A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
| Year | Citation | Program |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dr. Krishnamoorthy estimated how a catalytic solute is distributed when applied to columns of low-grade copper ore. This work helps in optimizing a novel catalytic leach technology developed in UBC to liberate copper from primary copper sulfide ores such as chalcopyrite. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Zhang studied the effect of non-invasive stimulation therapies on brain neurobiology. Stimulation therapies are critical for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and her work showed that stimulation therapies can affect the generation of new neurons in the brain to potentially mediate therapeutic and side-effects. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Jones developed and implemented phylogenetic methods to estimate integration dates of HIV proviruses. His findings have provided a better understanding of within-host HIV dynamics and is beneficial for HIV cure research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2023 | Quite surprisingly, some quantum systems can encode gravitational physics in a higher dimensional space. Dr. Waddell used this fact to study a key quantum system arising in string theory, to show that information about a black hole's contents is not destroyed when it evaporates, and to propose a quantum description of universes similar to our own. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Masjoudi demonstrated the potential of vacuum-UV advanced oxidation processes as a viable treatment for elimination of micropollutants in potable water reuse. Her research enhances the quality of recycled water, making the reuse strategy more feasible for water-scarce communities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Chen combined experimental and probability-based computational approaches to study how the brain integrates motion sensations into perceived self-motion. His research advanced our knowledge in sensory processing at both the individual neuron and sensory organ levels, offering insights for future works in neuro-prosthetics and rehabilitation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Dostert studied communities of the highly antibiotic resistant bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. She identified genes mediating community growth in diverse environments. Her research demonstrated the strong influence of the growth environment on the entire gene network and provided interesting gene candidates for the design of novel drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Yirgu studied departure airport choices and their emissions implications. He spatially showed how airports differ in attracting passengers, and determined that aviation emissions cannot be directly reduced through higher airfares. His work improves air service planning and our understanding of price-based environmental policies on aviation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Xiao made notable contributions in the field of text summarization through her innovative application of machine learning techniques. She enhanced AI summarizers with discourse information. Her impactful research is a valuable asset in our data-driven and time-constrained society, offering an effective solution for managing information overload. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Emry examined how the distribution of marine species across environmental gradients mediates response to climate change. She found that species often respond to abiotic stress in ways that correlate with their environmental conditions, and that the indirect effects of this stress can have significant impacts on the structure of communities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Baitz examined the relationship between early experiences of trauma and later relational problems in young adulthood, such as cyber dating violence, insecure attachment, limerence, and internalizing symptoms. Her work informs therapeutic practice by illustrating how early trauma influences young adult relationships in the context of technology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Li studied the overall segregation and settling behavior of mine tailings suspension, illustrating various settling modes and revealing the mechanisms behind particle segregation in the sedimentation process. His findings can assist mining industries in developing advanced techniques for tailings dewatering. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Trudel's research investigated causes of wellbore leakage in western Canada. The findings of her research will contribute to protection of groundwater and reduction of methane emissions to the atmosphere. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Nikolai Medtner was a Russian composer whose large contribution to the art song genre has gone mostly unnoticed. Dr. Stanyer looks at how Medtner set complex Russian and German poetry to music, and how he communicated text and meaning through music. This research will be beneficial to future performers of these wonderful art songs to aid in interpretation. | Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano (DMA) |
| 2023 | Dr. Ahmadian investigated the potential cardiovascular benefits of breathing low oxygen in a rodent model of spinal cord injury. His works lay the foundation for future translational hypoxia therapies to help restore blood pressure control in individuals living with spinal cord injury. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Lyall studied peoples' relationships with the forests with the Kwakwaka'wakw of the West Coast of Canada. The research approach was collaborative and inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge. The research explained the cultural and heritage significance of the forests, from ancient stories, traditional foods, forest practices, and western red cedar. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Lapointe extensively employed various DNA sequencing technologies to gain deeper insights into anti-viral drug resistance and the molecular epidemiology of HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV-2. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of viral public health dynamics, and heloed shape the local and national clinical management guidelines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Ahmadvand developed a robust optimization model that minimizes the costs and GHGs of forest biomass supply chain for production of syngas to replace natural gas at BC Kraft pulp mills. She also presented an optimal pricing scheme to make the investment in renewable fuels such as syngas more appealing to the pulp and paper industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Sheth investigated the neural correlates of two distinct types of dynamic patterns freely-moving and goal-driven present in the stream of thought. Her findings offer new insights into the functions of the default and executive networks of brain and have implications for mental health, spontaneous thought, mind-wandering, and creativity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Haenel studied the signatures of the Higgs mode in exotic superconducting materials. The Higgs mode emerges as a quasiparticle in the framework of superconductors. It is the condensed-matter-analogue of the Higgs Boson in the the Standard Model. Research on these collective excitations in superconductors can lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of high temperature superconductors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Takano explored how massive population movements around the turn of the fifteenth century influenced Chinese literature by analyzing the writings of Li Dongyang (1447-1516). He found that Li expressed a conflicted geographic identity as a descendant of migrants sandwiched between his ancestral hometown and his place of residence in Beijing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Jewell's research took place in Florida (2019-2020). They argue that everyday experiences of the climate crisis are tied up within cultures of denial and control that have historically served a white supremacist status quo. Responsibly mitigating climate impacts requires reckoning with this, lest they become part of a "new," horrific normal. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. van der List studies how the economy interacts with geographic space. She has shown that firms trade off labor-market power and productivity spillovers when choosing a location. Her research has implications for the design of government subsidies affecting specific locations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Li explored the dynamics of ocean extreme temperature events, Marine Heatwaves, and their ecological impacts. Her work improves our understanding of the historical and future changes in multiple novel heat stress characteristics globally, and also demonstrates the protective impacts of "training" heat stress conditions on global coral reefs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Rufenach studied the biophysical interactions and three-dimensional structures of protein complexes involved in calcium signaling pathways. Her research has contributed to understanding the mechanisms of skeletal muscle contraction and rare neuromuscular diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |