Convocation May 2024

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership and Policy)

Dr. Kealin McCabe: "Dr. McCabe's research explored ableism in higher education, examining collective agreements and institutional policies governing academic responsibilities showing that ableism is strongly entrenched and condoned in university policies and governance."
Dr. Ji Ai Cho: "Dr. Cho explored the transformative learning process among the 'Education Beyond Borders' members in Canada and Kenya in their collaboration. Her research helps to understand how the educators from the Global North and South navigated the issues of power and privilege in the postcolonial setting and adds to the conversation of decolonizing pedagogy."
Dr. Brad Baker: "Dr. Baker's work focuses on the impact that Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing had on settler educators in the North Vancouver School District and found that educators have the responsibility to infuse Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing into practice. All learners will benefit as Indigenous Education is for all."

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy

Dr. Alvin Qiu: "Dr. Qiu studied an aggressive soft tissue cancer called synovial sarcoma. He profiled human synovial sarcoma surgical specimens using epigenetic sequencing techniques and subsequently characterized epigenetic subgroups of the tumours. This research can guide emerging epigenetic therapeutic strategies in the treatment of this cancer."
Dr. Wissam Nassrallah: "Dr. Nassrallah found that mice with the Huntington Disease (HD) gene have altered calcium signaling and decreased levels of a neuroprotective protein called Activin A. Increasing Activin A expression improves the performance of these mice on a motor task. This research presents Activin A as a new therapeutic avenue for HD."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Orchestral Instrument)

Dr. Matheus Correa De Moraes: "Dr. Moraes examined how to prepare and perform trumpet auditions for professional Canadian orchestras. He interviewed some of the top Canadian trumpet performers and pedagogues on best practices for selected excerpts. His research will assist prospective orchestral musicians with audition preparation."

Doctor of Musical Arts (Voice)

Dr. Jing Jiang: "Dr. Jiang's concise teaching guide for early Chinese National opera is easily accessible for non-Chinese speaking opera singers. Through this guide, singers can rapidly acquire the skills needed to perform early Chinese national opera works. This study paves the way for non-Chinese opera singers to interpret early Chinese national opera works."

Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology)

Dr. Raphael Dimitri Deberdt: "Dr. Deberdt addressed the unequal nature of green transition supply chains through the example of cobalt from the Congo. His dissertation demonstrates the greenwashing at stake in the fight against climate change and the more or less unintended human rights abuses of these processes."
Dr. Heather Burge: "Dr. Burge studied how relationality plays a role in the revitalization of Lingít, an Indigenous language spoken in the Pacific Northwest. Her work reflects on ideas of gender, identity, organizational structures and academia, and how the intersection of those themes speaks to the active fight to reclaim Lingít as a language, and as a community."
Dr. Emily Amburgey: "Dr. Amburgey explores the interconnections between labor migration, environmental change, and disaster recovery in the Mustang region of Nepal's Himalaya. She argues that anthropology can contribute to policies and research on climate change to include local ecological knowledge."
Dr. Patrick Dowd: "Dr. Dowd built on more than a decade of field experience in the Himalaya to create an ethnographic portrait of the Tibetan language and its role in Buddhist transmission. He argues transmission represents the culmination of silence, speech and writing, where these three modes of language converge to transmit the Buddha's teachings."

Doctor of Philosophy (Applied Animal Biology)

Dr. Emeline Nogues: "Dr. Nogues explored how the personality of dairy cattle and the way they cope with stress can influence how they interact with others in their social group. Better understanding this individual variation in social behaviour can inform management practices that improve dairy cattle welfare."

Doctor of Philosophy (Art History)

Dr. Tatiana Mellema: "Dr. Mellema studied Modern Art specializing in Marxist feminism. Her dissertation provides an account of how artists index socially reproductive labour, the daily labour needed to sustain human beings and social communities. Her dissertation provides a corrective to art historical accounts that have ignored gendered labour and working people."
Dr. Ryan Matthew Gauvin: "Dr. Gauvin studied photographs from the Great Depression held at the US Library of Congress. He examined how a subset of these photographs raise questions about the fragility of American ideals in the 1930s. This study presents these images as the missing link between early documentary photography in America and a competing Soviet documentary mode."
Dr. Tobias Ewe: "Dr. Ewé studied sound art since the 1960s, with a focus on artists who use sonic technologies to examine the role of the listener. They investigated how artists used cybernetics research to challenge the notion of the ear as a passive receiver of sound. Their dissertation contributes to the ongoing research in the history and theory of sound art."

Doctor of Philosophy (Asian Studies)

Dr. Sai Diwan: "Dr. Diwan studied how and why audiences in India watch video streaming media. Her work shows the role of factors like language, geolocation, fandom etc. in digital viewership practices. By theorizing this set of audience behavior, she developed the concept of the interactive viewer to advance the understanding of digital audiences in Media Studies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Audiology and Speech Sciences)

Dr. Katharine Taylor Davies: "Dr. Davies explored the communication needs of individuals living with primary progressive aphasia, a language led dementia, and their families. The findings of this research provide guidance for the provision of evidence-based care and for further research in this area investigating avenues of meeting the communication needs of this underserved population."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Dr. James Kwan: "Dr. Kwan researches the TATA-box binding protein (TBP), an essential protein that initiates transcription and is the first step in gene expression. Dr. Kwan challenges the dogma of transcription initiation and presents evidence that TBP has evolved from its historical role in governing transcription."
Dr. Teesha Baker: "Dr. Baker worked on developing an in-house pre-clinical trial assay for incorporating genetic diversity into vaccine candidate selection. The immune system is the most genetically diverse part of the human genome and must be accounted for when creating vaccines with widespread immunity."
Dr. James Saville: "Dr. Saville characterized SARS-CoV-2 variants in real-time as they emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborating with the BC - Centres For Disease Control, antibodies from patient sera were assessed for their ability to neutralize major viral variants to help inform future vaccination strategies."
Dr. Jacob Wardman: "Dr. Wardman's research has focused on developing new enzymatic tools to manipulate proteins that are modified with certain sugars. To do so, he discovered new enzymes from Nature and also engineered these enzymes to better carry out these manipulations. The tools he developed will enable us to shed light on these otherwise mysterious modifications."
Dr. Thomas Nguyen: "Dr. Nguyen studied the molecular machines responsible for the transcription of RNA using cutting-edge techniques like super resolution microscopy and next-generation sequencing. His work not only unraveled novel perspectives of transcription mechanisms, but also challenged previous paradigms to provide a better understanding of gene regulation."
Dr. Cristen Molzahn: "Dr. Molzahn characterized the composition of protein aggregates that form in brain tissue during aging, contributing new information to the mechanism of aggregate formation and neurodegeneration."
Dr. Yiu Wing Sunny Cheung: "Dr. Cheung studied a protein involved in the autophagy pathway that removes waste from cells in the human body. His work investigated the structural and functional relationship of this autophagy regulator and its coordination with other proteins to facilitate the process, further delineating its underlying mechanism that leads to related diseases."

Doctor of Philosophy (Bioinformatics)

Dr. Chenkai Li: "Dr. Li developed computational tools to discover and design novel antimicrobial peptides using machine learning techniques. His research provides high-throughput solutions for the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics to combat the escalating threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria."
Dr. Sebastiano Montante: "Dr. Montante studied the application of Artificial Intelligence for the advancement of biomedical research. Manual analysis of data extracted from blood samples is becoming increasingly complex. He developed a new Artificial Intelligence algorithm that is simple to use, accurate and able to analyze complex biomedical data in a few minutes."
Dr. Ali Mirza: "Dr. Mirza explored connections between gut bacteria and multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and youth. He identified differences in gut microbes and genes between those with and without MS, noting a potential link between MS and high-fiber diets. His findings offer insights for future MS research and possible treatment or prevention strategies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering)

Dr. Asel Primbetova: "Dr. Primbetova has developed methods to produce therapeutic T cells and megakaryocytes using biomaterials and stem cells. Her research enables advancements of cellular therapies for blood-related diseases and genetic conditions."
Dr. Tanya Jane Bennet: "Exposure to environmental pollutants such as forest fire smoke poses a significant health risk. Dr. Bennet developed a microengineered in vitro model of the human small conducting airways that mimics the 3D ECM that can be used as a tool to advance our understanding of smoke-related risks to respiratory health and aids in the advancement of the organs-on-chip field."
Dr. Alina Kunitskaya: "Dr. Kunitskaya worked to advance economical and robust manufacturing of cancer treatments that are based on genetically modifying patient immune cells to target cancer cells. She studied the impact of process conditions on T-cells, a type of immune cells, and applied these findings to improve bioprocess operations and manufacturing technologies."
Dr. Tajwar Abrar Aleef: "Dr. Aleef augmented ultrasound systems with advanced elastography imaging technology to enhance the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Additionally, he developed methodologies employing cutting-edge machine learning techniques to automate, speed up, and improve prostate cancer brachytherapy treatment."
Dr. Amirhossein Omidvarpashesar: "Dr. Omidvar developed a way to make flexible ultrasound sensors using inexpensive polymers that can be rapidly produced in various shapes and sizes. His work opens a path for making new types of ultrasound devices to improve diagnosis and monitoring of a range of medical conditions."
Dr. Priye Iworima: "Dr. Iworima optimized differentiation protocols to produce stem cell-derived islets, offering a potential therapy for type 1 diabetes. She addressed manufacturing bottlenecks and identified key parameters associated with the generation of pancreatic cell types."

Doctor of Philosophy (Botany)

Dr. Lei Tian: "Dr. Tian studied how plants transduce immune signals from a major type of immune receptors. He revealed and characterized several essential proteins that regulate the immune pathway. This new knowledge has the potential to be applied to engineering resistant crop cultivars against a broad-spectrum of pathogens."
Dr. Marjolein Elisabeth Maria Toorians: "Dr. Toorians' work deals with biodiversity loss and the rise of epidemics. She has explained disease-emergence through host phylogenetic community structure."
Dr. Mannfred Boehm: "Why is the natural world so diverse in its shape and form? Is diversity random or driven by natural selection? Dr. Boehm studied the beaks of tropical hummingbirds, and the flowers they visit, to answer these questions. He concludes that extreme curvature is a result of niche partitioning, while other shapes remain unknown in their origin."
Dr. Daisy Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied waxes sealing plant surfaces. She found whitish appearance of leaves to wax nanocrystals formed by characteristic wax compounds, and her analysis revealed the mechanisms underlying the formation of these compounds. This research will inform the breeding of drought-resilient crops and engineering waterproof compounds."
Dr. Karen Thulasi Devendrakumar: "Dr. Thulasi examined the role of protein degradation in the regulation of plant immunity. He identified a new regulatory mechanism mediated by the degradation of lipid biosynthetic enzymes. These findings deepen our understanding of the complex plant immune system. He hopes his discoveries aid in the future development of disease-resistant crops."

Doctor of Philosophy (Cell and Developmental Biology)

Dr. Julia Toews: "Dr. Parlow investigated how corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) regulates the effects of glucocorticoids on development, metabolism, stress, and inflammation. Her findings reveal a novel role for CBG in shaping sex differences in organ development in rats, providing insight into the basis for sex differences in humans."
Dr. Tabea Stephan: "Dr. Stephan directed stem cells into liver and studied how the cells changed their identity. She found a specific protein in newly forming liver cells, TBX3, that may be responsible for pushing cells towards using liver genes. Knowing how cells turn into liver cells can be used to produce lab-grown livers replacing conventional organ transplants."
Dr. Jigyasa Verma: "Dr. Verma has discovered a novel role for the PAN protein complex. Her work demonstrates that targeting this specific protein complex in cancer cells disrupts their ability to divide. Importantly, such intervention may spare normal cells from harm while specifically affecting the cancerous ones."
Dr. Erin Marie Bell: "Dr. Bell investigated the role of the surface glycoprotein, podocalyxin, in breast and pancreatic cancer and showed that the molecule's sugar-rich, extracellular domain contributes to tumour cell collective invasion. This work provides insight into mechanisms of early metastasis and highlights the potential of podocalyxin-targeted therapeutics."
Dr. Kevin Ho: "Dr. Ho created an imaging technique to observe real-time communication between blood cells and their microenvironment. He provided fundamental insights of how intercellular signals synchronize blood cell behavior, regulate blood cell production, and maintain blood system homeostasis."
Dr. Shruti Tophkhane: "Dr. Tophkhane studied the functional effects of mutations in WNT pathway genes associated with Robinow syndrome using the chicken embryo model. She found that the mutant proteins disturb development of the facial skeleton and cell signaling."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

Dr. Liang Cao: "Dr. Cao focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop interpretable and robust data-driven technologies. His work offers innovative frameworks for enhancing the monitoring, control, and optimization of industrial processes, leading to improved environmental sustainability and modernizing industrial applications."
Dr. Ray Bi: "Dr. Bi aimed at improving the electrolyzer design, operation, and measurement toward ammonia electrosynthesis. He pinpointed inefficiencies of commercial separators in aqueous setups and designed low-cost electrodes for non-aqueous electrolyzers to benefit sustainable ammonia production."
Dr. Aashish Goyal: "Dr. Goyal developed a fast and accurate method to solve complex flow problems such as dust storms and the transmission of airborne viruses. The method uses the supercomputers efficiently to provide the solution five times quicker than the conventional method, allowing further investigation of complex flow problems in industries."
Dr. Fatemeh Asadi Zeidabadi: "Dr. Asadi developed sustainable solutions utilizing ion exchange and electrochemical processes for effectively treating per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances, commonly known as "forever chemicals," from water sources."
Dr. Karl Zimmermann: "Dr. Zimmermann loves water. His primary research at UBC was understanding the science and application of a biological drinking water filter. However, his interests in water took him into the world of sustainable development when he got to visit nine NGOs on five continents to learn about their experiences with safe water for community health."
Dr. Mahboubeh Mirzaei: "Dr. Mirzaei delved into finding an environmentally friendly water treatment train for highly toxic chemicals called PFAS. Her thorough systematic experimental and theoretical work orchestrated the potential combination of UV based degradation and removal techniques and offered new mechanistic understanding and guidelines in the given application."
Dr. Yixiu Wang: "Dr. Wang's research focuses on accurately modeling Lithium-ion battery degradation from a data-driven perspective. He proposed various methods to enhance the generalizability of the model and developed a highly interpretable model. This study significantly advances the safe and reliable usage of Lithium-ion batteries."
Dr. Yu Pei: "Dr. Pei studied bifunctional gas diffusion electrodes for reversible oxygen reaction catalysis. The findings provide valuable insights into designing durable and highly active transition-metal-based reversible oxygen electrodes for energy conversion and storage systems, contributing to a green future."
Dr. Miguel Villalba Chehab: "Dr. Villalba investigated the mechanisms by which fibres form jams in pressure screening. He identified jamming as a random, intermittent process and discovered that the jamming intermittency provides insights into onset of permanent blockages, potentially leading to the development of a sensor for screening operations."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

Dr. Hatsuki Otani: "Dr. Otani conducted a study on molecular complexes at low temperatures using spectroscopic techniques. Her realization of a signature of molecular superfluidity predicted by theory but not yet realized and the nature of chiral molecules offers valuable insights into atomic, molecular, and condensed matter."
Dr. Ziwang Wei: "Dr. Wei used biochemical and biophysical approaches to investigate the biosynthetic enzymes employed in the assembly of nitrogen-containing natural product molecules, including ±-amino acids Piperazic Acid and Azaserine, and nitroimidazole antibiotic Azomycin. The elucidated novel pathways and key steps lead to strategies for medicinal treatment."
Dr. Jedrzej Gozdzik: "The terrestrial plants possess a cuticle which comprises a mixture of ubiquitous waxes that have important physiological roles. Dr. Gozdzik investigated the cuticles of several plant species to infer biosynthetic mechanisms for non-ubiquitous specialty wax compounds which furthers the understanding of the roles and origins of those wax compounds."
Dr. Chatura Dharshan Goonesinghe: "Replacing plastics with green alternatives is a tough nut to crack. Dr. Goonesinghe introduces new methods to convert simple molecules into complex biodegradable materials using quirky new indium catalysts. His work unveils the huge potential of these tragically underappreciated elements, paving the way for better catalysts and greener plastics."
Dr. Julie Ella-May McNutt: "Dr. McNutt studied the hormone somatostatin and its role in slowing the growth of breast cancer. She demonstrated that two similar subtypes of breast cancer respond variably to treatment with somatostatin. This research underscores the multiple mechanisms responsible for cancer growth and may contribute to the development of new therapeutics."
Dr. Junliang Liu: "Dr. Liu delves into the creation of innovative platforms and methodologies to study one-pot multistep reaction. His work enabled an automated control and analysis system for one-pot telescoped reactions and proposed an efficient optimization strategy for complicated multistep syntheses."
Dr. Kelly Rees: "Dr. Rees developed and characterized dextran-coated nanoparticles and nanoparticle assemblies for bioanalytical applications such as the specific labelling of cancer cells. These materials were very brightly fluorescent, stable, non-fouling, and will help enable point-of-care diagnostic technology that will make molecular medicine more accessible."
Dr. Tristan Maschmeyer-Tombs: "Dr. Maschmeyer-Tombs examined the use of benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as a tool to monitor chemical reactions. He evaluated the use of different sampling methods and applied his findings to study a variety of chemical reactions, demonstrating how similar approaches can be used in industrial pharmaceutical research."

Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering)

Dr. Ana Maria Valverde: "Dr. Valverde developed a methodology using X-ray micro-computed tomography to characterize silt-size soil particles and their spatial arrangement at the micro-scale. The findings lay the groundwork for refining geotechnical engineering designs by considering the influence of micro-level particle organization on the macro behavior of silty soils."
Dr. Pouria Kourehpaz: "Dr. Kourehpaz enhanced seismic risk assessment methodologies for building structures by incorporating site-specific hazard considerations and addressing various sources of uncertainty in risk models. He employed statistical and machine learning methods to improve the accuracy of regional earthquake-induced damage and economic loss estimates."
Dr. Preetish Kakoty: "Dr. Kakoty investigated amplification effects of earthquake shaking in Metro Vancouver due to deep sedimentary basins and collapse risk of older concrete buildings in Vancouver, which have implications in future seismic policy of the city."
Dr. Gurdiljot Gill: "Dr. Gill examined the safety concerns related to pedestrian interactions with other road users. He found that people perceive pedestrian interactions with bicycles to be most safe, less so with cars, and least safe with self-driving vehicles. His work provides guidelines to ensure pedestrian-friendly introduction of self-driving vehicles."
Dr. Andres Reyes Parra: "Dr. Reyes assessed the capabilities of soil constitutive models for predicting seismic liquefaction-induced displacements. He enhanced them for the simulation of undrained cyclic shearing under a wide range of initial and loading conditions. His research contributes to the field of performance-based earthquake engineering involving liquefaction."
Dr. Kelsey Ann Everard: "Dr. Everard examined three natural convective flows, showing that ice onset near lake shores is delayed due to horizontal convective processes, that a temperature-dependent viscosity fundamentally changes boundary layer free convection dynamics, and that turbulence in organised canopies can be better described using a new approximation method."
Dr. Mohsen Azimi: "Dr. Azimi developed an integrated robotic system for advanced vision-based structural health monitoring. He introduced high-resolution image and point cloud segmentation methods and leveraged large language models for human-robot interactions."

Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science)

Dr. Ganesh Jawahar: "Dr. Jawahar explored how deep learning models in natural language processing could be more efficient. He introduced new, cutting-edge methods using neural architecture search, improving efficiency and performance tradeoffs in tasks like autocomplete, machine translation, and language modeling."
Dr. Laura Cang: "Dr. Cang examined emotionally expressive touch behaviour for human-robot interaction. To be truly reactive, devices must address the dynamic nature of emotion. For her dissertation, she developed multi-stage machine learning protocols to train robots to respond to your evolving feelings."
Dr. Linzi Xing: "Dr. Xing explored and improved the detection of topic shifts in natural language and multimedia using data-driven approaches. He proposed enhanced topic segmentation models with better coherence analysis strategies, showing potential to benefit other natural language understanding tasks like text summarization and dialogue modeling."
Dr. Shih-Yang Su: "Dr. Su studied 3D computer vision for human digitalization, which converts real-world images and videos into 3D animatable avatars. His methods simplify complicated motion capture pipelines, showing a promising way for 3D avatar creations from everyday devices."
Dr. Matthew Dirks: "Using artificial intelligence methods, Dr. Dirks developed machine learning models to unlock the information contained in spectral data. Demonstrated applications include grade estimation in mining and food quality assessment in agriculture."
Dr. Yuxi Feng: "Dr. Feng proposed an inexpensive method to reduce the amount of human labeling in the task of extracting relations from documents. He proposed a novel self-training method to improve the performance of text generation and relation extraction when few labeled data is used to train a machine learning model."
Dr. Xingzhe He: "Dr. He developed a self-supervised machine learning tool that minimizes the need for extensive human annotation, thereby alleviating the reliance on costly human labor during the machine learning development process."
Dr. Nicholas Vining: "Dr. Vining studied how computers operate on geometry and shapes, and how geometric problems can be solved with discrete optimization algorithms. By combining numerical optimization techniques with combinatorial search frameworks, he devised new algorithms that solve challenging problems in simulation, computer graphics, and video games."
Dr. Felipe Andres Banados Schwerter: "Dr. Banados Schwerter studied the formal requirements for detecting type inconsistencies in programming languages that combine static and dynamic type checking, and a novel reporting technique for these errors. His research will assist the design of new programming languages and help their future programmers to find and fix programming mistakes."
Dr. Neil Newman: "Dr. Newman designed tools for running and analyzing complex, electronic auctions, with applications to markets for agricultural trade in developing countries and the sale of wireless spectrum rights. His work provides a blueprint for how economists can use computer simulations to compare auction designs."
Dr. Nico Ritschel: "Dr. Ritschel studied the design of programming tools for end-users without previous coding experience. He investigated block-based programming languages and enriched them with visual features that help end-users write larger, more complex programs. His findings can guide the future development of more expressive end-user friendly programming tools."
Dr. Mohammed Suhail: "Dr. Suhail has made significant strides in computer vision by pioneering diverse methodologies that elevate semantic comprehension and geometric reasoning abilities within computer vision systems. His works have received nominations for Best Paper Awards, highlighting the substantial impact of his work in the field."

Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)

Dr. Sean Richard Heaslip: "Dr. Heaslip examined the unsolicited help receiving experiences of persons with visual impairments, targeting what is and isn't helpful during these interactions. The prominent themes identified were consent, assumptions, courtesy, consideration and respect. Findings were used to generate recommendations for navigating these complex interactions."
Dr. Alisa Bridger: "Dr. Bridger interviewed Hard of Hearing (HoH) students transitioning to their neighbourhood high school. She created a theory of the transition that highlights parallels with typically hearing peers, but also amplifies barriers faced by HoH students. The theory informs HoH teens and teachers of HoH students' struggles and ways to support them."
Dr. Leah Marie Baugh: "Dr. Baugh studied the barriers and facilitators of coping among women veteran survivors of military sexual trauma. Illustrated in the women veterans' narratives is the importance of safety and support to move beyond survival strategies and towards meaningful facilitators of coping, and the crucial need for systemic reformation in military culture."

Doctor of Philosophy (Craniofacial Science)

Dr. Tala Maragha: "Dr. Maragha uncovered the various domains that contribute to students' wellbeing, in addition to the challenges they experience and their support needs. These studies can guide educators, administrators, and students themselves in examining the curriculum and the learning environment in dental education, using a wellbeing lens that can support students."

Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum Studies)

Dr. Elizabeth Beattie: "Dr. Beattie elicited young children's perspectives on outdoor learning, which revealed the importance of acknowledging children's agency, creating physical connections with sticks and other natural objects, and acknowledging place as an agentic teacher to foster meaningful and effective learning across the curriculum."
Dr. Rodrigo Mendonca dos Santos: "Dr. Santos investigated how teachers resist the deprofessionalization of teaching caused by neoliberal educational reforms. Dr. Santos' research shows how teachers reclaim their pedagogical authority using different tactics of resistance and how narratives can serve as political resources for teachers under situations of oppression."
Dr. Naomi Kawamura: "Dr. Kawamura examined the intergenerational transmission and cultural memory practices in museums. She showed the particular importance of the relational elements of museum work, and how shared memory and the representations of group identity in museums both influence and are influenced by those that work in these institutions."
Dr. Matthew Isherwood: "Dr. Isherwood's work considers how the exploration of LGBTQI2S+ artworks can cultivate queer aesthetic sensibilities that help educators rethink normative assumptions of gender and sexuality. Their dissertation provides practical, arts-based methods that educators can adopt now to create supportive and inclusive learning environments for all students."
Dr. Angela Baldus: "Dr. Baldus' research studies contribute to correspondence and art practices that acknowledge the tension between individual experience and that collective thinking which happens across different kinds of distance and variation."
Dr. Jason Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied mathematics problem-solving and self-regulated learning in young students participating in after-school robotics programs. He observed that these children approached problem-solving through iterative processes, engaging in experimentation, assessing their ideas, setting goals, and self-correcting their efforts toward finding solutions."
Dr. Tsubasa Saito: "Dr. Saito investigated students learning mathematics in English at a Canadian school and in Japanese at a weekend Japanese school. He found that multilingual learners recognize the differences in curricula between the two countries. His study helps us to understand that there are curricular and linguistic differences in mathematics across countries."
Dr. David Matthew Strich: "Dr. Strich explored students' experiences with place at their school located in the Skagit Valley, Washington State. Students shared stories of meaningful places during walking and stationary interviews. Findings reveal place as a multi-dimensional inquiry, layered perspectives and understandings, and highly contextual to each person and place."

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)

Dr. Gustavo Tovar Albuquerque: "Dr. Albuquerque investigates topics in the field of the economics of crime and violence, focusing on Latin America and its recent history. The studies that compose his dissertation highlight the interplay between historical events, trust, state capacity, cultural diversity, and political structures in determining the levels of violence and crime."
Dr. Fernando Martins Secco Luce: "Dr. Secco analyzed the long-run impact of historical events in Brazil. His research focused on how territorial divisions during colonial Brazil have persistent consequences on the size of government and the delivery of public services depending on whether a colonizer was a public or private agent."
Dr. Clemens Possnig: "Dr. Possnig studied how algorithmic learning by firms affects prices. He showed what kinds of behaviours can be learned by competing algorithms, depending on the market and details of the algorithms. He used this approach to determine when and how collusive behaviours will emerge from algorithmic competition."
Dr. Marcelo Sacchi de Carvalho: "Dr. Sacchi de Carvalho researched how labour markets function, focusing on how wages are determined, and the roles of firms and employees in production. His results will help policymakers and the public understand wage inequality and labour market dynamics."
Dr. Nicolas Franz Pattillo: "Dr. Franz-Pattillo's research explores how inflation targets are set. It shows that these targets are influenced by various factors, including the level of commitment of policymakers. These insights help us understand the importance of institutions and their impact on our everyday lives."

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies)

Dr. Shirley Anne Hardman: "Dr. Hardman listens to stories from Indigenizers applying Indigenous Storywork principles and her own Sto:lo teachings to understand deeply and interact with these stories. Storywork Listening shines light on six themes for Indigennizing. We learn that it is not easy but it is possible to Indigenize the Future: One Heart at a Time."
Dr. Mary Victor Kostandy: "Dr. Kostandy examined a networked movement of Egyptian public school teachers on Facebook. Her research reveals teachers' material, moral and legal conditions. She proposes a framework to understand the notion of justice in the Global South. "

Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Dr. Hoda Sadat Hashemi: "Dr. Hashemi developed a fast, non-invasive method to measure the elasticity of the tissue through ultrasound elastography. She applied her ultrafast elastography method in the liver ultrasound images to detect the liver fibrosis disease for more accurate tissue abnormality detection and reducing the ultrasound exam time substantially."
Dr. Scott Nathan Sallinen: "Dr. Sallinen developed a computational model for analyzing data about evolving activities on networks, like social media interactions or financial transactions. His work advances the capabilities of real-time investigation and analysis into large scale data."
Dr. Ethan Grooby: "Health monitoring is essential to enable timely and appropriate care for newborns. However, this is limited in low-to-middle-income countries due to insufficient resources and health staff. Dr. Grooby examined accessible newborn health monitoring. He developed software to monitor heart and lung health using digital stethoscopes and video cameras."
Dr. Adam Schmidt: "Dr. Schmidt designed and researched methods for efficiently tracking organ surfaces during surgery. He designed multiple algorithms to track tissue motion along with a dataset to evaluate performance for applications of tissue tracking. His research in efficient tracking will enable applications in surgical robotics, such as autonomy."
Dr. Mehdi Setayesh: "Dr. Setayesh utilized machine learning techniques for resource allocation in wireless communication systems. He proposed a deep learning framework for network slicing in radio access networks, a federated learning algorithm to address data and device heterogeneity issues, and a novel 360-degree video streaming approach in terahertz wireless systems."
Dr. Parham Pashaei: "Dr. Pashaei designed and fabricated novel solar cell devices made with materials as thin as one atom. He incorporated various engineering methods to make them more practical. His work proposes innovative designs to make efficient solar cells."
Dr. Zoya Jafaryrabanybastany: "Dr. Jafaryrabanybastany devised a method to capture and extract features of scalp SD, noting its precursor role to seizures and proximity to the epileptic brain lesion. This work aids in intractable epilepsy diagnosis, paving the way for studies on stroke, traumatic brain trauma, and migraines."
Dr. Shahbaz Askari: "Dr. Askari has developed a minimally invasive near-infrared spectroscopy sensor for spinal cord hemodynamic assessment in spinal cord injury patients. This innovative sensor aids in managing hemodynamics and has been successfully implemented and implanted. The sensor was able to provide the regional hemodynamic metrics of the spinal cord."
Dr. Megha Kalia: "Dr. Kalia devised computer vision techniques for augmented reality in robotic surgery, aligning patients' MRI or Ultrasound images with the surgical camera view. This enables clinicians to do a real-time assessment of cancer margins and anatomy, to optimize clinical decisions and thus, reducing the incidents of incomplete cancer removal."

Doctor of Philosophy (English)

Dr. Alexa Berlynn Manuel: "Dr. Manuel's research proposed a literary theory centered in the land and in the relations-based practices of the Syilx Okanagan people. The theory imagines new and dynamic methods of engaging with Indigenous literature beyond its textual form to also include stories told through the land, the body, and through dreams."
Dr. Samuel Wee: "Dr. Wee studied how social media and poetry could be understood as two complementary ways of mediating identity, particularly when it comes to race. Though social media is often thought of as a new radical technology, Dr. Wee's research showed that many of the problems and promises that originated in print culture continue on to the Internet."

Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Medicine)

Dr. Kamila Romanowski: "Using epidemiological and implementation science methods, Dr. Romanowski explored the long-term impact of tuberculosis and what we can do to support tuberculosis survivors."
Dr. Juma Orach: "Dr. Orach investigated the dose-response to controlled air pollution exposure in a clinical trial. He identified blood proteins, breath measurements and symptoms that are closely related to diesel exhaust levels. This research facilitates health monitoring and improves our ability to assess and mitigate the harmful impacts of air pollution."
Dr. Henry Tung: "Dr. Tung investigated the disease mechanisms underlying heart attacks and cardiac hypertrophy by combining experimental medicine and data science. His study, published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of timing and spatial considerations of treatment for heart diseases, providing a blueprint for future clinical research."
Dr. Vivian Han: "Dr. Han's research delves into the ingenious strategies employed by our intestinal cells to detect and combat the food-borne pathogen Salmonella. These tactics include promoting mucus secretion to expel the pathogen, releasing signals to enlist immune cell reinforcements, and, remarkably, self-sacrifice to eliminate the invading bacteria."
Dr. Ryan Donald Huff: "Around the world people breathe in polluted air that irritates their lungs and causes inflammation. Dr. Huff's research demonstrated that current anti-inflammatory asthma medications increase common cold infections in human lung cells exposed to pollution, and identified three new medicines that reduce air pollution induced inflammation."
Dr. Sravan Jaggumantri: "In his doctoral work, Dr. Sravan developed the Personally Meaningful Outcomes-Assessment Process (PMO-AP) to gauge treatment effectiveness. A study with 50 participants demonstrated PMO-AP's reliability, validity and practicality. This patient-centered approach provides clinicians with a versatile tool to evaluate treatments for chronic conditions."
Dr. Sarah Montgomery: "Dr. Montgomery studied the effect of different milks on the nutritional status of toddlers and the foods that contribute to the intake of nutrients required for early growth and development. Her work contributes new knowledge that will serve for the derivation of age-specific feeding recommendations and dietary guidelines."
Dr. Reza Rahavi: "Dr. Rahavi's work advances neuroblastoma (NB) research by refining mouse models for better real-time, non-invasive tracking of tumour progression. By integrating luciferase expression into TH-MYCN mice and human NB cell lines, it enables effective monitoring of potential treatments, offering insights into NB biology and therapy development."
Dr. Lingyi Li: "Dr. Li conducted research on the association between TNF inhibitors and multiple sclerosis in four Canadian provinces. An increased risk of multiple sclerosis was found in users of TNF inhibitors. This finding is vital for healthcare practitioners to weigh the benefits and risks of TNF inhibitors, ultimately guiding safer medical decisions."
Dr. Yuanzhe Li: "Dr. Li made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer research, identifying a unique metabolic pathway that mediates chemoresistance in cancers. This potential druggable target could revolutionize the approach to overcoming chemotherapy resistance, offering new hope for effective cancer treatment."
Dr. Nakisa Tabrizian: "Dr. Tabrizian's research identified ROR2 as a key receptor promoting cellular plasticity in prostate cancer. Her findings suggest ROR2 as a therapeutic target to combat aggressive AR-independent tumor phenotypes. This could enhance responses to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors and prevent lineage plasticity."

Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science)

Dr. Catherine Wong: "Dr. Wong found a human friendly virus called bacteriophages to be highly effective against a foodborne pathogen, Salmonella, in various fresh produce. For the Salmonella strains that are less susceptible to bacteriophage attack, she found them to utilize genes that can cleave bacteriophages before attack, thereby protecting themselves for survival."

Doctor of Philosophy (Forestry)

Dr. Stefanie Lane: "Dr. Lane studied changes in tidal marsh vegetation and seed germination potential in coastal conservation areas of BC. She found evidence for loss and limited germination of native species, and high risk of invasion by non-native species. This research highlights a need for active management and restoration in coastal ecosystems in BC and beyond."
Dr. Andrew Chadwick: "Dr. Chadwick developed methods for deriving critical assessment data for regenerating post-harvest stands in Alberta, Canada from drone imagery. His methods provide a basis to increase the efficiency with which monitoring can occur and offer a level of wall-to-wall detail that cannot be practically obtained with traditional methods."
Dr. Kasey Moran: "Coexisting with flood-adapted forests can be a challenge for communities that are built within historical floodplains. Dr. Moran's research revealed conditions under which cottonwood forests might thrive in the presence of flood control infrastructure, and suggested workable restoration strategies for highly developed riverscapes."
Dr. Erika Dort: "Dr. Dort studied the genetics and genomics of plant pathogens. She used comparative genomics to discover patterns of plant pathogenicity in fungi and established CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in an oomycete forest pathogen. Her research provides a foundation for future studies of forest pathogens and the improvement of disease surveillance strategies."
Dr. Weiwei Wang: "Dr. Wang estimated the pattern and changes in wildland fires and their ecological effects in Canadian forests. Her research contributes to a better understanding of how climate and vegetation interact with fires, thereby enhancing our capabilities for future coexistence with wildfires."
Dr. Spencer Dakin Kuiper: "There is a need for spatially explicit and accurate information regarding fish habitat in forested watersheds. Dr. Dakin Kuiper's doctoral studies examined the ability of airborne laser scanning to characterize stream habitat features important to salmon. His research will help forest and fisheries managers to better conserve these keystone species."
Dr. Yueru Zhao: "Dr. Zhao developed ecological models to predict forest tree species' fundamental climate niche and productivity. Her innovative studies offer essential insights into forest adaptation strategies such as conservation or assisted migration in response to climate change."
Dr. Deirdre Loughnan: "Dr. Loughnan studied climate change impacts on the timing of life history events, including the start of spring in forests. She found important relationships with environmental cues, like temperature, and evolution in how native woody species are responding. Her work has applications in conservations and management of forests across North America."
Dr. Debra Lindsay Wertman: "Dr. Wertman discovered a unique, putative mutualism between the alder bark beetle and a newly described species of fungus. Her research expands upon known bark beetle-fungus symbioses to include a hardwood tree-killing system and has implications for the future health of nitrogen-fixing red alder throughout the Pacific Coast of North America."

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

Dr. Ine Beljaars: "Dr. Beljaars studied the evolution of salsa in the Netherlands, exposing Antillean influences on Dutch culture. She also examined interactions in the Afro-Latin dance scene, illuminating the complexities of identity and belonging in Dutch postcolonial society and emphasizing the criticality of race in understanding Dutch cultural citizenship."

Doctor of Philosophy (Genome Science and Technology)

Dr. Jack Bacon: "Dr. Bacon used DNA sequencing to explore genomic associations with poor disease outcomes in patients with genitourinary cancers. His work has demonstrated the role of circulating tumour DNA as a tool for predicting survival in patients with kidney cancer, as well as the prognostic utility of specific gene alterations in patients with bladder cancer."
Dr. Cameron Herberts: "Dr. Herberts developed a noninvasive blood profiling technology for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, enabling expedited discovery of treatment resistance mechanisms to common cancer drugs, and helping clinicians select treatment tailored to patient's unique tumor biology. This test is now being evaluated in two Canadian clinical trials."
Dr. Yuka Takemon: "Dr. Takemon developed a computer-based method to examine cancer gene functions and identify cancer cell-specific vulnerabilities. Using this method, they found several vulnerabilities that can be exploited to selectively kill cancer cells using existing FDA approved drugs. Dr. Takemon's research illustrates a model for improving future precision cancer medicine."
Dr. Zheng Dong: "Dr. Dong studied the epigenetic role in evolution. He discovered the important role of DNA methylation in population specificity and evolutionary conservation, especially in terms of their genetic basis and functional relevance. His findings can provide new evolutionary insights into the roles of epigenetics in cellular functions and human health."
Dr. Avery Noonan: "Dr. Noonan developed various tools and methodologies enabling the high-throughput testing and engineering of metabolisms in bacteria and microalgae, with the objective of applying microbial metabolisms to support sustainable industrial practices."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geography)

Dr. Micheal Jerowsky: "Dr. Jerowsky compared the efficacy of VR, AR, and outdoor field trips when promoting the critical environmental education of children who have different levels of walking access to quality green space. His findings suggest that immersive media can help to address a lack of access while promoting environmental literacy and a diverse range of knowledges."
Dr. Rachel Grace Bok: "For her doctoral work, Dr. Bok studied on a global scale the people who think they are capable of providing cities with solutions. Her research found that many of these "solutions" remained unproven and unevaluated, often tangential to what cities really need. It might be of interest to people who work in the area of municipal policy."
Dr. Alexandra Shirley Siobhan Winter-Billington: "Dr. Winter-Billington showed that wind-blown snow and rainwater contribute to the accuracy of predictions of the melting of glaciers that are covered in the rock debris from landslides. This research contributes to improved accuracy of forecasts and projections of the retreat of glaciers and regional hydrological impacts due to increased air temperature."
Dr. Madeline Sara Whetung: "Dr. Whetung's research argues that practicing Nishnaabeg place-based relationships in everyday life contributes to building alternative worlds that both respond to violence, and actively create a new world in which violence is unimaginable."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Engineering)

Dr. Alexander Strouth: "Dr. Strouth examined how people decide if a community is 'safe enough' from landslides. In addition, he put landslide risks into context with other types of risks."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Sciences)

Dr. Evelyn de Souza: "Dr. Freres studied processes causing instrumental mass bias in multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers. Her research helped improve precision and accuracy in isotopic ratio measurements and provided the geochemical community with greater resolution to interpret geological records and better understand the history of our planet."
Dr. Nichole Moerhuis: "Dr. Moerhuis investigated the timescales of closed-system crystallization of basaltic magmas within the Earth's crust using the 56 million-year-old Skaergaard intrusion in East Greenland as a natural laboratory, contributing to a better understanding of widespread basaltic magmatism in the North Atlantic at a time of significant global warming."

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

Dr. Parmis Aslanimehr: "Dr. Aslanimehr conceptualized exile as an internal force carried within, hindering recognition. Her work explored the tension between self-understanding and how others perceive us. Applied within academia, she challenges the theory of recognition by emphasizing attentive listening attuned to the unique experiences that may send the self to exile."
Dr. Miriam Elizabeth Miller: "Dr. Miller studied the role of collaborative, inquiry-oriented teacher professional development related to social and emotional learning (SEL). Results showed the potential for collaborative professional development to support educators as they explore, develop, and apply practices that promote SEL beyond the typical conventions of SEL programs."
Dr. Alexander Gist: "Dr. Gist explored how high school teachers who teach online build positive relationships with their students. This research informs both policy and practice by providing schools and teachers a deeper understanding of the factors that help, hinder or are needed for supportive student-teacher relationships online."
Dr. Julie Ann Sauve: "Dr. Sauve explored the experiences that early-career teachers had with social and emotional learning (SEL) as they completed their teacher preparation programs in Oregon. Her research contributes to the limited understanding of the degree to which teachers receive preparation in SEL as they complete their teacher preparation programs in the U.S."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Nutrition)

Dr. Hadis Mozaffari: "Dr. Mozaffari examined the impact of diet diversity on type 2 diabetes. She showed that a diet diverse in five food groups, and a variety of vegetables and plant protein sources, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. These findings will inform the revision of some dietary guidelines, which currently advocate for a diet limited to only three food groups."

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

Dr. Jimmy Ha: "Dr. Ha investigated the impact of elevated carbon dioxide on plant-insect interactions across multiple insect species. His work narrowed knowledge gaps on how different insect species respond to feeding on CO2-enriched host plants, and contributed towards gaining a deeper understanding of how plant-insect interactions can change in the near future."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Oncology)

Dr. Gabriela Segat: "Dr. Segat studied how intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence the onset of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She showed that inflammation favors the development of a more immature disease subtype, and that a gene called MYCN is essential for this subtype. She also found indirect ways to inhibit MYCN which could guide therapy development."
Dr. Chris May: "Dr. May classified a set of molecules produced by tumours which inhibit the immune response and enhance tumour growth. To combat this, he developed multiple approaches to engineer immune cells to overcome this inhibition. When applied to cell-based therapies, this has a potential to result in improved efficacy across diverse cancer types."
Dr. Jane Foo: "Dr. Foo's research aimed to develop novel drugs that target the drivers of prostate and breast cancers. By screening hundreds of compounds, Dr. Foo characterized the activity of new molecules that effectively inhibit cancer growth. This work will provide new therapeutic avenues to address the needs of patients who no longer respond to current treatments."
Dr. Busra Turgu: "Dr. Turgu explored the link between HACE1 gene, and mTOR, a key growth regulator in cancers. Her findings revealed that HACE1 significantly reduces mTOR activity, revealing a novel mechanism to control growth in tumor cells. Targeting this mechanism pathway can inhibit cancer cells' growth, and survival, leading the way for new therapeutic approaches."
Dr. Louis-Alexandre Fournier: "Dr. Fournier uncovered a new role for ARID1A, a gene lost in about 7% of all cancers, in the maintenance of genome integrity. Using CRISPR screening, he also identified vulnerabilities of cancer cells that lose ARID1A. This work expands our understanding of how these tumours develop and provides potential new avenues for treatment."
Dr. Satyam Bhasin: "Dr. Bhasin investigated a novel drug target for breast cancer treatment, where his research revealed that this target is involved in poor patient survival, promotes pro-cancer signals, and drives treatment resistance. Further exploration confirmed its high druggability potential, paving the way for a new mechanism of action for anti-cancer drugs."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Studies)

Dr. Laura Patricia Castrejon Violante: "Dr. Castrejon Violante found that explicit constitutional recognition of the right to food is an effective way to comprehensively address food systems' challenges and advance the right's realization. Her work highlights the importance of constitutional entrenchment of human rights and the need for further implementation research."
Dr. Neringa Dainaraviciute: "Dr. Dainaraviciute studied resilience, exploring how ethnoracial minority youth navigated racism. Her critical interdisciplinary analysis uncovers the complexities of youth lived experiences. Specifically, she highlights the creative solutions youth developed to cope with the subtle and hidden forms of everyday racism that are prevalent in Canada."
Dr. Rowenna Gryba: "Dr. Gryba, in partnership with Inupiat hunters, developed new methods to include Indigenous Knowledge in statistical models as a sole data source and with animal movement data. This work highlights Indigenous Knowledge that is not available in scientific data, and provides new ways for Indigenous Knowledge to be included in species management."
Dr. David Nicholas Oswald: "Dr. Oswald's doctoral research focused on developing a coastal zone management framework for BC coastal nations which incorporates economic valuation of ecosystem services. His research will help address environmental impacts that are traditionally not accounted for in decision making, leading to more environmentally sustainable outcomes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Kinesiology)

Dr. Lisa Raquel Trainor: "Dr. Trainor explored elite athlete well-being. Her research demonstrates the critical role of sport culture and the high-performance environment in comprising athlete well-being. After interviewing Olympic and Paralympic athletes, she identified eight sport-specific components that make up athlete well-being, which can help support elite athletes."
Dr. Aishwarya Ramachandran: "Dr. Ramachandran explored the history of body classification systems in health and sport-focused areas, through the example of the somatotype. She found that the somatotype was used to characterize race, class, athletic ability, and intelligence biologically, demonstrating how measurement methods are value laden and warrant critical exploration."
Dr. Nik Dean: "Dr. Dean illustrated how participation in adaptive skateboarding and wheelchair motocross may offer health benefits and social benefits to physically disabled people and illuminated how larger social, cultural, political, economic, and structural forces may influence disabled riders' participation in different sporting spaces."

Doctor of Philosophy (Language and Literacy Education)

Dr. Sandra E Filippelli: "Through the methodology of a/r/tography - art, research, teaching - Dr. Filippelli presents a writing practice for aesthetic encounters with visual art that interweaves poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction with research on art, literacy, aesthetic, and museum education scholarship. It, thus, contributes to all these fields of education."
Dr. Esteban Morales: "Dr. Morales looked into the views and experiences of young Colombian adults concerning violence on social media. His research underscores the pivotal role of digital platforms in shaping our relationship with violence, emphasizing education as a valuable strategy for promoting and sustaining cultures of peace."
Dr. Rachel Sarah Horst: "Dr. Horst employed innovative digital arts-based methods to inquire into the futures literacies of a group of teacher candidates. Her study found that futures literacies pedagogy can provide teacher candidates with creative outlets to express their extant feelings and narratives about the future in generative ways that enable new possibilities to emerge."
Dr. Caroline Ellen Hamilton: "Dr. Hamilton explored how Grade 10 students drew on spatial frameworks to analyze young adult literature and creatively reimagine their movements and engagements across home, school, and public spaces. Her findings open up possibilities for critical and civic-oriented literature education research and pedagogy."

Doctor of Philosophy (Law)

Dr. Gideon Odionu: "Dr. Odionu's research focused on innovative international investment law reform approaches emerging from Africa. Drawing on those approaches, he developed a Global South-oriented reform framework that integrates foreign investment, sustainable development, and climate action. His findings present implications for the fight against climate change."

Doctor of Philosophy (Library, Archival and Information Studies)

Dr. Nathaniel Joseph Payne: "Dr. Payne created a novel auto-classification process that leverages a record's context, not just its content, to improve classification accuracy. His research in artificial intelligence, context, and computational archival science, will help organizations around the world more effectively classify, organize and activate data and information."
Dr. Tristan Triponez: "Dr. Triponez investigated the archival preservation of independent music production by interviewing music creators. He found that social and technological disruption, evolving creative practices, and the abundance of archival material pose preservation problems that result in an ongoing loss of documentary cultural heritage."
Dr. Michelle Kaczmarek: "Why volunteer to help others fix items that are easy to replace? Dr. Kaczmarek explored the motivations and aspirations of volunteers at community repair events, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on their activities. Her research reveals the social and material value of repair through the stories of those involved."

Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)

Dr. Ifeoluwanimi Adebara: "Dr. Adebara's research on Afrocentric Natural Language Processing enables artificial intelligence technologies for 517 African languages and language varieties. This ensures that millions of African people have access to technologies in their Indigenous languages."
Dr. Arian Shamei: "Dr. Shamei demonstrated that humans employ posture within the vocal tract when speaking, and that the control of posture is similar across gross and fine motor skills. These findings help to unify our understanding of human motor control across different domains."

Doctor of Philosophy (Materials Engineering)

Dr. Siying Wu: "Dr. Wu explored composite nanofibers for creating smart and flexible yarns that can generate electrical signals in response to mechanical and optical stimuli. The yarns can be assembled into electronic textiles for sensing body movement or identifying intense light exposure."
Dr. Nasser Arbabi: "Dr. Arbabi developed a new approach to model the small-scale behavior of composite materials during manufacturing processes. This model empowers composite manufacturing companies to have better control over the processes, thereby facilitating the production of defect-free, lightweight structures."
Dr. Nima Bakhshi: "Dr. Bakhshi advanced understanding of tack in carbon fiber composites during automated deposition processes by creating a simulator system, developing new characterization methods, and integrating novel sensors with high-resolution X-ray CT and numerical simulation. This enhances insights into material behavior, process, and manufacturing outcomes."
Dr. Pegah Pourabdollah: "Dr. Pourabdollah developed a series of sophisticated numerical models for predicting the thermomechanical response of components produced using metal additive manufacturing, allowing for directly fabricating components from a digital file. The work contributes to improvements in the geometric tolerances that can be achieved with the process."
Dr. Siti Hasan: "Dr. Hasan studied the electrodeposition, corrosion, and catalytic behavior of molybdenum coatings. Despite the challenges associated with molybdenum and water, the work has produced nanostructured molybdenum coatings which demonstrates good corrosion resistance and catalytic performance."
Dr. Yunlong Zhao: "Dr. Zhao investigated monolithic integration of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) on Si and Ge substrates. Successful VCSEL epitaxy on engineered Ge substrates has been illustrated with strong performance. Industry companies can use this study much more readily to adopt this technology."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics)

Dr. Manuel Ruivo de Oliveira: "Dr. Oliveira studied a new class of surfaces of interest to researchers in different areas of mathematics and provided many previously unknown examples. His research contributes to an understanding of the deeper relationships between seemingly separate subjects."
Dr. Parham Hamidi: "Dr. Hamidi studied elliptic curves over quadratic imaginary fields. Using a new and robust technique, Dr. Hamidi proved significant results about the vanishing and bounding of certain invariants. His results could have applications in number theory, cryptography, and other areas of mathematics."
Dr. Max Gheorghiu: "Dr. Gheorghiu has made a contribution to algebra. One of the simplest algebraic structures are groups. Cohomology is an algebraic tool that can discern geometric objects by looking at their "holes". Then group cohomology is a tool that can discern different groups. Dr. Gheorghiu has developed a generalization of a specific form of group cohomology."
Dr. Prajeet Bajpai: "Dr. Bajpai made theoretical and algorithmic contributions to the study of integer solutions to polynomial equations. He developed methods to resolve several new families of such equations, and applied these methods to prove novel results on approximations to complex numbers."

Doctor of Philosophy (Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology)

Dr. Ryan Ji: "Dr. Ji's research proposed a flexible and practical methodology to improve the validation practice for complex assessments. He demonstrated how validation can be undertaken as an exercise of identifying and explaining the desired and undesired effects."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

Dr. Alireza Babaee: "Dr. Babaee studied the effects of cryogenic fluid spills on ship structure integrity, focusing on rapid cooling impacts on plates. Using theoretical models, the research showed even small spills cause significant stress, aiding in designing more resilient maritime vessels."
Dr. Ronak Rajesh Gupta: "Dr. Gupta investigated the rheology and flow dynamics of wormlike micellar gels. His experiments revealed previously unknown complex features in the flow of such fluids and will aid the synthesis, design and manipulation of similar soft matter."
Dr. Mohammad Zandsalimy: "Dr. Zandsalimy developed novel methods to improve the numerical stability and convergence rate of computational simulations. These cutting-edge tools are highly efficient and readily applicable to current industrial simulation software. His automated methods substantially reduce the computational resources required for diverse applications."
Dr. Behnam Karimi: "Dr. Karimi developed a physics-based digital model of machining thin wall blades enabling the development of optimization algorithms that autonomously adjust cutting parameters. This approach ensures both stability and precision in the machining process. These advancements significantly enhance the efficiency of blade machining."
Dr. Mahdi Izadi: "Dr. Izadi delved into the issue of leakage within the oil and gas industry, which is becoming an increasingly pressing environmental concern. He led the way in developing risk-based strategies to tackle this issue and pointed towards more sophisticated solutions to effectively mitigate its environmental impact."
Dr. Nafise Faridi Rad: "Dr. Rad's research centered on enhancing devices that provide a tactile sense of simulated environments. Her work elevated the quality of interactions and perception in dynamic environments. Her findings hold promise for critical fields like medical training and telesurgery, where interaction precision is vital for patient safety."
Dr. Chung-Yu Tai: "Dr. Tai developed a hybrid physics and data-driven method for spindle health monitoring. He combined digital spindle twins with a machine-learning method to make machine tools more intelligent in health diagnosis. These comparative studies assist machine tool manufacturers or spindle repair companies in increasing their maintenance efficiency."
Dr. Ruizi Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied the displacement flows in narrow eccentric annuli. Her research spans a wide range of methods including 2D model development, 3D simulations and lab-scale experiments. A systematic classification metric has been built and the main emphasis lies in understanding the dispersion behavior of such flows."
Dr. Ali Pourzahedi: "Dr. Pourzahedi's research delved into the dynamics of gas propagation inside complex fluids, offering strategies to manipulate gas presence inside such media. Relevant to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds, understanding gas behavior in these fluids holds significant importance for sustainability and environmental preservation."
Dr. Pranav Shrestha: "Dr. Shrestha studied the insertion of needles into soft solids, the injection of fluid through microneedles and the detection of diseases like sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. The findings can help optimize drug or vaccine delivery through microneedles, and can provide a low-cost automated tool to detect diseases in low-resource settings."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)

Dr. Vahid Akbari: "Dr. Akbari explored DNA methylation in normal and cancerous human samples. He created tools to detect genetic regions with parent-specific methylation and uncovered several novel regions. He also developed a technique that discerns if a child's genetic variations come from the father or mother, without needing any information from parents."
Dr. Amy Inkster: "Dr. Inkster investigated DNA methylation in the human placenta to inform our understanding of pregnancy complications that differ by sex. Her work found that sex differences exist across the placental epigenome, and illuminated a unique relationship between DNA methylation and X-chromosome inactivation distinguishing placenta from other tissues."
Dr. Arun Kumar: "Dr. Kumar studied the mechanisms underlying protein quality control in cells exposed to DNA damage. His work focused on post-translational modifications and their role in regulating the dynamics of protein sequestration."
Dr. Vanessa Porter: "Dr. Porter studied the genome sequences of cervical cancers to unravel the molecular alterations associated with human papillomavirus. Employing cutting-edge technologies and bioinformatics methods, she explored the varied ways in which different forms and types of HPV dysregulate the genome to contribute to the progression of cervical cancer."
Dr. Hilary Tyne Brewis: "Dr. Brewis used budding yeast as a model to explore how the histone variant H2A.Z, a DNA packaging protein, affects gene expression during cellular stress. Her work advances both our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in genome regulation along with our understanding of what makes a histone variant a variant."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Physics)

Dr. Justin Poon: "Dr. Poon's research focused on heart motion management in radiation therapy for irregular heartbeats. He quantified regional heart motion and investigated a technique to synchronize radiation delivery with the cardiac cycle, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes by reducing the treated volume and minimizing radiation to healthy tissue."
Dr. Helena Koniar: "Dr. Koniar developed and validated novel methods for assessing the in vivo biodistribution and dosimetry of actinium radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy. Her research contributions will assist in the optimization of theranostic agents to deliver personalized cancer care in patients with widespread metastatic disease."
Dr. Maryam Rostamzadeh: "Dr. Rostamzadeh's Markerless Dynamic Tumor Tracking method revolutionizes cancer treatment, utilizing the lung-liver interface for precise radiation targeting, reducing side effects, and providing hope to liver and lung cancer patients."

Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology and Immunology)

Dr. Blair Hardman: "Dr. Hardman studied immunity to intestinal viruses. By contrasting related viral strains, subtle factors could be characterized which balance immunity between controlling infection and limiting inflammation. This work contributes to future vaccine efforts, and treatments for inflammatory disorders."
Dr. Siyu Song: "Dr. Song explored how plants communicate with the microbial community surrounding their roots, known as the rhizosphere microbiome. She identified novel genetic mechanisms plants employ to interact with beneficial microbes. Her findings will help enhance crop resilience and productivity, offering important advancements in agricultural practices."
Dr. Jessica Krekhno: "Dr. Krekhno investigated the breakdown of steroids by mycobacterial pathogens and identified several genes that result in toxicity upon disruption. These insights into steroid utilization provide valuable information on how these bacteria cause infection and may contribute to the development of new, more effective therapies."
Dr. Nick Gauthier: "Dr. Gauthier's thesis work outlined the development, optimized, and diagnostic test performance of pathogen-agnostic sequencing for diagnosis of respiratory viral infections. His thesis work helped to overcome key translational barriers to aid in the translation of genomic sequencing technologies for applications in diagnostic virology."
Dr. Jessica Rose Allanach: "Dr. Allanach focused on determining how viral infection influences autoimmune disease in a newly developed humanized mouse model of multiple sclerosis.She observed that Epstein-Barr virus worsened disease by altering the balance of beneficial and detrimental immune subsets in the brain. These findings have implications for how infections should be targeted in diseases like MS."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering)

Dr. Sajjan Pokhrel: "Dr. Pokhrel studied the role of geothermal energy for global decarbonization potential. He developed numerical models to understand the physical behavior of complex subsurface reservoirs for extracting geothermal energy."
Dr. Sally Innis: "Dr. Innis investigated the role of mining stakeholders in mitigating tailings storage facility failures through interdisciplinary research approaches. She developed a high-level empirical tailings flow model to improve transparency, risk communication and the state of mine tailings management at a global scale."
Dr. Mahir Cetin: "Dr. Cetin studied the ore sorting potential of a block cave mine. He developed an evaluation method applicable to other cave mining operations, exploring sensor-based pre-concentration. His findings contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the mining industry and facilitating its digital transformation."
Dr. Bolormaa Purevjav: "Dr. Purevjav examined current water use practices in two mining regions in Mongolia. Her findings identified processes that help to improve access to water and water quality for local communities. The findings contribute to the discussion of water sustainability in mining regions."
Dr. Durjoy Baidya: "Dr. Baidya's research explored the potential of flue gas injection in mine wastes for large-scale carbon capture. His innovative approach optimized energy usage and proposed a cost-effective solution, advancing sustainable practices in the mining industry."

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)

Dr. Nima Alaeiilkhchi: "Dr. Alaeiilkhchi explored the effects of ketogenic diets, ketone esters and metformin on mouse models of multiple sclerosis. He discovered that these metabolic treatments could enhance cell repair processes, offering promising avenues for new MS treatments."
Dr. Philipp Kreyenmeier: "Dr. Kreyenmeier studied human eye movements to understand how the brain transforms sensory signals into motor actions. He showed that eye movements can be used as a model system to reveal how humans perceive and interact with their complex and dynamic environment."
Dr. Kelly Hrelja: "Dr. Hrelja examined how decision-making was bidirectionally influenced by self-administered drugs of abuse in rodent models. This preclinical research illuminates considerations and refinements that can be made to the treatment of addiction."
Dr. Andy Tai: "Dr. Tai combined addiction psychiatry and machine learning to address the opioid crisis. His models predict overdose risk, enhancing early intervention and treatment. Dr. Tai's research aims to improve understanding of addiction and prevent overdose deaths, demonstrating his commitment to public health."
Dr. Sophie Tremblay: "Around 50% of premature infants still suffer from neurological problems, despite dramatic improvements in survival and a significant reduction in severe brain injury. Dr. Tremblay's research has shown that reducing innate immune responses after cerebellar injury prevents cerebellar atrophy and white matter injury in a translational mouse model."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceanography)

Dr. Samuel William Stevens: "Deep in our coastal seas, ocean water moves, mixes, and transports heat and matter. The eventual fate of these properties supports, or sometimes impairs, the health of coastal ecosystems. Dr. Stevens investigated deep water pathways in Canada's seas, with implications for wastewater management and climate change mitigation strategies."
Dr. Jacob Lerner: "Dr. Lerner investigated Chinook salmon marine ecology. He used lipid analysis to determine Chinook fat content, and chemical tracers to examine sub-adult Chinook marine distribution, foraging, and food webs. This research improves our understanding of the marine life stage of this valuable species and can enhance conservation and management objectives."
Dr. Patrick Rosales Pata: "Dr. Pata is an oceanographer and studied the physical and ecological mechanisms that affect the distribution of zooplankton communities in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. He developed a global database of zooplankton species traits and used that in improving the estimates of the role of zooplankton in ecosystem functioning."
Dr. Yulia Egorova: "Exploring global midwater zooplankton, Dr. Egorova identified key biodiversity hotspots and unique biomass patterns. Dr. Egorova's findings enhance marine models and deepen understanding of ocean ecosystems. These insights benefit environmental scientists and policymakers, enhancing global conservation."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceans & Fisheries)

Dr. Katie Florko: "Dr. Florko explored how habitat changes affect predator-prey dynamics in the Arctic. Her research, which modelled prey shifts and tracked seal and polar bear movements in Hudson Bay, provides insights into their interactions. This work advances our understanding of predator-prey ecology, crucial for identifying critical habitat."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

Dr. Marie-Soleil Smith: "Dr. Smith found that specific HIV medications cause damage to human embryonic stem cells cultured in a dish. These findings strongly suggest that certain HIV medications are safer than others for a developing baby during pregnancy and may help inform and guide future human trials for the safest treatment of HIV in women of reproductive age."
Dr. Vicky Li: "Dr. Li studied the functional roles of a cell adhesion receptor, integrin alpha6, in breast cancer cells. She found that splice variants of this integrin differentially modulate tumour cell adhesion, invasion and metastasis. Her work enhances our understanding of the roles of particular integrins in tumour progression."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Dr. Alyssa Michelle Howren: "Dr. Howren examined the relationship between mental disorders and arthritis and whether people with arthritis receive adequate care for depression or anxiety. Her research demonstrates arthritis has an underlying relationship with depression and anxiety, that mental disorders are substantially undertreated, and that mental health care needs are largely unmet."
Dr. Marta Bergamo: "Dr. Bergamo investigated the use of albumin aggregates as a formulation for the delivery of a fibrinolytic enhancer to the lungs. With this research the potential of using a diagnostic tool such as albumin microparticles for a therapeutic purpose was explored."
Dr. Jiamin Wu: "Dr. Wu's research revolutionizes protein drug delivery, addressing medicine adherence and effectiveness. He developed a needle-free platform using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), enhancing insulin delivery and blood glucose control. His Nano formulations promise breakthroughs in treating chronic conditions by delivery of monoclonal antibody."

Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophy)

Dr. Emily Tilton: "Dr. Tilton examines feminist critiques of "traditional" epistemology, which is individualistic and assumes that epistemic standards are neutral. She links feminist critiques of traditional epistemology to a creeping anxiety that is undermining feminist epistemology's political possibilities, urging a return to more traditional notions of objectivity."

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)

Dr. Erik Bernard Frieling: "Dr. Frieling used laser cooled atoms to create ultra-cold molecules and study chemical reactions at 1 millionth of a degree above absolute zero and to characterize the performance of a new quantum atomic sensor for vacuum metrology relevant for applications in aerospace and semi-conducting fabrication industries."
Dr. Caleb Sample: "Dr. Sample developed methods to improve salivary gland dose constraints during radiotherapy. This included the development of medical image deblurring techniques, tools for locating salivary glands on CT images, dose response analyses, and tools for treatment planning with modernized dose constraints."
Dr. Shawn Hsueh: "Dr. Hsueh developed ways of understanding protein behavior through physics simulations. In his thesis, he developed novel simulation methods, explored the physical origin of ALS disease, and computationally designed therapeutics for both neurodegenerative disease and COVID19."
Dr. Gray Reid: "Dr. Reid investigated topics in numerical relativity including the critical collapse of the Maxwell field and further developments of the Z4 formulation."
Dr. Oguzhan Can: "Dr. Can's research showed that stacking two thin sheets of superconducting materials with a twist leads to a novel quantum phase of matter, called a topological superconductor. This discovery also led to an original design of a superconducting qubit, a device that can be used for quantum information processing."
Dr. Eleni Marina Lykiardopoulou: "Dr. Lykiardopoulou contributed to the field of nuclear physics by measuring the mass of short-lived sodium isotopes. The results challenge current theories of nuclear structure and establish benchmarks for new theoretical approaches. She contributed in the development and commissioning of a novel ion trap that aims at higher precision mass measurements of short-lived species."
Dr. Wyatt Reeves: "Dr. Reeves showed how chaotic phenomena, such as the butterfly effect, can appear in certain quantum systems that can model black holes. By discovering the relationship between chaos and symmetries in these systems, Dr. Reeves furthered the understanding of these systems and their connection to black holes."
Dr. Emilie Elizabeth Carpentier: "Dr. Carpentier developed a novel treatment planning technique for liver cancer patients receiving radiation therapy with real time tumour tracking. She created planning strategies and dose calculations that use the patient's anatomical information over their breathing cycle to ensure the organs near the tumour do not receive too much radiation."
Dr. Alexandra Tully: "Dr. Tully's work lays the foundation for measuring the electronic structure and fate of excitations in carbon-based solar cell materials. Her measurements of excited states in C60 films demonstrate the first high-quality data on such systems with lab-scale equipment, enabled by advances in film quality developed by Dr. Tully."

Doctor of Philosophy (Planning)

Dr. Sunya Zaman: "Dr. Zaman investigated how state & nonstate actors intervene in disaster resilience planning, exposing disparities between international standards & local contexts using Pakistan as case study. Criticizing top-down governance, her research advocates prioritizing basic human needs alongside resilience for community wellbeing amidst climate crises."
Dr. Louisa-May Khoo: "Dr. Khoo's research explores how cities can better plan for longevity through a humanistic perspective. As an ethnography, it showcases how people cope with urban change as they age. It tells of sacrifices and reveals tensions between the political and the personal, a nation's strife for excellence and the acts of endurance in seniors' everyday lives."

Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)

Dr. Joshua Weiner: "Dr. Weiner examined how rebel groups adapt to shifts in the strategic environment during long conflicts. Focusing on the Syrian civil war, he found that leader turnover reduced group battlefield performance but not overall violence, while revenue shocks led groups to tax people in their territory more rather than increase looting."
Dr. Yingqiu Kuang: "Dr. Kuang studied the political economy of global 5G governance. Her dissertation, "A Mosaic of Mundane Innovations," shows how a new open and decentralized form of global governance took shape in the 5G technology regime. Her work foregrounds new possibilities for latecomer economies to participate in the making of the international economic order."
Dr. Veronica Hurtado Lozada: "Dr. Hurtado Lozada's four mixed-method studies on party formation failure in Peru demonstrate that social organizations can replace traditional parties, involving disloyal voters and populist politicians. The absence of parties, then, contributes to a gradual but steady weakening of democracy."
Dr. Isabel Chew: "Dr. Chew examined how ethnic identity affects different types of political attitudes and behaviour in Myanmar and Singapore. She found that its effects are conditioned by institutions and the interests that they generate. Her findings have implications for policymaking in ethnically diverse societies."
Dr. Antonin Lacelle-Webster: "Dr. Lacelle-Webster studied the work and experience of hope in democratic politics. Drawing on Hannah Arendt and contemporary democratic theory, he proposes a theoretical account of democratic hope that depends on and deepens political practices and spaces, empowering political agents to define possibility as an open, shared, and worldly phenomenon."

Doctor of Philosophy (Population and Public Health)

Dr. Sean Christopher Hardiman: "Should patients with coronary artery disease consider stenting if they must wait for bypass surgery? Dr. Hardiman compared treatment results of delayed surgery and readily available stenting, finding that patients who underwent surgery fared better. His study will inform future treatment decisions and policy in cardiac care."
Dr. Chenoa Marie Cassidy-Matthews: "Dr. Cassidy-Matthews explored how Indigenous People who use drugs in BC experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and examined influences on vaccine uptake and acceptability. She found that a few relational principles underpinned most health decisions and experiences. These included emotional and spiritual connection, environmental stability, and equity."
Dr. Ellen C Randall: "Dr. Randall explored long-term patient satisfaction with total knee replacement. She found that 12% of participants were dissatisfied, particularly those with ongoing symptoms and unmet expectations. The main concern for patients was how well their new knee supported their daily lives. These findings have both clinical and research implications."
Dr. Richard Musoke: "Dr. Musoke evaluated the impact of two interventions to improve access to medicines in Uganda. He found that the benefits of such interventions were maintained over a long duration when implemented nationally. This knowledge will aid in the design of future interventions to improve access to medicines in Uganda and other countries."
Dr. Randip Singh Gill: "Dr. Gill examined how different types of childhood poverty experience affect children's development, health, and school success from kindergarten to high school graduation in British Columbia, and how these relationships differ by the child's immigration background. This work can inform intervention and policy to reduce harms related to poverty."
Dr. Aidan McKerrell Nikiforuk: "Dr. Nikiforuk studied how the coronavirus which causes COVID-19 infects cells in the upper human respiratory tract to find that people's risk of infection varies. This finding will be useful in controlling coronavirus transmission and designing new treatment strategies."
Dr. Weiran Yuchi: "Dr. Yuchi studied air pollution, green space and dementia risk in Canada. Her work underscores the importance of further improvements to the built environment and air quality to reduce the burden of dementia in settings where air pollution levels are relatively low. Urban planning to incorporate greenery and parks may help to reduce dementia risk"

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology)

Dr. Jennifer Yip: "Dr. Yip's thesis examined how our human tendency to mind-wander impacts our negative moods, and how this tendency helps to explain the clinical challenges of depression and ruminative thinking. Her insights show how regulating our emotions may impact our awareness, intention, and control over our thoughts."
Dr. Gordon Heltzel: "Dr. Heltzel finds that people typically like political allies who engage constructively with opponents. And yet, US Senators' social media posts get more likes and shares when they dismiss opponents because active extremists prefer such content. For this and other reasons, people incorrectly expect backlash for engaging with opponents."
Dr. Lucy De Souza: "Dr. De Souza developed a theoretical framework locating allyship as a social phenomenon. In several empirical studies, Dr. De Souza compared reactive and proactive efforts to improve women's workplace experiences, illustrating the importance of a multiple-dimensional view of allyship that prioritizes the desires of disadvantaged group members."

Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences)

Dr. Melika Kangarani-Farahani: "Dr. Kangarani-Farahani investigated the effectiveness of rehabilitation in autistic children with developmental coordination disorder, revealing lasting improvements in motor performance and changes in brain regions related to motor and cognitive functions. This study underscores the effectiveness of rehabilitation in this clinical population."
Dr. Thalia Otamendi: "Mental health conditions are common but under-treated after concussions. Dr. Otamendi's research suggests that discussing with patients the role that mental health can have in complicating recovery could enhance their acceptability of mental health treatment, thereby contributing to optimal concussion recovery."
Dr. Graham MacDonald: "Dr. Macdonald examined how patients with chronic illness participate in civic organizations that help bring the patient perspective to health research. His work contributes to our knowledge on how to create institutions of research that are responsive and able to integrate input from patients and the public."

Doctor of Philosophy (Reproductive and Developmental Sciences)

Dr. Arezoo Alemzadeh Mehrizi: "Dr. Alemzadeh Mehrizi investigated roles of 5 proteins in the deadliest subtype of uterine cancer. She discovered that the elevated levels of these proteins are reducing patients' survival, and increasing the invasiveness of the cancer cells. Her findings provide novel insights into new ways of treating this deadly subtype of uterine cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Resources, Environment and Sustainability)

Dr. Stephen Chignell: "Dr. Chignell combined human and physical geography to analyze the relationships among biodiversity conservation, water, and the politics of environmental science in Ethiopia. His work demonstrates how disparate methods across the sciences and humanities can be brought together to produce new ways of understanding and responding to complex eco-social questions."
Dr. Jumi Gogoi: "Dr. Gogoi examined how satellite-based crop yield estimation in the Canadian Prairie region can be improved by using new multi-source, multi-variable datasets, and machine and deep learning methods. Her studies have improved our ability to estimate crop yields at fine spatial scales and to forecast them a few months ahead of time."
Dr. Ginni Braich: "Dr. Braich studied the impact of climate change on agriculture in the Prairies, both past and into the future. She found warming trends have already negatively impacted yields, and by 2050 yields could be reduced by more than 20%. Her findings emphasize the need for adaptation planning to address climate impacts in this key agricultural region."
Dr. Sarah-Louise Ruder: "Dr. Ruder examined the conditions under which novel agricultural technologies can support transitions to more just and sustainable food systems in Canada. Her research offered new ways to evaluate impacts of technologies, made policy recommendations, and informed a toolkit of public scholarship resources for governing data and technology."
Dr. Erika Ruth Gavenus: "Guided by members of the Nuxalk Nation, Dr. Gavenus studied the ways fisheries governance can affect food justice. She found that the governance of First Nations fisheries imposed by the Canadian State contributes to multiple food injustices. These findings emphasize the importance of reassertions of Indigenous fisheries governance to food justice."

Doctor of Philosophy (School and Applied Child Psychology)

Dr. Darcie-Anne Gabrielle Bailey: "Dr. Bailey examined PATH implementation for individuals with disabilities in a BC secondary school. Findings included, PATH features, accountability, barriers, and positive impacts, with recommendations for improvement and theory-practice integration in future studies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work)

Dr. Daniel Ji: "Parent-adolescent disputes tend to be seen through a lens of child noncompliance and parental control. Dr. Ji's studies challenge this view by examining resistance in parent-adolescent interactions at the dyadic level of analysis. He then tested a training he developed showing that social work students can be trained to see conflict complexly."

Doctor of Philosophy (Soil Science)

Dr. Sylvia Nyamaizi: "Dr. Nyamaizi examined strategies for reducing excessive soil phosphorus levels in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Her findings provided appropriate phosphorus fertilizer rates and a tool for assessing the potential risk of phosphorus loss. Her research addresses phosphorus management challenges and its potential loss to nearby water sources."

Doctor of Philosophy (Special Education)

Dr. Sarah Yvonne Skinner: "Dr. Skinner examined inter-professional collaborative practices of education professionals when the focus of collaboration was to include students with extensive support needs in a general education science unit. Her research illustrates how multi-disciplinary collaboration can promote equitable access to education for students with disabilities."

Doctor of Philosophy (Statistics)

Dr. Yichen Zhang: "Dr. Zhang developed statistical methods to uncover hidden patterns in biological data. His research helped to unravel the underlying mechanism of complex diseases. In a study of pancreatic cancer, his method revealed seven gene programs related to cancer progression, which can aid researchers to develop more effective treatment strategies."
Dr. Daniel Daly-Grafstein: "Dr. Daly-Grafstein developed new statistical methods for studying cause-and-effect relationships. These methods require fewer assumptions about the nature of the data, making estimates more robust. They are applicable when conducting observational studies or when research data is partially missing."
Dr. Lin Zhang: "Dr. Zhang developed a flexible statistical model with which the relations among multiple time series variables can be considered after modeling each individual time series. It is applied to macroeconomic variables with changing business cycles."

Doctor of Philosophy (Theatre)

Dr. Claire Arianne Fogal: "How do actors protect their wellbeing, nurture their creativity, and cultivate an ensemble so supportive it embraces its audience? Dr. Fogal studied the theatre training of her four primary mentors including her father Dean Fogal. Preserving their oral traditions through text and film, she illuminates the deeply relational nature of their techniques."

Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology)

Dr. Tessa Samantha Blanchard: "Dr. Blanchard investigated how early life-stages of fishes cope with temperature variation during development, spanning from the molecular to physiological levels. The findings from her thesis offer fundamental insights that help in our understanding of how developing embryos will cope with climate change."
Dr. Ardalan Hendi: "Dr. Hendi revealed a novel function of a gap junction protein that negatively regulates the formation of synapses in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms required for the precise formation and development of the nervous system."
Dr. Kenneth K. Askelson: "Dr. Askelson studied how one species evolves into multiple species over time. He discovered that white-breasted nuthatches, which have been treated as a single species, in fact consist of three distinct species. Dr. Askelson showed that hybridization and gene flow has shaped dramatic patterns of differentiation across these birds' genomes."
Dr. Mackenzie Kinney: "Dr. Kinney investigated how rapid environmental changes influence evolution in hybrid populations. Using threespine stickleback fish, she showcased the pivotal role of ecological selection in shaping hybrid populations, improving our understanding of the fragility of reproductive isolation. This work advances our insights into hybrid evolution."
Dr. Shuang Liu: "Dr. Liu investigated the evolutionary mechanisms underlying freshwater adaptation in ancestrally marine fish. She found that both local habitats and time since marine isolation play a role in the responses to varied salinities in prickly sculpin. Her study provides a possible explanation for how marine fish diversified and colonized fresh water."

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Organizational Behaviour)

Dr. Pascale Haworth Fricke: "Dr. Fricke's research examines factors that shape employees' experiences of their occupations, including the ideologies occupational communities support and outsiders' evaluations of employees' occupations. Through field research with first responder populations, her findings provide novel insights into occupational stressors and employee health."

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