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At UBC Science, outstanding scientists and students strive to unravel the principles that underlie our universe - from the subatomic to the macroscopic, from pure mathematics to biotechnology, from ecosystems to galactic systems. Through the breadth and depth of our academic endeavours and the calibre of the people who make up our community, we take pride in discovering new scientific knowledge and preparing Canada’s and the world’s next generation of scientists.

A diverse range of highly ranked programs

With access to master’s and doctoral degrees through nine departments and 350 research groups, our graduate students work with world-class faculty to explore the basic sciences, and to pursue interdisciplinary and applied research across departments and units. UBC’s research excellence in environmental science, math, physics, plant and animal science, computer science, geology and biology is consistently rated best in Canada by international and national ranking agencies.

Committed to outstanding graduate training

UBC Science houses a wide range of prestigious NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience and related industry programs: from atmospheric aerosols to high-throughput biology, from biodiversity research and ecosystems services to plant cell wall biosynthesis, from quantum science and new materials to applied geochemistry. The options for enriched graduate training in industry related fields are almost endless.

World-class research infrastructure

Our affiliated institutes and centres include UBC's Michael Smith Laboratories, Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Life Sciences Institute, Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, and TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics.

Top research talent

UBC Science boasts more than 50 Canada Research Chairs, 12 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates. Our graduate students have won 15 prestigious Vanier Scholarships.

A diverse, supportive community of scholars

UBC Science is committed to excellence, collaboration and inclusion. Women account for 41 per cent of the Faculty's graduate enrollments, and the percentage of international students has increased to 50 per cent over the past decade.

Mission
To nurture an exceptional scientific learning and research environment for the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.
 

Research Centres

Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

Computational Sciences and Mathematics

Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Genomics and Biological Sciences

Human-Computer Interaction

Life Sciences

Chemistry and Materials Science

Physics

Sustainability

Research Facilities

Designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines, the Earth Sciences Building (ESB) lies at the heart of the science precinct on UBC’s Vancouver Campus. The $75 million facility is home to Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Statistics, the Pacific Institute of the Mathematical Sciences, and the dean’s office of the Faculty of Science. ESB’s teaching facilities will help Canada meet the challenges of a transforming and growing resource sector. Just as importantly, the researchers and students working and learning in the facility will offer a valuable flow of well-trained talent, new ideas, and fresh professional perspectives to industry.

Research Highlights

Receiving more than $120 million in annual research funding, UBC Science faculty members conduct top-tier research in the life, physical, earth and computational sciences. Their discoveries help build our understanding of natural laws—driving insights into sustainability, biodiversity, human health, nanoscience and new materials, probability, artificial intelligence, exoplanets and a wide range of other areas.

UBC Science boasts 50 Canada Research Chairs and 10 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates. 

Schools / Departments

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
Abraham, Ninan Department of Zoology Mammals, pathogens, genetic analysis, proper cell funtion, development, maintenance and proper functioning of T- and B-cells
Achermann, Reto Department of Computer Science Computing systems; Computer systems engineering; Systems software; resilient and efficient systems; intersection of operating systems, applied formal methods and hardware models.
Adams, Keith Department of Botany Molecular evolution, genome evolution, and gene expression
Adem, Alejandro Department of Mathematics Cohomology of finite groups, orbifolds, stringy topology, algebra, sporadic simple group, group actions, arithmetic groups, K-theory, homotopy theory, spaces of homomorphisms
Alacaoglu, Ahmet Department of Mathematics Mathematical optimization; Machine learning; Mathematical operations research; Numerical optimization; Machine Learning; Stochastic algorithms; Min-max games; Monotone operator theory
Algar, Russ Department of Chemistry Luminescent Materials; Bio/Chemical Sensing; Materials synthesis and biofunctionalization; Understanding the nanoparticle interface; New energy transfer configurations for sensing and imaging; Point-of-care diagnostic devices; Intracellular sensing
Allen, Kelsey Department of Computer Science complex behaviors in humans
Allen, Susan Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric sciences; Oceanography; coastal oceanography; coupled bio-physics and chem-physics and all three models; forecast models; Oceans and Inland Waters; physical oceanography; Prediction and Climatic Modeling
Altshuler, Doug Department of Zoology Zoology; flight control; visual guidance; visual neuroscience; neuroethology; avian biomechanics; aerodynamics; wing morphing; motor control
Ameli, Ali Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Geology; Climate Changes and Impacts; Ground Water and Water Tables; Groundwater Ecohydrology; Groundwater-Surfacewater & land Interaction; Hydro-geological Engineering; Hydrological Cycle; Numerical analysis; Watershed Management
Andersen, Raymond Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Chemistry Chemicals produced by marine organisms
Angel, Omer Department of Mathematics Probability theory, percolation, random graphs, random walks, particle processes, scaling limits
Angert, Amy Department of Botany, Department of Zoology Plant biology; Zoology; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity; biogeography; biological responses to climate change; Conservation Biology; Ecological and Ecophysiological Processes; evolutionary ecology; population biology
Aronson, Meigan Department of Physics & Astronomy heavy-ferromagnetic compounds; charge density waves; magnetic nanoparticles
Ashraf, Mohammad Arif Department of Botany Cell division; plant development; drug discovery
Auger-Methe, Marie Department of Statistics, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Fisheries sciences; Statistics; Zoology; Animal movement; Polar ecology; Statistical Ecology
Auld, Vanessa Department of Zoology Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Zoology; Cell; Cell Biology; Development; Developmental Genetics; epithelia; Genetics; glia; in vivo imaging; Molecular Genetics; nervous system; Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis; permeability barriers
Austin, Philip Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences global climate; climate change; greenhouse effect; global warming; clouds; lightning; storms, Cloud physics, radiative properties of layer clouds, status cirrus formation, global climate, cloug aerosol feedbacks and climate
Aviles, Leticia Department of Zoology Community ecology (except invasive species ecology); Animal behaviour
Bachmann, Sven Department of Mathematics Mathematics and statistics; Mathematical Analysis; quantum phenomena; Mathematical physics; Quantum statistical physics; Topological states of matter
Balmforth, Neil Department of Mathematics Fluid mechanics, nonlinear dynamics and applied partial differential equations
Barker, Shaun Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
Beckie, Roger Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Other environmental engineering and related engineering; Hydrogeology; Mine drainage; physical hydrogeology; groundwater geochemistry; groundwater contamination
Behrend, Kai Department of Mathematics Moduli spaces, Gromov-Witten invariants, string theory, Donaldson-Thomas invariants, Euler characteristics, categorification
Bennett, Michael Department of Mathematics Number Theory, Diophantine Approximation and Classical Analysis

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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

Milos Simovic

Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)

Ecophysiology of yellow-cedar decline

Valerie Zimmermann

Master of Arts in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (MA)

Agricultural Sustainability and Climate Resilience in British Columbia

Sadie Lye

Master of Science in Oceans and Fisheries (MSc)

The impact of the urban environment on land to sea connection in Burrard Inlet, B.C.

Grace Melchers

Master of Science in Oceans and Fisheries (MSc)

Employing environmental DNA to understand the impacts of urbanization on nearshore fish communities and migrations

Mitchell Demchuk

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)

Multiple resonance type thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecules for near ultraviolet and deep blue emission

Connor Thompson

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)

Molecular and cellular studies of novel broad-spectrum natural product antivirals against viruses of pandemic concern

Cariad Knight

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)

Development of myelin-specific MRI contrast mechanisms using 31-phosphorous

Oliver Tong

Master of Science in Physics (MSc)

Analytical approaches to electron-phonon interaction

All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Peter Caravan

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) [1997]

Job Title
Co-Director, Institute for Innovation in Imaging and Associate Professor of Radiology

Employer
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Tracey Stott

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) [2005]

Job Title
Lawyer

Employer
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Michael Hoff

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
University of Washington

Sherry Zhao

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) [2014]

Job Title
Senior Director, Strategic Accounts & Business Development

Employer
Mitacs

Glen Hearns

Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (PhD) [2010]

Job Title
Self Employed

Employer
Self Employed

Jean Michel Lauzon

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) [2013]

Job Title
Partner Marketing Manager

Employer
SAP

Costanza Casiraghi

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Senior Scientist

Employer
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals

Vanessa Timmer

Job Title
Executive Director

Employer
One Earth
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 Science.

 

Positive and negative selective assortment
Publication: Journal of Theoretical Biology
UBC Author(s): Christoph Hauert (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00225193
Volume: 608
Publication Date: 7 July 2025

View Publication
Archean deep melting and post-Archean metasomatism of the cratonic mantle: A garnet Lu-Hf isotope record
Publication: Chemical Geology
UBC Author(s): Maya Kopylova (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science), Matthijs Smit (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00092541
Volume: 685
Publication Date: 5 July 2025

View Publication
Suitability and mechanistic validation of two-dimensional bonded block models for simulating spalling and strainbursting at the mine tunnel scale
Publication: Computers and Geotechnics
UBC Author(s): Erik Eberhardt (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0266352X
Volume: 183
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Tackling water table depth modeling via machine learning: From proxy observations to verifiability
Publication: Advances in Water Resources
UBC Author(s): Ali Ameli (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 03091708
Volume: 201
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
The extra basis in noncommuting variables
Publication: Advances in Applied Mathematics
UBC Author(s): Stephanie van Willigenburg (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01968858
Volume: 168
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Ocean leadership: Can the European Union influence the global shark meat trade?
Publication: Marine Policy
UBC Author(s): Ussif Rashid Sumaila (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0308597X
Volume: 177
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Integrative Molecular and Functional Analysis of Human Sperm Subpopulations to Identify New Biomarkers of Fertilization Potential
Publication: Archives of Medical Research
UBC Author(s): Martin Hirst (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01884409
Volume: 56
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Interpretation of inhomogeneous magnetization transfer in myelin water using a four-pool model with dipolar reservoirs
Publication: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
UBC Author(s): Wolfram Tetzlaff (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 07403194
Volume: 94
Page Range: 278-292
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Global Navier-Stokes flows in intermediate spaces
Publication: Journal of Differential Equations
UBC Author(s): Tai-Peng Tsai (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00220396
Volume: 429
Page Range: 50-87
Publication Date: 5 June 2025

View Publication
Airborne natural source electromagnetics for an arbitrary base station
Publication: Geophysical Journal International
UBC Author(s): Lindsey Heagy (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0956540X
Volume: 241
Page Range: 1961-1974
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Search for a new scalar decaying into new spin-1 bosons in four-lepton final states with the ATLAS detector
Publication: Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
UBC Author(s): Alison Lister (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 03702693
Volume: 865
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Oscillatory instabilities in dynamically active signaling compartments coupled via bulk diffusion in a 3-D spherical domain
Publication: Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
UBC Author(s): Michael Jeffrey Ward (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01672789
Volume: 476
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
The isotrivial case in the Mordell-Lang conjecture for semiabelian varieties defined over fields of positive characteristic
Publication: Canadian Mathematical Bulletin
UBC Author(s): Dragos Ghioca (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00084395
Volume: 68
Page Range: 461-476
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Phylogenomic and morphological evidence supports the reinstatement of the bamboo genus Clavinodum from Oligostachyum (Poaceae: Bambusoideae)
Publication: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
UBC Author(s): Sean Graham (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 10557903
Volume: 207
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Setting the limit: cold rather than hot temperatures limit intertidal distribution of a coastal foundation species
Publication: Marine Environmental Research
UBC Author(s): Christopher Harley (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01411136
Volume: 208
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Raman micro-spectroscopy uncovers complex structural and chemical adaptations of alpine azalea leaf surface
Publication: Microchemical Journal
UBC Author(s): Reinhard Jetter (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0026265X
Volume: 213
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): Trevor Campbell (Statistics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1359835X
Volume: 193
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Linear and smooth oriented equivalence of orthogonal representations of finite groups
Publication: Topology and its Applications
UBC Author(s): Thomas Williams (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01668641
Volume: 367
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

View Publication
Seasonal variability of the energy content of Salpa thompsoni, a key metazoan in Southern Ocean food webs
Publication: Polar Biology
UBC Author(s): Yevhenii Pakhomov (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 07224060
Volume: 48
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Visualization of bipartite graphs in limited window size
Publication: Acta Informatica
UBC Author(s): William Evans (Computer Science / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00015903
Volume: 62
Publication Date: June 2025

View Publication
Proposed revision of SI unit classifications: how the candela, mole, kelvin differ conceptually from the base units of kilogram, meter, second, ampere
Publication: European Journal of Physics
UBC Author(s): Lorne Whitehead (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01430807
Volume: 46
Publication Date: 31 May 2025

View Publication
Cumulative effects of fire in the Fraser River basin on freshwater quality and implications for the Salish Sea
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Brian Hunt (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 978
Publication Date: 25 May 2025

View Publication
Heterogeneous enriched geochemical compositions in Hawaiian lavas: Contributions from recycled continental materials in the Loa source of the Hawaiian plume
Publication: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
UBC Author(s): James Stewart Scoates (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00167037
Volume: 397
Page Range: 75-95
Publication Date: 15 May 2025

View Publication
Electrogenic dynamics of biofilm formation: Correlation between genetic expression and electrochemical activity in Bacillus subtilis
Publication: Biosensors and Bioelectronics
UBC Author(s): Dan Bizzotto (Chemistry / Faculty of Science), Carolina Tropini (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09565663
Volume: 276
Publication Date: 15 May 2025

View Publication
Erratum: The ATP-Binding Cassette Gene ABCF1 Functions as an E2 Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme Controlling Macrophage Polarization to Dampen Lethal Septic Shock (Immunity (2019) 50(2) (418–431.e6), (S1074761319300378), (10.1016/j.immuni.2019.01.014))
Publication: Immunity
UBC Author(s): Wilfred Arthur Jefferies (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 10747613
Volume: 58
Page Range: 1359
Publication Date: 13 May 2025

View Publication

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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. Zhang studied waxes sealing plant surfaces. She found whitish appearance of leaves to wax nanocrystals formed by characteristic wax compounds, and her analysis revealed the mechanisms underlying the formation of these compounds. This research will inform the breeding of drought-resilient crops and engineering waterproof compounds. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2024 Dr. Rees developed and characterized dextran-coated nanoparticles and nanoparticle assemblies for bioanalytical applications such as the specific labelling of cancer cells. These materials were very brightly fluorescent, stable, non-fouling, and will help enable point-of-care diagnostic technology that will make molecular medicine more accessible. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Gogoi examined how satellite-based crop yield estimation in the Canadian Prairie region can be improved by using new multi-source, multi-variable datasets, and machine and deep learning methods. Her studies have improved our ability to estimate crop yields at fine spatial scales and to forecast them a few months ahead of time. Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (PhD)
2024 Dr. Frieling used laser cooled atoms to create ultra-cold molecules and study chemical reactions at 1 millionth of a degree above absolute zero and to characterize the performance of a new quantum atomic sensor for vacuum metrology relevant for applications in aerospace and semi-conducting fabrication industries. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2024 Dr. Herberts developed a noninvasive blood profiling technology for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, enabling expedited discovery of treatment resistance mechanisms to common cancer drugs, and helping clinicians select treatment tailored to patient's unique tumor biology. This test is now being evaluated in two Canadian clinical trials. Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Bacon used DNA sequencing to explore genomic associations with poor disease outcomes in patients with genitourinary cancers. His work has demonstrated the role of circulating tumour DNA as a tool for predicting survival in patients with kidney cancer, as well as the prognostic utility of specific gene alterations in patients with bladder cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)
2024 Why is the natural world so diverse in its shape and form? Is diversity random or driven by natural selection? Dr. Boehm studied the beaks of tropical hummingbirds, and the flowers they visit, to answer these questions. He concludes that extreme curvature is a result of niche partitioning, while other shapes remain unknown in their origin. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2024 Dr. Thulasi examined the role of protein degradation in the regulation of plant immunity. He identified a new regulatory mechanism mediated by the degradation of lipid biosynthetic enzymes. These findings deepen our understanding of the complex plant immune system. He hopes his discoveries aid in the future development of disease-resistant crops. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2024 Using artificial intelligence methods, Dr. Dirks developed machine learning models to unlock the information contained in spectral data. Demonstrated applications include grade estimation in mining and food quality assessment in agriculture. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kinney investigated how rapid environmental changes influence evolution in hybrid populations. Using threespine stickleback fish, she showcased the pivotal role of ecological selection in shaping hybrid populations, improving our understanding of the fragility of reproductive isolation. This work advances our insights into hybrid evolution. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

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