Convocation May 2017

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy

• Dr. Julia Pon: "Dr. Pon characterized how mutations in the gene MEF2B may contribute to lymphoma development. She mapped, for the first time, interactions between MEF2B and other genes throughout the genome, including genes involved in cancer development. Her research contributes to our understanding of the regulatory networks altered in cancer development."
• Dr. Gareth Mercer: "Dr. Mercer developed and tested a method of measuring the contributions fathers make to rearing healthy children in South Africa. Future application of this method in national surveys will inform initiatives to remove barriers and encourage positive, gender-equitable parenting by fathers."
• Dr. Alexis Crabtree: "Dr. Crabtree conducted participatory research with people who drink non-beverage alcohol, such as mouthwash and rubbing alcohol. Her work contributed to the development of harm reduction programs for this population and led to the formation of an activist group of illicit drinkers who advocate for the health of their community."
• Dr. Farzad Jamshidi: "Dr. Jamshidi studied a rare cancer called epithelioid sarcoma. His results show that while it is a complex disease, inhibition of a specific protein called EZH2 can be of therapeutic value. His work has resulted in the inclusion of epithelioid sarcoma in EZH2 inhibitor clinical trials in the US and Canada."

Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology)

• Dr. Kamal Arora: "Dr. Arora studied Sikh women living in the Widow Colony slum after the 1984 Sikh massacre in Delhi, India. She found that a city's spatial configuration impacts gender violence, and that violence has long-term effects on the body, memory, and kinship. She also examined how religious practices aid healing, and 1984's importance in the Sikh diaspora."
• Dr. Clayton Abel Whitt: "Dr. Whitt studied the politics of climate change in the Andean highlands of Bolivia. He explored how daily spatial experiences, like intensified floods, mud, and lightning, shape local environmental politics. He argues for conceptualizing people's responses to climate change as ongoing negotiations with changing space."
• Dr. Catherine Grace Cooper: "Dr. Cooper explored patterns of human dietary variation through stable isotope analysis of hair samples from modern and archaeological populations. Her research shows the applicability of hair isotope analysis in understanding current and past human diets."
• Dr. Sarah Grace Fessenden: "Dr. Fessenden looked at food-waste and hunger through the lens of an activist group, Food Not Bombs. She introduced the concepts of direct action project and social movement (dis)organization to understand this anarchist-inspired group and its potential to address hunger and poverty in empowering ways."

Doctor of Philosophy (Art History)

• Dr. Marcia Violet Crosby: "Dr. Crosby studied 19th century Salish Passion Plays - a public form of live religious theatre. Her findings revealed that local and global news coverage of these plays indicated an overlap with religious and secular practices of First Nations and that Indigenous leaders exploited this media interest and inter-cultural exchange for political benefit."

Doctor of Philosophy (Asian Studies)

• Dr. JeongHye Son: "Dr. Son examined the ways Koreans living in Japan transmit their Korean language to their children who were born in Japan. The study reveals Korean children are socialized into multiple perceptions of language and identities through everyday interactions with others. She highlights the relationship between their perceptions and identities and their language usage."
• Dr. Eiji Okawa: "Dr. Okawa explored how people in the past created order by overcoming conflicts, using the example of the Buddhist temple of Koyasan in Japan. He argued that the indescribable power of divine beings morphed onto their geography and was the source of order for a regional society before the advent of the early modern state at the turn of the 17th century."
• Dr. Douglas Fairchild Ober: "Dr. Ober studied the revival of Buddhism in modern India. He traced the ways that 19th and 20th century South Asians and Europeans rewrote and reinvented the very way we understand Buddhist history and practice. Dr. Ober's research, which is of interest to historians and practitioners alike, shows Buddhism's transformation in a modern, global age."

Doctor of Philosophy (Astronomy)

• Dr. Emmanuel Fonseca: "Dr. Fonseca analyzed the timing of pulses emitted by radio pulsars in binary systems, in order to measure intrinsic parameters of these systems and constrain Einstein's theory of general relativity. He made a large number of mass measurements that directly contribute to the ongoing analyses of neutron-star masses and nuclear physics in physically extreme environments."

Doctor of Philosophy (Atmospheric Science)

• Dr. David Siuta: "Dr. Siuta improved wind forecasts in complex terrain through selective model configuration. His work will allow energy planners to trust wind power forecasts, allow for better integration of wind energy into electric grids, and save consumers money. He also improved the representation of wind profiles on mountain tops."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

• Dr. Dheva Tri Setiaputra: "Dr. Setiaputra used electron microscopy to study the structures of protein complexes that control gene expression. He explored the architecture of these molecular machines and shed light into their mechanisms of action. These findings provide insights into fundamental processes found in all eukaryotic life."
• Dr. Hilda Hiu Tung Au: "Viruses rely on cellular resources to propagate. Dr. Au investigated how agriculturally important viruses hijack and manipulate host ribosomes by the use of an RNA element. Her research further sheds light on how viruses have evolved clever strategies to overcome the limited sizes of their genomes."
• Dr. Lauren Elizabeth Dalton: "Dr. Dalton studied the machinery required to move proteins to the right places in the cell. She searched the entire yeast genome for new protein trafficking components and did initial investigations into how they work. Her work contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms that cause Parkinson's disease, Alzheimers's disease and others."
• Dr. Julienne Maurisse Jagdeo: "Dr. Jagdeo explored new ways in which picornaviruses hijack host cellular pathways to support the viral life cycle. The picornavirus family include many clinically relevant viruses such as poliovirus and coxsackievirus. Her work has provided new insights into viral-host interactions required to promote infection that may contribute to disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering)

• Dr. Quan Guo: "Dr. Guo developed a novel microfluidic chip to process human blood and sort individual red and white blood cells based on their mechanical deformability. This technique has not only improved the diagnostic sensitivity of malaria, humanity's most devastating infectious disease, but also enabled the sorting of white blood cells based on their phenotypes."
• Dr. Darek Joseph Sikorski: "Dr. Sikorski developed small volume methods to grow and analyze single mammalian cells. These studies assist us in understanding how single cell differences affect populations of cells."

Doctor of Philosophy (Botany)

• Dr. Caitlin Charlotte Anne Donnelly: "Dr. Donnelly studied filamentous structures called microtubules, which control plant cell shape. She focused on how the organization of microtubules is regulated under stressful environmental conditions. Her results are important for understanding how plants change their growth in response to stress."
• Dr. Tegan Marjorie Haslam: "Dr. Haslam studied the synthesis of plant cuticular waxes, which waterproof plant surfaces and prevent desiccation. Waxes are extremely long, modified fatty acids. Dr. Haslam identified and characterized a novel protein family that controls the extensive elongation of fatty acids that occurs during cuticular wax metabolism."
• Dr. Adriana Rocio Suarez-Gonzalez: "Dr. Suarez-Gonzalez used genomics to identify genetic markers associated with traits of ecological and economical interest in natural tree hybrids. Her findings contribute to our understanding of adaptive introgression as a source of important genetic variation and have great potential for forest management in the face of climate change."
• Dr. William Laughton Harrower: "Dr. Harrower showed how the structure of temperate grassland food webs changed when ecosystems go from wet to dry. His experiments help us understand how climate change events, such as persistent drought, will impact grassland biodiversity and ultimately have an effect on human activities such as ranching."

Doctor of Philosophy (Cell and Developmental Biology)

• Dr. Michael John Fairchild: "Sexual reproduction requires the creation of sperm and eggs within the complex environment of the body. Dr. Fairchild investigated how specialized cells within the body form a physical architecture that guides the formation of sperm. This physical architecture is critical for the creation of sperm and consequently for the fertility of animals."
• Dr. Ying Shyen Goh: "Dr. Goh studied how organisms respond to cellular stress, an important process in disease and aging. She identified two new regulators of stress responses that are found in many animals including humans. This research may allow the identification of new therapeutic targets for cancer and other age-related diseases."
• Dr. Eric Eryue Xu: "Dr. Xu studied two genes that regulate the development of insulin producing pancreatic beta-cells. HIs findings have shown that these genes are indispensable for beta-cell development and maintenance. These results improve our understanding of how beta-cells are derived and may aid in cell generation, ultimately working towards a cure for diabetes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

• Dr. Ali Hussain Alzaid: "Dr. Ali investigated the complex process of Canadian crude oil refining. His study highlighted the role of molecular structure and process conditions on gum formation. These results will help find ways to limit catalyst deactivation by gum formation, a major obstacle in oil sands upgrading, and will improve the proficiency of plants in Canada."
• Dr. Maziar Derakhshandeh: "Dr. Derakhshandeh worked on improving the processing of various polymers used to fabricate plastic products. He addressed the effect of different molecular structures and processing conditions, making it possible to model and optimize the current polymer processing techniques in order to obtain better quality products such as stronger shopping bags and pipes."
• Dr. Pooneh Ghasvareh: "Dr. Ghasvareh investigated the effects of Cobalt particle size on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a set of chemical reactions that convert a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas to liquid hydrocarbons. Her research broadened our knowledge about the stability of Cobalt catalysts and can be applied to synthesize catalysts with a longer lifetime."
• Dr. Reza Rezaei: "One in ten people lack access to safe drinking water. Dr. Rezaei studied the effectiveness of photocatalytic processes on the removal of chemical contamination of water supplies and developed a kinetic model for better understanding photocatalytic reactions. His work will improve our ability to provide small and rural communities with safe drinking water."
• Dr. Melissa Barazandegan: "Type II diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting at least 285 million people worldwide. Dr. Barazandegan's doctoral studies focused on employing a clinically-relevant physiological model of type II diabetes mellitus to improve the management of blood glucose level and fault detection features suitable for monitoring and control."
• Dr. Bijan Hejazi: "Dr. Hejazi developed a comprehensive reactor model, taking into account the kinetic, energy and environmental constraints for a novel process that can capture carbon dioxide, while also converting forest wastes into a useful gas for combustion and synthesis. His research is useful for the design, evaluation and improvement of reactors."
• Dr. Babak Adeli Koudehi: "Dr. Adeli studied the conversion of solar energy to clean fuels. He developed novel materials that reported among the highest global artificial photosynthesis efficiencies. His research provides an in-depth understanding of photochemistry and nanotechnology that will contribute significantly to continued development of alternative fuel technologies."
• Dr. Dening Jia: "Biomass is organic matter that can be utilized as a source of energy. Dr. Jia studied the heat and mass transfer of biomass particles and developed a more efficient reactor design. This work not only offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, it also makes better use of the biomass resources abundantly available in British Columbia"
• Dr. Hamid Rezaei: "Dr. Rezaei characterized the physical and thermal properties of woody chip and pellet particles. He showed that pelletization homogenizes the physical properties and modifies the shape of particles to have an enhanced flowability. This work contributes to the replacement of coal-fired power plants with woody biomass, a cleaner, renewable alternative."
• Dr. Pooya Hosseini Benhangi: "Dr. Hosseini studied the development of non-precious metal oxides as oxygen electrocatalysts for a number of energy conversion systems such as rechargeable metal-air batteries. His research introduced the next generation of high-performance, cost-effective electrocatalyst materials as alternatives to noble metals in the energy storage industry."
• Dr. Vinod Kumar Konaganti: "Polymer behaves like both solid and liquid in its melt state. Thus, controlling product dimensions in polymer processing applications is challenging and requires thorough understanding of molten polymer. Dr. Konaganti developed a novel mathematical model that can predict the extruded polymer dimensions while accounting for the complex flow phenomena."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

• Dr. Diana Yu: "In the process of developing and optimizing new chemistry, the understanding of reaction pathways is essential. Dr. Yu studied organic reaction mechanisms using nontraditional methods. She contributed to the field by testing the limits of a new automated method of reaction monitoring, particularly in challenging environments such as the microwave reactor for organic chemistry."
• Dr. Chad Garry Atkins: "Blood transfusions are an integral component of modern-day healthcare. Dr. Atkins developed an innovative analytical tool to non-invasively determine the quality of stored red blood cells without needing to compromise the sterility of the storage bag. His findings have implications for the management and use of donated blood in medical treatments."
• Dr. Ying Yin Lau: "Dr. Lau's doctoral studies focused on the creation of inexpensive and low toxicity metal catalysts for the production of pharmaceutically relevant molecules. Catalysts accelerate difficult chemical reactions without undergoing any permanent change. They can also be reused, which reduces chemical waste and cost."
• Dr. Zhinan Yu: "Dr. Yu studied self-assembled monolayers using a specially developed single crystal Au bead electrode. Combined with various spectroelectrochemical techniques, his method has shown numerous advantages and can be widely applied to investigate and optimize biosensing interfaces."
• Dr. Zhengyu Chen: "Dr. Chen designed and studied new ring-shaped molecules with tunable shapes and sizes. These molecules spontaneously stack into organized nanotubes that can be used in microelectronics."
• Dr. Jeffrey Adam Therrien: "Dr. Therrien developed and explored a new class of molecular catalysts to enable the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels. This research contributes to the understanding required for using hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline, in a sustainable manner."
• Dr. Andrew Mark Priegert: "Dr. Priegert developed new methods of affixing phosphorus-containing flame retardants to cellulosic substrates. This work could allow for the wider use of products derived from renewable sources such as wood, thereby decreasing society's reliance on petroleum-derived materials."
• Dr. Reza Tafteh: "Dr. Reza Tafteh developed novel methods for three-dimensional super-resolution imaging; from cellular surface to interior."
• Dr. Lin Liu: "Nanoscopic transport of liquid is critical to many fields of material science and technology. Dr. Liu investigated water and ion transport through carbon nanotubes. He used molecular dynamics to investigate the influence of the water model in simulations. His research helps us understand the mechanism of liquid conduction through nanoscopic channels."
• Dr. Marcus Drover: "Dr. Drover studied the development of new chemical transformations. His work has led to developments in metal-based homogeneous catalysis for agrochemical synthesis and the use of molecular oxygen as a green oxidant. Green chemicals are designed to reduce negative impact on the environment."
• Dr. Gabriele Lanaro: "Dr. Lanaro used molecular simulations to observe how crystals form and dissolve in solution. The simulation data was collected and analized to uncover details about the first stages of crystal formation."
• Dr. Eleonora Petryayeva: "Dr. Petryayeva developed an inexpensive and portable smartphone-based platform for molecular diagnostic tests, which can be used to identify and to treat diseases. This platform took advantage of smartphone built-in cameras and light-emitting nanomaterials. Her work may have important applications in point-of-care testing and personalized medicine."

Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering)

• Dr. Chaoyang Yue: "Dr. Yue developed an integrated system that recovers phosphorus from municipal wastewater. The system could produce high quality effluent from treatment plants, reduce waste sludge, and recover phosphorus as an eco-friendly fertilizer. Dr. Yue's research showcased how to turn waste into resources."
• Dr. Mohamed Hussein: "Dr. Hussein developed a novel microscopic pedestrian simulation model. His model showed a high accuracy in simulating pedestrian movements and predicting their behavior during different interactions. His research will aid in developing a solid understanding of pedestrian behavior and studying a variety of applications, including pedestrian safety."
• Dr. Devin James Sauer: "Dr. Sauer studied the structural and economic attributes of a novel cable supported bridge system. His research enables decision makers to evaluate the system against their specific project needs and, where suitable, it provides engineers with the tools required to achieve an optimal design."
• Dr. Dorian Peng Tung: "Dr. Tung developed a design procedure and validation technology for earthquake resilient structures. Such structures aim to minimize repair costs and expedite recovery time. His procedure is simple to implement, and the technology is cost-effective. Researchers, engineers, and the general public will all benefit from his research outcomes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science)

• Dr. Oliver Stirling Schneider: "Haptic technology can engage your sense of touch, but requires expertise in programming, psychology, and engineering. Dr. Schneider developed an understanding of how to design haptic experiences. His dissertation has laid the groundwork for a suite of creative tools to sketch, animate, and share designs for the sense of touch."
• Dr. Pei Li: "Dr. Li examined how stories and events emerge and evolve in social stream websites like Twitter. He used a graph-based approach and invented algorithms to extract cohesion, context and evolution patterns from raw social media data. This research enhances our understanding of analyzing patterns and trends in social media networks."
• Dr. Brendan Anthony Cully: "Dr. Cully studied the use of virtualization to improve applications without modifying them. He showed that powerful features could be built directly into virtual hardware to protect ordinary systems from hardware failures and performance problems. This approach can make many of today's applications more reliable than they currently are."
• Dr. Samuel Bayless: "Dr. Bayless studied computer science. He created a new technique for building fast, practical and efficient constraint solvers. His work can be applied to circuit layout, networking, program synthesis and video game design."
• Dr. Hasti Seifi: "Dr. Seifi studied people's perceptions of and language for 'synthetic touch' feedback, such as vibrations from mobile phones and smartwatches. Based on her findings, she developed simple and effective mechanisms that enable ordinary people to design and personalize their everyday vibration notifications on a mobile device."
• Dr. Frederick Tung: "Computer vision is about building systems that can 'see' and make sense of a complex visual world. Dr. Tung developed data-driven algorithms for understanding the semantic structure of scenes from images and video. Potential applications of this research include large-scale multimedia searches, self-driving vehicles, and prosthetic vision."
• Dr. Lei Xiao: "Image restoration aims at enhancing the quality of images by undoing the adverse effects of image degradation and needs to be addressed as part of most imaging systems. Dr. Xiao developed numerical optimization and machine learning methods for image restoration that are suitable for modern mobile and high-resolution imaging."
• Dr. Mohammed Shahidul Alam: "Instances of malicious software have increased significantly over the past several years. Dr. Alam developed a framework that uses machine learning to detect devices infected with malware on smartphones. This new adaptable framework will have considerable impact as new learning algorithms are developed and sensors are modified on smartphone devices."

Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)

• Dr. Kirby Leigh Huminuik: "Dr. Huminuik investigated the mental health implications of Canada's refugee policy. Given that many refugees have survived torture and persecution, she concludes that a systemic trauma-informed approach could increase protection for claimants. Her findings contribute to the field of psychology and will inform professionals who serve refugees."

Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum Studies)

• Dr. Stephanie Blair Anderson: "Dr. Anderson examined the construction of Canadian national identity at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her work offers a new research approach for the identification and analysis of national narratives for history education, museology and public history."
• Dr. Terrance Leonard Berg: "Dr. Berg explored evidence projecting a future world of limited fossil energy use. His research mapped out linkages between petroleum geology, energy economics and climate science. He concludes that future educators should embrace a post-carbon pedagogy in their practice."
• Dr. John Michael Sarte: "Dr. Sarte's research demonstrated a method for deciphering how beginning teachers consciously and unconsciously become recognisable as teachers. His contribution combined photo-elicitation with the work of French psychoanalyst, Jacques Lacan. His study brings forward a framework that facilitates the construction of positive professional identity."
• Dr. Rachel Annelisa Ralph: "Dr. Ralph investigated how media and technology, specifically iPads with interactive apps, impacted preschool children's prosocial sharing behaviours. Her research deepens our understanding of how digital devices shape young children's everyday lives."

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies)

• Dr. J Robert Cowin: "Dr. Cowin analyzed federal and provincial government policy on both public and private post-secondary education in BC. His research centered on fair access for students, job preparation and marketization. His focus on long term trends across the entire post-secondary system will help policy makers better assess the cumulative implications of their decisions."
• Dr. Dorothy Christian: "Dr. Christian examined how Indigenous cultural knowledge informs production practices when making films for Fourth World/Indigenous Cinema. Her work highlights the connections between land, story, and cultural protocols. This work will be of interest to social, political, film theorists and policy/decision makers who intersect with Indigenous arts organizations."
• Dr. Autumn Knowlton: "Dr. Knowlton examined how indigenous Q'eqchi' Mayas' political encounters in defense of their ancestral territory in Guatemala resulted in moments of individual and collective learning. This research highlights the role of cultural continuity in Q'eqchi's' political organizing against extractive industries."

Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

• Dr. Ahmadreza Farsaei: "Dr. Farsaei studied photonics, the science of light. He developed techniques and methodologies that address several challenges of electro-optical simulation and modeling. His work has been implemented in industry-leading photonic tools found in various applications including telecommunications, entertainment and medicine."
• Dr. Caitlin Schneider: "Dr. Schneider developed new methods for kidney tissue interrogation through the use of ultrasound and ultrasound elastography imaging. This technique allows for the non-invasive measurement of tissue stiffness which is an indication of cancer and scar tissue build-up for improved surgical navigation and overall monitoring of kidney health."
• Dr. Andrew Ho: "Dr. Ho developed new methods in fluid simulation for the study of non-Newtonian liquids in complex three dimensional domains. His work was used to explore saliva's lubricative effects in swallowing."
• Dr. Jonas Michael Flueckiger: "Dr. Flueckiger developed optical based biosensors using traditional microchip fabrication processes. He demonstrated the efficacy of such miniaturized, low cost sensors for blood analysis applications and showed the potential of such biosensors to transform medical diagnostics and health care delivery."
• Dr. Bojiang Ma: "Dr. Ma developed novel communication methods and resource management algorithms in future smart home networks and fifth-generation wireless systems. The proposed methods and algorithms improve the quality of life of the residents in smart homes and boost the efficiency of the mobile communication systems, making life easy and fun in the future."
• Dr. Hamid Palangi: "Dr. Palangi studied deep learning, a branch of machine learning focused on artificial neural networks. He examined methods for sequence modelling with applications in natural languages, web search engines and distributed compressive sensing. This work furthers our understanding of artificial intelligence and human language technologies."
• Dr. Hamid Reza Tohidypour: "Because digital videos take up a lot of space, Dr. Tohidypour studied the redundancies that exist in the latest video compression standards, and proposed efficient reduction schemes. These schemes can be used to simplify the hardware and software implementation of the latest video compression standards and facilitate their wide spread adoption."
• Dr. Navid Shafiei: "Due to increasingly high demand for Electric Vehicles, Dr. Shafiei studied the problems with DC-DC power converters as battery chargers. He also investigated the application of novel power converters and modulation strategies at various power levels. His work will help improve the efficiency and range of Electric Vehicle battery chargers."
• Dr. Amin Milani Fard: "Dr. Milani Fard focused on improving the quality of web applications through automated testing and maintenance. The evaluation results point to the effectiveness of the proposed techniques in terms of fault detection capability and accuracy. His automated techniques reduce the time and effort of manual testing and maintenance."
• Dr. Zehua Wang: "Dr. Wang studied the networking problems in the Internet of Things, device-to-device, and 5G cellular networks. His work improves the efficiency of the 4G networks for a huge number of users, enables the P2P file sharing in mobile social networks, and increases the aggregate users' experience by considering the diversity of running applications."
• Dr. Hossein Bashashati Saghezchi: "Dr. Bashashati completed his doctoral studies in the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He developed a novel approach based on the brain characteristics of each individual to personalize a brain computer interface. His work is an important step in transitioning brain computer interfaces from research environments to real life applications."
• Dr. Arash Tavighi: "Dr. Tavighi contributed to developing an overhead transmission line model for electromagnetic transients studies. The new line model is more accurate and numerically more efficient than the existing line models while it physically coincides with the behaviour of a real line. This new line model will be used in simulators for power systems' studies."
• Dr. Mohammad Ghasemi Damavandi: "Dr. Ghasemi's doctoral work focused on the development and monitoring of smart power grids. In his thesis, he proposed mathematical formulations and algorithmic solutions for the integration of renewable energy sources and distributed energy storage systems into modern power systems."
• Dr. Ayman Mostafa: "Dr. Mostafa innovatively proposed enhancing the secrecy of visible-light communication networks using physical-layer security techniques. He developed robust secure transmission schemes that take into account amplitude constraints and uncertainty in channel information. His work will help make next-generation communication networks more secure."
• Dr. Emran Mohammad Abu Anas: "Dr. Anas studied ultrasound imaging. He developed a technique to enable ultrasound guidance in wrist surgery by combining the ultrasound images with pre-operative CT images through a statistical wrist model. Results indicate his approach will have significant crossover impact on other computer-assisted applications."
• Dr. Sahan Anupama Ranamukhaarachchi: "Dr. Ranamukhaarachchi focused his research on microneedles to replace hypodermic needles during injections and blood draws. He studied the mechanics of skin during microneedle insertion for fluid injections and biosensing. His work yielded insight into the development of medical devices to change how drugs are administered and replace blood tests."
• Dr. Khaled Shuraem Alutaibi: "Dr. Alutaibi developed a decision support system for helping emergency responders in making efficient decisions during extreme events. This system performs an economic analysis to evaluate the efficiency of resource allocation. Dr. Alutaibi's research helps in improving infrastructure systems resilience."

Doctor of Philosophy (English)

• Dr. Matthew Evans-Cockle: "Dr. Evans-Cockle examined the influence of Erasmian Christian Humanism on the prophetic poetics of Edmund Spenser and John Milton. He showed how Erasmus's grammatical hermeneutics changed the way early modern Protestants read the Bible and how this, in turn, opened new creative horizons for the exploitation of biblical texts by early modern poets."
• Dr. Serina Laureen Patterson: "Dr. Patterson challenged modern ideas of games by examining the social significance of parlour games as forms of cultural expression in medieval and early modern England and France. Her research shows the varied methods by which medieval players enjoyed playing games and how the idea of 'game' developed and changed over time."
• Dr. Jonathan Michael David Newell: "Dr. Newell examined the aesthetics of weird fiction, an offshoot of the Gothic genre. He argued that the emotions of horror evoked by weird fiction are instrumental to its philosophical investigation of absolute reality. This research expands our understanding of weird fiction as a genre and of the connections between aesthetics, affect, and metaphysics."
• Dr. Michelle Siobhan O'Brien: "Through an examination of state policies and literature, Dr. O'Brien studied the ways that race shapes social organization in Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia. Though most studies of these nations focus on their distinct forms of multiculturalism, Dr. O'Brien argues that they similarly use raciality to organize populations based on human types."

Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Medicine)

• Dr. Courteney Kwok-Wynne Lai: "Dr. Lai investigated an acute myeloid leukemia model to identify and characterise key regulators of leukemia. She determined regions of an oncogene responsible for leukemic initiation, growth and drug resistance, and identified a new gene critical to these properties. Her work provides new insight into leukemia and potential treatment targets."
• Dr. Anna Maria Chudyk: "Dr. Chudyk studied the association between the built environment, health and mobility of older adults living on low income. Her work identifies features of the environment that support walking. These findings contribute to our understanding of how to design cities that support the health and independence of a vulnerable subgroup of older adults."
• Dr. Helen Chen: "Dr. Chen's work focused on understanding the role of a protein called HMMR in cancer cell division. She demonstrated that HMMR integrates structural and biochemical pathways to ensure the fidelity of cell division. These findings contribute to a better understanding of cancer cell biology and may assist the design of next-generation anti-tumor drugs."
• Dr. Ting Ting Alice Lau: "Dr. Lau engineered an immunogenic tuberculosis vaccine strain that is highly visible to the host immune system. Her work presents a novel approach to tuberculosis vaccine design and paves the way for eradication of the disease."
• Dr. Anik Patel: "Dr. Patel examined the health and economic benefits of improving drug adherence using text-message based interventions. He found they could efficiently improve patient health in Canada, Kenya and India. His work builds an understanding of how text-message based interventions can add value to infectious disease control worldwide."
• Dr. Chi-Chao Liu: "Dr. Liu studied how integrin cell adhesion receptors can modulate chemotherapeutic resistance in pediatric leukemia. He found that a common peptide motif within this protein group can sufficiently promote drug resistance. This knowledge can facilitate the design of therapeutics to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment."
• Dr. Xiaohu Liu: "Dr. Liu's doctoral studies focused on further uncovering the underlying causes of chronic myeloid leukemia. He discovered a novel protein complex in the leukemia cells and investigated the functional roles of the protein complex in disease development. His research advances our knowledge and understanding in leukemogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia."
• Dr. Sanam Salimi Elizei: "Dr. Salimi Elizei investigated the anti-inflammatory role of the tryptophan degrading enzyme (IDO) and downstream metabolites on T Helper 17 cells, which have been connected to inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. She subsequently showed that IDO cell therapy improved the disease condition in psoriasis-like dermatitis."
• Dr. Zahid Mohammad Delwar: "Virotherapy uses biotechnology to reprogram viruses enabling them to treat diseases. Dr. Delwar's doctoral studies focused on anticancer virotherapy to treat brain tumours. His research revealed different strategies to enhance the therapeutic potential of a herpes virus-based, anti-tumour therapy."
• Dr. Kevin James Tam: "Dr. Tam's research examined the molecular mechanisms governing the progression of prostate cancer. His contributions to this field have shed light on some of the driving forces behind the disease and will help inspire novel therapeutics for those suffering from it."
• Dr. Leigh Elizabeth Christine Gabel: "Dr. Gabel used advanced medical imaging tools to study how bone strength is gained across 12 years of adolescent growth and the influence of maturity, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in boys and girls. Her unique contributions confirmed adolescence as a critical 'window' for bone health and underscored the importance of physical activity."
• Dr. Edward Pokrishevsky: "Dr. Pokrishevsky developed an innovative method for studying protein misfolding and aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He then used it to identify novel pathological mechanisms in ALS which may lead to the generation of new drugs. His studies may also provide a framework for understanding other neurodegenerative diseases."
• Dr. Andrew Scott Perrotta: "Dr. Perrotta examined athlete monitoring and performance enhancing techniques that focused on the cardiovascular system. This research will assist Canadian National Sporting organisations in their pursuit for Olympic success."
• Dr. Paul Toren: "Using laboratory models, Dr. Toren investigated novel combination treatment strategies against prostate cancer that is resistant to the best current treatments available. His work identified two promising strategies, which subsequently progressed to clinical studies in patients with treatment-resistant prostate cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Forestry)

• Dr. Mina Momayyezi: "Dr. Momayyezi studied photosynthetic variation in black cottonwood poplars native to different latitudes. She showed that higher rates of photosynthesis at high latitude are associated with superior physical and biochemical characteristics in relation to CO2 transfer inside leaves. Her findings help focus efforts to improve yield in trees and crops."
• Dr. Solace Buramma Sam-Brew: "Dr. Sam-Brew evaluated non-wood residues for particleboard manufacture. Her work demonstrates that low density boards of greater mechanical performance to wood can be produced from flax and hemp residues. This translates to easy handling and processing, along with cost savings on transportation of the final product for panel manufacturers."
• Dr. Wanggi Jaung: "Dr. Jaung studied certification of forest ecosystem services. His findings show the opportunities and challenges of applying certification to ecosystem services management. His work contributes to analyzing comprehensive management of forest resources."
• Dr. Wenchang He: "Dr. He created a 3D network structure in wood composites by structural modification. Such structural modification significantly improved properties of the composite. This innovative approach will aid product development in the wood composites industry to compete with other advanced composite materials for demanding applications."
• Dr. Omnia Gamal El-Dien Ibrahim: "Dr. Gamal El-Dien studied Quantitative Genomics. She focused on infusing genomic information in White Spruce Tree improvement programs using a novel concept called Genomic Selection. Her research increases our knowledge of how genomics can shorten the breeding cycle of organisms and provides insights into increasing the benefit of such programs."
• Dr. James J Halperin: "Dr. Halperin investigated novel methods for forest monitoring in the miombo woodlands of Zambia, Africa. He demonstrated that cost-efficient optical satellite imagery can be combined with ground data and soils maps to precisely map forest resources. These maps and information are critically needed for sustainable forest management."
• Dr. Xiaoli Dou: "Dr. Dou studied the use of enzymes to facilitate converting paper pulp into dissolving pulp used to make textiles. She identified optimal conditions for enzymes and increased their potential in dissolving pulp. Her findings have important implications on the production of regenerated cellulose used in man-made fibers such as Tencel."

Doctor of Philosophy (French)

• Dr. Margherita Romengo: "Dr. Romengo examined the paratexts, work that accompanies a text, of sixteenth century French writer, Marguerite de Navarre. Her analysis brought to light not only the material and historical conditions of their publication, but also the literary and extraliterary stakes involved in the early editions of Marguerite de Navarre's works."

Doctor of Philosophy (Genome Science and Technology)

• Dr. Kevin Andrew Mehr: "Dr. Mehr developed screening technologies to search the human gut for sugar-modifying enzymes. He discovered numerous enzymes capable of building or breaking down complex biochemicals. This included the discovery of an enzyme capable of converting the blood type A antigen into blood type O, rendering it as universally donatable blood."
• Dr. Sophie Amelia Catherine Comyn: "How do changes to protein quality control networks perturb proteostasis - a process required for cell viability? To address this question Dr. Comyn established a flow cytometry based screen to identify factors involved in proteostasis. This work provides a valuable resource for future studies of protein quality control and protein stability."
• Dr. Keith Andrew Mewis: "Dr. Mewis developed a technique for the identification of bacterial enzymes capable of degrading plant matter. He used it to study the order in which wood is degraded as it moves through the digestive tract of the beaver. The results allowed for a new sub-classification system for these enzymes, which will help to improve biofuel technologies."
• Dr. Florian Baier: "Dr. Baier investigated the evolutionary divergence of enzyme functions. He revealed that many enzymes have an intrinsic evolutionary potential that is shaped by environmental and biophysical constraints. His research provides insight into the molecular basis of adaptation and will help with the design and engineering of proteins with desired properties."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geography)

• Dr. Wesley Llewellyn Attewell: "Dr. Attewell explored how the United States Agency for International Development has historically practiced development as a form of security in rural Afghanistan. Through a consideration of three different case studies, his dissertation helps us better understand the banal violence of USAID's development interventions in Afghanistan."
• Dr. Qinran Yang: "Dr. Yang studied the gentrification process in Chinese cities. She examined how state actions have attracted middle-class newcomers to the inner city and penalises or reconciles current working-class residents. The study assists us in understanding the state-society relations in China."
• Dr. Ashley Rebecca Dudill: "Dr. Dudill examined fine sediment inputs to gravel bed rivers, and their effect on sediment transport, sedimentation and channel stability. The results were found to depend on the joint properties of the sediments, and have significant implications for river engineering and aquatic ecology."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Engineering)

• Dr. Pejman Rasouli: "Reactive transport is a powerful tool to help understand water and rock interactions and processes related to groundwater and soil contamination. Dr. Rasouli's doctoral research was focused on the development and application of multicomponent diffusion and electrochemical migration models for reactive transport in porous media."
• Dr. Jordan Severin: "Dr. Severin's research focused on the impact of geological faults on both displacement and stress heterogeneity within large open pit mines. He was responsible for a unique experiment using radar to monitor slope movement and his work will help the safe design and application of open pit mining."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geophysics)

• Dr. Justin Granek: "Dr. Granek investigated the application of advanced machine learning algorithms to the field of mineral mapping. In particular his work focused on the development of supervised learning models and artificial neural network algorithms for the exploration of copper-gold porphyry, a type of rock with large crystals found in British Columbia."
• Dr. Sarah Devriese: "Dr. Devriese showed that electromagnetic methods can be used to monitor steam floods below the ground surface over time. The work was primarily geared towards enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. However, her findings are also applicable to improving management of other subsurface resources, such as groundwater and contamination plumes."
• Dr. Michael Stanley George McMillan: "Dr. McMillan looked at ways to improve 3D imaging of the Earth for natural resource detection and monitoring. He developed new techniques to detect thin metallic ore bodies buried in the ground from airborne electromagnetic data collected with helicopters."

Doctor of Philosophy (Germanic Studies)

• Dr. Melanie Kage: "Dr. Kage analyzed horse-riding as a companion species practice and cultural technique in German literature around 1900. Her research shows the shifting relationship between humans, animals and their surroundings. It also adds to our knowledge of current developments in Ecocriticism, the study of literature and the environment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Development, Learning, and Culture)

• Dr. Hezron Zacharia Onditi: "Dr. Onditi explored Tanzanian adolescents' experiences of cyberbullying, how they cope with it, as well as factors that influence their coping strategies. His findings provide further evidence that cyberbullying is a global issue, with no single coping strategy that works for everyone. Results point to the need for culturally relevant interventions."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Nutrition)

• Dr. Crystal Dawn Karakochuk: "Dr. Karakochuk examined whether iron deficiency was a major cause of anemia among women of reproductive age in Cambodia. This research is essential for the design and implementation of effective anemia reduction strategies. Her findings helped to reshape the current policy for iron supplementation among women of reproductive age in Cambodia."
• Dr. Theresa Helene Schroder: "Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient for healthy growth and brain development, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Dr. Schroder developed a novel method for convenient and minimally invasive diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency. This method has been clinically translated and used in newborns here in Vancouver as well as in field studies in Indonesia."

Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems)

• Dr. Amanda Lenhardt: "Dr. Lenhardt studied the factors involved in smallholder farmers' ability to bargain prices for their goods. She developed an interdisciplinary approach to explain the combined economic and social factors using original survey data from rubber farmers in Indonesia. Her research advances our understanding of social networks in economic decision-making."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Oncology)

• Dr. Catherine Elfi Sarah Jenkins: "Dr. Jenkins showed that Acute Leukemias are dependent on the genes IGF1R and RUNX1 for disease pathogenesis. She identified regulation of downstream signaling pathways and the epigenome as important underlying contributors. This research highlights key pathways suitable for future therapeutic intervention in Myeloid and Lymphoid leukemias."
• Dr. Kathryn Slowski: "Dr. Slowski studied the contribution of small RNA genes, known as microRNAs, to the progression of blood cancers. She developed a novel method to characterize the loss of microRNAs, leading to the discovery of a potentially cancer-related microRNA. This will lead to improved models of microRNA loss and prevent complications in gene therapy."
• Dr. Genevieve Marie Breau: "Dr. Breau examined the role of primary care providers in recommending cancer screening to individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. She found that providers' attitudes towards people with Intellectual Disabilities, and their prior clinical experience, influenced whether they would recommend cancer screening to any given patient."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Studies)

• Dr. Jennifer Marie Wolowic: "Dr. Wolowic studied digital technology use among Nisga'a and Tsimshian youth before and after the arrival of Facebook and cell phones in their small city. Her research shows how this urban Indigenous community uses Facebook to re-express traditions and respond to challenges created by colonialism. Her collaborations also created images that circulated among the community in digital and material forms."
• Dr. Angele Marie Beausoleil: "Dr. Beausoleil's research addresses how Canada can create a more innovative society. She experimented with UBC's strategic design method to develop a way of teaching the core thinking competencies required to be an innovator and devised a way to measure levels of innovativeness in individuals and organizations."

Doctor of Philosophy (Kinesiology)

• Dr. Paolo Biagio Dominelli: "Dr. Dominelli studied the sex-differences in the respiratory system and how they can influence the integrative response to exercise. He found that women, owing to their smaller airways, have a higher oxygen cost of breathing. He also showed that the higher work of breathing in women can have a greater influence on locomotor muscle fatigue."

Doctor of Philosophy (Language and Literacy Education)

• Dr. Ai Mizuta: "Dr. Mizuta examined the shaping of Chinese as a heritage language in Canada. She analyzed the struggles Chinese Canadian parents faced to raise their children to be bilingual in English and Chinese. Her study revealed the structural problems of Canadian society, which has failed to embrace the multilingual skills of immigrant children."
• Dr. Sara Schroeter: "Dr. Schroeter studied the discourses of difference of students in a Francophone minority language school. She found that multiracial youth monitor talk about race, nation, class, and gender through uses of humour and denial in liminal (e.g. drama) and formal spaces. This research highlights the necessity for anti-racist and decolonizing pedagogies."
• Dr. Genevieve Brisson: "Dr. Brisson explored identity among plurilingual students in a Francophone school in BC. Her research highlights factors preventing the expression of some linguistic and cultural identities as legitimate and supports current views of identity as dynamic. This work will have important implications for plurilingual learners in regular classrooms."
• Dr. Alfredo Afonso Ferreira: "All academic writing shifts between more concrete and more abstract wording. The variability in abstraction is both a resource and challenge for writers using English as an additional language (L2). Dr. Ferreira developed a new, quantitative method of analyzing abstraction and identified the scope and function of abstraction in L2 writers' texts."
• Dr. Anar Rajabali: "Dr. Rajabali embarked on a personal, philosophical and pedagogical study into the kinship between poetic discourse and spiritual expression. Her arts-based research lyrically illuminated how contemplative encounters nurture spiritual literacy. She demonstrates that purposeful engagement in creative practices is a rich gateway to holistic learning."

Doctor of Philosophy (Law)

• Dr. Wenqin Liang: "Dr. Liang studied the oversight and regulation regime of China's domestic cap-and-trade carbon market in the context of the country's environmental governance reform. Her research provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between law, administrative regulation and market in China, in both their long-run equilibrium and dynamic interactions."
• Dr. Yue Liu: "Dr. Liu studied judicial reform in China from the 1980s to 2015, focusing on the autonomy of judges in Chinese courts. Her research investigated the main influence in the adjudication and independence of the judges. This research will inform policy making and implementation of future judicial reform in China."

Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)

• Dr. James Scott Mackie: "Dr. Mackie's work focused on how the pronunciation of words changes over generations. Using computer simulation, he showed that simple phonetic misperceptions can influence the total number and type of consonant sounds found in a language. This research contributes more generally to our understanding of how and why human languages change over time."
• Dr. Elizabeth Leigh Stelle: "Hearing oneself while speaking is known to have an effect on speech production and perception. Dr. Stelle investigated the more unusual form of real time, visual feedback on speech production, and showed how this feedback affects speakers. Her work expands our understanding of speech motor control."
• Dr. Sonja Christine Thoma: "Dr. Thoma studied Bavarian German discourse particles, words that give a wider epistemic context and are used to establish common ground between speaker and addressee. She argued that abstract representations of speaker and addressee knowledge are an integral part of our grammatical competence."

Doctor of Philosophy (Materials Engineering)

• Dr. Ryan N Huizing: "Dr. Huizing completed research on polymeric membranes. He developed novel high-performance materials for the selective separation of water vapour from air. His work resulted in several granted patents and the materials developed have immediate applications in the field of building ventilation energy recovery and other vapour transport applications."
• Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Gadala: "Dr. Gadala examined how modern high-strength, low-alloy pipeline steels corrode and degrade in underground service conditions. He subsequently developed advanced numerical models to simulate pipeline corrosion control and structural integrity. This research enhances the safety and reliability of both existing and future energy pipeline infrastructure."
• Dr. Tasawar Javed: "Dr. Tasawar studied the hydrometallurgical process, by which metals are leached from ore. He established a clear understanding of the key process variables responsible for metal loss to the iron precipitation product. His findings offer a simple way to reduce metal loss in copper hydrometallurgy."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics)

• Dr. Zichun Ye: "Dr. Ye's studies focused on a family of models of gradient type with sub-quadratic actions. He studied the fluctuations of the microscopic model, and established a connection between the microscopic system and macroscopic world. His findings contribute to our understanding of models in statistical mechanics."

Doctor of Philosophy (Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology)

• Dr. Arwa Abdulrahman Alkhalaf: "Dr. Alkhalaf examined the impact of including research variables that are naturally skewed (such as level of education) in logistic regression, a modeling technique used for making predictions. She found that addition of these variables might negatively impact statistical conclusions and interpretations. Her work concludes with guidelines for researchers."
• Dr. Oscar Lorenzo Olvera Astivia: "Increasingly, computer simulations are being used in the field of education. Dr. Olvera Astivia studied computer algorithms used in simulations in the field of psychometrics, the study of mental capacity. His findings revealed that these algorithms rely on unacknowledged assumptions that, if altered, can change the design and conclusions obtained from these simulations."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

• Dr. Alireza Jalali: "Dr. Jalali developed an efficient and accurate method to improve the simulation of high-speed turbulent flows in aerodynamics. This method, which is an alternative to more expensive experimental studies, can be utilized to analyze commercial transport aircraft and improve the design of more efficient future aircraft."
• Dr. Mahkame Sharbatdar: "Dr. Sharbatdar has developed a new error estimation method that can be used mainly for numerical aerodynamics applications. This novel method helps to design airplanes more efficiently and to predict the drag and lift forces on them more accurately."
• Dr. Behrooz Yousefzadeh: "Dr. Yousefzadeh studied how mechanical vibrations transmit through certain types of structures used in industries such as turbomachinery and aerospace. His research revealed the necessary conditions for a transmission mechanism to exist. He plans to expand and apply his knowledge and methodologies to design safer turbomachines in the future."
• Dr. Hong Pak Tsui: "Dr. Tsui developed simulation models for the combustion of natural gas, aimed at understanding the dynamics within the reacting process. The models allow for more cost-effective optimisations for engines, which would have a positive impact on issues related to global warming by promoting the sustainable use of fossil fuels."
• Dr. Seyed Mohammad Miraskari: "High-speed turbo-machines can suffer from self-induced instabilities as in the unstable operation of NASA's space shuttle engines during the space exploration race with the Soviet Union. Dr. Miraskari's research investigates such faults, proposes safe regions of operation, and offers prospective design modifications for high speed rotating machinery."
• Dr. Maziyar Jalaal: "Dr. Jalaal studied droplets of complex fluids. He developed mathematical and experimental methods to analyze flows in small scales. His findings contribute to the development of new fabrication techniques such as 3D printing."
• Dr. Ramin Dastanpour: "Black carbon particles are responsible for adverse health effects and climate forcing. Dr. Dastanpour discovered new relations between the morphology and properties of these aerosols over a wide range of combustion sources. His results have significant implications for measurement of soot emission rates and its contribution to climate change."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)

• Dr. Regan-Heng Zhang: "Dr. Zhang developed genetic models to study the development of tissues in the human body, including muscle, fat, and bones. By characterizing a key regulatory factor, his research highlights how development is controlled by genetic information beyond the DNA."
• Dr. Joanna Yeung: "Dr. Yeung examined the function of a novel molecule in cerebellar development, Wntless, and how it defines new compartments in cerebellar development. She also documented that Pax6 is a master gene for the cerebellum as in other brain regions. Her findings will lead to new understandings of the molecular bases of cerebellar development and disease."
• Dr. Peter Guanyu Zhang: "The cerebellum is a brain region that has important motor and non-motor functions. Dr. Zhang and his colleagues generated a cerebellar transcriptome time series with Helicos sequencing technology. He identified more than a hundred transcriptional regulators that are important for the development of the cerebellum and cerebellar granule cells."
• Dr. Pardeep Kaur Kaurah: "Dr. Kaurah's research forms the basis for the management of families susceptible to an inherited stomach cancer. Her results not only provide more precise risk figures to improve genetic counselling, but also demonstrate the importance of long-term symptom management. Both findings have influenced the care of families internationally."
• Dr. Joanne Trinh: "Dr. Trinh has characterized the penetrance of genetic mutations in Parkinson's disease. Her most significant work is the identification of dynamin 3 as a potential genetic modifier that delays the onset of Parkinson's."
• Dr. Hok Khim Fam: "The integrity of our genetic material is maintained by cellular proteins that perform DNA repair. Dr. Fam's work illustrates a role for one such DNA repair protein - TDP1 - in the repair of mitochondrial DNA and as a target in cancer therapy. His work raises questions about the consequences of mitochondrial DNA mutation in human disease and shows the potential of TDP1 inhibition in targeted cancer therapy."
• Dr. Ana Sequerra Amram Cohen: "Dr. Cohen studied rare genetic syndromes causing generalized overgrowth. She expanded the spectra of genetic mutations and physical characteristics observed in patients affected with one of these disorders, called Weaver syndrome, and took the first steps in investigating the mechanism of disease at the molecular level. Dr. Cohen also identified a new cause of syndromic overgrowth, which will lead to more diagnoses of rare overgrowth patients in Genetics clinics across the world."

Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology and Immunology)

• Dr. Iryna Saranchova: "Dr. Saranchova studied the gene expression changes in tumours during the transition of primary tumour to its deadly metastatic form. She proposed a novel immunotherapeutic approach for cancer treatment and discovered the first independent immune biomarker for human prostate cancer that can become an important tool for predicting cancer outcomes."
• Dr. Anastasia Hyrina: "Dr. Hyrina investigated the role of key regulators of host lipid metabolism, including microRNAs and proprotein convertases during hepatitis C and dengue virus infections. These studies provide new insights into the complex host-virus interactions, which may be utilized as targets for antiviral development as well as biomarkers of infection."
• Dr. Eric Michael Brown: "Dr. Brown discovered how malnutrition can affect gut microbes, metabolites and the immune system in the intestine. He used this information to develop the first animal model of an inflammatory disease called environmental enteropathy, which will be used to screen new therapies for reversing malnutrition."
• Dr. Aria Stefanee Hahn: "Dr. Hahn's dissertation builds on our current understanding of the complex microbial communities driving nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, and presents new methods with which to analyze microbial sequence data. Ultimately, this work can help facilitate the design of microbial communities with properties beneficial to humans and the planet."
• Dr. Leah Stiemsma: "Dr. Stiemsma studied the intestinal microbiome and identified specific bacteria associated with the development of asthma in children. Her work suggests the microbiome as both an early life marker of asthma and a potential preventive treatment against this disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering)

• Dr. Jiajie Li: "Dr. Li examined the physical, structural and chemical properties of mine waste in various milling environments. Specifically, she looked at how the serpentine group of minerals effects the activation of the partially-serpentinized olivine minerals. Her findings assist us in achieving more effective milling methods."
• Dr. Mohammad Babaei Khorzoughi: "Dr. Babaei developed a novel approach for the assessment of digging conditions in open pit mining operations using electric rope shovels as a tool. The proposed approach helps mines to improve their productivity while significantly reducing the overall mining cost. Dr. Babaei's solution has been implemented in different mines in Canada."

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)

• Dr. Nurit Gazit Gurel: "Dr. Gazit Gurel's research explored sex differences in the development of visual processing in infancy, and additional factors which may influence these differences. She found that face processing develops differently in males and females. Her findings advance the fields of visual processing development and social development."
• Dr. Kaiyun Yang: "Dr. Yang explored the underlying mechanism for experience-dependent, visual cortical plasticity and uncovered a potential therapeutic reagent for treating visual impairment in adulthood. She also demonstrated how early visual experience affects the functional connectivity within the visual cortex and the cerebral cortex as a whole."
• Dr. Tamara Sonia Bodnar: "Dr. Bodnar studied the impact of early-life environment on endocrine and immune function over the life course. She identified that in utero alcohol exposure results in a unique immune signature in the brain and periphery. Furthermore, her work has uncovered mechanisms underlying individual differences in inflammatory responses."
• Dr. Caodu Buren: "Dr. Buren showed how connections from cortical to striatal neurons are disrupted in an early stage of Huntington's disease, an inherited neurodegenerative disorder. This study highlights the pre-neurodegenerative pathology and lays a foundation for therapeutic treatment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

• Dr. Laura Michelle Housden: "Dr. Housden examined nurse practitioner-led group medical visits (GMVs) in primary care for patients with chronic conditions. Meta-analysis found GMVs had positive effects on clinical outcomes. Analysis of case-studies indicated GMVs disrupted power differentials between patients and providers, yet contributed to challenges in nurse practitioners offering group appointments."
• Dr. Farinaz Havaei: "Dr. Havaei studied how the organization of nursing care influences the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes. Her findings showed fewer essential tasks left undone when nurses work independently versus in teams; and fewer negative patient outcomes with an all-RN nursing staff. These findings will help with future nurse workforce planning."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

• Dr. Manu Thomas Kalathottukaren: "Bleeding is the major side-effect of heparin anticoagulants that are used to prevent blood clotting during surgeries. Dr. Kalathottukaren developed a molecule that is nontoxic and efficient to stop bleeding induced by heparins. Successful translation of this molecule into clinics would reduce blood transfusions and make anticoagulation therapy safer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

• Dr. Dahai Zhang: "Dr. Zhang's study focused on the development of diabetes and its heart complication. He investigated an enzyme named 'haparanase', which facilitates the heart metabolic changes in diabetic patients, and could prevent the occurrence of diabetes if over produced. His work helps to revise the current use of heparanase as a therapeutic target."

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)

• Dr. Tristan Scott Sullivan: "Dr. Sullivan worked on the PIENU experiment at TRIUMF. This experiment measures the decay properties of the pion, an unstable particle made of quarks. This measurement will then be compared with the theoretical prediction, either confirming our understanding of pion decay, or pointing the way to new physics."
• Dr. Hamid Omid: "Dr. Omid developed and used novel methods to study 2+1 dimensional quantum field theories that are made of strongly interacting ingredients. His results explain the strange behaviors that these complex systems show in the experiments. A deeper understating of these systems helps us to utilize them in future."
• Dr. Shimpei Tobayama: "Neutrino oscillations may hold the key to understanding the fundamental physics laws governing the universe. Dr. Tobayama analyzed the oscillation of atmospheric neutrinos detected at Super-Kamiokande, a large neutrino detector in Japan. The new analysis techniques he developed also benefit other on-going and future measurements at the detector."
• Dr. Haley Dean Clark: "Dr. Clark studied salivary dysfunction induced by head-and-neck cancer radiotherapies. He identified which salivary gland portions should be spared radiation by quantifying regional importance. He also developed a technique to identify patient-specific organ structure. Incorporation of this work into future cancer treatments could eliminate severe dysfunction."
• Dr. Roja Zakariaee Kouchaksaraee: "Dr. Zakariaee developed methods that improve the accuracy of dose estimates for the bladder in women treated with radiotherapy for cervical cancer. She then applied these methods to study dose effects on urinary morbidity in these patients. This work contributes towards the development and application of improved dose assessment techniques in radiotherapy."
• Dr. Ivan Sergeevich Klyuzhin: "Dr. Klyuzhin developed new methods of image reconstruction and analysis in positron emission tomography. He found that geometrical features measured from brain images can track the progression of Parkinson's disease. This knowledge will help discover new therapies for neurological disorders and improve the diagnostic accuracy of brain imaging."
• Dr. Christine Elizabeth Nielsen: "Dr. Nielsen completed her research working on T2K, an international particle physics experiment designed to investigate how neutrinos change as they travel. She developed a method to improve the understanding of neutrino interaction rates, allowing for significant reduction of the uncertainties on future neutrino oscillation measurements for this experiment."
• Dr. Seyed Hamed Mirsadeghi: "Dr. Mirsadeghi designed and built a photonic integrated circuit that could trap nanoscale gold particles using optical forces. He subsequently characterized the size and shape of the trapped particles with high sensitivity. The results of his work could impact nanoscale research in different fields from nanosciences to biology and medicine."
• Dr. Namshik Kim: "Dr. Kim studied string theory and its application. Specifically, he examined gravity theory and its holographic relationship to quantum field theory. His investigations extend our understanding of the electric properties of materials."
• Dr. Joochun Park: "Dr. Park examined the properties of heavy proton-rich atomic nuclei by analyzing their radioactive decays. His new and more precise findings serve as benchmark tests of modern theories of nuclear structure, and are used as inputs of nuclear astrophysics models to investigate the origin of heavy elements in the universe."
• Dr. Mirko Mathias Moeller: "What happens when an extra electron is injected into a magnetic insulator? A better understanding of this question is needed for the design of novel electronic components and materials. In his thesis, Dr. Moeller investigated how far temperature plays a role and showed that in some cases, similar models can lead to drastically different results."
• Dr. Henry Szu-Meng Chen: "Dr. Chen validated the use of MRI based myelin imaging technique with electron microscopy. His work enhanced our understanding and interpretation of this technique in studying white matter damage following spinal cord injury. He also developed an accelerated version of this technique that has the potential to increase its clinical applicability."
• Dr. Ryan McKenzie: "Dr. McKenzie studied the quantum physics of magnetic materials. He examined magnetic phase transitions, analogous to the transition between water and ice, at extremely low temperatures. This research is relevant to the development of quantum computation, as well as being of fundamental interest in quantum physics."

Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)

• Dr. David Moscrop: "Dr. Moscrop asked 'Can we make good political decisions?' and 'How can we make better ones?' His work bridges the gap between political theory and social psychology, and helps us understand how we might change ourselves and our institutions in order to produce rational and autonomous judgments and decisions."
• Dr. Jonathan Kishen Gamu: "Dr. Gamu analyzed the politics behind mining companies' attempts to manage social conflicts in the Peruvian highlands. His research challenges the idea that corporate social responsibility initiatives are effective instruments for mitigating the inherently destabilizing effects of industrial mining in local communities in developing countries."
• Dr. Jennifer Allan: "Dr. Allan explored why global social movements such as the labour and women's rights movement sought to put a human face on climate change, an issue where they had little experience or expertise. Her work on the fragmentation of civil society reveals that relations among activists and their authority can influence the governance of global environmental issues."
• Dr. Afsoun Afsahi: "Dr. Afsahi looked at the willingness and capacity of people to discuss cultural and religious values and practices. She designed and tested new and promising methods of facilitation for such conversations. Her research has important implications for both theorists and practitioners interested in finding ways of talking about deeply-divisive issues."

Doctor of Philosophy (Population and Public Health)

• Dr. Nazrul Islam: "Dr. Islam showed that harm reduction interventions significantly reduce hepatitis C (HCV) reinfection, and that protection against one HCV type does not provide protection against other HCV types. His findings inform comprehensive public health approaches to HCV prevention and provide promising insights regarding hepatitis C vaccine development."
• Dr. Dimitra Panagiotoglou: "Dr. Panagiotoglou examined the effect of recent hospital closures in British Columbia, and how acute care access, appropriateness and quality of care affect patient outcomes following medical emergencies. She found hospital closures were not associated with increased mortality, and that the care received once hospitalized can compensate for travel time."

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology)

• Dr. Aaron Clark Weidman: "Dr. Weidman studied how psychologists measure positive emotions in research studies. He identified several problematic practices hindered by psychologists' current understanding of positive emotions. He further developed new and improved measurement tools for assessing positive emotions, which capture how people experience these emotions in daily life."
• Dr. Kristan Allison Marchak: "Dr. Marchak examined how people reason about transformations, including the disassembly/reassembly of artifacts and metamorphosis in animals. She found that children and adults rely on different criteria to reason about the persistence of an individual following such changes. This research advances our understanding of the human mind."
• Dr. Alec Beall: "Dr. Beall examined the hypothesized trade-off between effort devoted to mating and parenting. His research revealed that participants who desired to engage in short-term mating had reduced nurturing parental responses toward infants. This work has implications for children's health and well-being."

Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences)

• Dr. Bita Imam: "Dr. Imam studied the incidence of lower limb amputation and the provision of rehabilitation services in Canada. In addition she designed and evaluated a novel approach towards cost-effective and accessible rehabilitation for individuals with lower limb amputation."

Doctor of Philosophy (Reproductive and Developmental Sciences)

• Dr. Haolong Li: "Dr. Li studied how drug-resistant prostate cancer develops. He found a novel target for this lethal disease and applied a computer-aided system to screen for superior inhibitors of this target. His study provides a potential therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant prostate cancer that may eventually benefit the patient survival."
• Dr. Marianne Melanie Vidler: "Dr. Vidler examined community perceptions of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy through ethnographic studies in Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan and India. She further explored these perceptions using two methods of evidence synthesis. Her work aims to improve detection of these disorders and ultimately reduce maternal and perinatal mortality rates."

Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology)

• Dr. Maria Jose Torrejon: "Dr. Torrej"
• Dr. Katherine Alexandra Lyon: "Dr. Lyon studied the third age, a life course stage promoted by academic, professional and popular texts consisting of a healthy, prosperous, flexible retirement. Her ethnographic work showed that low-income women from the baby boomer generation interpreted these discourses in distinct ways according to their class, gender, and status."
• Dr. Kamila Kolpashnikova: "Dr. Kolpashnikova studied the gendered division of housework in Canada, paying special attention to changes over time and to the factors explaining women's and men's differential participation in routine and non-routine housework tasks. This research reveals patterns and processes that could propel societal changes toward greater gender equality."

Doctor of Philosophy (Special Education)

• Dr. Adam Porter Wilton: "Dr. Wilton examined the administrative factors that determine the workload for itinerant teachers of students with visual impairments. His findings will provide special education administrators with guidance to set itinerant teacher workloads so that the unique programming needs of students with visual impairments can be met."
• Dr. Deirdre Marie Curle: "Dr. Curle examined the transition from early intervention services to Kindergarten for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She discovered that one of the main factors influencing the transition to school is the pattern of interactions between the individuals, groups, and institutions connected to the child."

Doctor of Philosophy (Statistics)

• Dr. Yang Liu: "Dr. Liu developed statistical methods to predict and interpret high dimensional spatial tracks based on observations from multiple sources. His study has improved the tracking of endangered marine mammals and advanced our understanding of their behaviour. His methods can handle big data efficiently and solve other modern tracking problems."
• Dr. Hao Luo: "Dr. Luo developed statistical methods for analyzing epidemiological data for situations where the acquisition of genotype and the exposure to environment are independent. These methods can be applied to facilitate the understanding of the joint effect of genetic and environmental factors on human disease."
• Dr. Andy Chun Yin Leung: "Identifying anomalies in multivariate data is important in many applications including fraud detection. Dr. Leung developed methods to identify individual and chunks of deviating data cells in a data set. He subsequently extended his method to serve as an initial step for estimating different statistical quantities."
• Dr. Vincenzo Coia: "Dr. Coia developed a flexible statistical approach for forecasting extreme events such as big floods and large insurance claims, by carefully garnering information from precursors. He also identified a new probabilistic model that can allow a varying level of risk. This research will allow us to better develop early warning systems for disasters."
• Dr. David Lee: "Dr. Lee studied statistical extremes involving several variables. He explored methods to investigate extreme value models with connections driven by hidden factors or proximity of sites. Examples in the environmental and financial areas include the annual maximum stream flows at various locations along a river, and extreme stock returns."

Doctor of Philosophy (Teaching English as a Second Language)

• Dr. Jui-Ping Lin: "Dr. Lin examined four Western-educated, university Taiwanese teachers, their professional identities and teaching English writing as a global communication means. Her study provides pedagogical implications for teacher education programs to cultivate more agents of change in teaching English as a meaningful global language."
• Dr. Hyera Byean: "Dr. Byean examined how tracking practices, by which students are placed and taught according to English test scores, had negative effects on students' academic socialization. This critical ethnographic study suggests the need for reexamining tracking practices to fulfil the needs, interests, and knowledge of students from diverse backgrounds."

Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology)

• Dr. Lucas Morgan Brotz: "People have been eating jellyfish for centuries; however, the magnitudes of catches are uncertain. Dr. Brotz performed the first global 'catch reconstruction' for jellyfish and found that consumption is more than double previous estimates. He also demonstrated that tools from traditional fisheries science are adaptable for application to jellyfish."
• Dr. Arthur Andrew Meahan MacDonald: "Dr. MacDonald studied the sources of variation in ecological communities, using the organisms found inside of tropical bromeliads. He found that communities of larger organisms are more easily predicted by the environment. Among these larger organisms, species were different in how well they avoided predators."
• Dr. Helen Elizabeth Drost: "Dr. Drost studied Arctic cod, a key Arctic marine food web fish that she collected in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Her research revealed a greater than expected thermal tolerance and a significant acclimation potential from 0"
• Dr. Zhongqi Chen: "Dr. Chen used rainbow trout from desert habitats as a model to study thermal adaptation. He illuminated adaptive changes in DNA, RNA and physiology that enable trout to survive and physiologically thrive in high temperature water. His research will contribute to the conservation and management of fish species in the current era of global warming."
• Dr. Brett Jason Hilton: "Dr. Hilton demonstrated that ageing plays a role in nerve cell growth following spinal cord injury. He also identified a new form of neuroplasticity underlying recovery following spinal cord injury. This assists us in designing clinical trials and developing effective treatments for paralysis."
• Dr. Sarah Jenkin: "Dr. Jenkin explored the process of expiration in various rodent species. She found that typically the intercostal and abdominal muscles are silenced, but that under certain conditions, these muscles become active to enhance the volume and flow rates of the breath. Her work expands our knowledge of how the brain controls breathing in mammals."
• Dr. Benjamin Goller: "Dr. Goller studied visual control of hovering position in hummingbirds. His free-flight studies show that vision is important for maintaining a stationary position, even when most of the background is stationary or the hummingbird is docked at a feeder. These behavioural results support the idea that avian vision is specialized for flight style."
• Dr. Emily LeDue: "Dr. LeDue's research revealed a neural mechanism that controls how hunger influences what an animal is willing to eat. In the fruit fly, she showed how the brain uses information about external taste input and nutritional status to guide important feeding decisions."
• Dr. Jeffery Ross Werner: "Dr. Werner studied how predator-prey dynamics and competitive relationships among arctic species change with habitat type. His results from small herbivore populations of Arctic ground squirrels and snowshoe hares reveal the importance of habitat for predicting the effects of environmental change in northern ecosystems."