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

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
O'Connor, Mary Department of Zoology climate change, ocean, seafood, seagrass, eelgrass, invertebrate, ecology, environment,
Oberg, Gunilla Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability Use of knowledge in environmental decision making, Chlorine biogeochemistry in soil
Ollivier, Rachel Department of Mathematics Langlands Programme, a central theme in pure mathematics which predicts deep connections between number theory and representation theory;
Orsi, Anais Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric measurement techniques; Physics of snow and ice; Cryosphere processes, n.e.c.; Isotope geochemistry; Geochronology; Environmental geochemistry; Quantitative methods for environmental sciences; Earth system sciences; Climate change impacts and adaptation; climate change; Polar climate; Data analysis, inverse modeling; Paleoclimate
Ortner, Christoph Department of Mathematics Numerical analysis; Mathematical modelling and simulation; Partial and ordinary differential equations; Computational chemistry; Condensed matter modelling and density functional theory; Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation; Numerical Analysis & Scientific Computing; Applied Analysis; Multi-scale Modelling and Coarse-graining; Molecular Simulation; Scientific Machine-learning, in particular for applications in multi-scale modelling
Osborne, Lisa Department of Microbiology & Immunology influence that the bacteria that live on and in our intestines, lungs and skin have on human health; understanding how the host recognizes the diverse species that reside in the gut - from microscopic viruses to large, multicellular helminthic worms - and tailors an immune response of the appropriate scope and magnitude necessary to achieve homeostasis
Oser, Scott Department of Physics & Astronomy Physical sciences; dark matter; Elementary Particles; neutrinos; particle physics; statistical methods for physics; gravitational wave astronomy; LISA
Otto, Sarah Department of Zoology evolution, mathematical modeling, population genetics, genomic evolution, evolution of sex, yeast experimental evolution, Population genetics and evolutionary biology, yeast
Pai, Dinesh Department of Computer Science Robotics, computer graphics, medical imaging, neuroscience, sensorimotor computation
Pakhomov, Yevhenii Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Feeding ecophysiology of aquatic invertebrates and fishes, Antarctic ecology, Antarctic krill biology, Tunicate biology, Fishery ecology, Stable isotope ecology
Pante, Nelly Department of Zoology Molecular trafficking pathways within the cell
Parfrey, Laura Department of Botany, Department of Zoology Microbial ecology, microbial diversity, microbiome, protists
Park, Mi Jung Department of Computer Science Privacy-preserving machine learning algorithms, Compressing neural network models using Bayesian methods, Relationships between differential privacy and other emerging notions in machine learning
Pasquier, Thomas Department of Computer Science Development of more transparent computer systems, Whole-system provenance, Computational experiments reproducibility, Intrusion detection, privacy and compliance
Patey, Grenfell Department of Chemistry Liquid dynamics, chemical physics
Pauly, Daniel Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Department of Zoology World fisheries; Marine life; Global catch; Management of fisheries; Fish growth and ecophysiology
Pawlowicz, Richard Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Oceans and Inland Waters; ocean physics; properties of seawater; geophysical fluid dynamics; Nonlinear waves
Peacock, Simon Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Natural sciences; metamorphic petrology; Tectonics; earthquakes
Peirce, Anthony Department of Mathematics Scientific computing, nonlinear dynamics and applied partial differential equations
Perrin, David Department of Chemistry Bioorganic Chemistry, Combinatorial Chemistry Enzyme Mimics Antisense Therapies, Radiopharmaceuticals
Picard, Sebastien Department of Mathematics Differential geometry
Piret, James Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine Cell-based therapies have the potential to provide improved treatments for major diseases such as cancer and diabetes
Plan, Yaniv Department of Mathematics applied probability, high-dimensional inference, random matrix theory, compressive sensing, and matrix completion.
Pleiss, Geoffrey Department of Statistics Statistical theory and modeling; Machine learning; Computational methods in statistics; Spatial statistics; Numerical analysis; Machine Learning; neural networks; Gaussian processes; Bayesian optimization; reliable deep learning
Plotkin, Steven Department of Physics & Astronomy Biophysics theory and computation

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Graduate Student Stories

Katrina Bergmann

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)

Using conventional computations and quantum simulations to accelerate the in silico design of highly efficient optoelectronic materials

Jessica Koski

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

Implementation of Indigenous rights to lands & resources

Gabriel Currier

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)

Extremal combinatorics

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

Icíar Fernández Boyano

Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)

Redefining preeclampsia in the placenta

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

Sahar Ghadirianniari

Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)

Mud rush Risk Management in Block Cave Mining

Natasha Klasios

Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

Investigating the ecological impacts of microplastics and temperature warming in aquatic ecosystems
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.

 

Euclid's Sensitivity to Neutrino Parameters
Publication: Proceedings of Science
UBC Author(s): Douglas Scott (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 473
Publication Date: 20 March 2025

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Gas-Phase Nitrate Radical Production Using Irradiated Ceric Ammonium Nitrate: Insights into Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Biogenic and Biomass Burning Precursors
Publication: ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Allan Bertram (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 9
Page Range: 545-559
Publication Date: 20 March 2025

View Publication
Rapid, Sensitive Detection of Protein Biomarkers in Minimally-Processed Blood Products with a Monolithic Sandwich Immunoassay Reagent
Publication: Advanced Materials
UBC Author(s): Amani Hariri (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09359648
Volume: 37
Publication Date: 19 March 2025

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BICEP/ Keck XVIII: Measurement of BICEP3 polarization angles and consequences for constraining cosmic birefringence and inflation
Publication: Physical Review D
UBC Author(s): Mark Halpern (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 24700010
Volume: 111
Publication Date: 15 March 2025

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Non-Axisymmetric patterns in floating viscoplastic films
Publication: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
UBC Author(s): Neil Balmforth (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00221120
Volume: 1007
Publication Date: 14 March 2025

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The influence of a submarine canyon on the wind-driven downwelling circulation over the continental shelf
Publication: Ocean Science
UBC Author(s): Susan Elizabeth Allen (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 18120784
Volume: 21
Page Range: 643-659
Publication Date: 14 March 2025

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Exploring the Metal-Centered Reactivity of Isomeric, N-Bridged Biscyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes
Publication: Chemistry - A European Journal
UBC Author(s): Mark MacLachlan (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09476539
Volume: 31
Publication Date: 12 March 2025

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IodoFinder: Machine Learning-Guided Recognition of Iodinated Chemicals in Nontargeted LC-MS/MS Analysis
Publication: Environmental Science and Technology
UBC Author(s): Tao Huan (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0013936X
Volume: 59
Page Range: 4530-4539
Publication Date: 11 March 2025

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Phylogenomics of coral-infecting corallicolids reveal multiple independent losses of chlorophyll biosynthesis in apicomplexan parasites
Publication: Current Biology
UBC Author(s): Patrick John Keeling (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09609822
Volume: 35
Page Range: 1156-1163.e4
Publication Date: 10 March 2025

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Deep-blue phosphorescence from platinum(ii) bis(acetylide) complexes with sulfur-bridged dipyridyl ligands
Publication: Chemical Science
UBC Author(s): Michael Wolf (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 20416520
Volume: 16
Page Range: 5948-5956
Publication Date: 7 March 2025

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Signature of Preformed Pairs in Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy
Publication: Physical Review Letters
UBC Author(s): Mona Berciu (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00319007
Volume: 134
Publication Date: 7 March 2025

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Epstein-Barr virus infection promotes T cell dysregulation in a humanized mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Publication: Science Advances
UBC Author(s): Lisa Osborne (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 11
Publication Date: 7 March 2025

View Publication
Neural stem cell quiescence and activation dynamics are regulated by feedback input from their progeny under homeostatic and regenerative conditions
Publication: Cell Stem Cell
UBC Author(s): Freda Miller (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 19345909
Volume: 32
Page Range: 445-462.e9
Publication Date: 6 March 2025

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Comparative effectiveness of methadone take-home dose initiation in British Columbia, Canada: protocol for a population-based retrospective cohort study using target trial guidelines
Publication: BMJ open
UBC Author(s): Paul Gustafson (Statistics / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 15
Page Range: e095198
Publication Date: 5 March 2025

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Stabilization of optically inactive α-helices of peptidic foldamers through sequence control and i, i + 4 stapling
Publication: Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Mark MacLachlan (Chemistry / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 14770520
Volume: 23
Page Range: 3366-3371
Publication Date: 5 March 2025

View Publication
Visualizing the Cellular and Subcellular Distribution of Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 (Flt3) and Other Neuronal Proteins Using Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) Immunolabeling
Publication: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
UBC Author(s): Xin Tang (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 16616596
Volume: 26
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Identification of intratumoral bacteria that enhance breast tumor metastasis
Publication: mBio
UBC Author(s): B Brett Finlay (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 21612129
Volume: 16
Publication Date: March 2025

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Intermediate temperature structural modulation and properties of CoIn2
Publication: Physical Review Materials
UBC Author(s): Meigan Aronson (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 9
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Cryptococcal nutrient acquisition and pathogenesis: dining on the host
Publication: Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews
UBC Author(s): James Kronstad (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 10922172
Volume: 89
Publication Date: March 2025

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The ineffectiveness of current environmental and fire policies in the world’s largest wetland
Publication: Environmental Research Letters
UBC Author(s): Mark Johnson (Institute for Resources,Environment & Sustainability / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 20
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Measurement of photonuclear jet production in ultraperipheral (Formula presented) collisions at (Formula presented) with the ATLAS detector
Publication: Physical Review D
UBC Author(s): Colin Gay (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 24700010
Volume: 111
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

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Search for light neutral particles decaying promptly into collimated pairs of electrons or muons in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
Publication: European Physical Journal C
UBC Author(s): Colin Gay (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 14346044
Volume: 85
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Early spring population dynamics of Salpa thompsoni linked to physical oceanography in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
Publication: Polar Biology
UBC Author(s): Yevhenii Pakhomov (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 07224060
Volume: 48
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
tp53 R217H and R242H mutant zebrafish exhibit dysfunctional p53 hallmarks and recapitulate Li-Fraumeni syndrome phenotypes
Publication: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
UBC Author(s): Martin Hirst (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 09254439
Volume: 1871
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
An over complete deep learning method for inverse problems
Publication: Foundations of Data Science
UBC Author(s): Eldad Haber (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 7
Page Range: 50-71
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication

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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
2024 Dr. Efford developed a novel approach to transdisciplinary ecosystem modelling using archaeological data, Indigenous Science, history, and ecology. This research, under the leadership of and in service to Tsleil-Waututh Nation, offers a new way to reconstruct past ecosystem baselines and understand environmental change over time. Doctor of Philosophy in Oceans and Fisheries (PhD)
2024 Dr. Yates studied the structure of several nuclei following radioactive decay and nuclear reactions. His new measurements provide further insight into the evolution of the structure and dynamics of nuclei and the underlying forces. His research also helps to benchmark new methods for studying the synthesis of elements in the Universe. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2024 Molecules often come together or self-assemble using weak bonds to form ordered structures, but controlling their sizes and shapes on self-assembly is challenging. Dr. Das Gupta investigated specific metal compounds that self-assemble into precise, controlled nanostructures with promising potential for catalytic and photochemical applications. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Urquhart-Cronish studied existing knowledge gaps between theoretical and empirical investigations of species' range expansion. Her work provides a better understanding for how range expansion in ecologically complex simulated and natural environments can shape spatial patterns in biodiversity we see today. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2024 Dr. Blair's cross-disciplinary research developed novel methods to integrate ecological data with computer vision classification algorithms. At a time where the world's need for biodiversity data has never been higher, his work will enhance ecological and conservation research by improving specimen processing efficiency. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Oh used numerical simulations of the atmosphere to examine how clouds form, develop, and influence the Earth's atmosphere, and developed mathematical models of the dynamics of moist convection. His research advances our understanding of the behaviour of boundary-layer clouds and will help develop more accurate models of the atmosphere. Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)
2024 Dr. Morin’s research focused on the regulation of gene expression in mammals. He analyzed thousands of genomic datasets across different methodologies in order to identify regulatory interactions supported across diverse studies. His work contributes to our understanding of gene activity and organizes this information into a community resource. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2024 Dr. McLaughlin used evolutionary analyses of SARS-CoV-2 to quantify impacts of COVID-19 travel restrictions on viral importations and averted case burden. These HIV analyses revealed heterogeneous impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis on transmission across BC phylogenetic clusters. Genomic epidemiology informs epidemic policy and response. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2024 Dr. Krause studied how molecules on the surface of nanoparticles affect the interactions of those nanoparticles with human enzymes. She developed methods to tune enzyme-nanoparticle interactions and to detect targeted enzymes with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. Her work will enable the future use of nanoparticles in medical diagnostics. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Simidzija developed and investigated a theoretical model of the Universe that is based on a theory of quantum gravity. It is hoped that one day such a model will be able to explain the origin of the Universe itself. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)

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