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 | NID |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Dr. Hussein developed methods to help people who suffer from epilepsy. These methods analyze the brain data of the patient to determine whether a person is experiencing a seizure or whether a seizure is imminent. This knowledge is used to warn patients of upcoming seizures so they stop unsafe activities and better regulate their medication intake. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Herculano developed a novel method for evaluating the enzymatic activity of Beta-secretase in living cells, making it easier to test new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease in laboratory settings. He also studied the effects of point mutations in familial cases of Multiple Sclerosis and how they can contribute to the onset of the disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hunter studied the impact of spinal cord injury on pelvic peripheral neurons and organs. She characterized changes in input and output neurons supplying pelvic organs, and differences in bladder activity following high and low transections. This work paves the way for the treatment of important secondary consequences of spinal cord injury. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hamad studied methane oxidation catalysts to reduce the emissions from natural gas vehicles (NGVs). He developed a new catalyst formulation to minimize the catalysts deactivation by water and sulphur oxides. His results may have improved methane oxidation catalyst formulations for NGV converters to reduce the exhaust gas of unburned methane. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Maltesen engaged in a discourse analysis of how policies, perceptions and contexts create conditions for participation in Adult Basic Education at Vancouver Island University. She reveals that power and governmentality, located in welfare regimes and policy structures, bind thought and constrain action. Her findings will impact local practice. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sachdeva designed techniques for biomechanical simulation of the human hand. He modelled the dynamics of tendons wrapped on bones. He developed anatomical simulation software capable of modelling human hand function driven by muscles. Such a model may be used to explain the role of different muscles and ligaments in coordinating movement. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Cantin studied quantum systems. He showed that certain quasiparticles can be localized by disorder and modeled a tool to study material surfaces. His work improves our understanding of energy transport in materials and gives a foundation for machine learning to solve the inverse scattering problem for surface-sensitive molecular interferometers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Heckelman evaluated different agricultural development approaches underway in the Philippine rice sector and examined the resilience outcomes of conventional and organic rice systems in the country. This research illuminates the necessary conditions and factors for building farmer capacities to enhance climate resilience. | Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD) |
| 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. Burugu characterized the immune system in the tissues of breast cancer patients. Using conventional and novel techniques, she found the presence of immune cells that can be reactivated to eliminate cancer cells. Her work can inform the prioritization and design of immunotherapy clinical trials for breast cancer patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Held studied political alienation in advanced industrialized democracies. His study shows the limitations of traditional institutional fixes and highlights the role of both procedural and substantive information for civic engagement. These findings may inform government strategies to increase youth voter turnout and political accountability. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Zhang studied how institutional investors, such as mutual funds, specialize in a different class of assets. Based on empirical evidence, he developed a model that relates an institution's investment horizon with the characteristics of its stock holdings. His work contributes to the understanding of the behavior of financial institutions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Finance (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Nazari studied self-education and teacher personal and professional development through Currere, a concept that promotes an autobiographical examination. His study helps teachers understand their own and their students voice more fully in order to connect with their individuality and create singular ways of thinking, learning, and being in the world. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Crisan examined how 'big data' used by public health systems should be visually represented for decision making. She developed software tools and methods that can help people analyze, see, and understand complex data used to monitor and control disease outbreaks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Aleksandrova studied ketamine, a rapid-acting antidepressant. Her research suggests that ketamine may have pro-cognitive effects due to its ability to restore normal synaptic plasticity, the ability of the brain to adapt and change, in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a key brain region implicated in depression. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Scribner demonstrated the effect of contamination on the mineralogy of the Rau pegmatite group. Her research provides strong evidence that contamination has a more prominent influence on the chemical signature of pegmatites than previously recognized. She also developed a validated assessment to measure learning gains in mineralogy courses. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Lima studied logging activities in the Brazilian Amazon. She assessed selective logging patterns using remote sensing tools and was one of the first studies to analyze the new European satellite Sentinel-2. Findings will inform the academic community and governmental institutions concerned with forest monitoring and law enforcement. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (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) |
| 2019 | Dr. Skaien studied the relationship between natural selection and genetic variation through observing local deer and seablush, a flowering species native to western North America. Her results illustrate the effect of natural selection by browsing deer on this species' ability to persist in the face of natural and human-induced environmental change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Gorrin constructed a model based on his conversations with people with asthma and measured how participants in two asthma studies reported their medication usage. The integration of his findings helped to understand why some people don't take the medication and how to encourage regular medication usage. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Too much blood clotting is a prevalent cause of death worldwide. Dr. Lin explored common virus infection as a risk factor. He found that a normal clotting protein is incorporated into several viruses and may contribute to heart disease and stroke. Since this clotting factor can enhance infection, new antiviral strategies are on the horizon. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Abdelmagid conducted his research in the field of chemistry, and his doctoral studies focused on the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway enzymes. He developed an inhibition strategy for enzymes that are considered potential drug targets for cancer therapy. His novel work may lead to the development of a new class of anti-cancer drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sanchez explored the continuing impact of Samuel Beckett's literary and dramatic texts on contemporary art practices, focusing specifically on the works of three artists: Stan Douglas, Paul Chan and Tania Bruguera. She identified the "Beckett Effect" as politically and artistically significant in contemporary art. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Choquette studied territorial expansion in the history of Canada to look at the ideas that justified it. This work serves as a cautionary tale because it reveals that expansion, which required the displacement and dispossession of Indigenous Peoples, was made on the reason that it would improve their standard of living. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Zou studied how to efficiently model engineering products using computers. Through his work, he discovered the fundamental issues and challenges of the modeling efficiency problem and presented effective solutions. His findings and solutions could significantly reduce the time and cost in engineering design and improve design productivity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |