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. Alemu studied Ethiopian public intellectuals in Canada and the United States. He adapted the narrative methodology to write an original novella that explored academic freedom. His writing described the tensions between inevitable silences and the necessity of speaking out that mark the realities of many scholars of the African diaspora. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sous studied bipolarons, a type of paired electron, and localization. His results show that bipolarons can be very light, opening the possibility to a new mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. His work also explains the non-equilibrium behaviour of quenched molecular gases in terms of the quantum phenomenon of localization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Tuberculosis remains a disease of public health importance in Canada. Dr. Guthrie used genomics to understand the person-to-person spread of TB over a decade in BC. Her research provided important insights into transmission, including risk factors related to the spread of TB. This work will inform public health strategies to prevent transmission. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Marchant studied the immune system of premature babies. Examining the function and development of immune cells, her work characterizes the maturation of the infant's immune response and explains their high susceptibility to infections. Her research helps to develop interventions to prevent life-threatening infections in the premature infant. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2019 | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology is gaining attention in a variety of computer applications, but is challenged by resource intense debugging processes. Dr. Eslami worked on enhancing existing verification and debugging techniques to help designers identify functional bugs and ensure the correct functionality of designs implemented on FPGAs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Forest harvesting affects the stability of stream ecosystems by altering organic matter flows. Dr. Yeung studied how and why leaf litter breakdown and quantity vary across space and time in natural and logging-affected streams. His findings provide new directions for managing forests and watersheds to sustain the ecological integrity of streams. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Liu examined the social and environmental performance of Chinese state-owned companies in Kenya. Findings revealed the promises and limitations of China's state-centric corporate social responsibility approach to shape Chinese companies' behaviour overseas. This research contributes to the regulation of sustainable investment in Africa and beyond. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2019 | Teaching relevant and meaningful science is a challenge to most high school science teachers. Dr. Winston's research demonstrated how linking school science with local manufacturing in Tanzania can create relevant and meaningful science learning. His findings have implications for the ongoing curriculum and instruction reforms in Tanzania | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Surtees investigated English language learning, focussing on conversations between study abroad students and their peers. Her findings highlight factors that help and hinder abilities to build peer networks in English as well as the important role that previous international experience plays in facilitating interaction and relationship building. | Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Mendee studied the democratic developments of Mongolia and Kyrgyz Republic. He showed that the absence of geopolitical interests of great powers and presence of a strong political party are important for the democratization process. His research adds to our understanding of the politics of Asian small states. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Rozworska's research showed that mothers who support their daughters emotionally and can manage their own emotions, have daughters with fewer eating disorder difficulties. She concluded that teaching mothers strategies for emotional support can be a beneficial addition to traditional therapies for eating disorders in youth. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Oleaginous bacteria have considerable potential for the sustainable production of lipid-based chemicals. Dr. Round's research characterized and exploited lipid biosynthesis enzymes to create a biocatalyst. The work provides insight into bacterial lipid biosynthesis and facilitates the development of processes to sustainably produce oleochemicals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Nitta studied the regulation of signal transduction that occurs during plant immunity. Her work contributes to help uncover mechanisms which plants use to control the magnitude of defense responses. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Bernier investigated the nuclear structure of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes relevant to nuclear astrophysics using gamma-ray spectroscopy. Her work contributed to explain how the nuclear force holds atomic nuclei together and how heavy elements are created in stars. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hendra developed and tested mathematical models for the simulation of turbulence, chemistry, and their interactions. These models could aid in the development of cleaner and more efficient internal combustion and jet engines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Edwards developed new methods for using air and water sensitive catalysts for the synthesis of amines with minimal generation of waste. He has also used these methods to create new molecules that could have potential uses in the development of new pharmaceuticals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Liu examined the structural behaviour of typical cross-laminated timber (CLT) connections, commonly used in multi-story buildings. Work entailed robust experimental setup, a mechanism-based model and detailed parameter study. This research increases our understanding of the structural performance of the CLT connections under complex loading. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Brown studied the interaction between tumours and the immune system in thousands of cancer patients. He used computational genomics methods to make predictions about how immune cells may recognize and attack these tumours, relating this to patient outcomes. This work identified patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2019 | New understanding of space and time arises in the fundamental realization of the Universe. Dr. Yeh studied space as a pixel picture encoded in a set of matrices. He found how matrices reconstruct smooth spaces. His research contributes to revealing the origin of the Universe. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Starko explored how environmental conditions have shaped the evolutionary dynamics and ecological strategies of an important group of marine primary producers. His work spanned multiple spatial and temporal scales from large-scale patterns of evolution through deep time to the development of individual species. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Marsden's articulation and application of The World Pattern of Process provides a unique, interdisciplinary approach to the Great Chain of Being, Indigenous world views, and Theories of Everything. Based on energy and key patterns inherent in a four-fold process, her study offers a holistic approach to knowledge systems and re-invigorates dialectics on human be-ing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Nguyen studied the fabrication method, the electrochemomechanical properties, and the modeling of ultrathin conducting polymer transducers. This research assists us in understanding the performance and demonstrates the adaptability in microsystems of such a thin beam. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Belliveau developed algorithms that produce three-dimensional images of the interior of the earth from remotely collected electrical and magnetic measurements. These images help scientists understand the Earth's interior. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Buchwalder developed a new class of molecules to bind radioactive isotopes and attach them to disease targeting vectors. Specifically, he found that ligand molecules bind zirconium ions particularly strongly. His work contributes to the development of better diagnostic and potentially therapeutic agents for applications in nuclear medicine. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Barron explored the multiple ways suburban trees can be configured to maximize a range of benefits for the local community. Using a scenario approach that was informed by local residents, urban forest practitioners, and academics, she concluded that future forests can thrive in more dense suburban landscapes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |