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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Dr. Tigchelaar dedicated the last decade towards improving the outcomes of patients with spinal cord injury. He discovered a set of genetic markers that could serve as diagnostic and prognostic tools for patients suffering from paralysis. His work will continue to advance recovery and outcomes for patients with spinal cord injury. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. MacGillivray studied wheelchair training in older adults. She conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of motor skill-based wheelchair propulsion training. Results showed that older adults significantly improved their wheelchair propulsion biomechanics with training but not with unguided practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Yang studied epithelial repair processes that are important for lung health but defective in asthma. Her research identified novel roles for interleukin-13 receptors in normal epithelial repair and asthma disease biology. This knowledge will guide future development of new asthma therapies that stop lung damage and help patients breathe better. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Urtatiz investigated the process by which pigment cells transform into melanoma, a very aggressive type of cancer. He found that the skin microenvironment plays a crucial role in preventing or promoting the initiation of melanoma. His research provides useful insight to assist the development of new melanoma therapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Polinko completed his research in the field of silviculture. Using models of branch development and tree growth, his research was the first to quantify the costs associated with managing forests for visual quality or wildlife habitat. Understanding these costs will help with decisions regarding the sustainable management of forests around the world. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Zhao designed a 3D virtual learning environment to facilitate participants' acquisition of cultural competence and explored the participant experiences in this environment. This study assists us in understanding the process of cultural competency acquisition and how to facilitate cultural competency acquisition effectively in the 3D virtual environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Lewis developed gels using nanoparticles made from wood. The gels are water-filled, soft materials that can change their properties in a controllable way. These new materials have potential applications in environmental remediation, tissue engineering, and energy storage. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Glegg's research informs the use of network analysis as a method to study the social drivers that mobilize evidence-informed change in healthcare. Research and healthcare centres can apply the social and organizational strategies she identified, to support faster access to the safest, most effective healthcare innovations for Canadians. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Andrews explored indigenous spirituality in rural Ghana, focusing upon the intersections between music, ritual, and social development. His research illuminated the importance of recognizing and supporting indigenous spirituality as a key agent in mitigating cultural loss and how it contributes to a community's resilience. | Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Charnley examined oral histories of Katzie people. Her contribution includes the creation of a new research methodology based on the Coast Salish spindle whorl that conceptualizes transformative land and water-based literacy and pedagogy. This work provides new ways to hear Coast Salish people's voices, realities, and philosophies of knowing and being. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Jo investigated the impact of immune stimulation on the development and treatment of leukemia, the most common cancer diagnosed in young people. Her work has revealed potential limitations of immune-based therapies and how they might be overcome to improve clinical outcomes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sun used a model of the cystic fibrosis lung to study how bacteria use motility to adapt to these kinds of environments. She studied a new form of bacterial motility known as surfing and found that it contributes to virulence and antibiotic resistance regulated by complex genetic networks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Argento examined the interplay between drug use, violence and suicidality among a community-based cohort of women sex workers and explored the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Her research found that increased social cohesion and psychedelic use were protective against suicidality, underscoring the importance of connectedness. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Duff examined the role of exercise in modifying the biophysical properties of the aorta which may be compromised in children and adolescents with obesity. Specifically, she studied changes to aortic pulse wave velocity following an exercise intervention. This work has determined that exercise can reduce vascular dysfunction and serve as useful therapy in the management of childhood obesity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Taylor examined experiences of gender minority breast and gynecologic cancer patients. Findings show that cisnormative and heteronormative narratives shape cancer care knowledge, while non-normative narratives of gender shape patient decision-making and knowledge mobility. This research evidence can inform the design of culturally effective cancer care. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Thistlethwaite analysed the application of genomic based methodologies to conifer breeding. She used thousands of genetic markers to predict key economic traits, for the purpose of making selection decisions. Her research highlights areas for investment which will foster more dynamic and fruitful breeding programs in the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Wu studied how immune cells in fat tissues change in obesity and how these changes contribute to the progression of type 2 diabetes. His study brought new insight to the development of future therapeutics to fight type 2 diabetes, and showed the key might lay in the prevention of the unfavorable changes in these immune cells in the fat. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Pauer studied carbon tariffs, an environmental policy recommended by many experts but rarely used in practice. Using interviews and case studies in Europe and the USA, he explained the challenges of adopting and implementing this policy. His research contributes to the development of effective government action to address climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Schneeberg examined how children recover from injuries and factors associated with recovery. She found that while most children recover by 4 months post-injury, older children, hospitalized children and children with lower extremity fractures have delayed recovery. She contributed new knowledge on the best approach to analyze longitudinal data. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Patton analyzed the concentration of rare earth elements in marine sediment and constructed a numerical model of those elements in pore water.This research explores how these elements are cycled between sediment and pore water and questions the validity of previous interpretations of these elements as a water mass tracer preserved through time. | Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Deen conducted his research on hybrid mineral batteries. He designed two battery setups that extract copper from chalcopyrite mineral as well as store energy. This research can be applied in remote mine sites, where these batteries can be coupled with renewable energy sources for both energy storage and copper extraction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Nouri investigated advanced materials for renewable energy systems. His thesis uncovered relationships between the microscopic structures of porous materials, and their performance as transport layers for two-phase flow. His findings can improve the design of engineered materials for more efficient hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | In our global battle against drug-resistant superbugs, there is a limited arsenal of antibiotics. Dr. Behroozian discovered broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities in a natural clay from Kisameet Bay, British Columbia, and clarified the active principal components and modes of action. Her contributions may lead to development of novel treatments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Leigh considered two enumerative problems in geometry that are motivated by mathematical physics. In the first he developed a new theory for counting a special type of object. In the second he provided an explicit computation involving a string-theoretic space called the "banana threefold". | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Nabai has developed a novel method for prevention of post-surgical skin fibrosis. She fabricated microspheres containing anti-fibrotic medication and showed that application of these microspheres into the surgical wound bed before closing the wound reduces the post-surgical fibrosis through controlled slow release of the anti-fibrotic medication. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |