements; Toddler Nutrition; Vitamins
Martens, Tabitha
McAusland, Carol Interactions between globalization and public good provision, impacts of trade liberalization on environmental politics, potential use of trade policy to stem damages from exotic species introductions and biological invasions Environmental impacts of international trade, implications of skilled labor migration for the global provision of public goods
Measday, Vivien Chromosome segregation in the budding yeast using molecular biology and genomic tools
Noack, Frederik Interaction of economic development and the environment
Pratap-Singh, Anubhav Environment and natural resources economics; Food sciences (including food engineering); Natural resource management; Agri-food Transformation Products; cold plasma; food engineering; food processing; Functional Foods; heat transfer; high pressure; mass transfer; novel non-thermal processing; Nutriceuticals and Functional Foods; pasteurization; pulsed light; sterilization
Protopopova, Alexandra Animal; Community Health / Public Health; rabbit; dog; cat; animal shelter; Animal behaviour; Animal welfare; community initiatives; climate change and pet ownership; cultural differences in human-companion animal relationships; free-ranging dogs; one health

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

Steven Bristow

Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Precision irrigation under a changing climate: Preparing BC growers to monitor plant-water relations.

Alysha Deslippe

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)

EATing in a GENdered world (EatGen): How teens involved in high school sports can be empowered to make informed food choices

Hadis Mozaffari

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)

Examining the Impact of Dietary Diversity on Type 2 Diabetes

Sydney Moore

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

Improving herd health detection of dairy cows through the use of automated sensory technologies

Thomas Brenner

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)

Characterization of bacteriophages as an alternative treatment strategy for foodborne salmonella in the poultry industry

Adelia Jacobs

Master of Science in Human Nutrition (MSc)

Nutritional Epidemiology

Jens Johnson

Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Disentagling drivers of wild bee abundance and diversity and pollination services

Anna Ratuski

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

Use of environmental enrichment to improve the welfare of rodents used in science
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Sean Xia

Master of Food Science (MFS) [2013]

Job Title
Plant Manager / Consultant

Employer
Clear Ocean Seafood Ltd./ Sirocco Food + Wine Consulting
Headshot of Jenna Buhrmann

Jenna Buhrmann

Master of Food Science (MFS) [2022]

Job Title
Research & Development Food Scientist and Brewmaster

Employer
Kindred Cultures

Elisabeth Ormandy

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Co-founder and Executive Director

Employer
Animals in Science Policy Institute

Andrea Goldson Barnaby

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Lecturer and Programme Coordinator

Employer
University of the West Indies

Naomi Robert

Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS) [2015]

Job Title
Research Associate

Employer
Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Elaine Anderson

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD) [2009]

Job Title
Regional Environmental Protection Coordinator

Employer
Correctional Service of Canada

Isaac Jonas

Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)

Job Title
Founding CEO

Employer
Impact Africa
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 Land and Food Systems.

 

Selective sorption and desorption of DOM in Podzol horizons — DOC and aluminium contents of leachates from a column experiment
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Jean Thomas Cornelis (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 872
Publication Date: 10 May 2023

View Publication
Comprehensive anthocyanin and flavonol profiling and fruit surface color of 20 blueberry genotypes during postharvest storage
Publication: Postharvest Biology and Technology
UBC Author(s): Simone Castellarin (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 09255214
Volume: 199
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Heightened variability observed in resistance and virulence genes across salmonella Kentucky isolates from poultry environments in British Columbia, Canada
Publication: Food Microbiology
UBC Author(s): Siyun Wang (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 07400020
Volume: 111
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Kinetics of anthocyanin condensation reaction in model wine solution under pulsed light treatment
Publication: Food Chemistry
UBC Author(s): David Kitts (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Anubhav Pratap-Singh (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 03088146
Volume: 405
Publication Date: 30 March 2023

View Publication
Precision cellular agriculture: The future role of recombinantly expressed protein as food
Publication: Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety
UBC Author(s): Rickey Yada (Faculty of Land & Food Systems / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Derek Dee (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 22
Page Range: 882-912
Publication Date: March 2023

View Publication
Determination of bound volatiles in blueberries, raspberries, and grapes with an optimized protocol and a validated SPME-GC/MS method
Publication: Food Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Simone Castellarin (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 03088146
Volume: 403
Publication Date: 1 March 2023

View Publication
Political Energy and Political Evaporation: Evaluating the Practice of Shopping for Food System Change
Publication: International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society
UBC Author(s): Hannah Wittman (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 08914486
Volume: 36
Page Range: 77-98
Publication Date: March 2023

View Publication
Common pesticides disrupt critical ecological interactions
Publication: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
UBC Author(s): Juli Carrillo (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Risa Sargent (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 01695347
Volume: 38
Page Range: 207-210
Publication Date: March 2023

View Publication
Characterization of selected dietary fibers microparticles and application of the optimized formulation as a fat replacer in hazelnut spreads
Publication: Food Research International
UBC Author(s): Anubhav Pratap-Singh (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 09639969
Volume: 165
Publication Date: March 2023

View Publication
Hydrogen Peroxide Produced from Selective Phenolic Acids in Cell Culture Underlies Caco-2 Changes in Cell Proliferation Parameters
Publication: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
UBC Author(s): David Kitts (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00218561
Volume: 71
Page Range: 3022-3032
Publication Date: 15 February 2023

View Publication
Barriers and facilitators to diet, physical activity and lifestyle behavior intervention adherence: a qualitative systematic review of the literature
Publication: The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
UBC Author(s): Tamara Cohen (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 20
Page Range: 14
Publication Date: 14 February 2023

View Publication
Assessing governability of agricultural systems: Municipal agricultural planning in Metro Vancouver, Canada
Publication: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
UBC Author(s): Hannah Wittman (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 6
Publication Date: 7 February 2023

View Publication
Seeing the forest for the fractions – Comparing soil organic matter fractionation methods using molecular features after forest stand conversion
Publication: Geoderma
UBC Author(s): Jean Thomas Cornelis (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00167061
Volume: 430
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Effect of UV Filters during the Application of Pulsed Light to Reduce Lactobacillus brevis Contamination and 3-Methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol Formation While Preserving the Physicochemical Attributes of Blonde Ale and Centennial Red Ale Beers
Publication: Foods
UBC Author(s): David Kitts (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 12
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Sprayed microcapsules of minerals for fortified food
Publication: Journal of Functional Foods
UBC Author(s): Anubhav Pratap-Singh (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 17564646
Volume: 101
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Guidance for the use and reporting of anaesthetic agents in BJP manuscripts involving work with animals
Publication: British Journal of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Barbara Stefanska (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00071188
Volume: 180
Page Range: 255-263
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Characterization of trichome phenotypes to assess maturation and flower development in Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis) by automatic trichome gland analysis
Publication: Smart Agricultural Technology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Riseman (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 3
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Rats move nesting materials to create different functional areas: Short report
Publication: Laboratory Animals
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00236772
Volume: 57
Page Range: 75-78
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments on wild bee populations in soybean and corn fields in eastern Ontario
Publication: Agricultural and Forest Entomology
UBC Author(s): Risa Sargent (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 14619555
Volume: 25
Page Range: 53-65
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Lysine-Derived Maillard Reaction Products Inhibit the Growth of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium
Publication: Pathogens
UBC Author(s): Siyun Wang (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 12
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
The Effect of Placement and Group Size on the Use of an Automated Brush by Groups of Lactating Dairy Cattle
Publication: Animals
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Marina von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 13
Publication Date: February 2023

View Publication
Grape-associated fungal community patterns persist from berry to wine on a fine geographical scale
Publication: FEMS yeast research
UBC Author(s): Vivien Measday (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 23
Publication Date: 4 January 2023

View Publication
Phytochemical screening of ethanolic extracts of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds along with the evaluation of antidiabetic properties by molecular docking approach
Publication: Natural Product Research
UBC Author(s): Anubhav Pratap-Singh (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 14786419
Volume: 37
Page Range: 681-686
Publication Date: 2023

View Publication
Considering and reporting sex as an experimental variable II: An update on progress in the British Journal of Pharmacology
Publication: British Journal of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Barbara Stefanska (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00071188
Publication Date: 2023

View Publication
Sites, stakes, and scales: radical relationalism and the shifting nature of food sovereignty mobilization
Publication: Globalizations
UBC Author(s): Hannah Wittman (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 14747731
Publication Date: 2023

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
2022 Dr. Brunt studied the social licence to use animals for scientific purposes and the role of institutional transparency in this process. He identified several opportunities for institutions using animals to engage in activities to increase institutional openness with the public and help renegotiate the social licence to use animals in society. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mandal used computational simulation and experimental validation to develop an understanding of parameters related to pulsed UV light treatment of liquid foods. He developed a reactor for processing of liquid foods that can inactivate the microorganisms present in these foods, while retaining their sensory quality and nutritional value. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mu's research looked at how different dietary phenolic acids, present in fruits and vegetables, work to mitigate the pro-inflammatory reactions that contribute to intestinal injury. Her findings will assist us to make optimal food choices that will lead to health and welfare benefits. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Caballero measured how much lysine children use when they eat different plant-based foods, such as rice, oats and corn. Her work will help develop dietary guidelines for children that consume a predominantly plant-based diet. These guidelines will ensure they meet their lysine requirement, which is important for adequate growth and development. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
2022 Dr. Koralesky used institutional ethnography to investigate how animal sheltering policies and animal protection laws organize what happens to animals. Her research illuminates frontline work practices involved with responding to concerns about animals in distress, helping animals with behavioural problems and keeping people and animals together. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Turki used novel stable-isotope-based techniques to evaluate new dietary therapies for people with inborn errors of metabolism such as modified cornstarch in glycogen storage disease type I, and glycomacropeptide in phenylketonuria. The results of the series of studies will contribute to improving nutritional management in this population. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
2022 Dr. Falardeau studied how the cheese microbiome affects the growth of foodborne pathogens. He discovered that differences between traditional and industrial cheese production practices affect the final cheese microbiome, and likely the risk of foodborne illness. This finding can help cheesemakers produce safer cheeses. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2021 Dr. Feng developed several novel chemosensors to rapidly and selectively detect different chemical hazards in various food matrices. The chemosensors developed in his study not only simplify food hazards detection process but also present excellent detection sensitivity. His work will contribute to public health as well as agri-food industry. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2021 Using wearable technologies, Dr. Schirmann investigated how the behaviour of dairy cows changes in response to illness. Her work has shown that cows change behaviours in response to illness and her findings are a key step to identifying automated ways of identifying unwell animals when housed in large groups. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2021 Dr. Ma developed rapid and sensitive methods to detect antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Her work offers novel perspectives to understand how bacteria gain antibiotic resistance in food supply chains. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)

Pages

Interesting Links

https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/faculty/
 

LFS Community Connects: March 2023

Message from the Dean for LFS Community Connects: March 2023 Welcome to the first issue of spring. I’m looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms and early flowers bloom soon. Earlier this month, interim UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Buszard and I welcomed industry...

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2023 March is Nutrition Month

March is Nutrition Month To mark Nutrition Month, we invited a few Land and Food Systems faculty, staff and students to give us their ideas for go-to meals, whether dessert is okay to eat, and ways they stay healthy. Barbara Stefanska, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Food, Nutrition...

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Student Feature – Julia Watkins

Student Feature – Julia Watkins Julia Watkins Julia Watkins is a second-year LFS student studying Food, Nutrition, and Health, with aspirations to enter the dietetics program. She is passionate about sharing nutritious, affordable, and accessible food with the UBC community. Her love of...

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Saturday, February 11, we are highlighting four outstanding members of the LFS community. Read on to see why they decided to pursue science. Kimia Nozadi Kimia Nozadi...

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Researchers call for caution on agricultural pesticides

Researchers call for caution on agricultural pesticides Risa Sargent Feb. 2, 2023 – Common pesticides used in agriculture could be impacting organisms in unexpected ways through their ecological interactions. A recent publication by UBC researchers says regulators need to carefully...

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Paul Molund

Paul Molund About Degree & Grad Year PhD, 1985 Major Food Science To celebrate his 2023 Alumni Builder Award, we checked in with Paul Molund, an alumnus who is one of many amazing volunteers who give back to the Faculty. For more than 12 years, Paul...

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