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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Dr. Drost studied Arctic cod, a key Arctic marine food web fish that she collected in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Her research revealed a greater than expected thermal tolerance and a significant acclimation potential from 0 | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Black carbon particles are responsible for adverse health effects and climate forcing. Dr. Dastanpour discovered new relations between the morphology and properties of these aerosols over a wide range of combustion sources. His results have significant implications for measurement of soot emission rates and its contribution to climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Kaurah's research forms the basis for the management of families susceptible to an inherited stomach cancer. Her results not only provide more precise risk figures to improve genetic counselling, but also demonstrate the importance of long-term symptom management. Both findings have influenced the care of families internationally. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Alkhalaf examined the impact of including research variables that are naturally skewed (such as level of education) in logistic regression, a modeling technique used for making predictions. She found that addition of these variables might negatively impact statistical conclusions and interpretations. Her work concludes with guidelines for researchers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Cooper explored patterns of human dietary variation through stable isotope analysis of hair samples from modern and archaeological populations. Her research shows the applicability of hair isotope analysis in understanding current and past human diets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Cohen studied rare genetic syndromes causing generalized overgrowth. She expanded the spectra of genetic mutations and physical characteristics observed in patients affected with one of these disorders, called Weaver syndrome, and took the first steps in investigating the mechanism of disease at the molecular level. Dr. Cohen also identified a new cause of syndromic overgrowth, which will lead to more diagnoses of rare overgrowth patients in Genetics clinics across the world. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Instances of malicious software have increased significantly over the past several years. Dr. Alam developed a framework that uses machine learning to detect devices infected with malware on smartphones. This new adaptable framework will have considerable impact as new learning algorithms are developed and sensors are modified on smartphone devices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Lai investigated an acute myeloid leukemia model to identify and characterise key regulators of leukemia. She determined regions of an oncogene responsible for leukemic initiation, growth and drug resistance, and identified a new gene critical to these properties. Her work provides new insight into leukemia and potential treatment targets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Knowlton examined how indigenous Q'eqchi' Mayas' political encounters in defense of their ancestral territory in Guatemala resulted in moments of individual and collective learning. This research highlights the role of cultural continuity in Q'eqchi's' political organizing against extractive industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Jagdeo explored new ways in which picornaviruses hijack host cellular pathways to support the viral life cycle. The picornavirus family include many clinically relevant viruses such as poliovirus and coxsackievirus. Her work has provided new insights into viral-host interactions required to promote infection that may contribute to disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Yue developed an integrated system that recovers phosphorus from municipal wastewater. The system could produce high quality effluent from treatment plants, reduce waste sludge, and recover phosphorus as an eco-friendly fertilizer. Dr. Yue's research showcased how to turn waste into resources. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Beausoleil's research addresses how Canada can create a more innovative society. She experimented with UBC's strategic design method to develop a way of teaching the core thinking competencies required to be an innovator and devised a way to measure levels of innovativeness in individuals and organizations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2017 | Increasingly, computer simulations are being used in the field of education. Dr. Olvera Astivia studied computer algorithms used in simulations in the field of psychometrics, the study of mental capacity. His findings revealed that these algorithms rely on unacknowledged assumptions that, if altered, can change the design and conclusions obtained from these simulations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Halperin investigated novel methods for forest monitoring in the miombo woodlands of Zambia, Africa. He demonstrated that cost-efficient optical satellite imagery can be combined with ground data and soils maps to precisely map forest resources. These maps and information are critically needed for sustainable forest management. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Sexual reproduction requires the creation of sperm and eggs within the complex environment of the body. Dr. Fairchild investigated how specialized cells within the body form a physical architecture that guides the formation of sperm. This physical architecture is critical for the creation of sperm and consequently for the fertility of animals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Dudill examined fine sediment inputs to gravel bed rivers, and their effect on sediment transport, sedimentation and channel stability. The results were found to depend on the joint properties of the sediments, and have significant implications for river engineering and aquatic ecology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Tam's research examined the molecular mechanisms governing the progression of prostate cancer. His contributions to this field have shed light on some of the driving forces behind the disease and will help inspire novel therapeutics for those suffering from it. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Arora studied Sikh women living in the Widow Colony slum after the 1984 Sikh massacre in Delhi, India. She found that a city's spatial configuration impacts gender violence, and that violence has long-term effects on the body, memory, and kinship. She also examined how religious practices aid healing, and 1984's importance in the Sikh diaspora. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Lanaro used molecular simulations to observe how crystals form and dissolve in solution. The simulation data was collected and analized to uncover details about the first stages of crystal formation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Mercer developed and tested a method of measuring the contributions fathers make to rearing healthy children in South Africa. Future application of this method in national surveys will inform initiatives to remove barriers and encourage positive, gender-equitable parenting by fathers. | Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Schroeter studied the discourses of difference of students in a Francophone minority language school. She found that multiracial youth monitor talk about race, nation, class, and gender through uses of humour and denial in liminal (e.g. drama) and formal spaces. This research highlights the necessity for anti-racist and decolonizing pedagogies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Hosseini studied the development of non-precious metal oxides as oxygen electrocatalysts for a number of energy conversion systems such as rechargeable metal-air batteries. His research introduced the next generation of high-performance, cost-effective electrocatalyst materials as alternatives to noble metals in the energy storage industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Yeung examined the function of a novel molecule in cerebellar development, Wntless, and how it defines new compartments in cerebellar development. She also documented that Pax6 is a master gene for the cerebellum as in other brain regions. Her findings will lead to new understandings of the molecular bases of cerebellar development and disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Image restoration aims at enhancing the quality of images by undoing the adverse effects of image degradation and needs to be addressed as part of most imaging systems. Dr. Xiao developed numerical optimization and machine learning methods for image restoration that are suitable for modern mobile and high-resolution imaging. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Son examined the ways Koreans living in Japan transmit their Korean language to their children who were born in Japan. The study reveals Korean children are socialized into multiple perceptions of language and identities through everyday interactions with others. She highlights the relationship between their perceptions and identities and their language usage. | Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD) |