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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Dr. Slogan examined engineered fish habitat in Vancouver harbour, while developing a tool for managers. Results show how infrastructure affects light and current patterns thereby altering seaweed and invertebrate presence, while the effectiveness of microhabitats varies with tidal height. These findings will improve future design and feasibility. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Kushlev examined the psychological consequences of living in a connected wireless world. He showed that smartphones might prevent people from reaping the benefits from their daily social interactions. His findings highlight the importance of developing portable digital devices designed to support our in-person social interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Banitalebi explored the ways in which the quality of 3D video is assessed. He designed quality metrics and visual attention models for 3D video. His work can help camera and display manufactures and network providers determine 3D capturing parameters, improve 3D playback perceptual quality, and ensure Quality of Service during transmission. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mathes studied European Romantic literature and culture, and the history of aesthetics and feeling. She investigated disappointment as an aesthetic category in poetry and prose. Using affect theory, she explored the historically-specific relationships between Romantic writers, their writings, and the world in which these writings were produced. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Fayyazi studied the way in which structures that have deep foundations, such as bridges and high-rise buildings, push against the soil when horizontal pressure from earthquakes or other forces exist. His research covered a wide range of foundations for which limited data exist. His findings contribute to safer and more reliable foundation designs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Hubregtse examined the architecture and artworks in international airports. His concept "aero-kinaesthetics" considers the air terminal's aesthetics in terms of its capacity to order and affect passenger movement. His research offers a new understanding of how air terminal design contributes to the operation of international airports. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wu developed mathematical models to investigate cell responses to external forces. He applied mathematical principles to govern biophysical dynamics and chemical kinetics of the cells. His models help to reveal the mechanisms by which the cells can adapt to complicated environments, as well as protect themselves from external perturbations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Triscott's doctoral studies focused on the development of new methods to improve the treatment of high-grade brain tumors. Her work resulted in the identification of molecular targets that drive tumor formation. This work highlights the potential for repurposing clinically available drugs to prevent the growth of aggressive brain tumors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Marine ecosystems have been altered over millennia, but ecological data are typically only reported every ten years. Dr. Al-Abdulrazzak developed methods to integrate diverse data types, such as anecdotal evidence and satellite imagery. She used these methods to quantify changes in the distribution and abundance of marine species in the Persian Gulf. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Yu studied econometric models that may have multiple equilibria. He developed an approach to detect multiplicity of equilibria directly from observed variables. His study advanced our understanding of the relationship between the equilibrium behaviour and distribution patterns of data. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ouellet developed a powerful technology that allows scientists to rapidly discover new drugs called aptamers, which are made from short sequences of genetic material. He found that, by applying this technology, new treatments for macular degeneration could be identified. This is now being studied by researchers at UBC's Centre for Blood Research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Petersen examined psycho-social, clinical, and risk profiles of severely mentally ill individuals who were relocated as a result of the closure of BC's Riverview Hospital. Longitudinal data demonstrated positive changes in quality of life and independent living skills. In addition, there was no evidence that individuals in this study became homeless. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Yao completed her doctoral program in Experimental Medicine. She studied how cellular stress signals modulate the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune responses. These comprehensive studies showed for the first time that a subtype of CD4 regulatory cells, named Tr1 cells can inhibit responses to cellular stress signals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dopamine is a chemical in the human brain that is important for decision making. Dr. Pitman investigated how dopamine is regulated and what impact obesity has. She found that the mechanisms responsible for reducing dopamine release were not affected by obesity. Her work contributes to understanding how obesity can alter the decisions that we make. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zhang studied the function of blood cells, called macrophage, in the context of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of heart attacks. When macrophages had low activity of the eEF2K enzyme, there was less disease development. His results could one day lead to development of new drugs to block this enzyme, which could reduce heart attacks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ti studied the healthcare of illicit drug users in hospital settings. She found that hospitals can act as an environment that increases the risk of negative health outcomes among this population. Her research has important public health implications as it points to the need for harm reduction programs to be integrated in hospitals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Stouffer examined Reading Recovery training, an early literacy intervention. He investigated whether that training could be transferred into the literacy instruction in Canadian primary classrooms. This research adds to discussion of teacher preparation and professional development, and those teachers' personal theories of literacy instruction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Thompson studied methods used to estimate parameters and approximate the behaviour of time-dependent random processes. He used a new parameter estimator on wind velocity data and derived approximations for infinite-variance processes inspired by climate research. These results will aid scientists in modelling complex aspects of climate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Since school gardens are once again growing in school grounds across North America, Dr. Ostertag decided to grow a garden here at UBC as an arts-based research project to understand what it means to teach with a garden. In the company of plants and people, she engaged with the difficult history of school gardens and their pedagogical possibilities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Blinov studied extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics to understand the origins of dark matter and of the matter-antimatter asymmetry. He developed new models addressing these issues, making use of phase transitions in the Early Universe. These ideas will be tested at particle colliders and in experiments searching for dark matter. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ramamonjison developed new energy-efficient resource allocation schemes for fifth-generation, or 5G cellular wireless networks. His studies highlight the value of cooperation to support the escalating growth of mobile data traffic while lowering energy costs. His findings will help network operators and vendors design sustainable 5G systems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wrightson's research looked at the ways in which Indigenous peoples challenge museum exhibitions that reflect a colonial perspective. She found that Indigenous communities engage museums directly by creating new pieces and representing themselves. The result of these engagements supports Indigenous decolonizing political movements. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Rahman completed doctoral studies in the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She developed mathematical models for nanofiber based sensors, and investigated the effect of fiber density and geometry on device sensitivity. This study is helpful in cost minimization and sensitivity optimization of devices such as bio-hazard gas sensors. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gaudet conducted research into the mechanical properties of high strength steel pipelines, in the heat affected zone caused by welding. He showed the robust nature of the steel at typical pipeline operating temperatures. Dr. Gaudet's work improves our understanding of the mechanical behaviour in the heat affected zones of pipelines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Chen studied the performance of Chinese firms in the international market. He found that the most productive firms benefit more from the tough market competition since they can afford higher marketing costs. His research helped us to better understand the negative correlation between the productivity of Chinese firms and their export intensity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |