AI can tell if a patient battling cancer needs mental health support
Psychiatrists and computer scientists at UBC and BC Cancer have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that can accurately...
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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
- Biodiversity Research Centre
- Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
- Centre for Microbial Diversity and Evolution
Computational Sciences and Mathematics
- Data Science Institute
- Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems
- Institute of Applied Mathematics
- Statistical Consulting and Research Laboratory
- Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
- Geophysical Inversion Facility
- Lithoprobe: Canada's National Geoscience Project
- Mineral Deposit Research Unit
- Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research
- Seismic Laboratory for Imaging and Modeling
Genomics and Biological Sciences
- Centre for High-Throughput Biology
- Geomatics for Informed Decisions Network
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics
- Michael Smith Laboratories
Human-Computer Interaction
- Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems
- Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics
Life Sciences
- Centre for Blood Research
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries
- Life Sciences Institute
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Neglected Global Diseased Initiative
Chemistry and Materials Science
- Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory
- Max Planck-UBC Centre for Quantum Materials
- Quantum Devices Group
- Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute
Physics
- Antihydrogen Trapping and Spectroscopy at CERN
- Pacific Institute for Theoretical Physics
- TRIUMF: Canada’s National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
- UBC ATLAS Project at Large Hadron Collider
Sustainability
Research Facilities
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.
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
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
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Diet and the microbiome in Parkinson's disease (MIIM - PHD)
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. Ayinla developed early transition metal complexes such as zirconium complexes that serve as efficient catalysts for the preparation of molecules that contain nitrogen. She prepared molecules that contain nitrogen including amines which are common structural part of naturally occurring and biologically relevant compounds using methods that do not produce unwanted products. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Levin developed computer methods for observing the structure of a person's muscles and making computer animations using this information. These algorithms reveal the architecture of muscle using magnetic resonance imaging, and allow its simulation. His research has applications in areas ranging from medical science to computer graphics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. M'Gonigle used theoretical models, namely mathematical analyses and computer simulations, to investigate the complexities of evolution among interacting species. His models cover diverse topics such as host-parasite co-evolution, sexual selection, and species formation. Findings will contribute to our understanding of genetics and how species evolve. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Nyssa Temmel investigated the genomics of gender regulation and the genes involved in unisexual flower development in Populus trichocarpa. She discovered novel, gender biased gene expression for nine genes involved in flower development, and investigated gender biased gene expression in the Poplar genome. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Cook studied problems in number theory. He showed the existence of certain types of algebraic regularity in prime numbers. The results add a deeper understanding of the structure of prime numbers, particularly the additive structure. This work builds on recent major advances and has wide application in the field of mathematics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Li identified and developed new PET imaging agents based on aryltrifluoroborates. Her work provides new understanding for the preparation and labelling of these compounds. The expansion and further elaboration of this new imaging technique is significant to the development of fluorine-18 labelling methods for use in PET imaging. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Jiang developed techniques for modeling large systems with multiple self-interested parties and designed efficient algorithms for predicting the likely outcomes of such models. He implemented software packages that have allowed researchers to do computational analysis of real-world systems such as auctions for search-engine keywords. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Li applied and developed bioinformatic methods to find new therapeutic uses for existing drugs. By modeling interactions between known drug targets and approved drugs, she identified novel potential for existing drugs in breast cancer and inflammatory diseases. This research helps find drug candidates that could be fast-tracked for clinical use and approval. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Weihmann is a geneticist who discovered two genes contributing to the natural defence of plants towards disease. She intends to use this knowledge for the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices over current approaches with pesticide intense methods. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Clarke Murray investigated recreational boats as a source of marine invasive species and found significant potential for initial introduction and regional spread of these species by the recreational fleet. This research will assist in the development of monitoring and management measures to prevent future invasions and protect biodiversity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD) |