Science researchers nab UBC’s premier awards
Material scientist Dr. Andrea Damascelli and statistical ecologist Dr. Marie Auger-Méthé have earned two of UBC’s top research honours—the...
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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.
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
Designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines, the new 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 updated 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 new facility will offer a valuable flow of well-trained talent, new ideas, and fresh professional perspectives to industry.
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.
This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Science.
Year | Citation | Program |
---|---|---|
2013 | Dr. Harland conducted his research in the field of analytic number theory. He focussed on two functions which help with testing prime numbers: the Carmichael Lambda function, and the Euler Totient [Oiler Tote-ent] function. The methods he created to study these specific functions can be used by mathematicians to study other arithmetic functions as well. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Lawrence studied database integration and developed new methods for translating changes between independent databases. His case study focussed on the problem of updating a building's construction cost estimate, following changes in architectural design. His approach allows database owners to more easily keep their data in sync with related databases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Zheng explored the chemical bond strength in metallo-proteins. For the first time, the mechanical strength of a single ferric-thiolate bond in a protein was measured. His research significantly advances our knowledge of the nature of chemical bonds and paves the way for further studies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Chin developed a new method of radiation delivery that can more precisely target lung cancers while reducing exposure to the patient's healthy tissue. This technique allows doctors to prescribe higher radiation doses to the tumour without increasing the risk of treatment complications, and this significantly improves the chances of patient survival. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Howard developed the first snowpack model for groomed ski runs, to forecast snow conditions for alpine ski racing. Her model captured the effects of snow crushing by skiers and snowcats, and included heat radiated from trees. She successfully simulated snow conditions for the 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler. | Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Moore studied Arctic char, a salmonid fish of great importance for the Inuit people of Nunavut. His work used molecular approaches to study post-glacial recolonization and migratory behaviour of the species, and his findings have implications for fisheries management and conservation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Caruthers studied a mass extinction event of the Early Jurassic time period. He used paleontology and geochemistry to investigate its magnitude and controlling mechanisms. Findings from western North America show declining diversity in marine species following the event, suggesting it was worldwide and closely tied to prolonged global warming. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Qiu developed a computer program to study radiation exposure. She focused on a type of in-room CT imaging procedures which increases the precision of radiation therapy. This study will help physicians and patients to understand the potential cancer risk due to the imaging process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
2013 | Dr. Lam studied how plants make the waxy layer on their surface that serves to protect them against water loss, UV light, pathogens and insects. Her research has uncovered a novel mechanism for how plants regulate the genes required to synthesize this waxy layer. These results may have broad implications in agriculture and plant biotechnology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Hossain conducted his research in the field of Superconductors. He made accurate measurements of four materials in virtually zero electrical resistance, and produced results which differed significantly from the existing literature. His findings will help to increase our understanding of superconductivity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |