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 | NID |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dr. Winslow studied Mercury's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind. She developed a new method to measure the magnetic field strength at the surface of planets using high altitude spacecraft magnetic field and plasma observations. She applied this technique to Mercury, making the first measurements of its surface magnetic field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Lytle investigated the worldviews of three groups of stakeholders in resource development: the developers, local residents and opponents of development. He found strong links between the differing worldviews and levels of acceptance of resource development. This may help developers to recognize potential conflict before it arises in the field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Khan examined the experiences of both clients and counsellors who engage in online therapy, that is counselling over the Internet. This study highlights new developments in counselling using the world wide web. It also addresses the gap in services in certain geographic areas, and ethical implications related to privacy and standards of practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Wilson examined how the heart rate is controlled in the ancestral chordate, the Pacific hagfish. The hagfish heart has no nerves, and can contract in absence of oxygen (anoxia) for over 2 days. In doing so, he discovered a new bicarbonate-mediated pathway to control heart rate, which could lead to advances in the medical field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Lukatela examined how international development agencies adopt and implement mainstreaming policies. She found that the behaviour of senior managers is influenced by their networks, while middle managers are directed by personal values. This research explains the persistence of challenges in achieving development goals, such as gender equality. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Volek examined the uptake of Mikhail Bakhtin's work in contemporary sociolinguistic research, and found that Bakhtin has been cited as the authority for a variety of contradictory positions. Dr. Volek argues that this is a product of the sociality of language and offers insight into the relationship between theory and applied language research. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Routray studied the effects of urban planning on poor migrants in Delhi. With a focus on different modes of political mobilization, he examined their participation, negotiation and resistance to urban planning policies. Along with contributing to academia, the research findings will benefit urban planners, policy makers and grassroots activists. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ha studied the genome alterations in the DNA of cancer cells. He developed novel computational algorithms to detect these mutations in breast and ovarian cancer patients. His work has advanced our understanding of how tumours evolve and will facilitate future studies on genetic causes for treatment resistance and cancer metastasis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Takano completed his doctoral studies in the field of Counselling Psychology. He investigated the process of change in men who had committed violence against their partners, and captured the concept of change in the form of stories. This study discovered the series of meanings which construct the experience of change in these men. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Grisdale studied the genomes of a red alga and a fungal parasite. His research examined the effects of genome reduction on fundamental cellular and genetic processes. This study shows that some reduced systems can tolerate the loss of genes that are critical for survival in most organisms, showing new limits of genetic flexibility. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Pryjma studied the pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, which acts as a disease causing agent . His research demonstrates how Campylobacter regulates its own metabolism and how it infects human cells. These finding are important as they help to explain how Campylobacter induces disease and what nutrient sources it uses while doing so. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. Dr. Yan tried to develop a new cure for prostate cancer based on the natural molecules found in an Indonesian marine sponge. With his colleagues, Dr. Yan has identified the structure of a promising anti-cancer drug which may save the lives of thousands of Canadian men every year. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 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. Chehal's doctoral studies revealed the degree to which breast cancer can impair the development and function of the immune system. Her discoveries improve our understanding of how breast cancer manipulates anti-tumor immunity. They also suggest new treatment strategies to energize the immune system in the fight against cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Bernhard studied the regulation of HIV-1 latency. She characterized an important mechanism involved in repression of HIV-1 and identified and characterized small molecules that purge cells latently infected with HIV-1. These findings increase our understanding of how HIV-1 expression is regulated and move us closer to a cure for HIV-1/AIDS. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (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. Hosking's doctoral studies focussed on decision making: why some individuals choose differently from others, and the neuro-biology underlying those differences. His research revealed brain regions and neuro-chemistry responsible for our "worker" or "slacker" preferences, and suggests that therapeutic interventions will not be one-size-fits-all. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Farhang completed her doctoral studies in the field of Materials Engineering. She studied alternative processes for manufacturing composite structural parts in the aerospace industry. She developed a simple aid which can be used to enhance the manufacturing process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Nogueira studied aspects of a surprising connection between Quantum Mechanics and Gravity called Holographic Principle, a novel framework that allows for a better understanding of the nature of gravity. The research builds upon what was previously known and furthers our understanding of the behaviour of objects such as Black Holes and Boson Starts. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Casanova-Moreno studied the characteristics of chemically modified electrodes, typically employed in bio-sensors used for healthcare applications. Different processes that create imperfections on the deposited organic layers were described. These results are expected to translate into better performance and reliability of the modified biosensors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Afsham developed different algorithms for tracking 2D ultrasound images to construct a 3D volume. The study was performed on different subjects for prostate biopsy and spinal epidural needle insertion. The reconstructed 3D volume will help radiologists and clinicians with faster and more accurate diagnoses. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Plasencia studied safety-seeking behaviour in social anxiety and its connection to sense of self, including self-esteem, self-authenticity, and social relatedness. Examining these interrelationships helps us understand how change occurs during psychotherapy and highlights areas for improving treatments for social anxiety disorder. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Denroche studied the hormone Leptin as a treatment to lower blood sugar in a mouse model of Type 1 diabetes. Her work revealed some of the potential benefits and limitations of Leptin as an alternate or adjunct therapy to insulin for Type 1 diabetes. This research helped to uncover the molecular mechanism behind the anti-diabetic actions of Leptin. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Elahimehr's research at UBC's Pulp and Paper Centre was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through the support of 11 industrial partners in Canada. Dr. Elahimehr established a new method to optimize the process of mechanical pulping. This new method can save up to 2% of BC's electrical energy consumption. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Leaney completed his PhD in Geophysics. His thesis dealt with the influence of elastic anisotropy on micro-earthquakes generated during hydraulic fracturing. A data set from central Alberta was analyzed using newly developed techniques, which should benefit the oil and gas industry in Canada, the US and the rest of the world. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |