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. Gong studied the controlled release of drugs that treat osteoporosis. These anti-osteoporotic drugs come from calcium phosphate silicate bone cement. His research proved that this drug delivery system could effectively restore osteoporotic bone fractures, and is therefore beneficial for bone restoration of patients suffering from osteoporosis. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mizrahi introduced a new class of Machine Learning algorithms, named LAP, which are used for practical network models. In the case of big structured networks and for large amounts of data, LAP offers a simple and effective learning tool. LAP can be applied for many different fields, such as social networks, computer vision and bio-informatics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Lacroix examined the anti-diabetes properties of dietary proteins. She showed that dairy proteins are sources of peptides, able to inhibit DPP-IV, an enzyme involved in blood glucose regulation. Findings from her work suggest the potential of food proteins to complement existing treatments with pharmaceutical drugs, for managing type 2 diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Namvar's research had roots in economics, decision theory and machine learning. He developed learning algorithms that use the emerging patterns of information flow over social networks to facilitate strategic decision-making. These algorithms will benefit the design of wireless sensor networks for applications such as environmental monitoring. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Tak studied plant-based insecticides, especially plant essential oils. He found that a synergy between the essential oil components was produced by increased penetration of the compounds through the insect's skin, which is called a cuticle layer. These studies may guide us to develop more efficient botanical insecticides for pest control. | Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Jabbari studied algorithms that predict the structure of RNA, which, like DNA, stores our genetic information. Complex RNA structures, known as pseudoknots, are present in diseases such as HIV, SARS and Huntington's. This study provides more efficient and more accurate tools for predicting RNA pseudoknots and gaining insight into those diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Burian studied resistance to antibiotics in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the world's deadliest human bacterial pathogen. He showed how M. tuberculosis coordinates multiple antibiotic resistance systems through a common pathway. Inhibiting this pathway to resistance may make previously ineffective antibiotics useful for tuberculosis treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Kim studied the academic socialization of international graduate students. She found their experiences and future trajectories dominated the way they socialized, as they negotiated their identities as valuable program members. This study reveals the challenges and variability in student socialization and the benefits of those interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Krayenhoff studied cities with trees, such as Vancouver. He developed and tested a computational model of atmospheric exchanges of heat and wind. Novel developments include how trees shade and shelter buildings. The new model helps us predict the effects of tree planting on air temperature and air pollution levels in cities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Flick developed new methodologies to characterize performance in fuel cell systems. She researched different approaches to understanding loss of performance, and proposed and implemented improvements. These studies are used to optimize the operation and architecture of a promising clean energy source, with many potential applications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Rahmani used high fidelity numerical methods to simulate the performance of bridges of various sizes during an earthquake. His research identified the need for change in current seismic design practices for bridges. The research will help to enhance seismic safety, reduce unnecessary expenses, and increase the resilience of bridges. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Yim studied the synthesis and applications of titanium and zirconium amidate complexes. These complexes were used toward hydroelement addition reactions to form carbon-nitrogen and carbon-zirconium bonds. The end products from these reactions have applications ranging from medicinal to materials chemistry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Trepanier completed her doctoral studies in the field of Curriculum Studies. She explored how museum visitors think and talk about learning in the context of an evaluation exercise. Her research will help improve self-report methods for the study of museum visit outcomes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zhang has made important contributions to the analysis of longitudinal studies, such as multi-year studies of HIV/AIDS. He addressed common problems, such as censored data, measurement errors, and missing data. His work and his proposed new methods are expected to make an important impact on HIV/AIDS research and other longitudinal studies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ibarra studied the ecology of two little-known owls in the temperate forests of the Andes. He tested whether the owls are good indicators of forest biodiversity in this threatened eco-region. He found that in older, structurally complex forests, there is a positive correlation between habitat-specialist owls and overall biodiversity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Rogers studied ways in which archivists and records managers protect the authenticity of digital records. She found records professionals place their trust in technological means of proving authenticity, rather than traditional archival means. Her findings have implications for trusting records over time and for organizational accountability. | Doctor of Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Horacek studied central European art from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. She examined the fusion between art and knowledge as imbued in artefacts that were collected and exchanged as gifts by monarchs of that period. Her research brings forward the socio-political agency of works of art and how they mattered to people who exchanged them. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Swenson examined the evaluation process for disability management programs that assist people with impairments to overcome employment barriers. She found that evaluation was based on criteria such as successful job placement and client satisfaction, and drew on multiple perspectives, including the workplace, medical, psychological and social. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Yates conducted ethnographic research into peer-to-peer adult education, within rural communities in Peru's Southern Andes. He explored government and non-government programs that promote indigenous methods of peer-to-peer adult education, and yet paradoxically prioritize employability and rural productivity over indigenous knowledge. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wang examined the connection between corporate behaviour and macroeconomic phenomena. He found physical investment is decreasing with outsourcing, which contributes to the general downward trend of investment in the US. His research also includes connection between macro volatility and micro volatility, and the effect of monetary policy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. McConechy studied uterine and ovarian cancers. Her research led to the discovery of cancer-specific mutation profiles, and focused on examining the effects of these mutations on protein structure and function. This work has contributed to the pathology field by helping to improve the classification and diagnosis of uterine and ovarian cancers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Salnykova demonstrated that ethnic conflict is associated with the level of deliberative capacity. She studied this relationship on the cases of post-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia. She explored the factors of deliberative capacity and the types of deliberative systems that may exist. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Lin studied factors that are important for attaching and removing the fatty acid, palmitate, from proteins in our bodies, and why this is significant. By identifying new enzymes that are responsible for the detachment of these fatty acid groups, he has made a remarkable contribution towards finding treatments for Huntington's disease and cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Xie studied how packages or sets of items can be automatically recommended to Internet users for such activities as trip-planning and course planning. The resulting recommendations are based on a user's preferences and constraints, such as budget. The packages built for each user provide immediate improvement to the level of customization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Cienciala examined how the physical environment in stream channels influences the distribution, quality and disturbance of fish habitat. This research informs natural resource management, conservation and restoration. It also provides insights into the potential consequences of land use and climate change for fish populations in running waters. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |