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. Wang studied the causes of an autoimmune hair loss disease called alopecia areata. He discovered the triggers of the immune attack leading to hair loss, linked the disease with heart tissue damage, and created a new disease model. His research advanced our understanding of the development and adverse outcomes of alopecia areata. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Shesterinina studied mobilization in civil war. Intensive fieldwork in Abkhazia showed that it was activation of collective norms and understandings of history and identity that triggered participation in violence, rather than personal safety calculations. This research helps us understand the decisions of ordinary people in high-risk conditions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Patterson's research shows that population health is stronger in democratic countries. Compared to other countries, democracies have about 11 years of longer life expectancy, 57% less infant mortality, and 21% less overall mortality. He concludes that democracies improve life expectancy, in large part by promoting economic prosperity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Liu developed a broadly applicable strategy for preparing radioactive diagnosis drugs. Based on this strategy, a series of promising radiolabeled peptides have been made, two of which are scheduled to enter early phase clinical trials. Dr. Liu's work has been recognized as an essential step in developing personalized medicine for cancer patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Rosales worked in the history and philosophy of science, at both the Department of Philosophy and the Biodiversity Research Centre at UBC . He showed that scientists need narratives to explore, represent, and explain the world. Our understanding of science is incomplete without taking into account its narrative component. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Hunter explored sustainability policy and practice at Vancouver Island University. She interviewed administrators, faculty and students and applied the work of sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu, to help explain why some sustainability policies and practices are more successful than others, and how a campus culture of sustainability can be increased. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Toews studied the effects and consequences of the interbreeding among birds, specifically species of warblers. Using a range of techniques, data and field research, he demonstrated varied outcomes when distinct bird groups interbreed. Dr. Toews' findings have important implications for our understanding of adaptation and the formation of species. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. McKeown examined the ways student survey results are used to measure program quality and student learning at UBC. She found that averaging student survey results across program majors could result in misleading information about program quality. Her study has implications for the design of program effectiveness surveys and evaluation research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Tockman examined indigenous rights and self-governance in Bolivia. He observed divergent trajectories in 11 new institutions of indigenous self-governance, which is due to power relations among indigenous peoples and contemporary territorial boundaries. He explained why the government has grown increasingly ambivalent toward indigenous rights. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Bowden investigated the ways in which bacteria lead to infection in humans. She studied a protein made by the superbug Staphylo-coccus aureus, and discovered how it interacts with the red blood cell protein hemoglobin, in order to get iron. These studies provide insight into how bacteria acquire the iron they need to establish infection in humans. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Plaut's study brought together the worlds of journalism, human rights and socio- political change, across state and national borders. Over a period of two years, she interviewed 45 journalists and journalism educators from the Saami and Romani communities in six countries. Her findings inform best practices for teaching human rights journalism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Knight explored the ethical implications of routine HIV testing practices among young men in Vancouver. In his research, he described how HIV-related stigma can be influenced by routine testing practices, as well as how young men choose to test for HIV based on relational values such as solidarity and health equity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sihota investigated hydro-carbon contamination. She developed a new approach to assess the extent and rate of natural degradation processes at hydro-carbon-impacted field sites. This helps us understand the role of naturally occurring degradation processes in contaminant mass removal, and can aid in assessment and management of contaminated sites. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Greuel studied speech perception in preverbal infants, and discovered that changing the shape of their mouths with various teething toys affected the way infants process speech. This helps us understand the early links between speech perception and production, and may lead to new treatment methods for children with speech and language disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Fu investigated how high school physics teachers in China exercise both their individual and collective influence in the on-going nationwide curriculum reform. The study offers a clear understanding of the impact of physics teachers and sheds light on the efforts to attain the desired curriculum decentralization in China. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. McDonald investigated interactions between opportunistic pathogens and human immune cells in diseases with underlying defects in immunity. In particular, she found that the bacteria Burkholderia cenocepacia has multifaceted ways of evading the innate immune response and that potent neutrophil activity is required to prevent infections. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kovacevic studied Listeria mono-cyto-gen-es, a foodborne bacterium that causes disease in humans. She found some bacteria are more likely to cause disease, and they possess genetic elements that improve their survival in the food chain. This research highlights the need for better control and detection of high-risk Listeria strains. | Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sveinsson's research focussed on the genetic evolution of plants. He succeeded in demonstrating the usefulness of DNA sequencing methodology, in addressing biological questions about several species of plants. The results of his study are likely to be of benefit to other researchers working in the field of plant evolutionary biology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kukard developed a micro-reactor to study catalysts for upgrading of Canadian oilsand bitumen. This reactor allowed him to determine both how the catalyst functions and how it loses performance. His contributions will allow for a better understanding and more efficient development of catalysts for oil upgrading processes in the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Xu studied the regulatory and signalling components in plant immunity, in Dr. Xin Li's lab at Michael Smith Laboratories and the Department of Botany. Using genetic approaches, she identified three important genes which are essential to the plant immune response. Her thesis research contributes to the better understanding of plant immune system. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Wan developed a nanoparticulate drug delivery system. It was demonstrated to be effective in encapsulating high concentration of the aniticancer drugs, paclitaxel and docetaxel, and an inhibitor of the drug efflux protein, P-glycoprotein. His studies suggest a novel way of treating multidrug resistance that is common in many cancer patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kaviani conducted his research into Cloud Computing. He focussed on making applications run faster and cheaper in the Internet of clouds, while ensuring the security and privacy of stored information. If his recommendations are implemented, it will allow software services to be provided to customers at lower cost with improved security. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Schuster investigated systematic conservation planning in human-dominated landscapes. He developed novel techniques to maximize efficiency in biodiversity conservation via carbon sequestration and land management. His work provides guidelines to successfully fund conservation investments and highlights their potential benefits and shortfalls. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Marwaha established a previously unknown role for a new subset of immune cells in children with type 1 diabetes. This work has led to trials of a new therapy that will target these cells in the diesease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kim examined ocean literacy during a summer camp. He offered directions for Marine Education which included facilitating student's connectedness to the ocean, and providing opportunities for emotional connections through direct experiences. Dr. Kim also re-imagined the Ocean Literacy definition of sustainability to embrace an Earth-centered view. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |