Convocation November 2011

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership and Policy)

• Dr. Shelly Lee Johnson: "Dr. Johnson explored the educational supports and barriers experienced by urban Indigenous children in BC's provincial child protection system. She developed an Indigenous educational model to wrap around their Western and Indigenous educational needs. This research illuminates transformative Indigenous education and Indigenous self determination."
• Dr. John Wright Vellacott: "Dr. Vellacott explored how the language used to describe disability is utlized in national disability policy documents. He found that such language was used tactically to enhance the legitimacy of the policies presented, and to support certain ideological approaches. This is important for stakeholders wishing to analyze or challenge written policy."

Doctor of Philosophy (Animal Science)

• Dr. Abul Kalam Azad Kalam Azad: "Dr. Azad examined the effects of various biotic and abiotic factors on gonad production of adults, and developmental progression of embryos and larvae, of the purple sea urchin. The study identified optimal diets, rations, temperatures, and stocking densities for maximizing adult gonad production and larval growth and survival."
• Dr. Fariba Izadi Shavakand: "Dr. Izadi compared variability of immune response genes and microsatellite markers of industrial and non-industrial chickens. This research provide information that can be used in decision making on conservation and in developing breeding stocks for free run and free range production."
• Dr. Miriam Bronwen Gordon: "Dr. Gordon conducted a benchmark field study on the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows on dairy farms in the Fraser Valley area of British Columbia. She also examined ways to improve reproductive technologies to increase pregnancy rates in dairy cows."

Doctor of Philosophy (Asian Studies)

• Dr. Franklin David Rausch: "Dr. Rausch studied the writings of two Korean Catholics from the Choson dynasty to see how violence is sometimes justified by appeals to religious and secular worldviews. He argued that the key to understanding why people turn to violence is the study of the narratives they deploy to justify it."

Doctor of Philosophy (Astronomy)

• Dr. Martha Anne Milkeraitis: "Dr. Milkeraitis developed a new astronomical technique to detect clusters of galaxies. She discovered over fifteen thousand clusters of galaxies from nearby to over 8 Billion lightyears away which were emitting light when our Universe was quite young, and measured properties such as mass. This work contributes to dark energy and dark matter research."

Doctor of Philosophy (Audiology and Speech Sciences)

• Dr. Hadeel Salama Ayyad: "Dr. Hadeel Ayyad analysed the development of the speech skills of typically developing Kuwaiti Arabic-speaking preschool children, documenting types of word structures and speech sounds acquired by age 4. Her research project set some of the groundwork for the development of a phonological assessment tool for Kuwaiti Arabic."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

• Dr. Christopher Joseph Jang: "Dr. Jang's research in the field of biochemistry investigated the unusual mechanisms that viruses use to take over and hijack cells, and how they lead to infections. These studies assist us in understanding how viruses are able to infect their hosts and may reveal new drug therapies to combat viruses."
• Dr. Katherine Yam: "Tuberculosis is a infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Dr. Yam studied a bacterial pathway for cholesterol breakdown important for infecting the host. She demonstrated the role of two enzymes in this cholesterol pathway and identified several compounds which may lead to the development of new drugs against TB."

Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Engineering)

• Dr. Clare Pik Yun Yip: "Dr. Yip investigated the contribution of pelvic muscles and ligament weakness to development of Stress Urinary Incontinence by modeling the behavior of the pelvic support system. The research improves our understanding of the pelvic causes of urinary incontinence and assists in promoting better clinical management for urinary incontinent patients."

Doctor of Philosophy (Botany)

• Dr. Sung Soo Kim: "Dr. Kim studied the poorly understood outer pollen wall of flowering plants and mosses. He examined genes and enzymes which generate the building blocks of the pollen wall, and discovered male-sterile mutants related to the pollen wall formation. This work has contributed to the understanding of the construction of pollen walls."
• Dr. Shao-Lun Liu: "Dr. Liu has studied the molecular evolution of duplicated genes in flowering plants. Duplicated genes are considered as the major raw materials for evolutionary innovations in organisms. These studies have assisted us in understanding how functional divergence of duplicated genes shapes the genome and phenotypic evolution of flowering plants."
• Dr. Shawkat Ali: "Dr. Ali has located a gene in a barley-infecting fungal pathogen that produces a small secreted protein and has furthermore proven that this gene causes the fungus to incite a resistance reaction. The outcome of this research will contribute to the isolation of resistance genes which can be used to generate disease-resistant barley plants."

Doctor of Philosophy (Business Administration)

• Dr. Michael James Barber Read: "Dr. Read conducted a comparison of athletic and organizational coaching which indicated that critical practices from athletic coaching were not fully utilized in organizations. The coaching approach and High-Performance Coaching Practices measure outlined in his research provide a framework to help employees Go for Gold in organizational contexts."
• Dr. Feng Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied the interactions between the rights of shareholders and managerial incentives in publicly-traded corporations. He showed that managerial ownership fails to motivate managers to work for shareholder interests when the rights of those shareholders are weak. These findings will contribute to the organizational development literature."
• Dr. Ruodan Shao: "Dr. Shao explored whether Canadian and Chinese customer service employees react differently to unfair treatment from customers. Survey data from hotel employees in the two countries revealed Canadian employees react more strongly to unfairness than Chinese employees in terms of customer-directed sabotage. The research suggests that cultural values mediated this difference."
• Dr. Jingjun XU: "Dr. Xu's research led to recommendations for the design of a web interface for shopping online, so that consumers can purchase items with greater accuracy and less effort. His novel research demonstrates the impact of user interface design on the online shopping experience of consumers, and points to design implications for website designers."
• Dr. Wei Zhang: "Dr. Zhang showed that higher levels of spending on research and development are associated with higher bankruptcy rates. She developed a comprehensive economic framework in which this relationship can be understood. Her analysis helps to shed light on why higher R&D is associated with more bankruptcies."
• Dr. Landon Adam Nicholas Dustin Kleis: "Dr. Kleis proposed three models to reveal the economic contribution of information technology investments to the innovation process. His findings suggest that IT has become increasingly effective at fostering knowledge creation, and, in combination with traditional research and development, IT contributes indirectly to manufacturing efficiency."
• Dr. Kafui Andre Monu: "Dr. Monu created a new information system analysis technique called the Organizational Actor Method. This technique represents how people perceive, think and act while working. The findings will help information systems designers to understand the rationale and decision-making processes of the potential users, resulting in better systems design."
• Dr. Zhongzhi Song: "Dr. Song studied firm-level stock return volatility and showed that either high or low growth firms have higher return volatility. He also studied the lending incentives of banks under the risk of liquidity shocks. His research helps to explain the lending behavior of banks during the recent financial crisis."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical and Biological Engineering)

• Dr. Pak Sui Lam: "Dr. Lam studied the use of steam pretreatment on Douglas Fir to produce durable wood pellets. Wood pellet is a form of renewable energy which can replace coal as fuel. Since completing his study, Dr. Lam has been working as a senior engineer for the Ontario Power Generation Corporation to help them switch to biomass as an option in their thermal power stations."
• Dr. Leo Hui: "Dr. Hui studied the mixing operation used in pulp and paper industry. He developed an approach to estimate the mixing volume in a cylindrical chest and examined a mathematical model for the analysis of chest performance. This research can aid the design of industrial chests for effective pulp mixing."
• Dr. Farnaz Sotoodeh: "Dr. Sotoodeh studied the rate of hydrogen storage and recovery from organic liquids. She developed a catalytic system for fast release of hydrogen from organic liquids. Her research will contribute to the use of hydrogen in vehicular systems and in developing the hydrogen economy."
• Dr. Mohammed Omer Alaqqad: "Dr. Alaqqad developed a method of studying the way fluid flows through wood-chip reactors which produce pulp for paper. In particular, he looked at the chemical digester used in the Kraft production process. This research will assist in designing future digesters in order to reduce operational cost and produce high quality and yield of paper."
• Dr. Babak Derakhshandeh: "Dr. Derakhshandeh studied the flow behaviour of wood fibres in water to optimize the current available in processing machines for the pulp and paper industry. In particular, the outcomes from his study have been used to increase the efficiency of the industrial mixers used to blend chemicals with wood fibre suspensions."
• Dr. Jasna Jankovic: "Dr. Jankovic investigated new ceramic materials for proton conducting fuel cells operating at an intermediate temperature of 200-500 C. Her study of the relationship between material composition, properties and performance, and development of a material with enhanced properties, are a significant contribution to this important clean energy area."
• Dr. Mauricio Blanco: "Dr. Blanco developed approaches to improve the performance and durability of hydrogen fuel cells. This clean energy system has the potential to produce energy without negatively affecting the environment. These systems need further improvement to be commercialized, but the findings can help the fuel cell industry to achieve improved performance."

Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry)

• Dr. Jon Oliver Freeman: "Dr. Freeman designed synthetic proteins, which mimicked those in the human body, to explore how particular proteins fold strings of amino acids into distinct structures. This research contributes to our understanding of protein folding and diseases associated with misfolded proteins, and will hopefully advance the field of synthetic protein design."
• Dr. Steven Scott Hepperle: "Dr. Hepperle used computers to study the formation of decamethyldizincocene, the first known molecule to have a bond between any of the 3d transition metals. He further contributed to a study of how a particular zirconium catalyst can cheaply and cleanly produce an enantiopure form of cyclic amines, the building blocks for many pharmaceuticals."
• Dr. Andrew Robert Tait: "Dr. Tait studied how a herpesvirus protein may act as trigger of Multiple Sclerosis. He developed methods to isolate this viral protein in large quantities, then demonstrated how it can structurally and functionally mimic proteins found naturally in the brain, leading to disease. This research has the potential to contribute to future MS treatment."
• Dr. Piotr Wojciech Forysinski: "Dr. Forysinski built a new spectrometer for the detailed studies of atmospherically relevant molecules and aerosol particles. He investigated the vibrational dynamics of acetic acid and difluoromethane cations, and obtained promising results toward the development of a novel particle sizer for the smallest and most weakly bound of aerosol particles."
• Dr. Eszter Boros: "Eszter Boros investigated a variety of acyclic chelates for the rapid and efficient coordination of radiometals. One lead compound, H2dedpa, was identified and further investigated for nuclear medicine applications such as myocardiac perfusion and cancer imaging."
• Dr. Zheng Yang: "Dr. Yang investigated the surface chemistry of water and organic solvents at liquid/mineral interfaces using nonlinear spectroscopy. These studies are relevant to environmental and industrial processes, such as the mechanism of ice formation and the development of oilsands extraction."
• Dr. Christopher Addison: "Dr. Addison used lasers to measure the vibrations of biological molecules in order to learn more about their structure when they interact with other molecules. This research could help to engineer new enzymes for treating polluted ecosystems, or provide new insight into DNA structure."
• Dr. Bryan Kenneth Shaw: "Dr. Shaw has examined a new type of organometallic complex to investigate their ability as catalysts to introduce further manipulations to otherwise unreactive molecules. During this research a number of new reactions were uncovered providing valuable groundwork for future developments in this important area of chemistry."
• Dr. Danielle Sarah Covelli: "Through her research in the field of Chemistry, Dr. Covelli was the first to explore a new way oxygen is chemically bound to transition metals, such as rhodium. She found new compounds, which are potentially significant in industrial oxidation chemistry for fragrances and cosmetics, and to further advance fuel cell technologies."
• Dr. Timin Hadi: "Dr. Hadi's studies focused on the biochemical characterization of enzymes involved in the modification and metabolism of the bacterial cell wall. His research helped to highlight the importance and novel nature of these enzymes, and the results of his work will aid the future design of new antimicrobial compounds."

Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering)

• Dr. Mona Rahmani: "Dr. Rahmani studied the fluid dynamics of lakes and oceans to characterize mixing and turbulence in these environments. Her work showed how different layers of fluids in large bodies of water are mixed in a model representing the real world phenomena. Particularly, she studied the migration of fluid particles with different densities in lakes and oceans, and the eventual fate of fluid strips after going through many swirls."
• Dr. Madhav Prasad Nepal: "Dr. Nepal developed a novel approach that allows construction professionals to automatically identify the most relevant and useful design information from a digital model of a building. His work has the potential to improve efficiency and productivity in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry."
• Dr. Lalinda Weerasekara: "Dr. Weerasekara developed analytical methods to determine the condition of buried gas pipelines located in areas prone to landslides, with the goal of improving safety. He further extended these methods to assess the performance of synthetic fabrics used to reinforce earth slopes and walls, resulting in improved design techniques of such structures."
• Dr. Alexander LeBaron Forrest: "Dr. Forrest examined the three dimensional nature of physical transport processes in lakes with specific interest in horizontal temperature variability of the water column. His use of unmanned submarines as data collection platforms in this effort allowed unique observations to be made in ice-covered environments that would be otherwise near-impossible."
• Dr. Juan Carlos Carvajal Uribe: "Dr. Carvajal developed a model for calculating the seismic response of Integral Abutment bridges which do not have expansion joints. He considered factors not usually included in design, and revealed that current calculations may underestimate the effect of earthquakes. His model is easily implemented, and has great significance for bridge design."
• Dr. Saeed Sahami: "Dr. Sahami developed a methodology to quantitatively analyze driving behavior and learning patterns in a simulator. A model was developed based on the learning curve concept. This model showed how individuals learn to drive and how the validity of future experimental research in any driving simulator can be improved."
• Dr. Alireza Forghani: "Dr. Forghani developed a computational model to simulate the effect of damage on the behaviour of composite structures. Composites are becoming the material of choice in today's construction of advanced aircraft structures. Therefore, predicting their behaviour under detrimental loads is crucial in design of such structures."
• Dr. Chao-Ying Chiu: "Dr. Chiu investigated how data visualization can assist construction managers in interpreting the large amount of data associated with capital projects. He identified the features managers required in a data visualization tool and demonstrated the ability of this tool to enhance management's analytical reasoning capabilities for management functions."
• Dr. Christopher Paul Borstad: "Dr. Borstad measured the mechanical properties of snow, related to the release of avalanches. He developed a hand-held instrument for predicting these properties in the field, and performed computer simulations of crack development in snow. This research will allow better predictions of the timing and size of avalanches."
• Dr. Ali Naghibi: "Dr. Naghibi developed a methodology for estimating the impact of floods on the environment downstream of dams. Combining concepts of civil engineering and ecology, he modelled fish behaviour during high floods, estimated fish loss and assessed the environmental impact. This work will contribute to environmental risk assessment in dams."
• Dr. Tamer Gorgy: "Dr. Gorgy examined the transport of a group of compounds in biosolids-amended soil and clay lining materials for landfills. These compounds are added to many consumer products as flame retardants and are found in biosolids and landfill leachates. He found that they can potentially move in the soil and clay lining material. The research is helpful in establishing land application of biosolids and waste disposal regulations as well as landfill lining design requirements."

Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science)

• Dr. Thomas Hentrich: "Dr. Hentrich studied biological mechanisms in the cell that encode and process information beyond the DNA sequence. His work illuminates fundamental aspects of cellular functions and describes how certain processes could be used computationally for novel forms of diagnosis on a single-cell level."
• Dr. Chao Yan: "Integrated circuit technology has transformed nearly all aspects of our lives. Dr. Yan used theory from calculus and geometry to develop algorithms that verify that the analog parts of these chips work as intended. He demonstrated his verification methods work efficiently on several practical circuits from industry with promising results."
• Dr. Jeffery Paul Sember: "Dr. Sember studied problems involving points in the geometric plane, where each point's location has some amount of uncertainty, and developed a number of algorithms for generating figures from such points. These figures can provide a more accurate view of certain types of uncertain data."
• Dr. Rock Anthony Leung: "Dr. Leung researched ways to help older adults learn to use smartphones and other mobile devices. Specifically, he investigated three novel user-interface-design approaches, showing how each approach can benefit older adults. This work helps researchers and developers design learnable mobile devices for older adults, increasing chances of technology adoption."
• Dr. Jian Xu: "Dr. Xu's studies focused on integrating databases from different knowledge domains. He invented advanced techniques to organize databases and enable them to collaborate for queries with optimized complexity. His methods automatically resolve conflicts among query answers, thus reducing human effort and requiring minimal computer resources."
• Dr. Bradley Thomas Penoff: "Dr. Penoff studied the communication aspects of large-scale, parallel computer programs that execute across a cluster of computers constructed from off-the-shelf software and hardware. New communication features were added to existing open source projects, and the features were found to enhance the performance and reliability of previous approaches."

Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling Psychology)

• Dr. Anne Carolyn Erlebach: "Dr. Erlebach studied immigrants who are doing well with integration into Canadian society. Previous achievements, personality, home culture, positive regard by Canadians and connecting with other immigrants were factors in their success. She concluded that helping immigrants to explore these factors, not just focus on problems, will help them adapt."
• Dr. Asa Sophia Maglio: "Dr. Maglio investigated whether a mindfulness-based group therapy for university students helped those with self-reported anxiety. It was found that this group therapy needed improvement to meet its clinical goals. The findings, however, also identified which changes could be made to this group therapy to enhance its effectiveness."
• Dr. Carey Penner: "Dr. Penner examined the counselling process of young adult clients and professional counsellors. His research described how clients' self-efficacy beliefs, defined as perceptions of the clients' capabilities, were constructed within their communicative exchanges. His research generated valuable knowledge for practitioners and offers an innovative methodological example for future self-efficacy research."
• Dr. Kasim Mohammed Al-Mashat: "Dr. Al-Mashat examined the narratives of Iraqi refugees and exiles who experienced war in Iraq and migrated to Jordan. He investigated the cultural meaning they made of their experiences and how that helped them cope and adapt. He discovered three themes amongst all narratives: the role of religious beliefs and linguistic expressions, a desire to make a contribution, and a strong attachment to the Iraqi identity."

Doctor of Philosophy (Cross-Faculty Inquiry in Education)

• Dr. Sedigheh Sedi Minachi: "Dr. Minachi examined the narratives of Palestinian and Israeli peace educators who use dialogue among their students and community members to create a culture of peace. This study provided an understanding of how peace educators challenge conflict situations in ways that aim to transform the recognition of the other in their polarized societies."
• Dr. Leyton Mark Schnellert: "Dr. Schnellert studied the challenges of designing and facilitating teacher professional development that bridges theory and practice. Findings illustrated how situated, sustained, collaborative and inquiry-oriented professional development helps teachers develop practices and knowledge that enhance curriculum and learning for diverse students."

Doctor of Philosophy (Curriculum Studies)

• Dr. Jennifer Jestley: "Dr. Jestley studied images voice teachers use to help students sing, such as visualizing the air they use as a flowing river. She identified three different approaches teachers used and established systematic frameworks for them. These should help the vocal community consciously and explicitly describe metaphors they often use unconsciously and implicitly."
• Dr. Moses Renert: "Dr. Renert's research studied mathematics education as a living and evolving field. His work identifies critical sources of life that can infuse the teaching and learning of mathematics with vitality. His work envisions a living mathematics pedagogy that is integrally attuned to the social and environmental needs of our time."
• Dr. Ashwani Kumar: "Dr. Kumar proposes to view education as a means to cultivating a deeper sense of awareness among teachers and students. He argues that it is the meditative awareness of oneself and one's relationship to people and nature that should form the core of education rather than passive information transmission."
• Dr. Claire Elizabeth Robson: "Dr. Claire Robson is a community centre writer-in-residence working with queer seniors in Vancouver's Eastside. She investigated how people can learn more about themselves and their culture by writing memoirs, even if they are not professional writers, and how their stories create communities and voices for marginalized people."
• Dr. Jill Rachel Baird: "Dr. Baird undertook the development of educational programming at the Haida Gwaii Museum at Kaay Llnagaay in collaboration with First Nations and non-First Nations museum colleagues. A major finding is that respectful relationships are essential to foreground Indigenous knowledge in ways not normally incorporated into main-stream museum education programming."
• Dr. Lisa Mary McIntosh: "Dr. McIntosh explored museum educators' perspectives' of their practice of teaching other educators to teach in informal learning settings. Her study revealed insights into their beliefs regarding practice, generated new understandings about teaching in museums and tensions inherent in practice, and provided direction for professional development."

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)

• Dr. Takuro Miyamoto: "Dr. Miyamoto studied voluntary and market-based approaches to environmental regulation. He found that voluntary pollution abatement programs can sometimes yield better environmental outcomes than traditional regulation. His study also revealed some shortcomings of voluntary programs and will be useful in the design of better environmental policy."
• Dr. Sourabh Bikas Paul: "Dr. Paul examined how some recent changes in the Indian economy have affected the most vulnerable sections. The welfare effect of tariff reform is pro-poor in rural areas and pro-rich in urban areas. The historically disadvantaged castes groups have fared well in education and employment. Diet pattern has been changed leading to lower nutritional intake except for fat."

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Studies)

• Dr. Carolina Palacios: "Dr. Palacios examined learning and knowledge production in the Chilean solidarity movement and its public pedagogy. She argues understanding social movements as learning communities is essential because learning and knowledge production are central to achieving movement aims, the significance of movements and the value and legitimacy of local movement knowledge."
• Dr. Suzanne Pauline Scott Tomita: "Dr. Scott Tomita examined how competitive Canadian research funding has led BC university museums to embrace public-private partnerships and fundraising. Her study shows how funding changes at UBC's Museum of Anthropology and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum have transformed them into innovative, entrepreneurial museums which encourage public outreach."

Doctor of Philosophy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

• Dr. Mande Leung: "Dr. Leung formulated several models for the cardiovascular system, and developed corresponding identification methods. She subsequently applied her models and methods to minimally-invasive monitoring of the heart's output in post-surgical infants in the intensive care unit and non-invasive measurement of the arterial pulse wave velocity in children."
• Dr. Yang Wen Liang: "Dr. Liang investigated several beamforming schemes for Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and relaying wireless communication systems. His proposed schemes may find application in several current or upcoming wireless communication standards."
• Dr. Scott Yin Lunn Chin: "Dr. Chin investigated generic microchips, such as those used in smartphones and other electronic devices. His research into the specialized computer software used to program the chips led to the discovery of methods to make that software run faster and more efficiently. His findings will result in cost savings and can benefit the electronics industry."
• Dr. Vahid Shah-Mansouri: "Dr. Shah-Mansouri studied protocol design for wireless sensor networks. Wireless sensor networks are communication networks consisting of small and inexpensive wireless devices used for home automation and disaster management. Using mathematical tools like optimization theory, Dr. Shah-Mansouri developed algorithms aiming to prolong the lifetime of such networks."
• Dr. Md. Kawsar Alam: "Dr. Alam conducted a challenging study on a tiny structure called Carbon nanotube. He researched how electron, an elementary particle of matters, interacts with nanotubes and changes its properties. His findings will contribute to the development of advanced electronic devices and better imaging tools for understanding microscopic structures."
• Dr. Fariborz Musavi: "Dr. Musavi developed highly-efficient cost effective battery chargers for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. These new chargers result in increased performance efficiency, lower charge time and decreased utility costs. Dr. Musavi's developments have important implications for the future emergence and acceptance of electric vehicle technologies."
• Dr. David Norman Grant: "Dr. Grant invented a programmable logic chip consisting of thousands of processors, and a new method for transforming circuits into software for this chip. His method is up to 250 times faster than existing tools. This significantly reduces design costs and improves the time-to-market for new electronic products."
• Dr. Ali Haghighat Kashani: "Dr. Kashani examined the use of 3D sensors to improve safety on large mining excavators, and developed a new computer program for capturing 3D images in outdoor scenes. His patented work significantly improves the accuracy of 3D images over the existing methods in the industry. His research has many applications in robotics, the movie and the gaming industries."

Doctor of Philosophy (English)

• Dr. Maia Edith Joseph: "Dr. Joseph studied literary responses to urban change in the city of Vancouver. She demonstrated that literary texts communicate important knowledge about the experiential, emotional, and relational aspects of urban life. Literary texts, she argued, expand and complicate our understanding of what the city is and what it might become."

Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Medicine)

• Dr. Claudia Itze Chavez Munoz: "Dr. Chavez identified a novel keratinocyte-derived complex that functions as a collagen inhibitory factor for fibroblasts. The identification of this complex provides a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent the formation of hypetrophic scars, frequently observed in patients following burn injury, deep trauma and some surgical incisions."
• Dr. Taesup Cho: "Dr. Cho's study in the field of Experimental Medicine investigated neural stem cells in the brain. His research examined the effect of high-frequency electrical stimulation and he found that this stimulation regulates the fate of neural stem cells. The results of this study will contribute to treatments for brain diseases."
• Dr. Lindsay Anne Nettlefold: "Dr. Nettlefold explored how physical activity and sedentary time relate to cardiovascular health in children. She also conducted a school-based physical activity intervention that improved childrens fitness. This work supports the need to increase childrens physical activity and reduce their sedentary time to improve their cardiovascular health."
• Dr. Xiaojie Wang: "Dr. Wang demonstrated effectiveness of a novel agent in preventing islet transplantation rejection. This strategy by using co-stimulation blockade provides proof-of-principle for clinical application in treating diabetes via beta cell replacement therapy without ongoing immuno-suppressive regimen."
• Dr. Christoph Johannes Blohmke: "Dr. Blohmkes research focused on the inflammation in the lungs of patients suffering from the fatal genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis. He identified the receptor mediating the immune response to bacterial pathogens as a modifying gene and novel anti-inflammatory target in Cystic Fibrosis lung disease."
• Dr. Pak Cheung Ronald Wong: "Dr. Wong investigated the cellular response to ultraviolet radiation. He discovered how a tumor suppressor protein protects the human genome after ultraviolet radiation. This leads to better understanding of melanoma development which has implications for designing new treatment strategies."
• Dr. Bahareh Ajami: "Dr. Ajami's study of the central nervous system showed that blood-derived cells do not contribute to maintenance of microglia, innate immune cells in the brain and spinal cord. She found infiltration of blood-derived macrophages is responsible for the progress of Multiple Sclerosis. This ground-breaking discovery has implications for MS treatments."

Doctor of Philosophy (Fine Arts)

• Dr. Kazuko Madar: "Dr. Kameda-Madar examined the ideological workings of cultural networks in the Tokugawa period in Japan by surveying a range of visual representations of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering. Her study showed how pictorial motifs promoted class permeability and contributed to the dynamism of identity formation."
• Dr. Geoffrey Paul Carr: "Dr. Carr studied the architecture of Indian Residential Schools to show how they were designed to subvert the cultural, economic and political life of Indigenous populations. Dr. Carr's research also suggests the need for sustained commemoration of residential school buildings and history, to improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples."

Doctor of Philosophy (Food Science)

• Dr. Guopeng Zhang: "Dr. Zhang studied clostridial necrotic enteritis, which is an intestinal disease of broiler chickens. He developed a process using microwave vacuum dehydration technology to protect the natural antimicrobial lysozyme from heat damage. This development will contribute to the improvement of heat resistance of biomaterials and also to animal health."

Doctor of Philosophy (Forestry)

• Dr. Brent Charles Chamberlain: "Dr. Chamberlain developed new computer methods to improve landscape management in areas of high visual quality, such as scenic drives, parks and recreational places. The research led to the creation of new 3D mapping technologies that are being used for forest management in central BC and for research in Clayoqout Sound on Vancouver Island."
• Dr. Juan Chen: "Dr. Chen examined the challenges facing the adoption of sustainable forest management and forest certification in China. Her work is contributing to a better understanding of how different groups of stakeholders are responding to these challenges and is providing guidance in this rapidly changing area of forest policy."
• Dr. Feng-Cheng Chang: "Dr. Chang developed a prototype of a composite material made of plastic and wood attacked by mountain pine beetles. He studied its long-term deformation, using methods that predicted the behaviour of the composite efficiently. He found that varying temperatures greatly influence properties, which is very significant to its load-bearing applications."
• Dr. Rokneddin Mohammad Albouyeh: "Dr. Albouyeh studied the genes of five species of spruce to discover how those genes had evolved over time. He found 9 different gene families in the bark samples, and was able to demonstrate that the greater the number of genes inherited, the greater defence the spruce had against pests. These findings will help to create healthier forests."
• Dr. Margaret Ann Branton: "Dr. Branton evaluated the functions of floodplain ponds that had been restored for juvenile coho salmon. She demonstrated that habitat restoration conducted for one species can benefit other species. Furthermore, she found that the type of habitat is important in determining the success of the restoration."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geography)

• Dr. Junjia Ye: "Dr. Ye analyzed the reproduction of class inequalities within Singapore's division of labour to illustrate the politics of cosmopolitanism. By developing a theoretical framework that integrated Karl Marx and Pierre Bourdieus' notions of class, she examined the livelihoods of Bangladeshi male migrants, Malaysian commuter workers and financial professionals in Singapores labour market."
• Dr. Kathleen Mary Sherrell: "Dr. Sherrell examined the housing outcomes of refugees in Winnipeg and Vancouver. The research explores the influence of legal status, provision of assistance, and federal and provincial immigration policies. Her findings underscore the effect of changing refugee policies on outcomes, and consider how housing influences long-term social inclusion."
• Dr. Russell Stanley Smith: "Dr. Smith investigated interactions between snowmelt processes, soil physics, and topography in controlling stream runoff in forested, mountainous watersheds. His findings help us to understand better the impacts of land-use changes on water supply and will lead to improved models for predicting river flooding."
• Dr. Emily Jane Davis: "Dr. Davis examined how forest-based communities in the Pacific Northwest have responded to mountain pine beetle and wildfire threats by forming regional organizations. She found traditional leaders and established relationships may limit resource-sharing among stakeholders, but regional organizations have helped bring new resources to rural communities."
• Dr. Iain Douglas Stewart: "Dr. Stewart developed a new climate classification system for urban temperature studies. His system divides city landscapes into local climate zones based on the thermal and structural properties of the surface. This work standardizes international communication of temperature observations, and provides a research framework for urban climate studies."
• Dr. Pamela O: "Dr. O examined the effects of caribou grazing and trampling on Arctic plant communities. She found that although the effects of grazing were not easily detected, migratory trails that have been used by caribou for thousands of years were distinctly different than the surrounding areas, indicating some habitats may be resistant to change, and once altered, they may not readily recover."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Engineering)

• Dr. Kyuseok Woo: "Dr. Woo studied land subsidence from block cave mining using advanced numerical modeling. Analysis of the Palabora Mine in South Africa identified limitations in mine-site numerical databases. Design methodologies were improved through understanding of such influences as geology, and topography, contributing to advances for the mining industry."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geological Sciences)

• Dr. Reza Tafti: "Dr. Tafti's research focused on the geochronology and petrogenesis of igneous rock suites and the metallogenic evolution of the Gangdese belt, in Tibet. The research identified a major, previously unrecognized but economically important magmatic event of Jurassic age, and also made a substantial contribution to our understanding of the tectonic evolution of this part of the Himalayan Orogen."

Doctor of Philosophy (Geophysics)

• Dr. Ali Vaghri: "Dr. Vaghri developed numerical models to investigate how surface deformation around active faults depends on properties of the Earth's crust. He also made important findings about the fault zone geometry at depth and crustal deformation north of the San Francisco Bay Area."

Doctor of Philosophy (Germanic Studies)

• Dr. Catherine Karen Roy: "In her dissertation, Dr. Roy analyzed autobiographies written by individuals who were spied upon by the Stasi, the former East German secret police. She studied how these authors used their own Stasi files to write about their lives under surveillance and how these file-based autobiographies constitute a new autobiographical sub-genre."

Doctor of Philosophy (History)

• Dr. Desmond Cheung: "Dr. Cheung developed a new approach to interpreting the society of Ming dynasty China by analyzing the history of famous places in the city of Hangzhou. He showed how different social groups helped construct significant sites and the sites' meanings, thereby enhancing current perspectives on social interaction and contestation in late imperial China."
• Dr. Naomi Kim Lloyd: "Dr. Lloyd examined the same-sex relationships of the prominent Victorian Evangelical, Constance Maynard, and argued that rather than a transgression of Maynard's faith they were integral to it. Lloyd presents a new approach to the relationship between Christianity and sexuality, one which she hopes will inform contemporary Christian dialogue on homosexuality."

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

• Dr. Surita Jhangiani: "Dr. Jhangiani investigated Punjabi immigrant women's conceptions of mental health and how they accessed the mental healthcare system. Her research demonstrates that participants would benefit from multilingual mental health services, outreach via multiple channels, and mental health information being dispensed by their general practitioners."

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Nutrition)

• Dr. Elizabeth Marie Novak: "Dr. Novak combined basic science and clinical studies to demonstrate that the type of fat a mother consumes during pregnancy and lactation plays a key role in regulating infant liver metabolism. Her research opened a new field to consider the impact of essential fatty acid nutrition for early infant liver development."

Doctor of Philosophy (Interdisciplinary Studies)

• Dr. Maureen Rose Connelly: "Dr. Connelly investigated the acoustical characteristics of vegetated roofs, and their contribution to the ecological performance of buildings and to urban soundscapes. She developed methods to evaluate the effectiveness of greening rooftops, to reduce noise and introduce natural sounds for the benefit, health, well-being and liveability of our cities."

Doctor of Philosophy (Language and Literacy Education)

• Dr. Deborah J Gibson: "Dr. Gibson examined her son's earliest, delayed, acquisition of words, focusing on his comprehension, using data collected in a longitudinal diary study. Her son has autism. She showed that his word learning related to milestones in his social and cognitive development, and argues for a broader definition of early word production."
• Dr. Reginald Arthur D\'Silva: "Dr. Silva studied the effectiveness of voice recognition reading software in promoting reading skills and found that students reading fluency increased when using student-preferred reading materials with the software. The study supports the use of such software in international academic exchange programs."
• Dr. Maryam Moayeri: "Dr. Moayeri explored how teachers and students use the web in participatory ways. She extends New Literacies Theory, literacies that combine technology and ethos, by proposing that no one form of literacy supersedes or holds more value than another. Her research recommends refraining from devaluing existing forms of literacy when integrating new forms."
• Dr. Natasha Boskic: "Dr. Boskic examined the critical literacy practices of Alternative Reality Game players. The players, who were situated globally, worked collaboratively to imagine solutions to urgent contemporary social problems. The results suggest that such games can be used successfully to foster ethical sensitivity."

Doctor of Philosophy (Law)

• Dr. Jalia Kangave: "Dr. Kangave studied communities displaced by infrastructure projects such as large dams. Focusing on Uganda 's Bujagali Hydroelectric Project, she investigated the impact of resettlement through legal, economic and humanitarian lenses. She concluded that to adequately protect displaced communities, multiple layers of legal protection are essential."

Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)

• Dr. Atsushi Fujimori: "Dr. Fujimori discovered a correlation between sound and meaning in NATIVE Japanese verbs that had not previously been recognized. Native speakers of Japanese use Vowels such as e and u to denote that an event ends while vowels such as i and o denote that an event continues. This fact sheds new light on how verbs are formed and how languages differ."
• Dr. Christiana Christodoulou: "Dr. Christodoulou investigated the linguistic performance of Cypriot-Greek individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome and established that their grammar is not an impaired version of the adult or child Cypriot-Greek Grammar, as previously suggested. She showed that the majority of the purported grammatical differences are the result of articulation difficulties associated with Down Syndrome."
• Dr. Donald James Derrick: "Dr. Derrick described four distinct types of tongue-tip motion used in the production of English flap sounds. He explained why speakers used these categorically different tongue movement strategies in their speech by identifying motor constraints that govern this variation, including gravity, myoelasticity, conflicts between nearby tasks, and variability in individuals' motor skills."
• Dr. Kristin Johannsdottir: "Dr. Johannsdottir's study in the field of semantics focussed on constructions called the progressive, in both Icelandic and English. The rarely studied Icelandic constructions are both similar and dissimilar to that of the well-studied English progressive. The research surfaced interesting puzzles, and provided possible solutions."

Doctor of Philosophy (Materials Engineering)

• Dr. Hamed Karimi Sharif: "Dr. Karimi studied failure modes of ignition systems for environmentally-friendly natural gas engines. He developed a mathematical model to describe the importance of temperature and electricity on ignition system performance. His research improved our understanding of complex ignition systems, and allowed increases of durability by a factor of ten."
• Dr. Vincent Ebacher: "Dr. Ebacher studied how human bone deforms and fractures. His findings point to conditions that alter the ability of our bones to control microcracks which cause bone fragility. The study showed that bone microstucture plays a crucial role in resisting fractures, and it will contribute to initiatives to prevent bone and hip fractures."
• Dr. Ehsan Khajeh: "Dr. Khajeh developed a theoretical expression to describe the evolution of permeability during solidification of aluminum alloys. He verified and validated the expression through novel physical and numerical modeling techniques. This research improves our understanding of phenomena that lead to defects during the solidification of metallic alloys."
• Dr. Lu Yao: "Dr. Yao developed a novel model to predict defect formation in an aluminum alloy that is widely used in the automotive industry. Her work provides a better understanding of defect formation and allows foundry engineers to optimize the manufacturing process, minimize defects and improve the performance and profitability of the final products."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mathematics)

• Dr. Vishaal Kapoor: "Dr. Kapoor investigated several problems in the field of number theory. He proved a theorem that allows for a better understanding of the behavior of a multiplicative function. His theorem applies to a broad class of functions in an area where few results are known."
• Dr. Michele Klaus: "Dr. Klaus studied the symmetries of Spheres. This brought to the surface deep and beautiful connections between algebra and geometry. These interplays can be further exploited to better understand both algebra and geometry."
• Dr. Frank De Zeeuw: "Dr. De Zeeuw studied applications of algebra and algebraic geometry to discrete geometry."
• Dr. Hardeep Singh Gill: "Dr. Gill studied a mathematical process which could be used to model the aggregate motion of a large number of randomly branching particles which also move randomly. His research could model, for example, a population of oceanic plankton during an algal bloom."
• Dr. Alexander Rhys Duncan: "Dr. Duncan studied essential dimension, an important invariant of algebraic objects. His work sheds light on classical problems in algebra including the Noether problem, inverse Galois theory and Hilbert's thirteenth problem."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

• Dr. Soheyl Vakili: "Dr. Vakili improved the mechanical characteristics of steel strips by studying advanced steel cooling methods. The resulting high strength steel strips can be used in making safer cars which will save thousands of lives in automobile crashes."
• Dr. Ario Madani: "Dr. Madani's studies were in the field of Mechanical Engineering, and he developed a novel technique for separating and classifying particles. His technique can be applied to a vast range of particle sizes. It has application in pulp and paper industry, mining and biomedical science."
• Dr. Sarah Hormozi: "Dr. Hormozi studied one strategy to stabilize industrial multi-layer flows. This study makes a bridge between academic research and industrial application. The findings of this investigation can significantly improve the rate of production in the industrial processes such as Co-extrusion, film coating and oil transport."
• Dr. Mohammad Baher Azab: "Dr. Azab studied the drag on aircraft wings, and the implications for how much cargo weight is possible in flight. He researched ways to reduce fuel consumption of aircraft by changing their wing shapes. His findings will potentially have a positive economical impact on airlines, and lead to a reduction in air pollution."
• Dr. Daniel Sepasi: "Dr. Sepasi investigated data storage devices and mechanical machining in mass production lines. He developed a technique for highly precise system controls, which is a benchmark for future research in manufacturing. He improved the precision of machining during operation, and increased the capacity of manufactured data storage devices."
• Dr. Omar Herrera: "Dr. Herrera improved methods for analyzing fuel cells and their failure modes. These studies have helped to advance the understanding and the subsequent commercialization of fuel cells."
• Dr. Fatemeh Pirmoradi: "Dr. Pirmoradi developed a miniature implantable device for drug delivery. Using this device, physicians can deliver precisely controlled dosage of highly potent drugs, thus avoiding adverse side effects. A novel application of this device is through implantation behind the eye to treat retinal damage caused by diabetes."
• Dr. Mohammed R.A. Alrasheed: "Dr. Alrasheed studied the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and suggested some modifications based on Chaos phenomena to enhance PSO's convergence rate and its search capability in general. He Subsequently applied modified PSO methods in thermal management of an electronic cooling system."

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)

• Dr. Jessica Leigh McLellan: "Dr. McLellan studied cancer genetics. Her work focused on developing smart cancer treatments by using what we know about a cancer's genetic background to target malignant cells more effectively. Her most significant contribution was the finding that a new treatment for breast cancer may be effective in treating a much wider variety of cancers."
• Dr. Johanna Maria Schuetz: "Dr. Schuetz examined genetic features in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the body's immune cells. She looked for differences that cause people to be susceptible to the disease, and also changes that arise in cancer cells. Her research highlights the importance of genes that control cell death in lymphoma biology."
• Dr. Ka Chun Yuen: "Dr. Yuen studied the role of epigenetics, or inheritable changes, in human pregnancy. He found factors that contribute to the individual biological differences and the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes. These findings illuminate new areas of research and facilitate the development of strategies for clinical diagnosis of pregnancy disorders."
• Dr. Rosemary McGinnis: "In a carefully-controlled study, Dr. Oh-McGinnis discovered that reduced levels of a gene called Ascl2 led to severe placental abnormalities in pregnant mice and reduced embryonic size. The mice can serve as subjects to study human placental development and embryonic growth, with the goal of improving the health of newborns."
• Dr. Helen Elizabeth Burston: "Dr. Burston studied the ways different parts of the cell communicate with each other, and how molecules in the cell are transported to the right location. Her work generated new knowledge of how defects in these transport pathways cause human disease, which is essential in developing treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease."
• Dr. Farah Zahir: "Dr. Zahir has studied the genetic basis for disease in children born with intellectual disability. She has identified previously unknown causative genes, recognized new syndromes, and has highlighted the contribution to neurodevelopment of an important class of proteins. This work has bridged the scientific and clinical understanding of cognitive disease."
• Dr. Sanja Sekulovic: "Dr. Sekulovic established a method to produce unprecedented numbers of mouse blood stem cells in culture, as these cells are rare and difficult to obtain from their natural sources. She subsequently exploited this method to better characterize cellular processes underlying blood stem cell growth."

Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology and Immunology)

• Dr. Kyla Omilusik: "Dr. Omilusik studied the mechanism the body uses to detect invasion by foreign pathogens. Specifically, she demonstrated that HIV disrupts this mechanism in order to evade the immune system and eventually cause AIDS. These studies will assist in the development of therapeutics that boosts immune responses against viruses."
• Dr. Grace Yim: "Dr. Yim studied the effect of one antibiotic on a common disease causing bacteria, Salmonella. She showed that low levels of this antibiotic alter its characteristics rather than just stopping its growth. This research has broadened understanding of how antibiotics affect bacteria which may lead to using them more wisely."

Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering)

• Dr. Ladan Mohammadi: "Dr. Mohammadi developed Atmospheric Fuzzy Risk Assessment (AFRA) software to assess risks at mine reclamation sites. AFRA is a knowledge-based decision-making tool that combines real data and fuzzy information to assess risk in different locations or climates. AFRA is expected to contribute to mine safety and confined space accident prevention."
• Dr. Reem Adel Roufail: "Dr. Roufail developed a procedure to analyse the surface fracture features of particles as they break in a high speed stirred mill. She also correlated the results with a computer model using Discrete Element Method which developed an in-depth understanding of particle breakage mechanisms in high speed stirred mills under different operating conditions."

Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)

• Dr. Jing Fan: "Dr. Fan's research in the field of Neuroscience focussed on the possible causes of Huntington disease, an inherited disease with few effective treatments and no cure. Her findings contribute significantly to the understanding of Huntington disease and provide potential drug candidates for future treatment."
• Dr. Laurence Sahagun David: "Dr. David studied T-type calcium channel proteins which are present in the developing heart. These proteins are absent in normal adult hearts, but re-appear in diseased hearts. Dr. David found they have distinct properties, and his research has the potential to explain their role in the development of the heart and the progression of heart disease."
• Dr. Joseph Flores: "Dr. Flores studied the use of human Retinal Pigment Epithelial (hRPE) cells as a tissue transplant alternative for the treatment of Parkinsons disease. He found that hRPE-cell transplants survive and improve parkinsonian behavioural deficits, making hRPE cells a viable treatment option for Parkinson's disease."
• Dr. John Lawrence Kipling Kramer: "Dr. Kramer proposed the evaluation of segmental neurological outcomes to replace global measures as primary endpoints in different phases of clinical study after spinal cord injury. This work represents important progress towards addressing the priority of individuals with tetraplegia to improve arm and hand function."
• Dr. Ted Wei-Ta Lai: "Dr. Lai found new ways to develop drugs for treating stroke. His new inventions conferred fewer side effects than traditional treatments, and remained effective even when the treatments were delayed for hours. Aside from stroke treatments, these new strategies can be implemented for the development of drugs for other diseases."
• Dr. Shu Zhang: "Dr. Zhang discovered a previously unknown cell death mechanism that underlies brain injuries following ischemic stroke. She subsequently developed a specific inhibitor for this cell death cascade and demonstrated that it represents a novel effective stroke treatment, whose therapeutic time window is notably longer than other anti-stroke medications."
• Dr. Guang Yang: "Dr. Yang studied a group of proteins that are modified with palmitate, a common saturated lipid in animals. He investigated the functions of these proteins in neural development and pathological brain disease. By identifying a new mechanism controlling brain cell death, he developed therapeutic drugs targeting a palmitate-modified protein to protect the brain during stroke."
• Dr. Kelley Ann Bromley-Brits: "Dr. Bromley-Brits discovered a new method of action for a modulatory protein involved in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. She also showed that a deficit of this protein is associated with anxiety in a mouse model. Her research suggests that using this protein as a therapeutic target would require careful, dose-dependent evaluation."

Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

• Dr. Heather Louise McDonald: "Dr. McDonald's study of arthritis in First Nations people and arthritis services in southern B.C. used partnerships to look critically at the nature of health and healthcare issues in Canada. Findings show a gap between a health system focused on physical symptoms and the social determinants of health, and can contribute to future policy decisions."
• Dr. Sandra R Regan: "Dr. Regan studied the characteristics of British Columbia's registered nurse workforce and their associations with population health status and hospital mortality. Her research contributes new information about the patterns and trends of the registered nurse workforce, the relationship between registered nurse managers and hospital mortality, and implications for planning the future workforce."

Doctor of Philosophy (Occupational and Environmental Hygiene)

• Dr. Glenys Muriel Webster: "Dr. Webster researched ways in which the human thyroid is affected by common stain repellent chemicals used in carpets, fast food packaging and other consumer products, and ways by which pregnant women are exposed to the chemicals. Findings may help change how these chemicals are used, thereby reducing exposures and helping to protect public health."

Doctor of Philosophy (Oceanography)

• Dr. Olivier Riche: "Dr. Riche quantified the seasonal circulation of seawater in the Strait of Georgia using sophisticated mathematics and a unique set of monthly observations taken over the years 2002 to 2005. He also quantified the seasonal growth and abundance of marine microscopic algae and showed that some of their nutrient requirements differed from estimates made in previous studies."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

• Dr. Maite Verreault: "Dr. Verreault has contributed to define strategies to improve chemotherapeutic drug delivery and efficacy in one of the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma."
• Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa: "Dr. Mustafa studies focused on iron chelation therapy and its importance in the Maldives, a hot spot for e-thalassemia. e-thalassemia requires regular blood transfusions and chelation therapy to prevent iron toxicity from the donor blood. Improved chelators and therapeutic approaches may have clinical benefits in nations like the Maldives."
• Dr. Pei-Shan Wang: "Dr. Wang studied the role of a protein called PTP Alpha in brain development. She found that PTP Alpha is crucial in development of a type of cells called oligodendrocyte. This research implicates the potential role of PTP Alpha as drug target for multiple sclerosis."
• Dr. Farshid Sadeghi Garmaroudi: "Dr. Garmaroudi studied the host network responses to viruses. He developed a novel theory that viruses modify multiple pathways as part of a network, rather than singly. He found these networks may counteract the therapeutic benefit of even highly selective drugs. His work may contribute to development of treatments for virus-induced heart disease."
• Dr. Edwin Samuel Gershom: "Dr. Gershom investigated interactions between blood proteins and herpes viruses to understand correlations between virus infection and heart attack, clotting and hardening of the arteries. His thesis reveals that viruses activate proteins of both clot forming and clot dissolving process that enhance infection and contribute to vascular disease risk."
• Dr. Angela Burleigh: "Dr. Burleigh studied the way in which normal mammary cells interact with their environment. This allowed her to identify early changes that are involved in the initiation of breast cancer. Her findings highlight the importance of studying normal biology to better understand how cancers progress."
• Dr. Brian Wong: "Dr. Wong investigated the role of a protein called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the thickening of blood vessels, particularly in heart transplants. His research highlighted the abnormal presence of VEGF in human disease, showed its effect on cholesterol accumulation, and explored potential treatments targeting this protein."
• Dr. Amanda Vanden Hoek: "Dr. Vanden Hoek investigated how a vital blood clotting protein also plays a subsequent role in dissolving the clot. Her research suggests a novel target for the development of safer and more effective therapeutics for heart attack and stroke due to thrombosis."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

• Dr. Fang Wang: "Dr. Wang revealed high blood glucose releases endothelial heparanase, while high fatty acids induces heparanase nuclear translocation during diabetes. These studies assist us in understanding the metabolism of heart, and may serve to reduce the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes."
• Dr. Clement Mugabe: "Dr. Mugabe has developed novel formulations of anticancer drugs, known as paclitaxel and docetaxel. These novel formulations are based on small and adhesive nanoparticles and are used in the treatment of bladder cancer. Furthermore, these treatments have shown increased bladder tissue drug levels and efficacy in a mouse model of bladder cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacology and Therapeutics)

• Dr. Bo Yang: "Dr. Yang's research indicates that the equilibrium potential of GABA, a major neurotransmitter in brain, is regulated by different receptors, proteins and neuronal activity. Changes in the equilibrium potential, observed in this study, have significant implications for regulating brain activity and implications for promoting health and reducing disease."

Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophy)

• Dr. Jennifer Jill Fellows: "Dr. Fellows argued against certain critics that objectivity is a valuable ideal in epistemology and ethics, even if it cannot be attained. Using history, feminism and philosophy, she formed an account of objectivity in bioscience and anthropology. In this account, objectivity aids trust-building across communities and relies on epistemic humility."

Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)

• Dr. Andrew Penner: "Dr. Andrew Penner has shown through numerical simulation that accretion of a magnetofluid onto a black hole allows for the development of a time independent accretion flow. This work extends existing accretion theories to include more astrophysically relevant scenarios."
• Dr. Yuan Ren: "Dr. Ren studied electron spin transport in low-dimensional nanoscale devices. He developed a spectroscopy technique employing thermopower to image effects of electron interactions in these devices."
• Dr. Kory Allan Stevens: "Dr. Stevens studied rotating higher dimensional black holes, and examined particle motion in such a space. He also proved the non-existence of exotic structures in three-dimensional gravity."
• Dr. Dominic Marchand: "Dr. Marchand used computer simulations to study models which describe polarons, objects composed of one electron and a surrounding cloud of sound waves. He discovered that the properties of polarons can be significantly modified in those models. This work extended previous techniques to allow these more complex models to be investigated efficiently."
• Dr. David Jon Asgeirsson: "Dr. Asgeirsson developed a novel method for analyzing experimental data based on comparisons to a large sample of computer simulations. This new method was applied to the measurement of the oscillation frequency of neutral B mesons. The method can also be used by scientists analyzing other types of experimental data."
• Dr. Arthur James Charbonneau: "Dr. Charbonneau contributed to the description of an exotic new current, which is not generated by a voltage, like a typical electrical current, but is generated by the processes that occur in the dense cores of neutron stars and the remnants of high-energy particle collisions. His work furthers our understanding of matter in extreme environments."

Doctor of Philosophy (Planning)

• Dr. Danielle Labbe: "Dr. Labbe examined the transformation of a rural village into an urban neighbourhood on the edge of Hanoi, Vietnam. She found that local people and government officials mitigate official policies through their day-to-day practices and interactions. This research illuminates the relational aspect of planning in a city of the Global South."
• Dr. Ren Thomas: "Dr. Thomas examined the housing and transportation choices of Filipino immigrants in Toronto. The study illustrates the resiliency of Filipinos' choices throughout decades of structural changes in housing policy, immigration policy, transportation infrastructure, and the labour market."

Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)

• Dr. Hyunji Lee: "Dr. Lee examined psychological and institutional factors that shape individual attitudes toward trade policies. She found that concerns about economic insecurity and the lack of government commitment to social protection had a greater effect on the public perception of trade liberalization than the promise of economic growth."
• Dr. Shane Joshua Barter: "Dr. Barter's research uncovers the strategies possessed by civilians in war. In the midst of war, civilians can be proactive, and their strategies can have important effects on conflict dynamics. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in three conflicts, he shows how and why some people flee, while others support armed groups, and some speak out."

Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology)

• Dr. Jeremy Abraham Frimer: "Dr. Frimer's research asks what motivates some people to devote their lives to promoting the greater good. He found that highly moral people like Gandhi have achieved enlightened self-interest. His studies shed light on how moral motivation develops, and offer insights into how we might foster a civil society."
• Dr. Daniel Nelson Jones: "Dr. Jones developed and studied a new concept called "Emotional Promiscuity," which assesses how easily and often individuals fall in love. Emotional promiscuity has consequences for both mental and physical health. In particular, emotional promiscuity predicts major life stressors and outcomes such as infidelity and unprotected sex."
• Dr. Carolin Klein: "Dr. Klein investigated, and found support for, the role of the endocannabinoid system in female sexual functioning. This research contributes to knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying sexual functioning, and has implications for finding effective treatments for sexual dysfunctions in women."
• Dr. Janine Moseley-Giannelli: "Dr. Moseley-Giannelli developed and tested a model which shed light on the roles that Hope and Benefit-Finding play in the emotional adjustment of caregivers when children have cancer. This research offers new insights into how caregiver hope develops, how it can be screened for, and how it may be nurtured within a context of profound uncertainty."

Doctor of Philosophy (Rehabilitation Sciences)

• Dr. Richard George Celebrini: "Dr. Celebrini demonstrated the effects of a novel movement strategy in reducinging risk factors for knee injuries in young female soccer players. This research provides a practical contribution to knee injury prevention programs in young female athletes."

Doctor of Philosophy (Reproductive and Developmental Sciences)

• Dr. In Sun Hong: "Dr. Hong established human granulosa cell lines and elucidated clearly the characteristics of human ovarian granulosa cells. Additionally, he investigated the effects of GnRH I and II in human ovarian granulosa cells. Thus, his in vitro system can be one of the usual model systems to study human follicular development."
• Dr. Eui-ju Hong: "Dr. Hong investigated the properties of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and its influence on the male sex hormone, androgen, in cells. His study has provided new information about how the SHBG function in cells may enhance and prolong the biological activities of androgen, and this may be particularly important in androgen dependent cancer."

Doctor of Philosophy (Resource Management and Environmental Studies)

• Dr. Craig Lawrence Mayberry: "Dr. Mayberry surveyed 200 non-profit organizations in the US and Canada and examined what role leadership style and entrepreneurial orientation had on the success of the organization. His research found that organizations led by social entrepreneurs have higher financial stability and increases ability to accomplish the mission of the organization."
• Dr. Shinan Nizarali Kassam: "Dr. Kassam challenged received wisdom on farm debt in post-Soviet Tajikistan by arguing that there is little difference in the standard of living between cotton and non-cotton farmers. The analysis and conclusions are applicable to how the cotton sector is organized elsewhere and to agricultural policy more broadly."

Doctor of Philosophy (School Psychology)

• Dr. Leslie Dawn MacKay: "Dr. MacKay studied the effectiveness of two early speech and language curriculums that use Aboriginal toys and stories to enhance language development of kindergarteners. Results indicated that there were significantly stronger results for the curriculum that included explicit early literacy instruction. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students responded similarly. Additionally, teachers liked using both programs and found they included appropriate cultural content."
• Dr. Yvonne Julia Martinez: "Dr. Martinez developed and validated a teacher-reported measure for the early identification of selective mutism. She also found that children with the disorder have elevated symptoms of social and school anxiety. The use of a teacher-reported measure may reduce the lag time between symptom onset and treatment referral for children with the disorder."
• Dr. Aviva Mia Laye-Gindhu: "Dr. Laye-Gindhu studied nonsuicidal self-injury,a prevalent and risky coping behaviour, among street-involved teens in British Columbia.This research contributes to the growing understanding of nonsuicidal self-injury and highlights the value of focusing on positive factors in intervention to protect against the extreme risk in these teens' lives."

Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work)

• Dr. Harvey Ralph Bosma: "Dr. Bosma explored the experiences of health care for culturally diverse persons living with a life-limiting illness. He found that individuals combine mainstream and minority cultural practices to meet their various needs. Dr. Bosma's work offers valuable direction to health care professionals for the provision of culturally appropriate end-of-life care."

Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology)

• Dr. Jay Adele Fiddler: "Dr. Fiddler examined trust building in the Canadian blood system. She found that stakeholder engagement, particularly the inclusion of hemophilia patients, helps the blood operator re-build trust and organizational reputation. However, these stakeholders may also become an organizational risk if their interests are not reflected in blood policy."
• Dr. William Patrick Flynn: "Dr. Flynn developed an international comparative framework for analyzing how the travel experiences of young people, the places they visit, and the guidebooks they use, work together to produce new beaten tracks in the world of backpacking travel."

Doctor of Philosophy (Statistics)

• Dr. Xuekui Zhang: "Dr. Zhang developed statistical methods and Bioconductor software packages for analysing high-throughput sequencing data."

Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology)

• Dr. Russell Wayne Markel: "Dr. Markel investigated how variable ocean climate, marine protected areas, and the loss of top predators such as sea otters affect rockfish population dynamics on the west coast of Vancouver Island. His findings contribute broadly towards understanding how marine species and ecosystems respond to climate change and overfishing."
• Dr. Kristi Charish: "Dr. Charish showed that Drosophila septate junctions and Gliotactin are necessary for epithelial cell division. This work demonstrates a new and unconventional role for junctional proteins"
• Dr. Erika Jennifer Eliason: "Dr. Eliason Parsons discovered that Fraser River sockeye salmon populations are adapted to cope with their specific upriver migration conditions. This research suggests that some sockeye salmon populations may be more susceptible to climate change, raising conservation concerns."
• Dr. Anna Marie Hall: "Dr. Hall examined the relationship between harbour porpoise behaviour, and oceanographic and celestial events. She found the foraging strategies used by porpoise are specialized and are related to season, tidal direction, and lunar phase. She also discovered two sites where porpoises breed, the first to be identified in British Columbia."
• Dr. Crispin Yves Jordan: "Dr. Jordan used mathematical and experimental methods to study plant evolution. He found that taking into account genes that affect multiple functions can help explain why plants use a mixture of self-pollination and cross-pollination. Furthermore, he explored the conditions under which sex chromosomes are likely to harbour genetic variation."