Convocation May 2020

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership and Policy)

Dr. Monica Teresa Soth: "Dr. Soth examined the impact of a quality assurance program on dental hygiene care in BC. She found that the new program had little or no impact on practice and that the business culture of the workplace negatively impacted participants' ability to implement patient-centered care. The findings have implications for practitioners and regulators."
Dr. Jill Michelle Jensen: "Educators make numerous judgments that affect vulnerable people every day, a responsibility for which there is little institutional training or support. Dr. Jensen explores Hannah Arendt's ideas about thinking, willing, and judging, and how these resources inform educational practice, helping educators to make ethical-political judgments."
Dr. Amanda Bolderston: "Dr. Bolderston studied the experiences of gay and lesbian radiation therapists coming out at work. Using an authoethnographic narrative inquiry approach, her findings showed that sexual orientation disclosure is dependent on context and can affect relationships with patients and co-workers in positive and negative ways."

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy

Dr. Cynthia Min: "Dr. Min found that medical students' learning through Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) is a complex process influenced by interactions between factors related to the student, the assessment design, and the broader environment. These findings will assist educators in optimizing the learning that takes place through OSCEs."
Dr. Eric Yang Zhao: "Dr. Zhao identified patterns of mutations in cancer genomes which can reveal whether cancer cells are repairing their DNA properly. He developed a method to analyze the evolution of these mutation patterns over time. He also showed that certain patterns of mutation predict treatment effectiveness and may help oncologists make clinical decisions."
Dr. Philip Edgcumbe: "Dr. Edgcumbe invented, patented, and licensed an augmented reality navigational aid that helps surgeons to visualize blood vessels and cancer tumours. Dr. Edgcumbe undertook his research to improve the surgical outcomes for the 50,000 Canadians that are diagnosed each year with liver, kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Orchestral Instrument)

Dr. Oskar Falta: "Dr. Falta examined Pablo Casals' views on interpretation and cello technique, and defined the extent of his influence on the methods of master cello pedagogues Diran Alexanian and Maurice Eisenberg. Dr. Falta showed how both works reflect Casals' ideas and together form the most significant expression of his teaching legacy."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Piano)

Dr. Daniel Furtado: "Dr. Furtado found that, despite its being a relatively obscure musical genre, the Brazilian tango is a body of work well worthy of further study. Through historical and musical analyses, he explores the Brazilian tango as a vehicle for pianists to develop technical and musical skills, and as an exciting option for concert programming."

Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology)

Dr. Marlene McGuire: "Dr. McGuire conducted an ethnography of expensive rare disease drug access disputes in Canada. Through fieldwork with affected families, public drug plans, and pharmaceutical companies, she explored how high drug prices depend on particular framings of suffering that artificially separate rare disease patients from issues of collective concern."
Dr. Nicholas Hans Waber: "Dr. Waber designed and built open-source technologies to study the past use of stone tools. This research helps archaeologists better understand tool design and use in past societies, and sheds light on how humans engage with their technological environment."
Dr. Heather Isobel Robertson: "Dr. Robertson improved sex prediction in the adult human os coxa (hip bone) to 98-100% by accounting for sex-based shape, body size, and fluctuating asymmetry. Her methods can be applied with confidence in forensic or biological anthropological contexts."

Doctor of Philosophy (Applied Animal Biology)

Dr. Tracy Anne Burnett: "Dr. Burnett studied the role of automated activity monitors in the reproductive management of dairy cows. Her findings show the correlation between increased estrous expression and improved fertility. This research demonstrates the importance of estrous expression in breeding decisions and provides alternatives for reducing hormonal interventions."
Dr. Lucia Amendola Saavedra: "Dr. Amendola found that inhalation of CO2, commonly used to kill laboratory rats, induces negative emotional states. Her research shows that rats experience anxiety at low CO2 concentrations, and that the onset of these feelings varies between individuals. Her results indicate that CO2 compromises rat welfare even for the least sensitive of rats."

Doctor of Philosophy (Art History)

Dr. Katherine Anne Durocher Jackson: "Dr. Jackson examined artist placements within industry and government in the U.K. and Western Europe from 1969-1976. Exploring themes of class, labor, time, and the political potential of art, Jackson proposed an alternative perspective of the relationship between art and politics during the 1960s and 1970s."
Dr. Sengupta Rajarshi: "Dr. Sengupta focused on retrieving the suppressed accounts of the histories of early modern kalamkari makers from the Coromandel region, India, and recognized their integrity. His study identified the cruciality of bringing the active presence of contemporary artisans into this investigation to reconstruct the agency of historical kalamkari makers."

Doctor of Philosophy (Asian Studies)

Dr. Julie Vig: "Dr. Vig examined an important literary genre within the Sikh tradition called gurbilas, written in Brajbhasha, and located it within the cultural and religious context of early modern North India (c. 1500-1850). Her research opens up a rich world of shared imaginaries between the Sikhs and other religious communities, as well as cultural worlds."
Dr. Ranbir Kaur Johal: "Dr. Johal's research seeks to understand how shame and stigma have shaped women's participation in Punjabi theatre, and to analyze the factors that can enable female participation and success in the face of constraint. Her research focused on the life stories of four women who have made significant contributions to Punjabi theatre."

Doctor of Philosophy (Astronomy)

Dr. Michelle Kunimoto: "Dr. Kunimoto discovered 17 new planets outside of the Solar System, including one that may be considered potentially habitable. She also analyzed her planet catalogue to reveal important information about planet formation and evolution theories. Her results indicate that there may be as many as one Earth-like planet for every five Sun-like stars."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Dr. Qian Ren: "Dr. Ren discovered a novel mechanism that increases the coding capacity of a virus through an intergenic region internal ribosome entry site (IRES). This study will further our understanding of IRES' mediated translation initiation and reading frame decoding, which will inform our ability to recognize and treat viruses."
Dr. Eric Tsz Chung Wong: "Dr. Wong studied the properties of flexible proteins that are not folded prior to binding. These proteins play critical roles in signaling and regulation by interacting with other proteins. He created a computational predictor for protein sites that bind to these flexible proteins and explored their relationship with disease-causing mutations."
Dr. Catherine Wang: "Dr. Wang's research characterized the structure of the calmodulin protein, which is mutated in people who have heart rhythm disorders. Her findings demonstrate that each mutation causes disease through distinct mechanisms. This work will improve our understanding of heart rhythm disorders and their causes."
Dr. Sean Douglas Workman: "Dr. Workman used X-ray crystallography to study the structure-function relationship of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. His structural data revealed an unexpected topology and suggested an additional function for a key membrane protein. This knowledge provides a foundation for the development of novel antibiotics."
Dr. Mina Ordobadi: "Dr. Ordobadi studied nanoparticles for delivery of small molecule drugs and nucleic acids. Through her studies, she looked at the effect of nanoparticle composition on therapeutic relevance. Her findings can ultimately be used to develop treatments for a range of diseases."

Doctor of Philosophy (Bioinformatics)

Dr. Justin Chu: "Dr. Chu improved the process of using computers to extract meaningful information from biological sequences such as DNA. He designed computer programs to store data in probabilistic data structures, which purposely store data as approximate signatures in order to surpass the computational memory and speed limits of representing the data perfectly."
Dr. Evan Gatev: "Dr. Gatev developed a new method for analyzing epigenetic data to characterize genomic regions of concordant DNA methylation, which is an important part of the epigenome. His approach was used to characterize sex differences in DNA methylation of blood tissue. This work will improve statistical discovery and validation in future applications."
Dr. Marjan Farahbod: "Dr. Farahbod studied gene expression in human tissues and showed that observed patterns of expression can be attributed to the diverse cellular composition of the samples. By characterizing this feature of expression data, her study assists us in furthering our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms behind the regulation of gene expression."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering)

Dr. Enxiao Luan: "Dr. Luan explored optical sensing architectures to improve diagnostic sensitivity, accuracy, and economy. He developed two types of sub-wavelength grating-based sensors, which present an improved sensitivity compared to conventional counterparts. This will impact medical diagnostics and healthcare services, particularly in developing countries."
Dr. Tobias Robert Baumeister: "Dr. Baumeister developed computer programs to analyze brain images. When applied to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, his study yielded novel insights into disease related changes to the brain's structure and function. This research contributes to our understanding and assessment of brain diseases."
Dr. Min Ai: "Dr. Ai developed a photo-acoustic imaging system through optical excitation and acoustic detection to illuminate the prostate from within the urethra using a transurethral probe. This technique will improve the detection and imaging of malignant tissue and prostate cancer."
Dr. Sayed Mohammad Hashem Jayhooni: "Dr. Jayhooni developed a novel side-viewing Raman endoscopic catheter enabled with a micro-stepping actuator for detecting cancers in the respiratory system and other human organs. This catheter works for angle-resolved local Raman analysis with no aid of tissue labeling and can detect lesion-induced biochemical changes in vivo and in real-time."
Dr. Mohammad Arafat Hussain: "Dr. Hussain investigated the feasibility of using volumetric medical images for kidney cancer prediction and prognosis. He developed novel deep neural network-based approaches for kidney cancer detection, cancer grading, and staging for CT scans. This approach will improve our ability to detect and therefore treat kidney cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Botany)

Dr. Ludovic Henri Le Renard: "Dr. Le Renard studied the evolution of fly-speck fungi, microfungi growing on the surfaces of plants and abundant as fossils. He analyzed the evolutionary relationships of living fungi using DNA, compared their anatomy to fossils, and described three new fossils. This comparative work sheds light on the evolution of a very diverse group of fungi."
Dr. Di Wu: "Dr. Wu studied the signaling transduction pathways in plant immunity. His work revealed novel regulatory mechanisms governing the activation of plant immune receptors, which may contribute to the engineering of broad-spectrum resistance in crops."
Dr. Dinesh Babu Paudel: "Dr. Paudel studied two key aspects of plant-virus interaction: how viruses coerce plants to produce viral products and how the plant defends itself. He identified regions in the viral genome that help in hijacking the host resources. Also, his results showed a variety of host antiviral defenses and highlighted the complexity of the interaction."
Dr. Jacob Alexander Munz: "Dr. Munz examined how plants and algae respond to a lack of nitrogen, a macronutrient that is essential for growth and development. Using the genetics model of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a single-cell green algae, Dr. Munz makes a critical first step toward uncovering the elusive signaling mechanism that responds to cellular nitrogen status."

Doctor of Philosophy (Cell and Developmental Biology)

Dr. Connie Lap Ka Leung: "Dr. Leung examined candidate obesity and diabetes genes, and found that reducing the amount of one gene, called Pdk1, affects lipid metabolism and the heart. Further, this research shows that the metabolic effects of Pdk1, as well as environmental factors, are important to consider when using inhibitors of this gene as a potential therapeutic."
Dr. Maria Chiara Toselli: "Dr. Toselli studied pancreatic beta-cell development and regeneration. She created a new model to study and track beta-cells and discovered important cues for beta-cell development and regeneration. Her work gives us a better understanding of pancreas biology and renewal."
Dr. Phillip William Round: "Dr. Round examined the interaction between non-steroidal molecules and sex hormone-binding globulin. He showed that this interaction has the ability to modulate testosterone levels in circulation, and may be pharmaceutically useful for testosterone replacement therapy."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

Dr. Ehsanollah Oveisi Fordiie: "Dr. Oveisi Fordiie analyzed the complexity of industrial gasification systems. He describes an industrial gasification system where solid woody biomass is converted to non-condensable gases. His research will help to reduce uncertainties in utilizing urban biomass feedstock for a full scale bioenergy facility."
Dr. Bahman Ghiasisis: "Dr. Ghiasisis studied the conversion of biomass and bio waste material into fuel. He investigated the methods and mechanism of mass and energy densification. He has contributed to the design, optimization and operation of pilot scale steam explosion and torrefaction systems that produce environmentally friendly bio-coal as replacement to coal and fossil fuels."
Dr. Jason Tai Hong Kwan: "Dr. Kwan investigated new approaches to reduce cost and increase performance for water electrolysis. The development of new methods will more accurately quantify degradation, performance, and efficiency, using modified electrochemical setups. His research will lead to improved water electrolyzers for a greener and more sustainable future."
Dr. Jingqian Chen: "Dr. Chen investigated the removal of hemicellulose sugars from pine and the use of such sugars by the pulp and paper industry. She developed a model to track changes in hemicellulose size during extraction, and used these sugars to increase paper strength. Her thesis identifies important strategies for adding value to existing biorefinery products."
Dr. Vasiliy Triandafilidi: "Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are materials that combine electrical properties of solid materials, like in our iPhones, with flexibility of organic materials. Dr. Triandafilidi studied the behaviour of electronic devices made of gel to find a way to improve their characteristics to be used in robotics and prosthetics as artificial skin."
Dr. Mohammad Shanb Ghazani: "Dr. Ghazani's doctoral studies focused on the development of an easy method to sort particles into different classes. He designed and made a device to continuously separate microfibre particles. His findings contribute to the bio-product industry and will allow for either reduced energy usage or enhanced service performance."
Dr. Robertus Dhimas Dhewangga Putra: "Dr. Putra developed a process for bio-fuel production using renewable carbon from woody biomass and hydrogen from glycerol and water. He showed that gasoline-like compounds can be obtained in a single process. His findings will contribute to the development of sustainable and scalable bio-refineries."
Dr. Frank Nkansah-Boadu: "Dr. Nkansah-Boadu studied the treatment of selenium-contaminated coal mine-affected water using microbial consortia from mine-affected sediments. He discovered novel selenium-reducing bacteria and selenium removal pathways. His findings contribute knowledge for designing systems for remediating selenium-contaminated mine waters."
Dr. Danielle Aline Salvatore: "Dr. Salvatore designed and fabricated a reactor to convert waste carbon dioxide to carbon-based fuels at high efficiencies. Her research has furthered the development of cost-competitive energy storage technologies which are critical to enabling a renewable energy economy."
Dr. Haoqi Wang: "What's the best way to utilize the limited biomass resources to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions? Dr. Wang investigated the environmental impacts, economic viability, and policy implications of producing bio-energy from the available resources in British Columbia. His work provides insight into a cost-effective transition to a sustainable future."
Dr. James Stephen Campbell: "Direct Air Capture is a radical technology which removes carbon dioxide from the air for sequestration or utilization. Dr. Campbell's research provides a new understanding of the reactions involved in this technology and explores alternative reaction pathways with lower temperatures, which enables a more cost-effective removal of CO2 from the air."
Dr. Mengqi Han: "Dr. Han studied how organic and inorganic water solutes affect the formation of nitrite, a byproduct in water treatment that is harmful to human health. Her research will impact the application of Vacuum-UV, a UV-based advanced oxidation process, for treating micropollutants in water, and will act as a guide to control the formation of nitrite."
Dr. Colin Edward Moore: "Dr. Moore investigated the causes of catalyst breakdown in renewable energy systems and strategies to improve catalyst lifetime. He found that dissolution of iridium catalysts is connected to durability in hydrogen fuel cells and that lead stabilizes tin in CO2 electroreduction. This research is crucial to strategies for mitigating climate change."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

Dr. Alyssa Mae Yeo: "Dr. Yeo examined the fundamental chemistry of early and late transition metal complexes. She studied the reactivity of early transition metal dinitrogen complexes and synthesized novel late transition metal complexes, exploring the capability of these chemical systems to provide insight for future advances in synthetic chemistry."
Dr. Han Hao: "Dr. Hao investigated Ti-catalyzed hydroamination, a powerful tool in the synthesis of various nitrogen-containing compounds. He used this complex to transform simple starting materials into complex nitrogen containing products, which can be used in new chemical reactions to make important commercial products like drugs and herbicides."
Dr. Eric Gerard Bowes: "Dr. Bowes investigated reductive elimination, a chemical reaction critical to the production of high-performance materials, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. He developed a framework for predicting and controlling the outcome of this reaction that will inform more cost-effective and sustainable approaches to the preparation of these products."
Dr. Ryan Chung: "Dr. Chung developed new automated technologies to solve difficult problems relevant to modern organic chemistry. By providing access to data-rich information, these technologies have the potential to alleviate bottlenecks in chemical process development in both academic and industrial settings, with an overall reduction in time and resources."
Dr. Yiling Dai: "Dr. Dai developed nanostructured catalysts for methane combustion. The main component of natural gas, methane, is a potent greenhouse gas, and the removal of unburned methane from natural gas exhaust requires catalysts that operate at low temperatures. The developed catalysts may help to decrease methane emissions from natural gas vehicles."
Dr. Kelsi Lix: "Dr. Lix studied and improved a new type of ultrabright fluorescent probe called polymer dots that are used in bioanalysis and imaging. She investigated how these materials interact with other fluorescent materials. Her research will be used to develop new technologies that will enable medical diagnosis at the point-of-care."
Dr. Wei Ling Chiu: "Dr. Chiu studied the reactivity of nickel complexes towards breaking and forming chemical bonds. This fundamental work will help researchers to understand how nickel can be used to make complex molecules from simple starting materials, and will lead to the development of catalytic transformations that are more efficient and sustainable."
Dr. Kyle Brian Robinson: "Dr. Robinson identified new chemical leads that he developed as therapeutics for the tropical parasitic disease, Chagas. These drug-candidates aim to block the parasite's ability to camouflage inside the body, thereby enabling the host immune system to effectively fight the disease."
Dr. Ryan Michael Lund McFadden: "Dr. McFadden studied the dynamics of lithium ions at ultra-dilute concentrations inside single crystalline materials. The results from these novel experiments will help to refine models of ion transport in solids, which can be applied in the operation of many practical devices, such as lithium-ion batteries."
Dr. Zhen Xu: "Dr. Xu's research explored the interactions between light and new synthetic molecules. These interactions include chemical changes such as photochromism or physical changes such as thermally activated delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence. This work will impact applications such as super-resolution imaging and display technology."

Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering)

Dr. Brook Raymond Robazza: "Dr. Robazza's research focused on the seismic performance of slender ductile reinforced masonry shear walls. His research included both extensive experimental testing and numerical analyses, which demonstrated that properly detailed reinforced masonry shear walls can possess very good energy dissipation and offer reliable seismic force resistance."
Dr. Mohamed Rashad Sayed Abdelsalam: "Dr. Abdelsalam developed a lightweight protective system to help shallow underground structures withstand blast attacks. Using an advanced validated numerical model, his findings show that these composite reinforced concrete panels, which are inexpensive and easy to repair, help to dissipate blast energy and prevent structures from being damaged."
Dr. Peixian Li: "Dr. Li used large databases of thermal comfort field studies to challenge the current criteria in international standards. She developed new ways of measuring and analyzing thermal comfort, and proposed improvements to building design and operation strategies that can both improve human comfort and reduce energy and carbon emissions."
Dr. Frank Nkansah-Boadu: "Dr. Nkansah-Boadu studied the treatment of selenium-contaminated coal mine-affected water using microbial consortia from mine-affected sediments. He discovered novel selenium-reducing bacteria and selenium removal pathways. His findings contribute knowledge for designing systems for remediating selenium-contaminated mine waters."
Dr. Rodrigo Carneiro da Costa: "Dr. Costa studied how physical, economic, and social infrastructure in urban communities interact and affect recovery from earthquakes. Using computer models to simulate an earthquake in Vancouver, he estimates that recovery would take more than four years. These findings can inform decision-making and improve our capacity to prepare for disasters."
Dr. Andres Ricardo Barrero: "Dr. Barrero carried out a multi-scale study on the cyclic liquefaction of granular soils. He analyzed the mechanisms involved in the loss of grain contacts and developed a model for reliable simulation of liquefaction-induced deformations. His findings improve our ability to predict the behaviour of granular materials during liquefaction."
Dr. Priyesh Verma: "Dr. Verma explored fundamental silt behavior and various parameters that affect its behavior under earthquake loading. Through extensive laboratory testing, he produced an experimental database which will serve to enhance and refine the current state of knowledge about the behavior of silts under earthquake loading."

Doctor of Philosophy (Classics)

Dr. Bethany Allison Brothers: "Dr. Brothers investigated Roman spectacles as a medium for dynastic promotion in the Severan age. She discovered that during this tumultuous period, spectacles offered an opportunity for the emperor to demonstrate his benefaction, to create a positive public image for himself, and to associate himself with the great emperors of the past."

Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science)

Dr. Yu Ju Chen: "Dr. Chen studied numerical algorithms for stiff elastodynamic simulation, a key procedure in computer graphics applications. He developed models for natural physical movements that would maintain stability and produce lively simulations at a lower cost. This work will improve the efficiency and accuracy for physically-based computer simulation."
Dr. Reza Babanezhad Harikandeh: "Dr. Babanezhad's research explored optimizing parameters for machine learning algorithms, like those used in data processing, focusing specifically on computational cost. His proposed method, which he has tested on a new set of constraints and machine learning models, can train models in less time and achieve better results than previous methods."
Dr. Zeinab Zolaktaf Zadeh: "Dr. Zolaktaf examined ways of improving user interaction with data that is stored in large structured data sources. She developed algorithms and models that help users to explore, query, and analyze data more efficiently."
Dr. Fatemeh Dorri: "Dr. Dorri explored methods for detecting genetic mutations with a resolution down to one cell. The accumulation of genetic mutations disrupts regular cell activity and leads to tumour development. Her findings can be applied to the study of clonal dynamics in tumours, which can potentially lead to enhanced cancer diagnosis and treatment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)

Dr. Hillary Lianna Sommers McBride: "Dr. McBride's research focused on women's experiences of wellbeing during the menopausal transition, shifting the discourse from a biomedical and pathology focused perspective to one of developmental growth and thriving."
Dr. Kevin Tyler Lutz: "Dr. Lutz examined the effectiveness of a group therapeutic model to support military veterans and first responders in their transition from active duty to civilian life. His research will inform the development of effective programs that will improve the quality of life for the men and women who have been in service domestically and abroad."
Dr. Natasha Alexandria Wawrykow: "Dr. Wawrykow's research investigated Aboriginal students' sources of and access to self-worth. She modified an analysis method to fit with Indigenous oral storytelling traditions. Her findings highlight Indigenous ways of healing and fostering self-worth and contribute to culturally sensitive delivery of clinical service and conducting research."
Dr. Rosalynn Michelle Lemon: "Dr. Lemon conducted a narrative examination of school-based trauma-informed practices. This is one of the first Canadian studies to investigate trauma-informed practice implementation from the perspective of school counselling professionals. This research supports the continued development of trauma-informed practices in the education system."

Doctor of Philosophy (Craniofacial Science)

Dr. Walaa Magdy Ahmed: "Dr. Ahmed investigated the effects of preparation design and sintering on the marginal accuracy of zirconia crowns, and established an innovative method for measuring the shrinkage of zirconia crowns during processing. This research provides valuable knowledge for achieving precise fit and improving the clinical success of zirconia restorations."
Dr. Jiarui Bi: "Dr. Bi investigated cell behavior in the regulation of periodontal disease. He found that a receptor molecule plays a central role in the regulation of periodontal inflammation and bone loss through transforming growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. This research will impact treatment methods for periodontal diseases."

Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum Studies)

Dr. Joanne Mary Price: "Dr. Price attends to a Welsh cultural approach to contemplative connection with the living world. As a response to climate change, her writing explores ways of knowing with trees, culture, words, and ancestors. It offers a creative, devotional, and regenerative approach to environmental and contemplative education."
Dr. Mahtab Eskandari: "Dr. Eskandari investigated major ontological foundations related to the concepts of nature, environment, and ecology, focusing particularly on environmental education in a Shia Islamic village in Iran. Her findings offer insight into how we might reconceptualize and teach sustainability as a way of life grounded in contextual ethics and ontologies."
Dr. Vanessa Elena Radzimski: "Dr. Radzimski found that, contrary to expectations, university mathematics knowledge plays a limited role in future high school math teachers' understanding of the secondary curriculum. She argues that mathematicians and teacher educators should work together to help future teachers understand how content expertise can impact pedagogical practice."
Dr. Michelle Therese Gautreaux: "Dr. Gautreaux examined how activist teachers in Chicago are fighting for both education justice and racial justice. She showed how teachers experience tension and disagreement on the topics of race, police violence, and the definition of social justice unionism. Her findings will inform future research in racial justice and social justice unionism."

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)

Dr. Iain Gordon Snoddy: "Dr. Snoddy studied regionalization in the labour market, particularly the effects of internal migration and union wage spillovers at the city level. He developed a new method of controlling for selection bias caused by internal migration, which uses machine learning tools to improve on existing methodologies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies)

Dr. Claudia Andrea Diaz Diaz: "Dr. Diaz-Diaz studied how young children learn about diversity and social responsibility through their relationships with place. Her research demonstrates that uncritical multicultural pedagogies can prevent children from learning about and from Indigenous knowledge. These findings will inform policy and pedagogy development, particularly in BC."

Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Dr. Bo Fang: "Dr. Fang developed comprehensive approaches to help applications detect and recover from failures caused by hardware faults in high-performance computing systems. These approaches improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of error detection and resilience techniques that are commonly practiced in the high-performance computing domain."
Dr. Maryam Azimi Hashemi: "Dr. Azimi developed an efficient representation for digital colors based on the human visual system in order to improve the color quality of HDR videos without increasing the required bandwidth. Her results showed that her method can be effectively used for efficient compression in video transmission, outperforming current practices."
Dr. Han Yun: "Dr. Yun studied and developed high-performance integrated optical couplers and filters on silicon photonics chips. He proposed novel sub-wavelength waveguide structures and used low-cost, silicon-based technology to improve device performance. This work can be applied in next generation optical communications and sensing systems."
Dr. May Bashir Siksik: "Dr. Siksik developed a machine learning-based framework for modeling cellular ion channels. This opens the door for new types of experiments that were previously computationally prohibitive. The framework has the potential to reduce the cost of drug development and enable advanced medical research focused on understanding ion-channel diseases."
Dr. Tongxin Shu: "Dr. Shu addressed power management issues in a mobile sensor network, with specific application to automated water quality monitoring. He developed energy-efficient methods to prolong the lifetime of the sensor network, which could be applied to various other environmental monitoring systems."
Dr. Nam Ky Giang: "Dr. Giang studied a new class of computer applications that run in fog computing infrastructure, which exploits devices across the edge network (e.g. smartphones), the access network (e.g. Wi-Fi routers, cell towers), and the cloud. His work will impact the development of data intensive applications such as real-time AI-powered video processing."
Dr. Abdelrahman Hesham Elsayed Ahmed: "Optoelectronic links in datacenters connect servers across vast distances in order to communicate and carry a massive amount of data. Dr. Ahmed's research demonstrates different techniques for enhancing the energy efficiency and improving the performance of such links in order to support higher data throughput."
Dr. Mehdi Karimibiuki: "Dr. Karimibiuki studied security solutions for dynamic systems within the Internet-of-Things (IoT), such as drones and rovers. He developed mathematical-based methods to detect software vulnerabilities in mobile computer systems such as drones. His work enables the detection of malicious behaviors in autonomous IoT systems."
Dr. SeyedMehran Pesteie: "Dr. Pesteie explored machine learning algorithms to improve image-guided procedures in healthcare. He devised models that can learn from partial or limited expert supervision in environments, where data annotation is costly and time consuming. His methods can provide automatic feedback for more accurate decision making in clinics."
Dr. Mrinmoy Jana: "Dr. Jana explored the application of faster-than-Nyquist technology to compete with the skyrocketing traffic demands in the existing fixed transmission networks, which serve as the backbone for the Internet and the cellular data traffic. The powerful signal processing techniques he designed can significantly enhance the capacity of these networks."
Dr. Ibrahim Shaaban Sanad: "Dr. Sanad developed tools and techniques to design relay communication satellite constellations for servicing Earth observation satellite constellations. This will allow for the fast delivery of Earth images to the end-users, which is significant in natural disaster and national security situations."
Dr. Jiayue Cai: "Dr. Cai's research focused on improving ways of determining how regions of the brain interact with one another. She examined interaction patterns of the brainstem, representations of brain regional activity, and changes to connectivity between regions over time. This research will ultimately assist in disease evaluation and treatment assessment."
Dr. Tahsin Arafat Reza: "Dr. Reza developed a highly-scalable, distributed solution to support practical pattern matching based analytics in large graph datasets. He demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique through scaling experiments on massive real-world graph datasets and at platform scales, orders of magnitude larger than used in the past for similar problems."
Dr. Rui Cheng: "Dr. Cheng studied the spectral design of silicon waveguide-based integrated Bragg gratings (IBGs), which are used as filters to block certain wavelengths, or as wavelength-specific reflectors. This work facilitates the use of IBGs in applications where customized spectral responses are required, like optical communications and signal processing."
Dr. Pedram Mohammadi: "Dr. Mohammadi developed a patented technology to improve the visual quality of images and videos by modeling the capabilities of the human eye. This research revolutionizes the field of digital media and is of huge importance to many industries in the digital economy, including autonomous driving, virtual and augmented reality, and digital health."
Dr. Ignacio Galiano Zurbriggen: "Dr. Galiano Zurbriggen developed tools to improve the performance of power converters used in applications such as renewable energies, electric vehicles, and battery chargers. His contributions can be directly implemented in commercial products, creating significant benefits towards the de-carbonization of the energy and transportation sectors."
Dr. Francisco Paz: "Dr. Paz studied the use of Direct Current (DC) microgrids in the integration of renewable power and energy storage. He developed an efficient method to detect the changing characteristics of DC microgrids, which will improve their performance and accelerate their deployment in renewable energy applications."
Dr. Mohammad Ali Saket Tokaldani: "Dr. Saket solved a long-standing trade-off in the design of high-frequency transformers for power supplies and battery chargers. His approach makes it possible to design transformers that are highly efficient and have a minimal noise emission. This proposed method will lead to a new era of compact and efficient power converters."
Dr. Shuan Dong: "Dr. Dong studied the integration of renewable energy into electric power systems. He proposed several renewable energy controller designs that have adjustable response speed, reduced output-power coupling, and fast synchronization speed. His research results will enable power systems to integrate more environmentally-friendly renewable energy."

Doctor of Philosophy (English)

Dr. Loren Danae Gaudet: "Dr. Gaudet explored how health awareness discourse under capitalism shapes understandings of health and what it means to be healthy. Her findings show that while health awareness has been long analyzed in terms of individual public health campaigns, the rhetoric of "health awareness" is often taken up by commercial marketing campaigns."

Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Medicine)

Dr. Takuro Ishikawa: "Dr. Ishikawa demonstrated that people make health decisions based on stereotypes of health conditions and diseases, and developed a new approach to risk communication in health. His findings advance current strategies to reduce unintentional child injuries and fatalities, and help to address vaccine hesitancy and other health misconceptions."
Dr. Dominika Nackiewicz: "Dr. Nackiewicz studied how immune cells called macrophages contribute to inflammation in insulin-producing islets in type 2 diabetes. She showed that macrophages could either induce or resolve islet inflammation. This work could aid in the design of therapies that may improve function of islet cells in diabetes."
Dr. Nelly Aku Amenyogbe: "Dr. Amenyogbe listened in on the conversation between gut microbes and the immune system in very young children. This revealed a complex and sophisticated information exchange that puts all social media platforms to shame. Now she is off to use the knowledge gained to improve crucial health outcomes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science)

Dr. Karen Fong: "Dr. Fong worked on understanding Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and bacteriophages, the viruses that predate these bacteria. She identified several bacteriophages with high efficacy in controlling Salmonella that would be of high value to the food industry. Her research sheds insight into mitigation of this human pathogen in the food chain."
Dr. Mohammed Jamal Hakeem: "Dr. Hakeem developed innovative strategies for replacing antibiotics in agri-foods systems. He identified how synergistic combinations work collectively against Campylobacter jejuni. He also developed a nanoscale packaging system to inactivate this pathogenic bacterium in poultry meats to enhance food safety and public health."

Doctor of Philosophy (Forestry)

Dr. Ngaio Hotte: "Dr. Hotte studied the creation of trust between Indigenous representatives and regional or national governments collaborating on natural resource governance. She highlights the role of individual, interpersonal, and institutional influences on trust, and shows the negative impact that lived experiences of discrimination have on trusting behaviour."
Dr. Joe Yu: "Dr. Yu introduced a new method to quantify the effect of logging on floods in the snowy regions of British Columbia. His research is the first to use nonstationary frequency analysis to reveal a highly sensitive flood regime to logging. His findings run counter to the prevalent, century-old wisdom in the field of forest hydrology."
Dr. Nicholas Karl Ukrainetz: "Dr. Ukrainetz used DNA markers to predict growth and wood traits in lodgepole pine. This technique can be used to predict mature traits in young seedlings, offering tree breeders a tool to make selections after one year as opposed to more than ten."
Dr. Amanda Karlene Asay: "Dr. Asay investigated differences in growth and behaviour of interior Douglas-fir seedlings based on presence, absence or mixtures of close genetic relatives. Her results show that high or low plant density extremes, lower soil fungal associations, and presence of a different species impact seedling behavior and growth specific to that environment."
Dr. Afrin Hossain: "Dr. Hossain investigated the use of Self-Tapping-Screws, a popular connector in Cross-Laminated Timber structures. These joints were tested under both monotonic loading and cyclic loading, which simulates the impact of an earthquake. Her research provides guidance to structural engineers and builders for designing timber shear connections."
Dr. P.K.M. Moniruzzaman: "Dr. Moniruzzaman used a synthesis of approaches such as programming, nonlinear analysis, probabilistic modelling, and analytical methods to examine the effects of cross-layers on the performance of cross-laminated timber under axial compression loads. He has accomplished the project with 42% material savings compared to existing design practices."
Dr. Weiye Wang: "Dr. Wang investigated the complex socio-ecological changes being experienced by local communities in two protected areas in China. Her findings show that the livelihoods of local people can be adversely affected by unreasonable government structure and institutional arrangements, and that the provision of alternative livelihood options is critical."
Dr. Devyani Singh: "Over 50% of all wood globally is used for daily cooking, which negatively impacts climate change and forest sustainability. Dr. Singh assessed factors which dictate changes in household fuelwood consumption patterns in India. Her results have direct and important implications for international climate policy and forest management."
Dr. Liyang Liu: "Dr. Liu developed a greener and highly efficient route to obtain a platform lignin product with controllable properties. This modification showed an advance in using renewable materials for useful applications like insulating foams and water-proof coatings. His efforts will contribute to the lofty goal of sustainable development in this century."
Dr. Krishna Teja Malladi: "Dr. Malladi developed mathematical models to optimize short-term biomass logistics and analyzed the impacts of carbon pricing policies on optimal cost and emissions of the models. The developed models were validated and applied to two case studies. The results will help logistics companies make more informed decisions for their short-term planning."
Dr. Devin Rhys de Zwaan: "Dr. de Zwaan demonstrated that parental care among alpine songbirds can buffer nestlings against extreme weather and predation risk, improving early-life growth conditions and benefitting survival and life-time fitness. A capacity to respond to variable constraints has critical implications for the future of birds under rapid environmental change."
Dr. Brian William Kielstra: "Dr. Kielstra examined the effects of environmental variability and land cover on stream ecosystems. He found that improved prediction of ecological threats depends on the indicator, and that incorporating multiple scales can increase predictive ability. This work will help ecologists to better predict and understand important threats to ecosystems."
Dr. Juliana Galvao de Sousa Magalhaes: "Dr. Magalhães studied the importance of tree species interactions in projecting the effects of climate change on forests. She designed software to predict tree growth similar to the way that Google predicts e-mail sentences. Her research highlights the relevance of competition to accurately simulate tree growth responses to climate change."
Dr. Alice May Jasamine Palmer: "With the rise of the Internet, we are now getting more information from non-paper sources. Dr. Palmer examined pulp and paper companies' strategies for adjusting to the resulting decline in demand for different types of paper. Her work highlighted the broader challenges cyclical commodity industries face when defining their turnaround strategies."
Dr. Morgane Maillard: "Dr. Maillard studied the effects of over-abundant deer on the soil in the forests of Haida Gwaii. Studying islands with varying years of deer habitation, Dr. Maillard found that long-term deer presence modified soil microbial community structure and slowed down litter decomposition, but forest restoration through removal of deer is possible."

Doctor of Philosophy (French)

Dr. Marilyse Turgeon-Solis: "Dr. Turgeon-Solis studied Eighteenth Century authors' fascination with the figure of the nun. Her research sheds new light on a social imagination that was prevalent in the Eighteenth Century, and is an original contribution to the study of the representation of women in literature."
Dr. Anne-Claire Marpeau: "Dr. Marpeau studied the reception of Madame Bovary by Flaubert over time, according to various interpretive communities. Her research contributes to the field of cultural studies in the sense that it uses interdisciplinary academic approaches to understand a cultural object and its effects on its readers."
Dr. Liza Bolen: "Dr. Bolen studied the role of the five primary senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste) in contemporary québécois literature. Her research examines the fascinating, albeit complex, relationship between sensory memory and storytelling in novels written by "migrant" writers."

Doctor of Philosophy (Genome Science and Technology)

Dr. Bin Ye: "Dr. Ye used the nematode worm to study how living organisms faithfully maintain and pass down genetic information encoded in their DNA. His study characterized genes and therapeutics that affect this process and provided insights that can shed light on future development of anticancer therapy."
Dr. Andrew King On Wong: "Dr. Wong studied membrane contact sites, locations in cells where membranes come together to share material and information. He discovered that a protein holding two membranes together also brings in other proteins that shuttle lipids between the two membranes. These studies provide fundamental insight into how cells use contact sites to survive."
Dr. Shauna Mary Crowley: "Dr. Crowley investigated the role of the intestinal mucosal inflammasome in restricting the early infection of the pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Her research uncovers the dual role that epithelial cells play as both active defenders and coordinators of the immune response."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geography)

Dr. Jessica Wynne Hallenbeck: "Dr. Hallenbeck worked in collaboration with Coast Salish and Sahtu Dene storyteller, playwright and fisherman Rosemary Georgeson, to develop a decolonial approach to archival research. The thesis decenters the colonial archive and retells the history of the endurance of Indigenous women's connections to water, fish, and family along the Salish Sea."
Dr. Paige Marie Patchin: "Dr. Patchin examined the cultural and geographical politics of the Zika public health emergency. Her findings show that Zika intervention was deceptive and coercive, with the potential for destructive consequences in environmental and reproductive health. This work contributes to theorizing human reproduction amidst growing ecological uncertainty."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Sciences)

Dr. Rhylan Sean McMillan: "Dr. McMillan developed and applied sophisticated geochemical approaches to stakeholder- and Indigenous-led investigations of archaeological biominerals and mineraloids, encompassing a large span of human history on two continents. The resulting techniques and data provided key information for addressing modern questions about the human journey."
Dr. Olenka (Noelani Alexandra) Forde: "Dr. Forde investigated the behaviour of fugitive gas, which occurs when damaged oil and gas wells leak natural gas into the surrounding environment. Fugitive gas poses environmental risks for groundwater contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. Her findings will improve oil and gas well site monitoring to identify and assess gas migration."
Dr. Alexander Michael Wilson: "Dr. Wilson used volcanoes that erupt beneath glaciers to reveal the existence of ancient continental-scale ice sheets in Southern British Columbia. His work helps us to understand the nature of rapid climate fluctuation and suggests that melting glaciers may be an important trigger for global volcanic eruption rates."
Dr. Guillaume Lesage: "Dr. Lesage studied geological controls on the district-scale footprints of porphyry deposits. He found that the formation of copper deposits affects the surrounding rock to distances up to several kilometers away. This research improves mineral deposit genetic models and will help to increase the success rate of future mineral exploration efforts."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geophysics)

Dr. Michael Albert Mitchell: "Dr. Mitchell worked to develop new data quality control and survey design methodologies specifically tailored for electrical and electromagnetic surveys collected in tunnel-based environments. These methodologies improve our ability to image the regions surrounding tunnels to mitigate hazards and map mineralized zones."
Dr. Alexandre Palmer Plourde: "Dr. Plourde studied how the distribution of earthquakes near tectonic plate boundaries is affected by the distribution of groundwater. To help unravel these tectonic systems, he presents new computational methods to illuminate detailed earthquake source processes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Hispanic Studies)

Dr. Adolfina del Carmen Miranda Barrios: "Dr. Miranda Barrios documented Latin American exiles' use of radio to recreate cultural and political identities and forge solidarity in a west coast Canadian context. Her work sheds light on the efforts of diasporic groups to use bilingual community media to engage diasporic and non-diasporic audiences in social, cultural, and political issues."
Dr. Camilo Andres Monje: "Dr. Monje proposes a new approach to Colombian literature that focuses on the sociable nature of Literary Cafés, which unites a diversity of texts and analyzes them in a way that unveils writers' associations over time. This research shows an innovative way of reading literature, which can be applied in different spatio-temporal contexts."

Doctor of Philosophy (History)

Dr. Moe (David William) Taylor: "Dr. Taylor examined the relations between North Korea and Latin America during the Cold War, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the historical development of North Korean foreign policy, and providing a new, transnational perspective on the political and intellectual history of the Latin American Left."

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

Dr. Jane (Patricia Jane) Wakefield: "Dr. Wakefield studied home, school, and community beliefs about strengths and resources of culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. Stakeholders viewed cultural and linguistic diversity as both a challenge and an opportunity. This research informs both practice and policy to support young children's transition to school."
Dr. Wafa Asadian: "Dr. Asadian investigated the impact of involving patients and community members in the education of health professional students. Through years of practice in teaching, research, and evaluation, she has contributed to the understanding of ways to enhance education and learning."
Dr. Marsha Jennifer Kitil: "Dr. Kitil studied the role that executive functions play in important developmental outcomes. She found that 4th and 5th grade students who had better executive functions earned higher academic grades eight years later. Given its malleability, this research highlights the importance of finding ways to support executive functions at an early age."
Dr. Hitaf Kady Rachid: "Dr. Kady-Rachid critically examined constructions of people of Arab descent in educational text and talk in secondary schools in British Columbia. Analysis revealed a discourse of othering, barriers to teaching about peoples of Arab descent, and the importance of supporting teachers' efforts to teach in culturally relevant ways."
Dr. Claire Alkouatli: "Dr. Alkouatli's research explored pedagogies for teaching Islam to children and youth. She discerned a three-part typography that engages with unique learner dimensions, the need for Canadian cultural relevance, and the importance of esoteric interactions. This research highlights new directions in Islamic education research and teacher education."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Nutrition)

Dr. Megan Beetch: "Dr. Beetch studied how natural compounds derived from diet, namely a class of polyphenols found in grapes and blueberries, can reverse aberrant DNA methylation patterns that underlie cancer. Her findings show that these compounds exert anti-cancer effects through epigenetic gene regulation, which can be used in cancer prevention and therapy."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Oncology)

Dr. Gregory Laurence Stewart: "Dr. Stewart studied lung cancer genetics, and discovered how recently-discovered genes called non-coding RNAs are altered in order to drive this deadly disease, and may be promising clinical targets. But the most important thing he learned during his PhD...was how to love."
Dr. Yunxian Tian: "Dr. Tian developed an in vivo skin microscopy imaging method to study the behaviour of human skin cells, including damage and repair after solar radiation. This interdisciplinary and translational study helps us to solve biological problems by imaging human skin non-invasively."
Dr. Zhenguo Wu: "Dr. Wu developed a versatile microscope for noninvasive human skin characterization and diagnosis. This microscope provides information on three-dimensional tissue structure, cellular morphology, micro-volume biochemicals, and dynamic physiology, with a large field of view. It was also demonstrated to be useful for precise laser micro-surgery."
Dr. Jun Hao: "Dr. Hao's doctoral studies focused on how genetics can influence prostate cancer. He identified a gene that may drive the development of treatment-resistant prostate cancer. His work improves our understanding of the mechanism underlying the development of treatment resistance and provides a potential therapeutic target for this lethal disease."
Dr. Nilgoon Zarei: "Dr. Zarei studied and implemented machine learning techniques for cancer detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. She developed technology to analyze and detect abnormalities in the cervix, and to classify and grade prostate cancer. Her work will ultimately help to reduce healthcare costs and increase patients' quality of life."
Dr. Milena Colovic: "Dr. Colovic studied the use of radioactive amino acids (RAAs) in cancer detection. Using an imaging technique called positron emission tomography, she evaluated several RAAs as probes for imaging biomarkers of altered cancer metabolism. Her research brought the development of fluoroaminosuberic acid or FASu one step closer to clinical use."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Studies)

Dr. Juliane Okot Bitek: "Dr. Okot Bitek examined the haunting effects of historical events and the subsequent relationship between political and social memory in thinking about resistance, reconciliation and reclamation. This work explores the role of the Bitekian song as a space for social and political commentary, an integral aspect of the decolonizing project in Uganda."
Dr. Sarah Miriam Shamash: "Dr. Shamash examined Video in the Villages (VNA) and argues that VNA is one of Latin America's most significant cinematic archives and a critical producer of knowledge. This work helps broaden the field of film studies to include Indigenous and Latin American cinema, not as an addendum to film studies, but as integral to film history and culture."
Dr. Eleni Nasiopoulos: "Dr. Nasiopoulos examined how real and implied presence are similar or different from each other, and explored potential mechanisms that can account for the effects observed. The evidence from this group of studies furthers our knowledge of social presence effects."
Dr. Robin Ashley Atkins: "Dr. Atkins developed a new type of practical display to simulate the visual sensation provided by a window overlooking a distant space. This research will help inform the design of indoor environments such as shopping malls, working spaces, and living spaces, especially in underground and confined locations."
Dr. Nandini Sharada Maharaj: "Dr. Maharaj explored the meaning of pets for people with cancer. Inspired by her bulldog, Dally, she highlights the importance of meaning-making for the human-pet relationship. Her findings can support patients in reflecting on their experiences, as well as bring new understandings for health care providers to better address the needs of patients."
Dr. Catriona Lynne Hippman: "Dr. Hippman built a feminist, woman-centered, theoretical model of decision making from women's stories, and showed that there is not yet enough evidence for genetic testing to guide antidepressant prescribing during pregnancy. Her work can be used to support women making decisions about how to care for their mental health during pregnancy."
Dr. Bei Jiang: "Dr. Jiang studied Chinese planning practices on sustainable cities and developed a set of ecological and social metrics for Chinese ecocities. This study contributes to urban community research, presenting a dialogic critique between Western scholars and local Chinese practitioners on how the ecocity concept has been framed locally in China."
Dr. Adrian Cyrus Byram: "Dr. Byram studied how families and physicians make life-or-death decisions for patients in intensive care. He proposed standardizing decision-making via a value-centric protocol focused on patients' individual best interests. His novel approach may improve quality of care and relieve families of some of the burdens of these difficult decisions."
Dr. Jummy Funke David: "Dr. David developed epidemic models of indirect transmission to study the role of heterogeneity, human mobility, and diffusion in the spread of infection. She investigated the co-interaction of HIV and syphilis infections among men who have sex with men, and looked at how different interventions could be combined to eliminate both infections in BC."
Dr. Brittany Michelle Barker: "Dr. Barker examined the impact of the child welfare system on health and substance use outcomes among young people who use drugs in Vancouver. Her research identifies policy opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of marginalized youth in care, and suggests extending services to facilitate successful transitions among those who age out."
Dr. Holly Ann McKenzie: "Dr. McKenzie facilitated a project with urban Indigenous women on the homelands of the Métis and Treaty One, Treaty Four, and Treaty Six territories. This project highlighted the centrality of self-determination to Indigenous women's reproductive and sexual justice, as well as the need for transformative change."

Doctor of Philosophy (Kinesiology)

Dr. Eric Alexander Carter: "Dr. Carter explored the variation between individuals in endurance exercise performance during acute exposure to altitude by examining the impact on the pulmonary vasculature. His findings show the effect of simulated altitude on sleep quality and athletic performance, as well as the role of sildenafil in endurance cycle performance."
Dr. Daniel Mang: "Dr. Mang developed an anti-whiplash car seat that adjusts seat hinge and seatback deformation to mitigate the risk of whiplash injuries following low-speed, rear-end collisions. The anti-whiplash seat reduces occupant head and neck responses evoked by low-speed rear-end collision, paving the way for safer cars in the future."
Dr. Shawn Douglas Forde: "Dr. Forde examined the role that soccer clubs fulfilled in a particular township in South Africa during apartheid. The clubs offered spaces for resistance and political organizing; they also offered spaces for community support, solidarity, and joy. This research provides an understanding of how sport contributes to political and social change."
Dr. Devra Waldman: "Dr. Waldman studied the politics of the development of a sport-focused gated community in India. She found that colonial legacies of sport influenced the design of the community, that violent dispossession made land available for development, and that flexible interpretations of law privileged some individuals and land uses over others."

Doctor of Philosophy (Language and Literacy Education)

Dr. Brigid Goitse Conteh: "In this study, Dr. Conteh investigated University of Botswana first-year students' instruction and use of digital technologies. Participants' uneven digital literacy skills, as well as various resource challenges, suggest a need for more effective integration of technologies in order to foster students' academic and professional success."
Dr. John Francis Haggerty: "Dr. Haggerty investigated the transitional experiences of multilingual writers socializing into the discourse practices of a Canadian university. Results point to a pressing need to re-consider the time needed and level of complexity involved in academic writing instructions in relation to linguistic, academic, and disciplinary needs."

Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)

Dr. James Andrew Crippen: "Dr. Crippen studied the endangered Tlingit (CLING-kit) language of Alaska, BC, & Yukon. He showed that its complex verb has an internal structure that is fundamentally the same as whole sentences in other languages. His work fits Tlingit into the larger theory of human language structure and supports its revitalization within the Tlingit community."
Dr. Natalie Ann Weber: "Dr. Weber examined the structure of words in Blackfoot, a First Nations language. They proposed a model of the correspondence relations between representations of the meaningful parts of language and representations of speech sounds. This research contributes to our understanding of linguistic structure in words of all languages more generally."
Dr. Michael David Fry: "Dr. Fry compared language analyses derived by humans and machines. He demonstrated that unsupervised machine learning is able to generate language analyses that are comparable to those generated by humans. His research adds to the growing dialogue that machine learning has become a useful tool for theoretical linguists."
Dr. Avery Ozburn: "Dr. Ozburn examined generalizations about which sounds in some languages can be exempt from a process called HARMONY, in which vowel sounds within a word must match in some aspect of how they are pronounced. She argues that traditional treatments of such exemptions are inadequate, and provides a new theoretical analysis."

Doctor of Philosophy (Materials Engineering)

Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Mohseni: "Dr. Mohseni studied matrix defects in aerospace composites manufacturing. He developed analytical models and approaches for process optimization to minimize waste and reduce the manufacturing cost, especially for small enterprises. This research will inform improvements to cure cycle design, which will enable defect-free part manufacturing."
Dr. Hongxing Liang: "Dr. Liang studied droplet corrosion behavior in diluted bitumen pipelines. By examining the same area of pipeline steel before and after exposure to bitumen, he found no obvious signs of corrosion, even at high temperatures. His findings also show that prior deformation of the steel increases the corrosion penetration rate."
Dr. Maryam Rasouli: "Dr. Rasouli prepared a synthetic inorganic ion exchanger for removal of toxic selenate from wastewaters. The goal of this study is to create a novel technology to prevent selenate release into the environment and to protect aquatic life."
Dr. Mohsen Hashemzadeh: "Freshwater depletion has become a major problem for the global minerals industry. Dr. Hashemzadeh studied the use of seawater for copper extraction from ores, demonstrating the feasibility of using seawater in the extraction process. His findings will help to address water-related challenges facing the resources sector."
Dr. Davood Nakhaie: "Dr. Nakhaie studied soil and pitting corrosion of zinc and galvanized steel. He developed a mathematical model to predict the corrosion rate of hot-dip galvanized steel power transmission towers. The new developed model showed promising results to calculate the corrosion rate of buried galvanized steel in different soil and environment conditions."
Dr. Madhumanti Mandal: "Dr. Mandal studied welding of steels during construction of pipelines for safe energy transportation. She identified the critical weld regions to improve the mechanical and fracture behavior of the welded joints. Her findings will guide steel producers and pipeline constructors to choose welding parameters for better weld strength and toughness."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics)

Dr. Abhishek Kumar Shukla: "Dr. Shukla's research explored the complicated nature of algebraic structures, focusing on two measures of complexity: essential dimension and the number of generators of an algebra. This research contributes to our understanding of objects with highly complex symmetries that frequently arise in mathematics."
Dr. Daniel Sheinbaum Frank: "How natural is the link between topology and properties of materials? The first part of Dr. Sheinbaum Frank's thesis fills a gap in the classification of materials using a method that studies shapes using algebra, known as K-theory. What makes quantum mechanics weird? A new connection between K-theory and contextuality is presented in part 2."
Dr. Adela Gherga: "Dr. Gherga investigated an infinite family of equations whose solutions admit deep mathematical applications in elliptic curves and elliptic curve cryptography. In her work, she helped to develop the theory and implementation of an efficient algorithm to fully resolve these equations."

Doctor of Philosophy (Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology)

Dr. Nathan Roberson: "Dr. Roberson investigated the impact of immigration background on social belonging. Situating the measurement of social belonging in schools within an international comparative context, he shows that immigration background and national multicultural integration policy are valuable explanatory variables in the ecological validity argument."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

Dr. Parisa Sarmadi: "One of the important technical challenges of heavy viscous oils concerns cost-effective transportation. Dr. Sarmadi used theoretical and computational methods to investigate a novel triple-layer core-annular lubricated pipeline flow. Her study established a novel method for the stable and efficient transport of highly viscous oils."
Dr. JeongHyun Lee: "Dr. Lee developed a novel method to isolate and sequence RNA from specific single cells identified by imaging. He subsequently applied his method to sequence rare immune cell events and showed diverging decisions being made by single cells within a population. This novel method will improve our understanding of how immune cells fight disease."
Dr. Jian Gao: "Dr. Gao's research investigated the use of ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting in milling and drilling applications. He developed a novel ultrasonic vibration tool holder and a corresponding sensorless control system. This research will benefit the manufacturing industry in machining advanced material such as composites and titanium alloys."
Dr. Lucas Falch: "Dr. Falch developed methods to optimize the design of multidisciplinary mechatronic products, considering both qualitative and quantitative design criteria. This work will help designers to develop more accurate, reliable, esthetically appealing, and cost effective mechatronic products for use in industrial and engineering applications."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)

Dr. Annie Tam: "Dr. Tam studied proteins that cut, paste, and re-assemble the messages encoded by DNA for protein assembly called splicing factors, which are frequently mutated in cancers. Using budding yeast and leukemic cell line models, she showed that mutations in these proteins lead to an accumulation of DNA damage, which may contribute to cancer progression."
Dr. Julien Richard Albert: "Dr. Richard Albert studied how each of our two copies of DNA, one from mom and one from dad, are treated differently deep within our cells. His research furthers our understanding of human reproduction and inheritance and will inform biomedical applications such as artificial insemination, stem cell therapies and cloning."
Dr. Samantha Jean Jones: "Dr. Jones explored genetic and environmental factors that affect the risk of lymphoid cancers within families. She showed that early life factors that affect immune regulation and development are associated with lymphoid cancer onset in families. Her work has implications for the identification of risk factors for other familial diseases."

Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology and Immunology)

Dr. Yaein Shim: "Dr. Shim found that the protein CD45 regulates red blood cell progenitors in the spleen, which protect mice from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by interacting with cells in the spleen. This work shows the importance of CD45 as a modulator of immune response and suggests a novel approach to treating the systemic inflammation associated with IBD."
Dr. Madison Bolger-Munro: "Dr. Bolger-Munro investigated the role of the actin cytoskeleton in B cells, which are the antibody-producing cell of the immune system. Using sophisticated microscopy, her findings show the importance of the actin-related protein complex in amplifying B cell responses. This study provides new insights into how B cell activation is controlled."
Dr. Kirstin Lee Brown: "Dr. Brown studied the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis (TB), called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (or Mtb). She investigated how Mtb uses host-produced cholesterol as a source of nutrients during infection. She demonstrated the importance of cholesterol for the survival of Mtb within the lung and identified novel targets for TB drug development."
Dr. Shawna Rose Stanwood: "The entry of calcium ions into immune cells stimulates cellular replication. Calcium channels participate in mediating calcium entry. Dr. Stanwood characterized antibodies against voltage-dependent calcium channels and discovered growth inhibitory effects against cells of lymphoma. The findings contribute to the field of cancer research."
Dr. Shannon Coleman: "Dr. Coleman studied the regulation of swarming motility in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes lung and hospital-acquired infections. Her findings show that swarming, a multicellular movement that enables pathogens to spread over surfaces, is a complex behaviour that increases antibiotic resistance and influences disease virulence."
Dr. Graham Anthony Heieis: "Dr. Heieis investigated how cellular metabolism allows immune cells to respond in various scenarios of disease. He found that T cells have different requirements for glucose when fighting parasites versus bacterial infections. This research will have future implications in the development of immune-based therapies for infection and autoimmunity."
Dr. Katharine Jana-Marie Sedivy-Haley: "Dr. Sedivy-Haley studied responses to Salmonella infection in macrophage activation states, including the "tolerant" state seen in sepsis. She identified differences in gene expression that may account for different levels of resistance to Salmonella. This could help us to improve the ability of macrophages to resist infection and treat sepsis."
Dr. Alireza Lorzadeh: "Dr. Lorzadeh developed a sensitive method to study how the composition of chromatin in normal blood cell precursors changes during blood cell production and how it is altered in certain types of leukemia. His research advances our understanding of the molecular processes that regulate the production of normal and malignant blood cells."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering)

Dr. Melanie St-Arnault: "Dr. St-Arnault studied the weathering mechanisms of mine waste-rock using automated mineralogy and long-term leachate geochemistry data. This research improves the characterization of mine waste-rock and predictions of mine drainage quality."
Dr. Naeimeh Ghaffari Touran: "Dr. Ghaffari Touran investigated one of the main fundamental mechanisms affecting the separation of multi-component ores. She showed how prolonged conditioning and gradual dissolution of salt-type minerals destroy the selectivity of the separation process. Her findings will help to improve product quality in the mineral industry."

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)

Dr. Andrea Amy Jones: "Dr. Jones characterized the risk factors, dynamics, and consequences of psychosis experienced by adults living in precarious housing in Vancouver over a period of five years. These longitudinal studies contribute to our understanding of how psychotic symptoms evolve over time, and illustrate opportunities for intervention."
Dr. Rand Mahmoud: "Dr. Mahmoud used preclinical models to examine how ovarian hormones impact risk or resilience to depression. Her work revealed novel insights into neuroimmune and neuroplastic mechanisms through which ovarian hormones may influence mental health outcomes. These findings contribute to the understudied field of women's mental health."
Dr. Kathryn Leigh Post: "Dr. Post examined the impact of genetic differences associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared with those found in control populations. Through the use of high throughput assays, she identified genetic variants that impact protein function and structure. This will improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying ASD."
Dr. Jordan James Shimell: "Dr. Shimell studied a gene that is disrupted in many patients with intellectual disability and epilepsy. His work demonstrates how this gene can guide the development of brain connections and how disrupting the proper function of this gene may lead to disorders of the brain."
Dr. Melissa Lynn Woodward: "Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder often accompanied by brain changes and cardiovascular problems. Following an exercise program with schizophrenia patients, Dr. Woodward showed regional brain growth with improvements in clinical symptoms and cardiovascular health, showing a critical need for exercise as a part of mental health treatment."
Dr. Asma Bashir: "Dr. Bashir investigated the behavioural and neuropathological consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). She showed that CHIMERA, a rodent model of head injury, can replicate many features of human TBI. Dr. Bashir hopes that, in the future, CHIMERA can be used to validate promising drug targets to help in the treatment of TBI."
Dr. Naila Kuhlmann: "Dr. Kuhlmann studied how a mutation in the LRRK2 gene and its corresponding protein alters neurotransmission in Parkinson's disease. She found that the mutation disrupts glutamate transmission in young mice, which may contribute to disease onset. A drug targeting LRRK2 function restored normal neurotransmission, suggesting its treatment potential."
Dr. Matthew Anthony Sacheli: "Dr. Sacheli used fMRI and PET brain imaging techniques to show that exercise can increase dopamine release in people with Parkinson's disease. This shows why exercise is specifically beneficial for people with Parkinson's disease, and supports the use of exercise as an adjunction therapy."
Dr. Nicole Alexandra Sanford: "Dr. Sanford examined brain activity and working memory deficits in schizophrenia. Using a novel multi-dataset approach, she found that a brain network that activated during initial memory encoding predicted both verbal and visual memory capacity. This will inform the development of treatments to improve working memory in schizophrenia patients."

Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

Dr. Jennifer Ann Gibson: "Dr. Gibson examined how acute hospital settings shape patients' and family members' experiences with heart failure and end-of-life planning and care. She found that the ways in which healthcare professionals understood, spoke, and felt about end of life impacted care. Her research highlights how hospital cultures influence patients and families."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceanography)

Dr. Benjamin Scheifele: "Turbulence in the ocean controls its ability to support life and modulate Earth's climate. It works to distribute heat, oxygen, and nutrients across the world's oceans. Dr. Scheifele used a robotic submarine to study marine turbulence in the Arctic Ocean, and studied the effects of ocean turbulence on the natural environment in the Beaufort Sea."
Dr. Ana Karina Ramos Musalem: "Dr. Ramos Musalem studied how submarine canyons that incise the continental shelf enhance the exchange of tracers, such as nutrients and dissolved gases, between the deep ocean and the shallow shelf. Her research provided a link between biological productivity and biodiversity around the canyons and the dynamics within the canyons."
Dr. Manuel Colombo: "Dr. Colombo describes some of the first distributions of lead, iron, and manganese in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, as well as trace metals in remote rivers in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. His findings shed light on important biogeochemical processes and water masses circulation taking place in this unique and sensitive environment."
Dr. Melanie Chanona: "The Arctic Ocean is tightly linked to Earth's climate and one of the least understood oceans in the world. Dr. Chanona used large datasets to produce the first pan-Arctic map of ocean mixing rates and robustly describe their patterns in space and time. Her work is critical to improving our ability to forecast and understand the future Arctic Ocean."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

Dr. Yan Mei: "Dr. Mei developed a universal coating that could prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections. With the application of the new coating, interactions between the catheters and urine components can be reduced. This study improves the safety and performance of medical devices, thus improving patients' health."
Dr. Jacky Kieran Leung: "Dr. Leung studied the role of proline isomerase Pin1 in prostate cancer. His research describes the interaction of Pin1 with the androgen receptor N-terminal domain and how targeting both of these proteins could reduce tumour growth. These findings enhance our understanding of the androgen receptor and aid in the development of novel therapies."
Dr. Maryam Ghaedi: "Dr. Ghaedi's research sought to clarify the developmental pathways and complexity of an immune cell population in the lung called type 2 innate lymphoid cells. Her work will help to better understand how these cells develop and regulate allergic diseases."
Dr. Emily Beth Button: "Dr. Button investigated the role of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), particles in the blood made of fats and proteins, in protecting brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's disease. Her work shows that raising the levels of functional HDL through drugs or lifestyle changes may protect against brain blood vessel changes and prevent Alzheimer's disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Dr. Mohammad Atiquzzaman: "Dr. Atiquzzaman revealed the mediating role of NSAIDs in the increased risk of heart diseases among osteoarthritis patients. He also evaluated the cardiovascular safety of various NSAIDs used to treat osteoarthritis. This will help to understand the link between osteoarthritis and heart disease better and improve the safe treatment of this disease."
Dr. Kate Johnson: "Dr. Johnson evaluated strategies for improving the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She found that early detection strategies for COPD are cost-effective, and that the risk of COPD should be assessed regularly at primary care visits. Her research can help to reduce the burden of COPD on patients and the healthcare system."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacology)

Dr. Victoria Aldona Baronas: "Dr. Baronas discovered new regulatory mechanisms for a potassium channel involved in severe childhood epilepsy and movement disorders. Her findings demonstrate how a potassium channel can be influenced by its environment, and reveal unexpected ways that electrical signaling in the brain can be regulated and disrupted in neurological diseases."
Dr. Emely Rose McKinley Thompson: "Dr. Thompson studied how the delayed rectifier potassium current (IKs) responds to phosphorylation at high heart rates. She shows that phosphorylation allows these channels to open more quickly, enabling the heart to relax faster, and protects against arrhythmia. This research provides important insight into the mechanism behind this response."
Dr. Steven Booth: "Dr. Booth investigated the development of small airways disease in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He showed that patients in the early stages of COPD already have chronically inflamed airways and tissue destruction. His work increases our knowledge of small airways disease in COPD and provides new avenues for treatment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophy)

Dr. Mojtaba Soltani: "The truth of "magnets attract iron" and "cars stop at red lights" have different weights. The former is more substantive than the latter, which is a convention. Dr. Soltani's research addresses the meaning of, the justification for, and the significance of Henri Poincaré's claim that geometric truths are also conventions."
Dr. Madeleine Jeanne Ransom: "Dr. Ransom examined the nature of perceptual learning for expertise, arguing that it is best understood as involving a change in the contents of perceptual experience itself, rather than simply the sorts of inferences experts are able to make. This has an impact on real-world training programs in fields from medicine to military to art criticism."
Dr. Richard Sandlin: "Dr. Sandlin explored the nature of affective qualities, asking: what makes objects pleasant? His discussion was focused particularly on pleasant smells and pleasantness attributed to objects. He argues that pleasantness cannot be independent of our experience, but rather that pleasantness is a relationship between our experience and the world."
Dr. Servaas de Villiers van der Berg: "Dr. Van der Berg studied the cognitive mechanisms that underlie our appreciative engagement with things we value. He showed how existing theories of appreciation, in their narrow focus on our evaluative judgements and experiences of pleasure, overlook the importance of how our attention is modulated as episodes of appreciation unfold."

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)

Dr. Jennifer Leanne Moroz: "Dr. Moroz developed a method to rapidly measure the concentration of a contrast agent in the vein of a mouse tail. The measurement requires only one sample per time point, allowing for it to be acquired concurrently with an MR scan of a tumor. This provides a more accurate assessment of the tumor."
Dr. Firas Hasan Moosvi: "Dr. Moosvi did his research at the intersection of physics and medicine. He developed new techniques to probe the tumour microenvironments in mice. The most promising technique is oxygen-enhanced MRI, which supports the delivery of cancer therapies targeted at tumours whose lack of oxygen makes them particularly difficult to treat."
Dr. Shiqin Su: "Dr. Su developed two radiation therapy modalities, known as trajectory-based treatments, where the couch moves continuously. This work introduces a novel algorithm for treatment planning, which can accurately model proposed treatment modalities. This method can achieve plans superior to those generated by standard planning systems."
Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Sajadi Hezave: "Dr. Sajadi investigated the electronic properties of 2D topological insulators (TIs), a new class of materials with distinct electronic properties, and studied the interplay of 2D TIs with another exotic phase of matter: superconductivity. This work enhances our understanding of 2D TIs, and will pave the way towards topological quantum computing."
Dr. Sebastien Rettie: "Dr. Rettie studied the performance of muon reconstruction and identification within the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. He contributed to a search for new phenomena in events with two muons by analyzing proton-proton collisions. This search resulted in world-leading constraints placed on new physics scenarios."
Dr. Vanessa Wiggermann: "Dr. Wiggermann examined two MRI techniques in the context of myelin health in multiple sclerosis. Through simulations, studies of tissue samples, control and MS populations, she linked the MR measures to the biology of MS. By establishing their robustness for probing myelin at different field strength, she addressed a key issue of using MRI for MS."
Dr. Christos Aris Chatzichristos: "Dr. Chatzichristos developed a novel experimental technique that uses nuclear physics to study the diffusion of lithium ions in solid materials. Using this technique, he was able to resolve several questions about lithium diffusion in materials such as rutile titanium dioxide (a crystal), which may be used in a next generation lithium-ion battery."
Dr. Berend Zwartsenberg: "Dr. Zwartsenberg discovered a novel quantum mechanical approach to switching materials from electrically conductive, to electrically non-conductive. His results are not only of importance to the understanding of fundamental physics, but also open up new avenues to explore in the design of future electronics and sensing materials."
Dr. Ilaria Caiazzo: "Dr. Caiazzo studied the X-ray emission of neutron stars and black holes. She modelled the polarization of light from pulsars and black holes that accumulate material from companion stars, and from highly magnetized neutron stars called magnetars. She has shown that X-ray polarization can answer many of our questions about these fascinating objects."
Dr. Oscar Javier Hernandez: "Dr. Hernandez used state-of-the-art nuclear models and statistics to study the imprints of the nucleus on light from exotic atoms in which the nucleus is orbited by a muon instead of an electron. This work sheds light on recent experimental discrepancies and helps illuminate our understanding of the interplay between the nucleus and light."

Doctor of Philosophy (Planning)

Dr. Jacopo Miro: "Dr. Miro explored how place helps to mitigate and reinforce socio-economic divides. He found that new patterns of urban disadvantage in the suburbs are the result of both push and pull factors, and that for a growing number of low-income newcomers, a move to the suburbs presents both challenges and opportunities."
Dr. Cheralyn Andrea King-Scobie: "Dr. King-Scobie studied how Canadian cities manage floods and recover from flood disasters. Her research developed new data, analysis, and tools to support municipal planning in balancing the protection of functioning rivers while protecting cities from floods."

Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)

Dr. Matthew Caldwell Wildcat: "Dr. Wildcat's research looks at how colonization has led to the rise of an exclusive practice of sovereignty that prevents cooperation between First Nation governments. As an alternative, the practice of relational sovereignty is explored by looking at how the Maskwacis Education Commission created a shared school system between four First Nations."
Dr. Matthew Byrne: "Dr. Byrne challenges long-standing claims about the psychology of partisanship. He shows that years of potential support cause an increase in partisanship, but not through the process of political socialization, or strengthening. This research sheds light on the psychology of partisanship and its impact on the stabilization of democracy over time."
Dr. Spencer McKay: "While it is tempting to see referendums as the most democratic way of making decisions, others worry that citizens are uninformed or that governments will manipulate the process. Dr. McKay's doctoral research explores how referendums could be redesigned to reinforce, rather than undermine, contemporary democracies."
Dr. Deanne Aline Marie LeBlanc: "Dr. Leblanc's research explores the evolution of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships in Canada. She argues that non-Indigenous Canadians should privilege responsibility toward others above inwardly-focused rights, while approaching decolonization as foreigners who require invitation onto Indigenous lands and into Indigenous societies."
Dr. Sarah Munawar: "Dr. Munawar designed an intersectional and de-colonial Islamic ethic of care by weaving her mother and father's experiences into the stories of Hajar, Yunus, and Maryam in the Islamic tradition. Her findings centre the epistemic authority of disabled Muslims and care-givers as knowers of the 'Islamic' and care-based modes of knowing Islam."

Doctor of Philosophy (Population and Public Health)

Dr. Andrea Marie Jones: "Dr. Jones examined the epidemiology of common mental disorders in workers with short term work disability due to musculoskeletal work injury. She found that workers with a common mental disorder were less likely to achieve sustained return to work. Her findings will inform work disability management policy and practice."
Dr. Catherine Sian Glass: "Dr. Glass studied the relationship between human and livestock wellbeing in a traditional Maasai community. She found that herd size is associated with wealth and happiness, and her findings support the community belief that livestock are not a major source of human illness, as human and livestock diseases are most strongly correlated with climate."

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology)

Dr. Trish (Patricia L) Varao Sousa: "Dr. Varao-Sousa examined whether studies of mind wandering in the lab reflect mind wandering in real life. Her research provides evidence that rates of inattention are affected by both the task and the naturalness of the setting, a conclusion which has profound implications for theories of human attention."
Dr. Julia Winter Van de Vondervoort: "Dr. Van de Vondervoort examined the contexts in which children positively evaluate helpful versus unhelpful individuals. Her work contributes to our understanding of children's social and moral cognition."
Dr. Courtney Aryn Bryce: "Dr. Bryce examined how an increase in one stress factor alters dopamine neuron physiology and impairs motivation and decision-making, areas known to be affected in depression. These studies aid in our understanding of how stress can lead to pathological outcomes and help identify new targets to treat non-affective symptoms of depression."

Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences)

Dr. Dai Trang Thi Elizabeth Dao: "Dr. Dao's research identified relevant brain imaging markers for studying vascular cognitive impairment, a common form of dementia. She found that greater beta-amyloid plaque deposition and reduced myelin integrity contributed to worse clinical outcomes. This research is important for improving care in people with vascular cognitive impairment."
Dr. Lisanne Femke ten Brinke: "Dr. ten Brinke examined the effect of lifestyle strategies on cognitive function in older adults. She showed that computerized cognitive training, especially when combined with exercise, improved cognitive function and its brain networks. Overall, her research supports cognitive training as a promising strategy to promote healthy cognitive aging."

Doctor of Philosophy (Reproductive and Developmental Sciences)

Dr. Elisabeth Kirsten McClymont: "Dr. McClymont examined multiple aspects of HPV vaccination in women living with HIV. She found that while the vaccine has good efficacy, the post-vaccination burden of oncogenic HPV suggests that cervical screening remains important. These findings will inform the World Health Organization's global strategy for eliminating cervical cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Resources, Environment and Sustainability)

Dr. Graham Matthew McDowell: "Dr. McDowell examined how people living in the Nepal Himalayas and Peruvian Andes are adapting to changes in glacial hydrology. His work makes substantive contributions to how adaptation is studied in mountain areas, as well as what we know about and can do to address adaptation needs in mountain communities at the frontlines of climate change."

Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology)

Dr. Hazel Hollingdale: "Dr. Hollingdale tested the hypothesis that employing more women and people of colour in finance can lead to better financial risk decisions. She found that while firms with more diverse employees in risk-management roles do have better risk outcomes, diversity policies do little to stop the hostility that many minority-employees continue to face."
Dr. Edward David Haddon: "Dr. Haddon investigated the impact of social class on views towards inequality. He found that the working classes are concerned with inequality in both unequal and more equal societies, but as levels of inequality increase, the views of the various classes begin to converge. This may have policy implications as income inequality continues to grow."

Doctor of Philosophy (Soil Science)

Dr. Marieta Marin Bruzos: "Dr. Marin studied beneficial bacteria in cherry tree roots. These bacteria promote plant growth and can potentially be used as eco-friendly pesticides in organic agriculture. She also used genomic methodologies to study the microbial biodiversity of Okanagan cherry orchard soils, information critical to understanding cherry soil-borne diseases."
Dr. Hughie Jones: "Dr. Jones studied how various plastic films impact soil and crop micro-climate when they are used as soil mulch covers or on greenhouses. Using data that he collected through field experiments, he developed models to help crop producers around the world make informed decisions when they use plastic films to extend a crop's growing season."
Dr. Jilmarie Juarez Stephens: "Dr. Stephens studied the climate trends, carbon, and water use of two forests in central Canada for the past two decades. This study helps to quantify the carbon uptake potential of these forests in the future under further climate change."
Dr. Dixi Umesh Modi: "Dr. Modi investigated the effects of stumping and tree species composition on the soil microbial communities in the interior cedar-hemlock zone of British Columbia. She observed that stumping can have positive impacts on soil microbial communities when performed along with planting mixtures of tree species such as Douglas-fir with paper birch."

Doctor of Philosophy (Special Education)

Dr. Karen Raye Kester: "Dr. Kester explored the treatment of anxiety among students with autism spectrum disorder in a school setting. She evaluated the effectiveness of a school-based cognitive behaviour therapy intervention delivered by educators in schools. Her findings will help to apply clinically-controlled research to real life settings such as schools."
Dr. Susan Margaret Fawcett: "Dr. Fawcett developed a Family-Centred Positive Behaviour Support (FCPBS) approach for families of young children with Down syndrome and behavioural challenges, the first of its kind at the secondary tier. This program was effective in improving the children's behaviour, decreasing parental stress levels, and enriching family quality of life."

Doctor of Philosophy (Theatre)

Dr. Katrina M Dunn: "Dr. Dunn examined the relationship between real estate and theatricality in downtown Vancouver. Through case studies that detailed the urban histories of theatre spaces, she showed that downtown Vancouver is unique in its inability to sustain large-scale locally-produced theatre, and that this gap has perhaps been filled by real estate development."

Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology)

Dr. Ailene Marie MacPherson: "Dr. MacPherson examined the effect of disease epidemiology on coevolution between hosts and their infectious diseases, exploring how coevolution affects disease spread. She also developed a method for identifying genes underlying these coevolutionary interactions. This research will improve our ability to predict disease susceptibility."
Dr. Muhammed Alolade Oyinlola: "Dr. Oyinlola studied the effects of climate change on global seafood production. His findings show that increasing greenhouse gases will negatively affect mariculture production in many regions of the world, particularly the tropics and sub-tropical regions. This research supports continuous mariculture related research and industry applications."
Dr. Silu Wang: "Dr. Wang investigated the genomic mechanisms of speciation, the process in which one lineage becomes more than one. She found that genetic underpinning of plumage coloration and mitonuclear coevolution were targets of selection in a Pacific Northwest warbler species complex. This research sheds light on the mechanisms that lead to biodiversity."
Dr. Micah Noel Scholer: "Dr. Scholer showed how avian traits, such as body size, number of eggs laid, and metabolic rate, along with a less seasonal climate, are all linked to the long lifespan of tropical birds. His work brings together some of the first empirical support for several key concepts in life history theory."

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