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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dr. De Rego developed a numerical model that simulates bank erosion and channel shifting on rivers. She used it to show how river stability is impacted by the construction and removal of dams. This research can be used to predict the long-term impact of dams on river dynamics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2018 | As the world's population ages, mobility and cognitive impairments are major healthcare priorities. Dr. Hsu's research advanced our understanding of the neural interplay between cognition and mobility in aging. His work facilitates the development of novel interventions to promote healthy aging. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Nyamandi investigated the heart in obesity and diabetes. She showed that a diet high in fat and sucrose causes greater cardiac dysfunction than high fat alone, and that inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK pathway prevents the onset of cardiac dysfunction in a diabetic model. This work advances our knowledge of diet- and diabetes-related cardiac disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Ramon-Hidalgo examined the role of social capital and networks at empowering rural communities running ecotourism projects in Ghana. This research highlights the importance of considering ethnic and gender differences as well as the role of agents of change to devise effective practices in community-based natural resources management. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Cedillo studied how national legal systems impact the interpretation of globalized standards. Using Mexico as a case study, she developed a framework for states to establish their interpretation of the term public policy using four specific factors and local legal elements. Her work guides us to engage with pluralistic perspectives in law. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Feng showed how a leading foodborne pathogen called Campylobacter jejuni responds to environmental stress and survives in particular states. This study demonstrates the potential risk of fragile microorganism in the environment and food system. His work will contribute to food security. | Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Petrov studied sustainability of biomass-based community energy systems. She developed a more accurate impact assessment methodology compared to existing ones in terms of impacts on local air quality, human health and global warming. She then applied this methodology to evaluate techno-economic and social aspects of a UBC bioenergy demonstration plant. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Crowe studied how Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, is able to use cholesterol while inside the lungs of infected individuals. Specifically, he clarified how the last half of the cholesterol molecule is degraded. This work has implications in TB pathogenesis and may facilitate the development of new therapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Jahangiri developed a mathematical model to describe the behaviour of reactors used to produce medical radioisotopes for cancer diagnosis. This research helps us understand the dynamic behaviour of these reactors to improve their performance. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Parody is traditionally understood as the use of existing work to mock or evoke humour. Dr. Lai examined whether parodies infringe on copyright laws. She further defined the scope of protection that copyright law should provide for the right to parody and applied it to several jurisdictions in order to bring their copyright jurisprudences in line with their traditions of free speech. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Gardner examined the ancient history and archaeology of the Mani peninsula, a remote region in southern Greece. She studied the unique local identity of the inhabitants under the superpowers of Rome and Sparta, and presented a novel way to study marginal places in the ancient world. Hers is the most comprehensive work on ancient Mani to-date. | Doctor of Philosophy in Classics (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Floman examined the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of digital meditation trainings for teachers. From teachers' perspectives, the meditation practices were highly engaging, and moderately efficacious and enjoyable. More research is needed, however, to determine the efficacy of digital meditations for teachers using objective measures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Koerner examined how concepts of place and resilience contribute to understanding interactions between charitable development programs and social enterprise initiatives in the world's largest NGO, BRAC Bangladesh. Her research offers insights into this complex and integrated approach in pursuit of long-term pathways toward lives of dignity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Jang examined eighteenth-century British literary depictions of women's sexual behaviour. Through a theoretical perspective that focuses on how human nature coevolved with culture to inform our behaviour, she explored how engagement with risk might shape women's erotic experiences. Her study revealed overlooked aspects of women's sexual nature. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Lasinsky explored the effectiveness of a novel treatment program for pediatric obesity. This work highlighted the use of telehealth in BC to provide healthy lifestyle counselling services to children and families. Her research assists in understanding the benefits and challenges of an intervention program outside the traditional in-person setting. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Seidalinov developed a theoretical model for stress-strain response of soft soil deposits during earthquake events. He implemented his model in a versatile computational framework and validated it in complex loading scenarios. Researchers and engineers can use this tool to evaluate the stability of clay deposits and related infrastructures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Grant explored the extent to which violence is used against environmental defenders in Cambodia. Her findings demonstrate that the threat of violence undermines the effectiveness of forest conservation projects but people continue to participate as an act of political resistance. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Mohamed's doctoral studies focused on improving the quality of bio-fuel and bio-char produced from biomass using microwave heating and natural additives. His findings contribute to the current global effort in developing economically viable technology for the production of liquid bio-fuel and engineered bio-chars for soil applications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Why are some seniors more susceptible to hip fractures than others? To address this question, Dr. Tang studied patients who had sustained a hip fracture. By combining laboratory and clinical studies from the materials perspective, she improved our understanding of how the hip fractures in a clinical setting. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Attia explored the deconstruction pathway of the plant cell wall component xyloglucan in the soil bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus. He discovered and functionally characterized different degrading enzymes essentially involved in this neat utilization pathway. This work identifies extremely useful enzymes for future biofuel production. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. O'Reilly examined the problem of weight stigma in health care and how to reduce this bias among health care providers. Her findings show that an online course with multiple stigma reduction strategies can be useful in addressing weight stigma among health care providers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Program comprehension is a crucial aspect of software engineering. Dr. Alimadadi proposed automated techniques for facilitating comprehension, helping developers understand the dynamic behaviour and motifs of program execution. Results showed that her methods significantly improve the performance of developers in their everyday tasks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Zou studied the relationship between somatostatin receptors and cannabinoid receptor 1 and found that these receptors exist and function in a complex. She also explored the pathological significance of such interaction in neuronal toxicity, offering a potential target for drug discovery against related neurological disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Isovaline is a rare amino acid brought to earth by meteorite in 1969. Dr. Asseri studied the effects of isovaline as an analgesic in animal pain models and brain tissue, discovering its potential to decrease neural excitability and reduce pain. These findings demonstrate that isovaline may serve as a prototype of painkillers with minimal side effects. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Borona investigated how communities can leverage Indigenous Knowledge to better protect their landscapes and livelihoods. She found that land, ecological restoration, and food production are the main avenues where this knowledge is applied. This research illuminates the role of community engagement in ensuring sustainable conservation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |