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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

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.

 

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
2012 Topological insulators are materials which are insulating in the core but not on the surface. Dr. Rosenberg studied four exotic effects in three dimensional topological insulators. These materials were recently discovered and have been shown to be a new phase of matter. This research advances our basic understanding of this new class of materials. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Zlotorzynska studied the chemical behavior of oxygen and nitrogen radical atoms. She devised novel strategies to harness their high reactivity for use in selective carbon-oxygen and carbon-nitrogen bond forming reactions. This research led to the development of new chemical methods applicable to pharmacologically active compounds. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 Dr. Hodge studied how magma, or melted rock, moves within underground magma chambers. She developed a technique to use features in solidified magma, or rocks, to understand how the magma moved prior to solidification. Her work explains how new injections of magma interact below volcanoes, affect magma chamber growth, and increase the potential for volcanic eruptions at the Earth's surface. Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Bakhshaii used Gene Expression Programming to improve forecasts of precipitation and speed-up calculation of how atmospheric stability affects thunderstorms. She devised new forecast methods for electric load to enable more efficient operation of electric-power generation. Her innovation has been beneficial for meteorologists, hydrologists, the power industry and the general public. Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)
2012 Dr. Shaikh conducted research on enzymes which remove the A and B antigens from red blood cells. Her work, in collaboration with research performed at the Blood Research Centre, has generated universal red blood cells. These studies contribute to the understanding of enzymes that are useful for the conversion of A/B/O blood types into universal blood. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 Dr. Porteus used laboratory studies to investigate the cellular mechanisms used for oxygen-sensing in the Bowfin, an air breathing fish. She determined the role these receptors play in helping the Bowfin survive for extended periods in low oxygen. This research provides insight into the evolution of oxygen sensing in vertebrates. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2012 Dr. Yohanan examined the role of touch in the communication of emotion between humans and social robots. His foundational research provided insights into the manner of expressing emotions through touch, while also demonstrating that this form of interaction can influence the human's emotional state. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2012 Dr. Caldwell discovered, first, that fishes that move less are more vulnerable to habitat loss and, second, that European seahorses may be able to cope with, or flee harmful changes. This research sheds light on huge declines in seahorse populations in a Portuguese lagoon and could help with conservation efforts. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2012 Dr. Steinberg studied the intricate ways in which surfaces can sit inside certain highly curved six-dimensional spaces. He developed a new theory to study the case where the six-dimensional space is not smooth but has singularities. The results of his research shed light on existing conjectures, and have applications to algebraic geometry, as well as to the physics of string theory. . Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2012 Dr. van Poorten estimated changes in growth, abundance and survival, following experimental depletions of wild fish in mixed-species lakes. The models and ideas he developed will help ecologists and fisheries scientists to estimate and understand changes in these vital rates, especially in ecosystems at risk of economic collapse. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

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