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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 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

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
Leslie, Sabrina Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Leyton-Brown, Kevin Department of Computer Science Computer and information sciences; Artificial Intelligence; Algorithms; theoretical computer science; Resource Allocation; Computer Science and Statistics; Auction theory; game theory; Machine Learning
Li, Yue-Xian Department of Mathematics Calcium signalling in neuroendocrine cells Fertilization calcium waves in oocytes
Li, Hongbin Department of Chemistry Biophysical chemistry, biomaterials, single molecule studies, biological, atomic force, polymer chemistry
Li, Xin Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Botany Molecules in plants, plants defence against pathogen infection, plant genes
Lister, Alison Department of Physics & Astronomy Particle physics, experimental; Large Hadron Collier (LHC); ATLAS experiment; Search for physics beyond the standard model; top quarks; dark matter; Machine Learning; Long-lived particles
Lloyd, Samantha Medical physics; Automation in external beam and brachytherapy treatment planning and delivery; Application of optical surface guidance for radiation therapy setup and motion monitoring; Machine learning for cancer outcomes prediction; Systems design for safety and quality control; Clinical trials
Loewen, Philip Department of Mathematics Mathematical optimization; Calculus of Variations; Optimal Control; optimization; Machine Learning
Lukes, Laura Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Earth and related environmental sciences; Psychology and cognitive sciences; Education; Geoscience Education Research (Discipline-Based Education Research); Self-regulated Learning; field-based experiential learning; learning in informal settings (e.g., museums, parks, science centers); crowdsourced and citizen science; teacher beliefs; motivation, emotion, and beliefs in learning; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in STEM; learning engineering
MacDonald, Colin Department of Mathematics List of publications; The Closest Point Method: a new method for PDEs on surfaces; Time-stepping for PDEs: constructing Runge-Kutta methods, strong-stability-preserving methods (visit the SSP Site); WENO spatial discretizations; The Predicted Sequential Regularization Method; List of talks and presentations.
MacFarlane, Andrew Department of Chemistry Chemical physics, Electronic and magnetic properties of crystalline solids, especially strongly correlated materials such as the cuprate high temperature superconductors
MacLachlan, Mark Department of Chemistry Supramolecular inorganic chemistry; Inorganic materials; Supramolecular organic chemistry; Synthesis of materials; Functional materials in materials chemistry sciences; Supramolecular Chemistry; Nanomaterials; Biomaterials; Cellulose nanocrystals; Chitin; Materials Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry
MacLean, Karon Department of Computer Science Computer and information sciences; Information Systems; design of user interfaces; haptic interfaces; human-computer interaction; human-robot interaction
Maddison, Wayne Department of Zoology, Department of Botany Arachnology, Biodiversity, Spiders, Phylogenetic Theory and Programming
Madison, Kirk Department of Physics & Astronomy Condensed matter, atomic, molecular and optical physics
Madzwamuse, Anotida Department of Mathematics
Maldonado, Maite Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Phytoplankton Trace Metal Physiology
Man, Allison Department of Physics & Astronomy Cosmology and extragalactic astronomy; galaxy formation and evolution
Mank, Judith Department of Zoology evolution; How selection acts on males and females within a species; How the genome responds to contradictory selection to encode sexually dimorphic traits; Sex chromosomes; Gene regulation; Sexual conflict
Marcus, Brian Harry Department of Mathematics Coding and information theory, symbolic dynamics, ergodic theory and dynamical systems
Marshall, Katie Department of Zoology Animal physiology, environmental stress; Environmental Change; Marine biodiversity; Population Ecology; invertebrates and temperature adaptation
Martin, Gregory Department of Mathematics Number theory, Diophantine Approximation and Classical Analysis
Martone, Patrick Department of Botany Plant biology; Protist; Plants; Physiology; Taxonomy and Systematics; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Evolution and Phylogenesis; Biomaterials; Solid Mechanics; Fluid mechanics; biomechanics; Ecology; evolution; Intertidal Zone; Macroalgae; Phycology
Marziali, Andre Department of Physics & Astronomy Teaching methods, pedagogy, Robotics in education, Nanotechnology, Engineering Physics, Genomics, Biophysics, Genomics Technologies
Matsuuchi, Linda Department of Zoology Natural sciences; Cell Biology; Immunology

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

Gabriel Currier

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)

Extremal combinatorics

Shaoxuan Ren

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)

Conversion of carbon dioxide into chemicals and fuels in a flow reactor

Prerna Gupta

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

Nuclear risk perception in India: risk in the context of political debates and economic insecurities

Icíar Fernández Boyano

Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)

Redefining preeclampsia in the placenta

Rapichan Phurisamban

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

Relationalities and River Flows: Toward a Socially-Equitable and Bioculturally-Conscious Environmental Flow Management

Verónica Relaño-Ecija

Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

Socio-ecological management in San Antonio Marine Protected Area (MPA), Argentina

Neha Sharma-Mascarenhas

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

Analyzing data and policy outcomes for repair, reuse, and recycling for end-of-life electronics

Alberto Campos

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

Rewilding the Brazilian Caatinga.
All Student 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.

 

Salinity, mineralogy, porosity, and hydrodynamics as drivers of carbon burial in urban mangroves from a megacity
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Sean Crowe (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 912
Publication Date: 20 February 2024

View Publication
Excitonic organic materials for photochemical and optoelectronic applications: general discussion
Publication: Faraday Discussions
UBC Author(s): Zachary Hudson (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 13596640
Volume: 250
Page Range: 298-334
Publication Date: 20 February 2024

View Publication
Cosmology from the vacuum
Publication: Classical and Quantum Gravity
UBC Author(s): Mark Van Raamsdonk (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 02649381
Volume: 41
Publication Date: 15 February 2024

View Publication
ChloroDBPFinder: Machine Learning-Guided Recognition of Chlorinated Disinfection Byproducts from Nontargeted LC-HRMS Analysis
Publication: Analytical Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Tao Huan (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00032700
Volume: 96
Page Range: 2590-2598
Publication Date: 13 February 2024

View Publication
Block-based Programming for Two-Armed Robots: A Comparative Study
Publication: Proceedings - International Conference on Software Engineering
UBC Author(s): Reid Holmes (Computer Science / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 02705257
Publication Date: 6 February 2024

View Publication
Revisiting the relationship between the pore water carbon isotope gradient and bottom water oxygen concentrations
Publication: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
UBC Author(s): Harold Bradbury (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00167037
Volume: 366
Page Range: 84-94
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
Limited spatiotemporal niche partitioning among mesocarnivores in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
Publication: Ecology and Evolution
UBC Author(s): Kaitlyn Gaynor (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community-Partnered Low-Cost Sensor Deployment
Publication: GeoHealth
UBC Author(s): Amanda Giang (Institute for Resources,Environment & Sustainability / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 8
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Trends in the synthetic polymer delivery of RNA
Publication: Journal of Gene Medicine
UBC Author(s): Anna Blakney (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1099498X
Volume: 26
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
First Detection of Polarization in X-Rays for PSR B0540-69 and Its Nebula
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
UBC Author(s): Jeremy Heyl (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0004637X
Volume: 962
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
Intersections of orbits of self-maps with subgroups in semiabelian varieties
Publication: Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society
UBC Author(s): Dragos Ghioca (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00246093
Volume: 56
Page Range: 783-795
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Primordial Orbital Alignment of Sednoids
Publication: Astrophysical Journal Letters
UBC Author(s): Brett Gladman (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 20418205
Volume: 962
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
On the Dimension of Exceptional Parameters for Nonlinear Projections, and the Discretized Elekes-Rónyai Theorem
Publication: Geometric and Functional Analysis
UBC Author(s): Joshua Zahl (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1016443X
Volume: 34
Page Range: 209-262
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Kelps on demand: Closed-system protocols for culturing large bull kelp sporophytes for research and restoration
Publication: Journal of Phycology
UBC Author(s): Patrick Martone (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00223646
Volume: 60
Page Range: 73-82
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Topography of visual and somatosensory inputs to the pontine nuclei in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
Publication: Journal of Comparative Neurology
UBC Author(s): Douglas Altshuler (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00219967
Volume: 532
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
A MeerKAT view of the double pulsar eclipses: Geodetic precession of pulsar B and system geometry
Publication: Astronomy and Astrophysics
UBC Author(s): Ingrid Stairs (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00046361
Volume: 682
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
The shape of density dependence and the relationship between population growth, intraspecific competition and equilibrium population density
Publication: Oikos
UBC Author(s): Mary O'Connor (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00301299
Volume: 2024
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
The gut microbiota and its biogeography
Publication: Nature Reviews Microbiology
UBC Author(s): Carolina Tropini (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 17401526
Volume: 22
Page Range: 105-118
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Adaptation to distinct habitats is maintained by contrasting selection at different life stages in sunflower ecotypes
Publication: Molecular Ecology
UBC Author(s): Loren Rieseberg (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09621083
Volume: 33
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Opportunities for open-source software to accelerate research in applied geophysics
Publication: Leading Edge
UBC Author(s): Lindsey Heagy (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1070485X
Volume: 43
Page Range: 84-94
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
No Effect of Realistic Concentrations of Polyester Microplastic Fibers on Freshwater Zooplankton Communities
Publication: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Michelle Tseng (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 07307268
Volume: 43
Page Range: 418-428
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Economics in Marine Spatial Planning: A Review of Issues in British Columbia and Similar Jurisdictions
Publication: Sustainability (Switzerland)
UBC Author(s): Ussif Rashid Sumaila (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 16
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
Immune response to the components of lipid nanoparticles for ribonucleic acid therapeutics
Publication: Current Opinion in Biotechnology
UBC Author(s): Anna Blakney (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09581669
Volume: 85
Publication Date: February 2024

View Publication
When and how can we predict adaptive responses to climate change?
Publication: Evolution Letters
UBC Author(s): Sarah Otto (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 8
Page Range: 172-187
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
On the fast track: hybrids adapt more rapidly than parental populations in a novel environment
Publication: Evolution Letters
UBC Author(s): Sarah Otto (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 8
Page Range: 128-136
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication

Pages

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
2023 Dr. Aina developed new computer-based methods for engineering vaccines to treat brain diseases. He showed that the methods are effective for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease in computer models, making them valuable in drug development. His findings benefit those with brain diseases, as well as researchers and the pharmaceutical industry. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Lawrence unified elements from reinforcement learning and control theory to solve industrially relevant problems. His framework enables learning stable control policies directly from data. This ensures that maintaining controllers in an industrial setting is efficient, safe, and automated. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Rowell studied explosive volcanic eruptions that interact with glaciers, lakes, and oceans, using both computer models and machine learning analysis of ash plumes in thermal camera imagery. He predicted how the behaviour, hazards, and climate impacts of eruptions evolve as they interact with increasingly greater volumes of water and ice. Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Mowbray developed materials for electrochemical reactors that convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into chemicals and fuels. His thesis informs how to design and fabricate reactor materials that improve the efficiency of converting carbon dioxide into commodity chemicals using electricity. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Zhuang developed the first inhibitors of tubulin glycylation initiase and elongase and developed inhibitors of type I isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase. These inhibitors will be very useful tools in studying the structure and mechanism of these enzymes. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Yan's research focuses on a quantum computer architecture built upon photonic and spin qubits in silicon. Dr. Yan has developed a universal fault-tolerant architecture with practical implementation, as well as specific operational procedures that increase the quantum information fault-tolerant threshold. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Christensen developed autonomous, self-optimizing robotic systems to guide chemical process optimization in high experimental throughput. These robotic systems were applied to the human intervention-free optimization of processes for the chemical syntheses of two pharmaceutically relevant compounds. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ren investigated heterogeneous ice nucleation by computational simulations and laboratory experiments. Her work demonstrated how atmospherically relevant ice nucleating particles can be influenced by ions and pH conditions. These results improve our understanding of how environmental conditions affect ice formation in the atmosphere. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Zhang investigated fundamental steps in Platinum catalyzed reactions. He focused on mechanism understandings and new reaction discoveries. A better understanding of fundamental steps in catalytic cycles helps scientists develop efficient and inexpensive industrial processes. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 The simulation of frictional contact is a challenging problem in computer graphics. Dr. Larionov developed methods to accurately simulate friction between objects with smooth surfaces and showed where current methods fail. This work pushed the boundaries of acceptable friction behaviour in graphics, and opened promising avenues for future research. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)

Pages

 

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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UBC evolutionary biologist Dr. Dolph Schluter named AAAS Fellow

Internationally renowned evolutionary biologist Dr. Dolph Schluter has been elected to the newest class of American Association for the...

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How art can help us talk about the green transition

Elders, researchers and musicians are using art to get people talking about the challenges and opportunities of a transition to renewable...

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UBC adding 778 student spaces across technology and life sciences programs thanks to provincial investment

B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, the Honourable Brenda Bailey, was on site at UBC’s Vancouver campus Friday to...

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Tropical coral-infecting parasites discovered in cold marine ecosystems

Parasites thought only to infect tropical coral reefs have been discovered in a large variety of creatures in cold marine ecosystems along...

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New gravitational wave signal helps fill the ‘mass gap’ between neutron stars and black holes

A collaboration of researchers including UBC scientists have observed gravitational waves from the collision of what is most likely a...

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