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...
Learn MoreApplicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details
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.
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
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.
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.
This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Science.
Year | Citation | Program |
---|---|---|
2022 | Dr. Hesketh showed that heatwaves have spatially variable consequences on the survival of invertebrates on rocky shores in British Columbia and that repeated exposure to high temperatures has cumulative negative effects on biodiversity. These findings help us anticipate the future of our shorelines in the face of ongoing climate and ocean change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Ton explored the inhibition of challenging drug targets in prostate cancer and COVID-19. He deployed innovative computer-aided drug design methodologies to access a wider range of therapeutic opportunities against the two diseases. His research provides the framework for the development of novel anti-cancer and antiviral drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
2022 | The core of Dr. Jung's doctoral research is to pioneer the novel reactivities of neutral and cationic indium compounds. He developed a series of indium compounds, and these were investigated for the formation of functionalized polymers. His studies can help to design catalysts and synthesize advanced polymers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
2022 | Carbon dioxide concentration has increased significantly in the environment contributing to global climate changes. Dr. Baalbaki designed efficient methods that convert carbon dioxide to plastics and other valuable chemicals. His research has advanced our understanding of CO2 capture and utilization processes that will address environmental threats | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Wong investigated how the flexible components of the avian wing structure, individually and as a multi-component coupled system, improved aerodynamic performance. These findings provide mechanisms for tuning aeroelastic response to flight behaviors which may inspire future aeronautical designs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Ling developed learning-based algorithms for animating simulated characters naturally and realistically. He showed that symmetry, curriculum, and proper task abstraction are critical for solving challenging control tasks. His research illuminates the role of inductive biases in reinforcement learning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Novakovskiy advanced our understanding of genome regulation by improving stem cell differentiation protocols and designing inherently interpretable deep learning methods. His bioinformatics advances will help achieve cell therapies for diabetes patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Moore investigated the chemistry of chiral molecules which, like human hands, have non-identical mirror images. He identified a number of new light-initiated reaction pathways in these molecules. These studies contribute to the astrochemistry of biomolecules, and reveal why certain mirror images of biomolecules are favoured in life on earth. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Melese studied T cell immune response inhibition in lung cancer. His research showed tumour cells produce factors that contribute to the recruitment of suppressive immune cells; that specific circulating immune cells distinguish a patient with a beneficial response to immunotherapy; and showed roles for lung resident T cells in lung cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
2022 | Dr. Silva studied an immune cell type called patrolling monocytes, which are important in maintaining vascular health. She identified a beneficial role for these cells in obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and tumour metastases. Her work contributes to the potential of harnessing these cells in novel disease therapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |