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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dr. Wu’s study demonstrates that trusting relationships accumulate social capital giving access to resources and skills. Actors utilize these resources and skills in social networks to advance knowledge mobilization. Her research broadens the overall understanding of how social factors impact knowledge mobilization for university research projects. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Reda developed methods to teach virtual characters to move realistically in physics-based simulations using reinforcement learning. By addressing challenges in exploration, data limitations, and environment design, his work enables robust, adaptable controllers for applications in character animation, humanoid robotics, and virtual reality. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Anderson investigated genetic and clinical factors linked to severe allergic reactions to a widely used childhood cancer drug. Drawing on data from a national pediatric cohort, he developed predictive models that reliably pinpoint high-risk patients. His work now enables safer, personalized care and improved outcomes for children with cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Soe studied mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety in groups underrepresented in pre-approval trials: older adults, children, and individuals with autoimmune diseases. Findings confirmed overall safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The results support evidence-based vaccination policies for vulnerable groups. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Matsell characterized the function and role of the enzyme ATP8A2, contributing to a deeper understanding of its connection to neurodegenerative disease. This work has strengthened the link between ATP8A2's function and disease mechanism, paving the way for the development of targeted therapeutics to aid patients affected by this condition. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Rothchild is interested in how small molecules are made in nature. They studied how fungal enzymes make a molecule that is toxic to insects and may have applications in agriculture. Knowledge of how these enzymes work can help us develop cheaper and more sustainable ways to make important molecules that we rely on. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2025 | Post-secondary student mental health has been well studied, but not much is known about the faculty side. Dr. Westcott’s study helps address this by mapping instructor experiences responding to students in distress. She recommends ways to support instructors in enacting care, while acknowledging instructor wellbeing is important in its own right. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Hogg studied how neurons shape their dendritic arbors during early brain development. Using in vivo imaging, he discovered new rules for how visual experience reorganizes synaptic connections. These findings improve our understanding of brain wiring and may provide insight into neurodevelopmental disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Yang examined the reliability of integrating machine learning with current rock mass characterization and classification methods. By identifying methodological challenges and developing a guideline for reliable machine learning modelling, her research provides key insights for rock engineers seeking to optimize geotechnical design practices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Cheung-Ismailzai’s research shows how the Standard North American Family (SNAF) ideal marginalizes diverse households by imposing hidden food-related labor. Her concept of “SNA-Foodwork” uncovers how class and race shape burdens in food planning and access. She calls for inclusive policies that address the needs of families. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Hammood developed chip-scale optical filters using silicon photonic circuits to advance high-speed optical links for AI, computing, and communications. His research on Bragg gratings and sub-wavelength structures improves filter performance. His work bridges the gap between prototyping and large-scale silicon photonics manufacturing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Fleury searched for evidence of new physics affecting white dwarfs, which are stellar remnants whose cooling rate could be altered by the emission of hypothesized particles such as axions. By comparing predictions from stellar evolution simulations to observations, she tested white dwarf cooling models and found new constraints on axion models. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Lu conducted groundbreaking research on the intersection of sustainable mining practices and climate change mitigation through carbon mineralization. Her dissertation explores the potential of ultramafic rocks, minerals, and tailings to capture, store, and remove anthropogenic CO2, offering a low-cost, scalable solution to combat climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Al-Salehi studied how headfirst impacts in vehicle rollovers cause neck injuries. He found that these impacts are much more likely to result in neck injuries and showed how people instinctively adjust their posture before the impact. His work, including a novel rollover simulator, will help design better safer vehicles and reduce neck injuries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2025 | Syler compared two interventions to help individuals maintain non-problematic alcohol use. The career-focused intervention had greater outcomes than the identity-focused intervention but his research also highlighted the possibility that individuals’ needs change throughout their recoveries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Salles Tsay's research focused on improving how important building information is created, shared, and used during construction projects and building operations. By studying real-world examples, he developed tools and a frameworks to help asset owners manage information better, ensuring higher quality and value. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr.Cervantes-Macías explores the migration journeys of Mexican professionals from Mexico to the United States and Canada. Through a mixed-methods approach, her research examines the role of social class and educational institutions in facilitating the international mobility projects of the global middle classes in a North American context. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Ibrahim investigated the mechanisms underlying cleft lip, a common congenital condition. Her research demonstrated that disrupting RhoA signaling interferes with normal lip development. In the future, these findings will inform therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of clefting. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2025 | Of special interest to inclusive education practioners, this musical storytelling intervention was designed for general classroom use, maximizing joyful learning for students of all abilities. Overall, the study showed statistically significant results for all participating students, particularly those scoring in the lowest quartile. | Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Tashakori created smart‑textile wearables that sense and analyze human motion. His machine‑learning tools turn fabric signals into precise, secure movement data for therapy, sports, and VR. Patients, clinicians, athletes, and interactive‑tech designers will benefit. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2025 | Is it possible for animals to be directly included in institutional decision-making? Dr. Ryan’s research in Applied Animal Biology explored how reframing human–animal relationships and including animals’ perspectives in decisions can lead to more ethical science, policy, and governance, benefiting the billions used by humans each year. | Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Kehila studied the evolution of social interactions between microorganisms. He discovered novel principles revealing how these microscopic creatures work together to breakdown oceanic debris, as well as manmade chemicals, like pesticides and antibiotics. These discoveries expand our view of how sociality evolves across the tree of life. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Singla engineered diagnostic methods to assess kidney health non-invasively using ultrasound and machine learning. His work advanced tools for kidney disease detection and management, accurately predicting kidney decline. This benefits people with chronic kidney disease, which affects one in ten Canadians, and those with organ transplantation. | Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Wong employed super-resolution microscopy to study endocytosis at the nanometer scale within cells. This research demonstrates how small molecule drugs and mutations impact the structure of individual endocytic vesicles and identified a stress-induced trafficking pathway with implications for disease research and drug development. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2025 | Dr. Rodell studied wildfire danger and behavior, developing ways to forecast them using hourly weather predictions and machine learning. He created a new model that improves fire danger estimates and enhances wildfire smoke modeling. This work helps fire managers and air quality forecasters make better decisions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD) |