Convocation May 2022

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy

• Dr. Frank Lee: "Dr. Lee's research focused on dissecting the mechanisms by which plasmin enzymatically modulates activated protein C to bias its function towards cytoprotection through protease-activated receptor 1 signaling, and to understand how plasmin converts factor V from a procoagulant to fibrinolytic accelerator of tissue plasminogen activator."
• Dr. Rozlyn Boutin: "Dr. Boutin studied the role of the early life gut microbiota in the development of childhood asthma, showing a critical role for both bacterial and fungal organisms in immune development. Her work lays the foundation for the development of novel microbiota-based therapies for asthma in children."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Composition)

• Dr. Brian Topp: "Dr. Topp explored the intersections between virtual reality technology and music composition and performance. His research resulted in the development of Virtual Reality - Open Sound Control, an open platform for networking virtual reality interactions with modern music creation tools."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Orchestral Instrument)

• Dr. Nick Sullivan: "Dr. Sullivan explored the use of vocal works as a pedagogical tool for the bass trombone, and to expand the repertoire for the instrument from other periods of music history. In creating a new edition, he demonstrated that including the original text can inform musical decisions, adding to the body of works available to the bass trombone performer."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Piano)

• Dr. Emily Logan: "Dr. Logan's research centered around Music Performance Anxiety, a highly prevalent condition with severe consequences affecting both professional and student musicians. She investigated whether an intervention could help university music students to manage MPA. Her dissertation demonstrated the urgency to begin implementing intervention programs."

Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology)

• Dr. Martina Volfova: "Dr. Volfova studied Kaska Dene contemporary responses to Indigenous language marginalization, highlighting ongoing linguistic vitality and self-determination. Analysis of these responses deepens our understanding of language revitalization, illuminating areas of agency, resiliency, and how these responses inform the language's future directions."
• Dr. Evan Koike: "Dr. Koike analyzed the effectiveness of Japanese nonprofits that promote men's engagement in parenting to improve fathers' lives, lessen burdens on women, and help raise Japan's birthrate. His research found pervasive ideological and structural barriers and conflicts of interest that undermine the spread of family-oriented masculinities."
• Dr. Emma Feltes: "Dr. Feltes studied the "Constitution Express," a 1980s Indigenous movement to stop the patriation of Canada's Constitution from the UK without Indigenous consent. Guided by its leaders, she found that beyond rights, the movement sought international decolonization. This study challenges Canadian federalism, recentering Indigenous jurisdiction."

Doctor of Philosophy (Applied Animal Biology)

• Dr. Katherine Koralesky: "Dr. Koralesky used institutional ethnography to investigate how animal sheltering policies and animal protection laws organize what happens to animals. Her research illuminates frontline work practices involved with responding to concerns about animals in distress, helping animals with behavioural problems and keeping people and animals together."

Doctor of Philosophy (Asian Studies)

• Dr. Ajay Bhardwaj: "Dr. Bhardwaj studied how a cosmopolitan community of progressive South Asian Canadian labour cultural activists contested cultural hegemony in British Columbia in the 1980s. He records and reinterprets a unique phase of intercommunity cultural solidarity that succeeded in producing a forceful critique against gender inequality."

Doctor of Philosophy (Atmospheric Science)

• Dr. Kyle Sha: "Dr. Sha developed artificial intelligence methods to make precipitation forecasts in British Columbia more accurate. Dr. Sha also developed a new method to automatically remove poor-quality observational data. Dr. Sha's research improved heavy-rain forecasts, hydropower generation and flood forecasting."

Doctor of Philosophy (Audiology and Speech Sciences)

• Dr. Xuan Zhang: "Dr. Zhang's dissertation revealed that it takes much longer than generally expected for high school students who speak English as a second language to catch up with their peers on academic language competency. It highlighted the importance of the language support offered in the schools for assuring the academic success of these students."
• Dr. Ilse Labuschagne: "Dr. Labuschagne investigated the perception of noise in vowels and vowel-like stimuli. She found that fundamental frequency, level, and frequency band affected noise detection and discrimination. The research contributes to our understanding of the auditory processing mechanisms involved in the perception of the voice quality breathiness."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

• Dr. James Li: "Dr. Li investigated a class of oxidative enzymes that are traditionally researched for their potential to convert non-edible plant biomass into second-generation bioethanol. He subsequently showed that these enzymes are also highly suitable to facilitate chemical modification of biomass fibres into value-added bio-products."
• Dr. Udit Dalwadi: "Dr. Dalwadi studied how proteins come together and interact with one another to carry out important functions within the cell. His examination of the 3D shapes of three key protein assemblies help improve our understanding of fundamental cellular functions such as the production of mRNA from genetic DNA and the translation of proteins from mRNAs."
• Dr. David Rattray: "Dr. Rattray developed methods to investigate protein-protein interactions in host cells during Salmonella infection. These approaches assist us in better understanding host-pathogen interactions."
• Dr. Jinhong Hu: "Dr. Hu has shown how the protein complexes produced by Salmonella and other similar pathogens infect humans, animals and plants. Bacterial infections are one of the world's most common issues for hospitality and death. This research advanced our understanding of bacterial pathogenicity and aided the development of new drugs and vaccines."

Doctor of Philosophy (Bioinformatics)

• Dr. Connor Morgan-Lang: "Dr. Morgan-Lang charted the global distribution of microorganisms that cycle methane with software he developed for classifying proteins and inferring metabolic diversity of microbial communities. By linking metabolic function to organisms, these computational tools will help us monitor ecosystems as they respond to a changing planet."
• Dr. Rashedul Islam: "Dr. Islam studied epigenetic alterations associated with a subset of human lymphoid leukemias, which are the cancer of white blood cells. He identified key mechanisms for enhancer activation driving the oncogenic transcriptional program in those leukemias that might help to develop potential targeted anti-leukemic therapeutics."
• Dr. Chen Yang: "Dr. Yang developed novel bioinformatic methods to characterize, model, and simulate nucleotide sequences via descriptive and predictive data analytics. The software and pipelines she developed improved the current understanding of long-read sequencing data, leveraged short-read sequencing information, and facilitated relevant algorithm development."
• Dr. Arjun Baghela: "Dr. Baghela used statistical learning methods to identify distinct gene expression patterns in early sepsis patients that predict impending disease severity. He indicates these patterns can be rapidly measured in patient blood at hospital admission, providing clinicians with an accurate and early means to predict specific patient outcomes."
• Dr. Kristina Gagalova: "Dr. Gagalova studies the genomes of conifers, conifer insect pest and cannabis to find unique markers of evolution. This research looks for genes and features in the genomes to make possible the feature applied research."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering)

• Dr. Rene Pedroza: "Dr. Pedroza studied the encapsulation of cell-based therapies for treating diabetes. He introduced methods to improve immobilization of insulin-producing cells in alginate microspheres and fibres. His research advanced our knowledge on optimization of cell encapsulation processes and will improve the quality of alternatives for diabetes reversal."
• Dr. Katie MacDonald: "Dr. MacDonald developed methods to produce a type of immune cell called regulatory T cells for use as a therapy to prevent tissue damage following stem cell transplantation. She developed methods that are compatible with clinical standards and identified key aspects of the process that must be controlled to generate high quality cells."
• Dr. Corey Kelly: "Dr. Kelly built an ultrasound imaging system for the detection of breast cancer, targeting biomarkers clinically shown to complement mammography, especially in women with dense tissue, for whom such cancers are more common. This technology can help detect cancers sooner, while reducing false positives and callbacks, including unnecessary biopsies."
• Dr. Ali Shademani: "Dr. Shademani developed a remote controlled, implantable drug delivery device for the treatment of osteomyelitis, a condition caused by bacterial infection of bone. This device is controlled by a magnet from outside of the body. He also studied the synergistic interactions between antibiotics and silver particles to enhance antibacterial efficacy."
• Dr. Mahsa Khalili: "Dr. Khalili identified limiting factors to achieve desired autonomy among wheeled mobility assistive device users. Subsequently, she developed novel control strategies to improve the performance and usability of these devices. Her research provides an autonomy-based evaluation and design paradigm for future assistive technology developments."

Doctor of Philosophy (Botany)

• Dr. Donald Wong: "Across all eukaryotic life, genes contain introns that must be removed for proper expression. This process is thought to occur similarly across species. Dr. Wong, however, discovered unusual features and patterns of this key process in a diverse array of algae, which highlights the importance of expanding our understanding beyond model organisms."
• Dr. Zhongshou Wu: "Dr. Wu studied the natural resistance mechanisms of plants against microbial pathogens. He found that pathogen recognition and defense activation are fine-tuned and regulated to ensure effective and timely immune responses."
• Dr. Mendel Perkins: "Dr. Perkins studied lignin, a material that makes plants stand strong. He showed how plants move the building blocks of this material from inside cells, to the outside of cells where it is assembled. Instead of using active pumps, cells use passive flow to move vast quantities of lignin. This may help the development of biofuels and bioproducts."
• Dr. Elizabeth Mahon: "Dr. Mahon used genetic engineering to produce poplar trees that incorporate valuable phenolic compounds, called flavonoids, into poplar lignins. When flavonoids are produced in lignifying tissue, they are incorporated into lignin polymers making the lignin chains shorter and easier to deconstruct chemically"

Doctor of Philosophy (Cell and Developmental Biology)

• Dr. Jeremy Lotto: "Dr. Lotto assessed cell type diversity during the migratory processes required for mouse liver and heart valve development using single-cell gene expression techniques. His analyses reveal novel cell types and will serve as a genetic atlas of liver and heart valve formation for future studies exploring these processes in normal and disease contexts."
• Dr. Payel Ganguly: "Dr. Ganguly used Drosophila as a model system to systematically classify ~100 variants of the PTEN gene, which have been found in cancer and ASD patients, as pathogenic or benign, using simple, robust experimental assays and examined the effect of these variants on protein function."
• Dr. Lianna Wat: "Dr. Wat discovered novel molecular mechanisms showing how males and females store and breakdown fat differently and how fat metabolism is regulated in both sexes. Her research fills a gap in knowledge in the field of metabolism and paves the way for the development of more effective treatments for metabolic diseases for both males and females."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

• Dr. Fuhar Dixit: "Dr. Dixit focused on identifying ways to address the challenge of water scarcity. He developed a nature-inspired water recycling protocol for the safe reuse of water in our cities, industries and households. His findings contribute to the improvement of conditions in water stressed areas, which are home to over 5.5 billion individuals worldwide."
• Dr. Majed Alamoudi: "Dr. Alamoudi developed a successful method to modify a catalyst used to process crude oils derived from the Canadian oilsands. The modified catalyst produced less side products that deactivate the catalyst, resulting in a longer catalyst life and the potential for reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with the oilsands refining process."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

• Dr. Taylor Wright: "Dr. Wright explored novel reactions for modifying polymers using light and oxygen. Working alongside amazing collaborators across chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, and microbiology, his research culminated in the development of fabric coatings that can kill bacteria and the SARS-CoV-2 virus when exposed to light."
• Dr. Abhishek Soni: "Dr. Soni explored the mechanism of heterogeneous ice nucleation by molecular simulations and machine learning. To analyze surface water structure, he introduced a two-dimensional lattice perspective of ice. He found that the microscopic surface features and local water properties near the surface are important factors influencing ice nucleation."
• Dr. Jiayu Li: "Dr. Li investigated the folding-unfolding mechanisms of four important metalloproteins at the single-molecule level. These studies revealed some fundamental principles that guide the folding-unfolding processes of metalloproteins in general."
• Dr. Aidan Ingham: "Dr. Ingham's work involves the development of drugs based on radioactive metal atoms. He synthesized the metal grabbing components that these drugs require and tested them with several radioactive metals. His components were found to wrap around radioactive metals within minutes at room temperature, making radioactive drugs easier to assemble."
• Dr. Yu Xi: "Ice nucleating substances can initiate ice formations in clouds and affect the properties of clouds and climate. Dr. Xi studied ice nucleating substances sourced from high latitude regions, including biological materials and mineral dust. Her work contributes to our understanding of climate and climate feedback in high latitude regions."
• Dr. Alla Pryyma: "Dr. Pryyma developed laboratory-based methods for the production of targeted cancer therapies derived from the death-cap mushroom toxin, alpha-amanitin. In contrast to chemotherapy, these therapeutics deliver cytotoxic compounds selectively to malignant cells, sparing healthy tissues and presenting a new approach to treating cancer."
• Dr. Chanel La: "Severe cases of thrombosis can lead to stroke or heart attack. Dr. La developed a new strategy for creating positively charged therapeutic polymers. Their charge increases when binding to their target polyanion, resulting in a class of molecules able to inhibit blood clotting with reduced bleeding risk."
• Dr. Yitao Xu: "Dr. Xu used cellulose nanoparticles and graphene oxide to make materials with ordered structures. These materials have lightweight, mechanical adaptive, or photonic properties. They have applications in optical sensors and patterning."
• Dr. Mohammad Chaudhry: "Dr. Chaudhry studied the interactions between small molecules and large ring-shaped structures for sensing applications. He also explored the liquid crystalline properties of a few of these complexes."
• Dr. Duane Hean: "Dr. Hean designed organic crystalline material systems that converted light energy into mechanical motion. This research further advances the field of material sciences with an emphasis on light driven actuators."
• Dr. Hossein Yazdani Ahmadabadi: "Dr. Yazdani developed three sets of new infection-resistant coatings with outstanding performance for medical devices such as urinary catheters that combat infections associated with device implantation/surgery over the long-term."
• Dr. Nirmalendu Kuanr: "Dr. Kuanr has developed efficient catalytic routes for the feasible synthesis of nitrogen-containing small molecules and polymers. He further explored their applications in energy-storage systems and as corrosion-resistant materials."
• Dr. Cheyenne Christopherson: "Dr. Christopherson developed novel polymer nanomaterials with biological relevance and subsequently used these polymers to sense the temperature of systems and to visualize cancer cells. Her research illuminated new ways of developing nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications."

Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering)

• Dr. Michael Fairhurst: "Dr. Fairhurst studied the effect of long duration megathrust earthquake motions on the structural response of reinforced concrete shearwall buildings. His work included novel methods of ground motion characterization along with recommendations to ensure new buildings at risk from megathrust earthquakes meet minimum safety standards."
• Dr. Alireza Taale: "Engineers and professionals owe a duty to warn of impending risk. Dr. Taale has innovated a novel platform based on the IoT to transform environmental vibrations into earthquake early warnings. This platform utilizes earthquake engineering and artificial intelligence to warn the public, integrating early warning as a service in our daily lives."
• Dr. Fabricio Bagatini Cachuco: "Dr. Bagatini-Cachuço developed and implemented a seismic performance assessment framework for pre-engineered steel buildings in Canada. His findings significantly improved the design method for pre-engineered steel buildings thus making the Canadian infrastructure more resilient towards future earthquakes."
• Dr. Sounik Banerjee: "Dr. Banerjee's dissertation studied soil liquefaction under the influence of particle-level factors. He isolated these factors using numerical models to explore micro-macro connections. Fundamental insights from this cyclic loading-based analysis can be applied to the development of geo constitutive modeling and designing of granular materials."
• Dr. Francesca Palmieri: "Dr. Palmieri focused on the modeling of the degradation of clayey soils during earthquakes. She derived a simplified procedure to predict the strength of this type of soil under different frequencies of loading. Further, she developed a degradation mechanism for an existing model to conduct seismic analysis under different amplitudes of loading."
• Dr. Rushdi Mah'd Alsaleh: "Dr. Alsaleh developed novel artificial intelligent based microscopic simulation models for vulnerable road user interactions. His models showed high accuracy in predicting road user evasive action mechanisms. His research will aid in developing better understanding of road user behavior and studying various applications, including road user safety."
• Dr. Mohamed Kamel: "Dr. Kamel mitigated statical issues in modeling bike ridership and safety such as measurement errors and temporal correlation. He assessed the impact of land use, bike network, and demographics on bike ridership and safety. He supported urban planners by developing a zone-based index to represent both biking attractiveness and crash risk."

Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science)

• Dr. Glenn Steven Bevilacqua: "Dr. Bevilacqua developed efficient algorithms for estimating and optimizing reachability and coverage on probabilistic graphs. Many real networks such as protein-protein interaction networks, peer-to-peer computer networks and online social networks exhibit uncertainty which may be modelled as a probabilistic graph."
• Dr. Enrique Rosales Ruiz: "Dr. Rosales developed a novel surfacing algorithm to convert raw VR drawings into usable 3D models. He also created a new VR brush that increases the number of shapes that can be comfortably drawn. This research expands the range of applications of VR drawings and makes VR drawing a practical alternative to 3D modeling for inexperienced users."
• Dr. Prithu Banerjee: "Dr. Banerjee proposed a model that combines utility-driven item adoption with the viral network effect helping to propagate adoption of and desire for items from users to their peers. He subsequently applied the model to study influence maximization and filter bubble problem."
• Dr. Soheil Kianzad: "Dr. Kianzad studied the design and evaluation of a robotic stylus -called MagicPen. He investigated how force feedback can enable learners to fluidly express their ideas during hand sketching tasks, and explored the benefits of using the sense of touch in learning. His work highlights the role of haptics in future "objects-to-think-with"."
• Dr. Zhaoming Xie: "Dr. Xie developed algorithms and systems to control legged robot to move intelligently in challenging situations. His research brings us closer to having intelligent robots in our daily life."

Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)

• Dr. Matthew McDaniel: "Dr. McDaniel examined how frontline community workers maintain wellness while responding to the fentanyl overdose crisis. Participant responses focused on collective ethics, social support, work-life balance, structural supports, and individual strategies. These findings make clear the crucial need to advocate for increased worker resources."

Doctor of Philosophy (Craniofacial Science)

• Dr. Kelly Liu: "Dr. Liu examined the biological signatures of tumour spread to neck lymph nodes in early-stage oral cancer. Her work revealed micro-RNA and immune genes, and nuclear phenotype that can identify high-risk patients. This contributes to translating clinical biomarkers for the decision of early neck management and preventing under- and over-treatment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum Studies)

• Dr. Amanda Fritzlan: "Dr. Fritzlan studied elementary mathematics teachers' experiences of relationship with community and place in the Lower Mainland of BC. Her work illuminates practices of developing culturally responsive ways of reaching out to families, examining socio-cultural values embedded in curriculum, and making connections with cyclical patterns of place."
• Dr. Anne Hales: "Dr. Hales examined the mentor figure within British Columbia's public education system. Her study traced understandings of early career teacher mentorship and mentor work in provincial and school district policies and programs. Her research challenges assumptions about the desirability and benefits of teacher mentorship programs."
• Dr. Alexis Gonzalez Donoso: "Dr. González explored science teachers' assessments. He found that when teachers know more about scientific models and have more years of teaching experience, they engage in student assessment more often and use a wider array of strategies. These results have implications for science teacher education and their teaching with models."
• Dr. Angela Rutakomozibwa: "Dr. Rutakomozibwa studied motivation and engagement in physics learning using technology infused instruction for females. Her analysis reveals that prior knowledge affects engagement and heightens task value for motivation. Simulation is transformational for developing student canonical science. Her results are important for education applications."
• Dr. Fay Bigloo: "Dr. Bigloo conceived of 'place' as biospheric and historical via autobiographic research adding to the basic structure of currere what she termed cosmo-currere. As a result, curriculum became a terra-didactic text and it was disclosed that without biospheric justice for Here and the Present, neither There, nor any other form of Justice will be."
• Dr. Kiera Brant-Birioukov: "Dr. Brant-Birioukov developed a Mohawk discourse of renewal within curriculum studies. By attending to ancestral knowledge in relation to estrangement and homecoming, she argues for the re-centering of Indigenous knowledges in educational theory and methodology."

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)

• Dr. David Macdonald: "Dr. Macdonald's research shows the importance of parole incentives in the prison system. He finds that their absence led to greater misconduct and lower rehabilitative effort by prisoners who returned to prison at higher rates as a result. His findings contribute vital evidence relevant to current efforts to reform and reduce prison populations."
• Dr. Davide Alonzo: "Dr. Alonzo studied the interactions between geographic mobility and marriage markets. He showed that marriage increases the concentration of workers in high-productivity areas by affecting their migration patterns. His research highlights the role of families in shaping the geography of economic activity."

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies)

• Dr. Roselynn Verwoord: "Dr. Verwoord used art-making and art exchange to explore the beliefs of individuals studying to become teachers, including what it means to be a teacher and the power of the arts for learning about 'being in the world.' She used ideas of what it means to be in the world as a human, to present suggestions for teachers and teacher education programs."

Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

• Dr. Daniel Holanda Noronha: "Dr. Holanda accelerated the process of designing machine learning hardware systems by better understanding how those systems learn and how they behave when they fail. The design process enabled by Dr. Holanda's work illuminates the path towards making the development of those systems significantly faster, economical, and environmentally friendly."
• Dr. Matt Fong: "Dr. Fong studied tools for educational video and how to improve them. He examined the types of analytics that instructors wanted in order to better engage and assess students, and ways to best support students and their study habits, In particular, he studied viewing patterns, video search techniques, and video annotation."
• Dr. Ahmad Sharkia: "Dr. Sharkia worked on semiconductor integrated circuits: He developed a type-I subsampling phase-locked loop, that achieves low noise and low power consumption, in a compact footprint. He also developed flexible serrodyne-based frequency synthesizers that can be used to efficiently generate and distribute clock signals in modern integrated circuits."
• Dr. Borke Obada-Obieh: "Dr. Obada-Obieh studied how technological solutions in personal, professional, and involuntary relationships led to security and privacy concerns. She proposes a framework of how technological solutions can be (re)designed to address these concerns. Her research could make users feel safer while using these technologies in their relationships."
• Dr. Ziyu Wang: "Dr. Wang designed low-power low-voltage CMOS circuits for wirelessly powered smart stent system. The implemented implantable system can be integrated with a medical stent to sense critical data and transmit data out for diagnosis. The wirelessly powered smart stent does not need a bulky battery hence it can be implanted inside narrow blood vessels."
• Dr. Stylianos Ploumis: "Dr. Ploumis studied the properties of human visual system in perceiving light and color. He subsequently applied his findings to develop methods that improve the visual uniformity of High Dynamic Range video content across various viewing environments, ultimately increasing the viewers' quality of experience."
• Dr. Sebastian Zhou: "Dr. Zhou developed novel optimization algorithms for integrated circuit routing. He uses machine learning techniques and divide-and-conquer methods to accelerate the chip design process while improving the performance. His work can help the industry shorten the design-to-market cycle and deliver better electronics."
• Dr. Surya Koppisetti: "Dr. Koppisetti has developed new artificial intelligence and signal processing algorithms for low-cost detection and localisation of unauthorized wireless devices being operated in an area of interest. This research helps us passively protect our security-sensitive institutions, such as airports, from intruder flying devices such as drones."
• Dr. David Evans: "Dr. Evans examined methods to reduce the memory consumption of deep neural network training. He discovered which features are unimportant to network perception, and removed them using hardware and software techniques. This research has broad impacts on the development of new machine learning models."
• Dr. Yanan Shao: "Dr. Shao focused on machine learning applications in cancer research. She developed methods to reduce data heterogeneity, adopted multi-stain digital pathology in prostate cancer classification and risk stratification, and conducted breast cancer studies using shear-wave elastography. Her research points future directions for patient management."
• Dr. Ahmed Sherwali: "Dr. Sherwali explored how electrical heating can be used to minimize the environmental impact of oil sands recovery while economically exploiting the resource. He established an alternative to steam-based recovery methods using induction heating, and developed a simulation process to examine the performance in Northern Alberta."
• Dr. Amin Ghasemazar: "Dr. Ghasemazar developed several methods to increase efficiency of computing systems and reduce data storage required by applications. This research enables applications to run faster and computers to consume less power. It also enables running and accelerating application in mobile devices with limited computation power."
• Dr. Mohab Hassan: "Dr. Hassan studied a nanostructured material known as carbon nanotube forests due to its unique mechanical and electronic properties. He developed novel processes using a noncontact etching technique to shape the material at the micro scale level. This helped in integrating the material in electro-mechanical and vacuum electronic applications."

Doctor of Philosophy (English)

• Dr. Damon Barta: "Dr. Barta examined the myth of American innocence in post-Cold War U.S. fiction and film. He found that films and novels of this period demonstrate the ongoing influence of this myth in American culture. His study makes significant connections between American innocence and public consensus for post-9/11 American wars."
• Dr. Deena Dinat: "Dr. Dinat explored the ways in which the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission continues to shape the political and literary discourses of the contemporary nation. His work contributes to ongoing conversations around the relationship between the state, the subject, and literature in the post-apartheid era."
• Dr. Nathan TeBokkel: "Dr. TeBokkel explains how British Romantic poetry was influenced by agricultural improvement and, in turn, informed the capitalist agriculture. As a result, modern farming practice, labour, technology, management, research, and legislation still rely on Romantic tropes and genres."

Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Medicine)

• Dr. Michelle Chakraborti: "Dr. Chakraborti examined families involvement in adapted physical activity programs for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She found parents formed peer support networks, promoting a sense of community. This demonstrates a potential innovative approach to overcome social isolation among families while supporting child development."
• Dr. Jenny Tran: "Dr. Tran examined a novel method of achieving compatibility between donors and recipients in kidney transplantation. She demonstrated that matching at immunogenic protein motifs is feasible and clinically beneficial in preventing graft failure. This work is now acting as the foundation for a national matching program for kidney organ allocation."
• Dr. Gillian Vandekerkhove: "Dr. Vandekerkhove developed methods for studying lethal bladder cancer from tumour material circulating in the blood, without the need for invasive tissue biopsy. She utilized this blood-based test to explore tumour features influencing treatment response and resistance. Her research advances personalized medicine for bladder cancer patients."
• Dr. Samantha Gray: "Dr. Gray's research demonstrated how a health promotion intervention, called Choose to Move, could be implemented, adapted, and scaled up before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This intervention supported social connectedness and mobility, and reduced loneliness of older adults across BC."
• Dr. Christina Michalski: "Babies born prematurely are highly vulnerable to infections, but we don't fully understand why. Dr. Michalski discovered that at birth, immune cells of premature babies have low energy usage and that this limits their anti-microbial responses. These responses mature within the first year of life and help premature infants fight infections."
• Dr. Juliano Schwartz: "In line with a research priority recently established by the World Health Organization, Dr. Schwartz adapted a pan-Canadian chronic disease prevention program for Brazilians. He revealed significant improvements in lifestyle behaviours demonstrating the efficacy of this intervention in the fight against chronic disease in lower-income countries."
• Dr. MohammadAli Nikoo: "Dr. Nikoo studied the role of opium tincture for treating patients with opioid use disorder. His results showed that opium tincture is a safe and effective treatment for this purpose. His findings can improve the availability and diversity of cost-effective and culturally acceptable treatments for patients with opioid use disorder across the world."
• Dr. Sam Pakyari: "Patients with chronic wounds and extensive skin loss injuries have limited therapeutic option. Dr. Pakyari showed that through immune modulation of donated skin grafts and synthetic liquid dermal matrix generation, we can facilitate and accelerate acute and chronic wound healing process. "
• Dr. Jessica Tuengel: "Dr. Tuengel studied age-related development of the immune system and immunity to viruses in a cohort of Ugandan infants.Her research identified how immune cells change with age and viral infections. Her findings increased understanding of healthy immune development during infancy and the changes that occur following viral infections early in life. "
• Dr. Colin Francis: "Dr. Francis investigated the effects of patient-ventilator asynchrony on the structure and function of the diaphragm in mechanically ventilated patients. This study illuminates the role sedation and ventilator settings play in patient-ventilator interaction, and makes recommendations that could improve outcomes in critically ill patients."
• Dr. Lakshana Sreenivasan: "Dr. Sreenivasan investigated the importance of certain survival signals made up of cytokines that enable medulloblastoma cells to resist chemotherapy. Blocking these survival factors with inhibitors and cytotoxic drugs makes medulloblastoma cells susceptible to treatment and offers a novel approach to combat acquired chemotherapeutic resistance."

Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science)

• Dr. Justin Falardeau: "Dr. Falardeau studied how the cheese microbiome affects the growth of foodborne pathogens. He discovered that differences between traditional and industrial cheese production practices affect the final cheese microbiome, and likely the risk of foodborne illness. This finding can help cheesemakers produce safer cheeses."

Doctor of Philosophy (Forestry)

• Dr. Stella Acquah: "Dr. Acquah assessed the effects of thinning on the dynamics of uneven-aged interior Douglas-fir stands in central British Columbia over a 21-year period. She found that the treatments enhanced the rate of stand development in a number of ways compared to unthinned controls. This study helps in planning future thinning treatments in this stand type."
• Dr. Kathleen Coupland: "Providing forestry students with outdoor learning opportunities in forested landscapes is increasingly challenging with urban expansion. Dr. Coupland examined if local urban forests could provide additional outdoor learning opportunities. This research aims to increase in situ forestry education and aid in curriculum development."
• Dr. Allen Larocque: "Dr. Larocque characterized soil chemistry and soil biological communities in the salmon forests of British Columbia. These studies advance our understanding of the interconnection between marine and terrestrial environments."
• Dr. Hyeyoung Woo: "Dr. Woo assessed changes in forest carbon caused by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and interior British Columbia using propensity score matching methods. She established guidelines for implementing quasi-experimental methods for ecological data, especially for spatially located forest inventory data."
• Dr. Jianping Su: "Dr. Su's work will help the world oil sector reduce its carbon footprint. He showed that lipids, such as used cooking oil, can be co-processed at refineries with fossil fuels, significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping BC, Canada and the world meet its climate mitigation targets."
• Dr. Sophie Lewis: "Dr. Lewis studied the reproduction of inequalities in Thailand's state forests through a poststructuralist examination of illegal logging. Dr. Lewis showed that the continued logging of natural forests in Thailand was a manifestation of structured inequalities and sovereign violence imposed on the forest landscape and Indigenous Peoples."
• Dr. Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz Raybould: "Dr. Copes-Gerbitz (Raybould) explored the relationship between people, forests, and fire through time in British Columbia. Her research shows that fire has long been an important natural and cultural process but that transformative change is needed to ensure we can all equitably coexist with fire in the future."
• Dr. Roseanna Gamlen-Greene: "Dr. Gamlen-Greene studied the population dynamics of two amphibians of conservation concern - the Western Toad and the Northern Red-legged Frog, in Haida Gwaii and southwest BC. She found Haida Gwaii toads are genetically unique and less diverse and may be vulnerable to spreading introduced frogs. Her findings are informing conservation."
• Dr. Dessie Tegegne Tibebu: "Dr. Tibebu developed the physical fractal diffusion model based on geometric fractal structure of wood. It reveals that the moisture transport phenomenon strongly depends on the fractal dimensions of wood. This research outcomes contributes to improving the wood drying process and boosting bioeconomy development."

Doctor of Philosophy (French)

• Dr. Marie-Claire Mushiya: "Dr. Mushiya has examined the social and economic impacts of new technology on African societies. She has demonstrated that globalization is an extension of imperialism engrained in the predation of minerals used in technology. Her research provides insight into the role of industry and legislators in the chronic poverty of African societies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice)

• Dr. A.J. Lowik: "Dr. Lowik investigated the tactics that trans people undertake when accessing reproductive health care spaces that are not equipped to serve their needs. They found that the onus to remedy systematic erasure often falls on trans people and identified the structural forces that prevent this erasure from being addressed systematically."
• Dr. Taqdir Bhandal: "From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Bhandal led a research project to study social justice perspectives in Canadian nursing and medical education. Specifically, she focused on two areas of theory and practice from social justice studies, decolonization and intersectionality. The findings have been published in various academic and popular venues."

Doctor of Philosophy (Genome Science and Technology)

• Dr. Anni Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied the effect of insulin and insulin receptors on pancreatic cancer. She showed that low insulin levels and loss of insulin receptors reduce the number of precancerous lesions, and identified some mechanisms in the process. Her findings add to our understanding on how obesity and diabetes increase the risk of pancreatic cancer."
• Dr. Mang Zhu: "Dr. Zhu studied the formation of protein macro-assemblies and aggregation in budding yeast. He identified proteins found in yeast protein aggregates under different conditions. By analyzing common features shared by those proteins, he uncovered the potential cause for aggregates formed by them and provided valuable resource for future studies."
• Dr. Victor Yuan: "The placenta is an essential organ in pregnancy but much is unknown about how epigenetics contributes to its function. Dr. Yuan studied how epigenetic marks like DNA methylation are important to the placenta. This understanding of fundamental placental biology will be important for understanding and improving pregnancy-related health."
• Dr. Carmen Bayly: "Dr. Bayly studied large protein complexes called polyketide synthases, some of which produce widely-used therapeutics. Dr. Bayly used PKS12 from M. tuberculosis to explore and demonstrate new approaches for engineering these complexes. Her work contributes to ongoing efforts to engineer polyketide synthases to produce new therapeutics."
• Dr. Nathaniel Lim: "Dr. Lim studied the patterns of gene expression changes across thousands of human and mouse datasets, which can be used to interpret results from genetic studies. The findings deepen our understanding of gene expression patterns and their potential for discovering gene functions related to human health and disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geography)

• Dr. Sherry Yang: "Dr. Yang examined how carbon is made governable in the urban settings by investigating the discursive elements, the formal and informal structures and norms of the policy processes. This research highlights the particular narratives, governance logics and social practices used in the mobilization of climate policy."
• Dr. Pedro Gonzalez Espinosa: "Dr. González-Espinosa studied the influence of thermal stress and solar radiation on mass coral bleaching patterns globally through numerical models. Furthermore, he demonstrated the value of including driving variables such as cloudiness when examining the fate of coral reefs under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios."
• Dr. Joseph Daniels: "Often seen as threats to urban society, crowds are also presented as utopian entities. Dr. Daniels' research demonstrated how digital crowds and thinking about crowds were reimagined as offering solutions to the problems of urban austerity in the United Kingdom. This informs our understanding of the impact of digital economies on urban development."
• Dr. Kelsey Johnson: "Dr. Johnson's research examined the political economy of the American blood plasma industry. Following the history of this economy from plantation prisons in the US south to the opening of new plasma centers in the contemporary suburbs, her work reveals how relations of race and inequality shape this increasingly significant economy."
• Dr. Douglas Robb: "Dr. Robb investigated the impacts of decarbonization on Canada's physical and cultural landscapes. His research developed new place-based methods to visualize, design, and evaluate potential pathways toward Canada's post-carbon future."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Engineering)

• Dr. Andrew Mitchell: "Dr. Mitchell developed methods to examine the variability in flowing landslide movement to better estimate the areas potentially impacted by landslides, and the range of depth and velocity of those impacts. This was done using a combination of statistical modelling of observations of past events, and computer simulations of flowing landslides."

Doctor of Philosophy (Hispanic Studies)

• Dr. Rodolfo Ortiz: "Dr. Ortiz examines the role of the magazines in the early twentieth-century intellectual and cultural fields of the Andes. He analyzes how magazines become a dispositif that operates in-between the aesthetic and political ideologies discussed and disputed in the interplay of avant-garde movements, political revolutions, and social transformations."

Doctor of Philosophy (History)

• Dr. Mark Werner: "Dr. Werner studied the origin of the orca in popular and scientific discourses. His research highlights the importance of first-hand encounters in shaping the historical representation of the killer whale (1861-1964). This study showcases the possibilities for animal-centered history in the age of mass digitization of historical source material."

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

• Dr. Louai Rahal: "Dr. Rahal studied the process of designing educational technology with educators. Several factors that facilitate and/or hinder the design process were identified and explicated in his study. The study also contributed methodological guidelines on generating valid and reliable knowledge in participatory design research."
• Dr. Jacqueline Maloney: "Dr. Maloney studied factors that contributed to kindergarteners' social competence. She found that children's self-regulation proficiency and the quality of relationship with kindergarten teachers contributed to children's empathy and prosocial behaviour. This knowledge will help educators promote social skills in children."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Nutrition)

• Dr. Katia Caballero de la Pena: "Dr. Caballero measured how much lysine children use when they eat different plant-based foods, such as rice, oats and corn. Her work will help develop dietary guidelines for children that consume a predominantly plant-based diet. These guidelines will ensure they meet their lysine requirement, which is important for adequate growth and development."
• Dr. Abrar Turki: "Dr. Turki used novel stable-isotope-based techniques to evaluate new dietary therapies for people with inborn errors of metabolism such as modified cornstarch in glycogen storage disease type I, and glycomacropeptide in phenylketonuria. The results of the series of studies will contribute to improving nutritional management in this population."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Oncology)

• Dr. Fraser Johnson: "Dr. Johnson investigated how a new drug candidate selectively kills lung cancer cells by an oxidative stress-linked mechanism of action. He identified specific enzymes that are inhibited and demonstrated why lung cancer cells are sensitive but normal cells are not. His research will help the development of new, targeted anti-cancer therapeutics."
• Dr. Karama Asleh: "Dr. Asleh studied the most aggressive form of breast cancer called the basal-like type that lacks successful targeted treatments. Using breast tumor samples from women in Canada, she identified biomarkers that predict which women with basal-like breast cancers benefit most from chemotherapy and drugs targeting the immune system."
• Dr. Geetha Venkateswaran: "Dr. Venkateswaran investigated the role of the interaction of a glutamine transporter with the metabolic enzyme, CA9 in hypoxic solid tumors. Her research work establishes a mechanism by which CA9 utilizes the amino acid, glutamine, to promote tumor growth and identifies novel targets to treat cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Studies)

• Dr. Sharon Provost: "Dr. Provost's research evaluated the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum for healthcare workers, aimed to reduce violence from patients and visitors. Her use of an innovative, realist approach resulted in valuable evidence and practical recommendations for healthcare leaders on how to best support the curriculum to be learned and applied."
• Dr. Margaret Erickson: "Dr. Erickson explored the experiences and impact of incarceration among women living with HIV in Metro Vancouver. Findings elucidate opportunities for interventions and policy reforms designed to improve HIV health outcomes, support wellbeing, and redress rates of incarceration for marginalized women."
• Dr. Richard Morrow: "Many clinical drug trials are not published, biasing the evidence available to inform patient care. Dr. Morrow's research shows that drug companies may influence whether trials are published and that researchers have career-related incentives to focus on reporting positive trials. These insights could help improve policy on clinical drug trials."
• Dr. Ketty Anyeko: "Dr. Anyeko developed a lived justice theory that is holistic, relational and lived in the everyday by northern Ugandan women who survived wartime sexual violence. Lived justice involves compensation, peaceful co-existence, availability of land and basic needs after war. She adds a new meaning of justice beyond legal definitions."

Doctor of Philosophy (Kinesiology)

• Dr. Jesse Couture: "Dr. Couture's work explores some of the ways that individuals seek out and experience community though sporting practices. His findings offer insights into the nature and structure of community in the contemporary moment and extend ways of thinking about the relationships people have with physical activity, with technology, and with one another."

Doctor of Philosophy (Language and Literacy Education)

• Dr. Penelope Moanakwena: "Dr. Moanakwena studied the language and literacy skills hairdressers used in a Botswana salon. Contrary to policy notion that English is used in vocational education and work, hairdressers engaged a mixed English and Setswana code in the salon and the training college illuminating the need for training to incorporate workplace linguistic realities."
• Dr. Carl Ruest: "Dr. Ruest's mixed methods study examined the Canadian interprovincial student exchange's impact on adolescents' intercultural development. His research indicates the exchange contributed to participants' intercultural growth, highlights the key role of relationships and offers important suggestions for improving the benefits of exchanges."
• Dr. Kaye Hare: "Dr. Hare's arts-based research examined how educators draw on what they are feeling in their bodies to navigate teaching sexual health education. The findings showed how sex educators balance ever-shifting knowledge, realities, and priorities in uneasy but stable ways. The study offered valuable insights for improving pedagogy and practices."
• Dr. Harini Rajagopal: "Could we use children's various home languages for their school learning? Collaborating with Grade 2-3 children categorized as English learners, and a teacher, Dr. Rajagopal designed practices to include their languages, stories, drawing and photography. Her work highlights systemic inequities and advocates for relational and antiracist pedagogies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Law)

• Dr. Krishneel Maharaj: "Dr. Maharaj's work examines the law on mitigation of damages for breach of contract by establishing a robust framework that explains how the doctrine applies, why it applies, when it applies, and what it actually demands of contracting parties in practice. It will benefit judges, legal counsels, and the wider scholarly community in private law."
• Dr. Iryna Ponomarenko: "Dr. Ponomarenko studied the requirements the government must meet to justify a limitation of a Charter right. Currently, there is no judicial consensus on when these requirements must be strict and when they can be relaxed. Her dissertation examines this undertheorized body of jurisprudence and provides it with a principled theoretical basis."
• Dr. Moira Aikenhead: "Dr. Aikenhead examined the Canadian criminal justice response to technology-facilitated intimate partner violence (TFIPV) through a review of recent case law. She identified concerns and gaps in the legal response from a feminist perspective. Her proposed legislative and policy reforms will assist victims of TFIPV in accessing justice."
• Dr. Lachlan Caunt: "The law of negligence claims to deter accidental wrongdoers from causing harm. The mixed doctrinal and qualitative research in this dissertation suggest that in the law of negligence in Canada, deterrence is largely illusory. Potential wrongdoers are so well protected by liability insurance that there is little inclination to avoid causing harm."

Doctor of Philosophy (Library, Archival and Information Studies)

• Dr. Lois Evans: "Dr. Evans examined records retention and disposition in Canadian organizations. She found that by aligning information governance efforts and leveraging digital technologies, records managers, archivists, and technologists could significantly decrease the climate impacts of information and communication technology on the environment."

Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)

• Dr. Andrei Anghelescu: "Dr. Anghelescu examined the prosody of words in Nata, an endangered language of Tanzania. They proposed a novel analysis of tone and vowel harmony in the nominal domain. This research contributes to our understanding of prosodic phonology in both Nata and language more generally."
• Dr. Khia Johnson: "Dr. Johnson developed a new bilingual speech data set and demonstrated a high degree of similarity in voice and sound categories for Cantonese and English. Her research offers insight into the nature of bilingual speech and furthers our understanding of how language interacts with the mind."

Doctor of Philosophy (Materials Engineering)

• Dr. Mariana Mendes Rodrigues: "Dr. Rodrigues established laser ultrasonics as a quantitative measurement technique to in-situ monitor phase transformations in titanium alloys and developed a systematic methodology to quantify different phases from microstructural images. These studies are of relevance to design advanced titanium alloys for biomedical and aerospace applications."
• Dr. Mojtaba Mansouri Arani: "Dr. Mansouri studied the mechanical behaviour of candid aluminum alloys to replace steel in the automotive industry. He studied the effect of fabrication parameters on material performance. These findings contribute to making better models to further increase the safety of passengers in a crash scenario while saving on vehicle weight."
• Dr. Jixiang Xu: "Dr. Xu studied the dissolution kinetics of Ti-N inclusions in liquid titanium. The diffusion of nitrogen and the effective mass transfer coefficient were investigated using both experimental and numerical methods. His research advanced our understanding of the minimization of Ti-N defects in the commercial melt refining processes of titanium."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics)

• Dr. Toni Annala: "Algebraic geometry studies the geometry of shapes obtained as solutions to polynomial equation systems. Dr. Annala has investigated how to understand intersections of such objects using methods of homotopy theory. The results might find applications in various areas of mathematics, ranging from number theory to mathematical physics."
• Dr. Rebeca Falcao: "Dr. Falcao developed new methods to analyze single-particle tracking data. She achieved breakthroughs in estimating the number of distinct mobile states, while showing how to properly correct for experimental errors. Her work substantially advances our ability to analyze biological dynamics at the single-protein scale."
• Dr. Nicolas Folinsbee: "Dr. Folinsbee developed a sheaf model for Riemann functions. He used this model to express the graph Riemann-Roch theorem as a Euler characteristic."

Doctor of Philosophy (Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology)

• Dr. Minjeong Park: "Dr. Park explained an analytical approach to examine individuals' response behaviors in psychological and educational testing. She developed novel applications to understand responding tendencies and nonresponse behaviors. Her research provided new insights into test development and evaluation."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

• Dr. Kuangen Zhang: "Dr. Zhang developed a sensor fusion system in a human-prosthesis-environment loop to recognize the environments, predict the motion intent of different users, and control the motion of prosthesis. The proposed methods increase the intelligence of wearable robots, improve the human-robot interaction, and help amputees walk in complex environments."
• Dr. Alondra Renteria Ruiz: "Dr. Renteria used various experimental and computational methods to gain insights on the fluid mechanics involved in primary cementing of horizontal and irregular wellbores. Her research aims to prevent hydrocarbons from leaking, either to surface or into the water table."
• Dr. Yen Liu: "Dr. Liu studied machine tools used in the machining of metal. He developed both physics-based, and data-driven methods to identify the vibration behavior of such machines, which affects the quality of the manufactured parts. His work benefits the manufacturing industry in the planning and production of high-quality precision parts."
• Dr. Alireza Sarraf Shirazi: "Dr. Sarraf Shirazi proposed a 3-layer model for two-phase solid-liquid flow covering wide ranges of regimes, flow and geometrical parameters. He developed a fluid mechanics framework to explain the gravel packing operation. He also developed a machine learning pipeline to predict the slurry flow outcome based on the flow regime and behavior."
• Dr. Hatef Rahmani: "Dr. Rahmani experimentally and mathematically examined the complex fluid flows in the railroad industry. His research resulted in a greatly improved understanding of the industrial process, along with suggestions to further improve the product formulation and application in the railroad industry."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)

• Dr. Leanne Amitzi: "Dr. Amitzi focused on inhibition of DDX11 as a potential cancer therapy. She identified genetic interactions of DDX11 in human cells and adapted biochemical screening assays for DDX11 inhibitors. She also contributed to the development of a pipeline for discovery of novel cancer therapies that induce cell death by trapping protein targets onto DNA."
• Dr. Jessica Pilsworth: "Dr. Pilsworth identified novel mutations in adult-type granulosa cell tumours of the ovary and explored the development of new models to study this rare cancer. She concluded that this cancer is a highly specific disease that is centered around the FOXL2 mutation and that treatments targeting this mutation is the most promising approach."

Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology and Immunology)

• Dr. Catherine Wu: "Dr. Wu studied synthetic host defence peptides (small cationic peptides) as therapies for skin inflammation and highly antibiotic resistant bacterial biofilms. Her research revealed the intrinsic promise of synthetic host defence peptides and provided new insights into their mechanisms of action."
• Dr. Morgan Alford: "Dr. Alford studied the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes infection of many bodily niches including the skin and lungs. Her research identified mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and virulence using host-like models of infection. Her findings will be used to develop new therapies for treating infections in clinical settings."
• Dr. Catherine Byrne: "Dr. Byrne studied the complex dynamics of viral infections, examining how various viruses are transmitted and how elicited immune responses change over time. Combining methods of biological data collection and mathematical modelling, her work brings insight into potential treatment, vaccination, and control strategies."
• Dr. Raphael Roccor: "Dr. Roccor investigated how a bacterium can degrade the natural polymer lignin and the plastic polymer PET. His research helps us to engineer bacteria that can transform these waste streams into valuable products to replace petroleum-derived chemicals."
• Dr. Gyles Ifill: "Dr. Ifill investigated how Bordetella pertussis, the bacteria that causes whooping cough, adapts to different environmental stressors. He identified several overlapping systems which regulate genes associated with survival and evasion of the human immune system, indicating how this pathogen may be responding to stress within the host."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering)

• Dr. Gabriel Castillo: "Dr. Castillo Devoto designed a novel framework to assess climate risk in the mining industry. With a holistic sense of climate hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposures in the watershed, the framework supports land restoration design with ecosystem-based adaptation strategies, coping with climate change and contributing to sustainable development."

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)

• Dr. Amanda Cheung: "Dr. Cheung established a technique to measure oxygen levels in the injured spinal cord. She developed an implantable biosensor to monitor the spinal cord in a large animal model before its clinical translation. Her work will advance and improve the current clinical care of patients with spinal cord injury."
• Dr. Wansu Qiu: "Dr. Qiu addressed the use of antidepressants in the postpartum for those who do not respond to treatment and aimed to understand what biological factors influence efficacy and found it to be affiliated with the immune system. Her work is intended to help postpartum individuals seeking antidepressants in better treatment decision-making."

Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

• Dr. Chantelle Recsky: "Dr. Recsky studied the unintended consequences of health information technologies in primary and community care. In partnership with a local health organization, she co-created a process to address technology-related safety concerns. This research advances our understanding of patient safety in the context of technology-supported healthcare."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceanography)

• Dr. Tara Howatt: "Dr. Howatt examined how physical oceanic processes influence the distribution of zooplankton. She found that stratification and flows with different geographic origins had more influence on zooplankton, but flow around a submarine canyon and turbulence had little influence. These findings are important for understanding and predicting ocean habitat."
• Dr. Ashley Davidson: "Dr. Davidson studied how chromium moves through the environment, and the chemical changes that occur in the process. She developed a method to measure chromium in seawater and connected changes in the form of chromium to changes in its isotopic composition, identifying new links to environmental processes through increased detection of chromium."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceans & Fisheries)

• Dr. Patricia Woodruff: "Dr. Woodruff looked at different tools that fisheries managers can use to sustain productive recreational fisheries and how it is necessary to have trade-offs between fishery and conservation goals. Ecosystem models were created to examine the different interactions and consequences that can result while trying to maintain a stable ecosystem."
• Dr. Aaron Greenberg: "Can the harvest of soft shell crab be prevented? The fact that they moult at all the same time suggests that they can. Nonetheless, Dr. Greenberg developed a set of mathematical models fit to weekly catch and effort data that allowed for the simulation of different rules to avoid harvesting soft-shell Dungeness crab in Area A of the Hecate Strait."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

• Dr. Austin Taylor: "Dr. Taylor examined changes in peptide hormone biosynthesis in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. These studies have improved our understanding of the cellular and physiological changes that occur during the development of diabetes."
• Dr. Sara Saberi: "Dr. Saberi studied HIV Antiretroviral Therapy at the cellular level in HIV+ pregnant women and cell culture models. She found that most treatments increased mitochondrial DNA content and reflect cellular metabolism dysregulation. Her research advanced our knowledge of cellular aging and cytotoxicity that could affect fetal development and growth."
• Dr. Yuan Chao Xue: "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease with unknown causes that gradually paralyzes people. Dr. Xue's research demonstrated that viral infection is a risk factor for ALS by accelerating disease progression. This finding will inspire the incorporation of antiviral drugs in treating ALS."
• Dr. Alberto Delaidelli: "Dr. Delaidelli investigated novel mechanisms contributing to the progression of aggressive childhood brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma. His research uncovered new therapeutic vulnerabilities and clinically applicable biomarkers for this disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

• Dr. Anne Nguyen: "Dr. Nguyen developed a method to make chemical modifications to drugs that enable formation into nanoparticles for improved drug delivery and efficacy. This research will benefit a spectrum of drugs and identify new formulations that will offer safer and effective therapies for patients battling diseases like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis."
• Dr. Tarique Benbow: "Dr. Benbow developed a pre-clinical model of migraine headache using monosodium glutamate (MSG). He subsequently applied his model to identify and validate a novel drug target that may be leveraged to treat and prevent migraines in people."
• Dr. Nirma Khatri Vadlamudi: "Dr. Khatri examined the health and economic impact of introduction of 13-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infant immunization program in British Columbia, Canada. This research illuminates the value of PCV13 vaccine in preventing pneumococcal disease."
• Dr. Hayley Price: "Dr. Price investigated the processes of inflammation, antioxidant defense, and steroidogenesis within the placenta. These studies assist us in understanding the higher rates of pregnancy complications associated with assisted reproduction technologies."
• Dr. Nojoud Al Fayez: "Dr. Al Fayez worked on improving the effectiveness of currently available liver treatments. Her research focused on developing novel lipid-based nanoparticles for hepatocytes targeting. Dr. ALFayez believes these nanoparticles can be used as a platform to enhance the treatment of many terminal liver diseases including chronic hepatitis B infection."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacology)

• Dr. Jehan Alamri: "Dr. Alamri studied synaptic proteins in the brain samples of older people. She found that higher amounts of specialized proteins contributed to better memory and lowered the risk of depression. Her findings demonstrated that synaptic proteins could serve as targets for developing treatments for disorders that affect the brain in old age."
• Dr. Arash Tehrani Tehrani: "Dr. Tehrani studied how a common class of blood pressure medications can reduce aortic aneurysms in mice by increasing levels of nitric oxide, independently from their blood pressure lowering effects. This research provides new insight on how these medications work in aortic aneurysms and may aid in the development of novel treatments for patients."

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)

• Dr. Ryley Hill: "Dr. Hill studied galaxy clusters, which are the largest structures in the Universe. He observed one of the most distant galaxy clusters known using a range of telescopes in order to understand how gas was converted into stars at the onset of cluster formation. His thesis helps explain why galaxy evolution occurred differently in dense environments."
• Dr. Jordan Wilson-Gerow: "Dr. Wilson-Gerow and collaborators have been developing a "quantum-gravity" theory. These theories unite the microscopic world, governed by quantum physics, with the macroscopic world that is governed by classical gravitational physics. His main focus is making theoretical predictions for a wave of upcoming, first-ever, quantum gravity experiments."
• Dr. Elham Abouei: "Dr. Abouei studied the optical imaging system known as optical coherence tomography (OCT) for early cancer diagnosis. Her work improved the image quality. She also studied high resolution OCT for early diagnosis of cervical cancer and discussed development of a novel cervical probe to be used in clinics."
• Dr. Dominique Trischuk: "Dr. Trischuk analyzed proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS Experiment to search for clues left behind by a theoretical long-lived particle. No sign of this particle was seen in the data, which ruled out various new physics scenarios. She also contributed to the development of the next generation of ATLAS tracking detectors."
• Dr. Nicolas Savard: "Dr. Savard developed a Penning ion source using helium gas, with the end-goal of generating alpha-particles for medical accelerators. He studied the internal plasma properties of this ion source, in order to better understand how these ion sources work. This will allow for better optimization of these ion sources in the future."

Doctor of Philosophy (Planning)

• Dr. Jeremy Stone: "Dr. Stone demonstrates the nature of gentrification as a disaster for low-income communities, and how Hurricane Katrina cascaded into a subsequent disaster of gentrification for the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. The dissertation includes a co-produced advocacy film to support voting for anti-gentrification candidates in New Orleans."
• Dr. Rebecca Mayers: "Dr. Mayers examined the structural and societal systems that preclude equity-seeking groups from accessing safe environments and services that promote sustainable, healthy living. The purpose of her doctoral research was to examine the process in which decisions are made to propose more equitable city bicycling networks."

Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)

• Dr. Corey Snelgrove: "Dr. Snelgrove argues that reconciliation is not possible in this society because self-determination remains subordinate to profit. But just as many of us have reasons to be anti-capitalist, we have reasons to desire a treaty relationship and to participate in a politics that aims at the flourishing of humans and more-than-humans."
• Dr. Alison James: "Dr. James's research focused on gender and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. She found that at the particular intersection of colonialism and patriarchy lie challenges that must be overcome if we are to move towards truly transformative reconciliation."
• Dr. Nojang Khatami: "Dr. Khatami examined the role that exiles play in shaping politics and history. Comparing cases from North America to the Middle East, his study demonstrates how the excluded use artistic means to reconstitute the societies they live in. This research offers a new perspective on democratic thinking and the role of art in political life."

Doctor of Philosophy (Population and Public Health)

• Dr. Pauline Juliana Hian Le Voon: "Dr. Voon studied the issue of pain among people who use drugs and its implications for health, risk behaviours, and clinical care. She identified different patterns of substance use among people who use drugs, and found relationships between pain, substance use, depressive symptoms, and barriers to accessing health services and addiction treatment."
• Dr. Christian Laugen: "Dr. Laugen conducted research in Indonesia to demonstrate that achievement of maternal and newborn care meeting professional standards in hospitals is related to organizational readiness for change in low- and middle-income countries. His work will be used to assess readiness in health care organizations to facilitate successful practice change."
• Dr. Bjorn Eng Stime: "Dr. Eng Stime explored how public health practitioners examining mining impacts on Indigenous health in Canada are drawn into ignoring health inequities associated with dispossession while presenting a veneer of benevolent care. The research illuminates storylines and assumptions of inevitability, offering relational consent as an alternative."
• Dr. Katherine McLeod: "Dr. McLeod studied how moving responsibility for healthcare services in BC's provincial prisons to the Ministry of Health affected providers, services, and the health of people who experience incarceration. Her work highlights how integrating prisons with the community healthcare system may help to address health disparities and improve outcomes."
• Dr. Mohammad Karamouzian: "Dr. Karamouzian characterized polysubstance use practices among people with opioid use disorder and the increased risk of overdose among certain subgroups of the population. The findings provide practical implications for measuring and addressing polysubstance use in substance use research, clinical decision-making, and policy development."
• Dr. Jessica Yu: "Dr. Yu measured the climate vulnerability and health of neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver and examined the effects of densification on health. Overall, her dissertation reveales stark health and climate inequalities across neighbourhoods and provides evidence to support policies that prepare for the threats of urbanisation and climate change."
• Dr. James Forrest: "Dr. Forrest examined the health implications of social networking through an investigation of mental and sexual health outcomes associated with app use among gay and bisexual men. His research findings have implications for public health programming in the digital era."

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology)

• Dr. Natasha Pestonji: "Dr. Pestonji examined how the experience of repeatedly seeing a person or hearing a song affects how much we like them/it. Her research gives insight into the cognitive processes that underlie how we make liking and similar holistic preference decisions."
• Dr. Meighen Roes: "Dr. Roes studied the brain networks measurable through fMRI. Using a new analysis method, Spatiotemporal fMRI-CPCA, she showed that resting state networks did not adequately account for task-based activity. She argues that task-based networks provide unique information about brain-cognition relations not available from resting state data alone."
• Dr. Taeh Haddock: "Dr. Haddock's research advances our understanding of the nature of the relationships between children's theory of mind and social-emotional functioning by providing a comprehensive account of these relationships, and highlighting that complex mental state understanding is of particular importance to children's social-emotional wellbeing."

Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences)

• Dr. Shannon Lim: "Dr. Lim measured real-time brain activation during walking in individuals who have experienced a stroke. They were the first to measure sensorimotor integration regions of the brain during walking in this population. Activation changes were specific to the type of walking task and individuals who performed better showed higher activation levels."
• Dr. Oladele Atoyebi: "Dr. Atoyebi explored the needs of family caregivers of people with neurocognitive disorders as well as possible solutions to address those needs. He collaborated with caregivers and care recipients to develop a medium fidelity prototype of their most preferred solution, which is a web-based service to assist families in hiring paid support workers."
• Dr. Tara Beaulieu: "Dr. Beaulieu's dissertation research focused on generating evidence to inform optimal care provision for those living with concurrent opioid use disorder and mental illness. Her work advances the field of health and integrated services research and has important implications for future health research, policy, and practice."
• Dr. Elham Esfandiari: "Dr. Esfandiari developed an online self-management program for people with lower limb amputation, called "Self-Management for Amputee Rehabilitation Using Technology or SMART. SMART potentially provides accessible, low-cost, education after discharge from hospital for patients in both urban and remote areas."
• Dr. Andrew Ramsook: "Dr. Ramsook examined how neural mechanisms contribute to sex differences in the fatigue of the respiratory muscles. His work contributes to advancing the understanding of human physiology and exercise performance, with an emphasis on the unique qualities of the respiratory system in males and females."
• Dr. Rachel Crockett: "Dr. Crockett used novel brain imaging techniques to determine functional brain networks disrupted in older adults vulnerable to dementia. She also studied the benefits of physical activity and resistance training for brain health. Her take away message is: to make gains for brains, we should all regularly squat low and feel our brains grow."

Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology)

• Dr. Natasha Stecy-Hildebrandt: "Dr. Stecy-Hildebrandt examined how blue and white collar workplaces shape fathers' involvement in child care. Both types of organizations were found to limit fathers' caregiving, but in different ways, highlighting the importance of understanding specific workplace contexts and their implications for reinforcing the gendered division of labour."
• Dr. Adam Howe: "Dr. Howe studied climate change policy networks, discourse, and policy influence in Canada. Research and environmental actors were important in some policy spheres, but not seen as influential. For some environmental actors, media coverage made them seem less influential. Also, policy beliefs and network ties both explained collaboration behaviour."
• Dr. Valerie Berseth: "Dr. Berseth examined how genomic science is being used to conserve wild Pacific salmon. She found that decision-makers weigh different aspects of wildness in determining where and how to intervene using novel technologies. This work helps us understand the changing meaning of wildness in the Anthropocene."

Doctor of Philosophy (Special Education)

• Dr. Silvia Mazabel Ortega: "Dr. Mazabel collaborated with university instructors to foster students' self-regulated learning in undergraduate science courses. Her study contributes to theory and research about how inquiry-focused professional learning and instructor-led pedagogical innovations can enhance the quality of teaching and learning in postsecondary settings."

Doctor of Philosophy (Statistics)

• Dr. Qiong Zhang: "Analyzing data stored in a distributed fashion requires new statistical strategies. Dr. Zhang developed novel approaches to combine summary information from separate locations under finite mixture models. Her work is useful for combining information in the data collected from and stored at different health centres and government agencies."
• Dr. Archer Zhang: "In many real-world applications, data are collected as multiple samples from connected populations. Dr. Zhang developed statistical methodologies to jointly analyze the multiple samples. His research leads to more efficient and reliable data analysis procedures than some existing ones in the literature."

Doctor of Philosophy (Teaching English as a Second Language)

• Dr. Shahid Abrar-ul-Hassan: "Dr. Abrar-ul-Hassan researched the role of instructors, who were working in public and private postsecondary institutions located in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, as assessors in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs. His research contributes to the understanding of EAP assessment practices in a Canadian context."
• Dr. Ashley Moore: "Dr. Moore developed new theory to explain the nature and causes of a phenomenon among Japanese-English bilinguals in which they distance themselves from their Japanese first language and culture. Terming the phenomenon first language dissociation, he identified a complex set of psychological and social factors that contribute to its emergence."

Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology)

• Dr. Rachel Chudnow: "Dr. Chudnow examined the effectiveness of prospective management regulations to conserve bull trout in central British Columbia. Her work involved clarifying unknowns surrounding bull trout biology and ecology, specifically bull trout movement and migratory behaviour to determine where and when they may be vulnerable to fishing."
• Dr. Junho Eom: "Dr. Eom studied the role of fish breathing against toxic chemicals in aquatic environments and found that the fish control their breathing by generating various patterns against toxicants, which is beneficial to increase survival rates. This information would help understand how aquatic animals respond to global and local toxicants."
• Dr. Shuang Yang: "Dr. Yang characterized the molecular mechanism of a unique nuclear entry pathway used by parvoviruses. As these viruses are recognized for their great potential as anti-cancer agents, her findings deepen our understanding on how these viruses infect host cells and contribute to the development of novel anti-cancer therapies."