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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 Dr. Herrera opened new possibilities for scientific and technological applications of molecules prepared at ultracold temperatures. He developed simple but robust theoretical schemes that will allow experimentalists to tackle in a controlled way some of the outstanding problems in chemistry and physics. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 Dr. Parolin investigated the response of the element Palladium to an applied magnetic field by using a specialized technique that employs radioactive impurities. The studies were conducted using the beta-detected nuclear magnetic resonance facility at TRIUMF, located at UBC. The results provide further insights into the origin of Palladium's unique magnetic properties . Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 Dr. Mazur used numerical simulations to explore the behaviour of empty space in some of the most extreme environments in astrophysics, such as the early universe and the intense magnetic fields of neutron stars. His results contribute to our understanding of astronomy and fundamental physics. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Hughes developed a software-based method for medical imaging, with the aim of improving the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Dr. Hughes's technique resulted in improvements in diagnosis, compared with a leading commercial method. This has led to an interest in future clinical development and implementation. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Stead developed new, high-efficiency, laser-based methods for the generation and detection of light at long optical wavelengths. Such radiation is of particular interest for the accurate characterization of gas mixtures and atmospheric samples due to the highly unique way in which molecules absorb this long wavelength radiation. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Starzyk investigated the controls governing the interaction of surface water and groundwater along a stream. Through a combination of field work and numerical modelling, her work improves our ability to understand and predict the interaction between groundwater and streams. Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
2012 Through his research, Dr. Loonchanta identified the structure of gelsolin, a protein involved in the regulation of cell movement. The findings contribute to our understanding of how cells "walk", and can be applied to the design of drugs which help to prevent the spread of cancer cells. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 Dr. Salas-Fernandez studied new drugs for the treatment of malaria. She designed and evaluated a series of ant-imalarial drugs to explore the connections between structure and activity. This research contributes to the understanding of structural features that might help to overcome resistance to anti-malarial drugs. . Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2012 High-risk neuroblastoma is an aggressive cancer that affects nerve cells and is hard to cure in children over 1 year of age. Dr.Morozova used state-of-the-art technologies to crack the genetic code of neuroblastoma cells. Her research revealed genetic errors that could provide clues for the development of new therapies for neuroblastoma patients. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2012 Dr. Stock investigated and defined the chemical variations preserved in the rocks surrounding the Red Lake Gold Mines in Northwestern Ontario. Through the documentation of both mineral and rock chemistry, she was able to identify the influences on gold formation and construct a new exploration tool Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD)

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