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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Dr. Unda investigated the role of a group of carbohydrates in poplar trees. Changes in these carbohydrates resulted in trees with increased cellulose content. Enhancing the characteristics of the wood produces trees which can store carbon more effectively and therefore produce better biofuels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Sedgwick explored the trial of Japanese leaders after World War II. He provides a behind-the-scenes, experiential history of a groundbreaking judicial undertaking and multilateral institution. His work reinterprets modern internationalism and global governance as a messy and negotiated process, rather than a staid set of promises and ideals. | Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Boivin studied Granzyme B, an enzyme that breaks apart proteins, to determine its role in blood vessel and skin diseases. She identified proteins outside of cells, specifically broken down by Granzyme B, that contribute to those diseases. Dr. Boivin's work resulted in several articles being published in scientific journals, as well as patents licensed to a local biotechnology company. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Hernandez studied the aesthetic disfiguration that reduces the value of wood products when they are exposed outdoors. His work revealed that weathered wood surfaces are grayed by the interactive effects of solar radiation and fungal colonization. This knowledge can be used to develop new and less toxic treatments to stop the graying of weathered wood. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Lang developed a scheme for controlling the movements and activities of a mobile robot without using direct human intervention. The methodologies and technologies which were developed can be applied to providing assistance to individuals in home environments, as well as rescuing people in disaster situations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. She investigated the function of receptors that facilitate the transmission of information in the brain through a process called neuro-transmission. He focussed on a family of neuro-transmitters called the NMDAR receptors. These studies add to our understanding of the roles these receptors play in many diseases including stroke, epilepsy, addiction, and psychiatric disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2012 | The stellar winds of nearly half the dying stars in the universe have remained a mystery for almost four decades. As a result of his research, Dr. Thirumalai has been able to propose a mechanism that promises a resolution of this outstanding problem. His work brings together two hitherto disparate areas of physics into a single cohesive theory, with implications for dying stars as well as for stars that are still forming in the universe. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Bichler developed a procedure for the formation of carbon-sulfur bonds, which finds application in the synthesis of molecules with therapeutic properties. Currently, the work is being applied towards the development of medications for the treatment of parasitic illnesses including Chagas disease and malaria. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Celestino defended an original semantic and metaphysical account of mental states such as beliefs and desires, their reports and fiction. She provided a new understanding of how we talk about things with words. Her research thus contributes to the understanding of how language works. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Heine conducted research into stem cells and the way blood vessels regenerate. She implanted a device, similar to a petri dish, which allows the study of cells within the living body. Her work revealed that there are subtle and complex relationships between cells under different conditions. The findings will contribute to advancements in stem cell research. | Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Ng developed resource allocation algorithms for facilitating energy- efficient "green" wireless communication systems. The proposed algorithms are able to reduce the energy consumption of the communication networks, while maintaining high data rates. They are expected to have a great impact on both industry and academia. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Schreier randomly assigned adolescents to volunteer activities, to examine whether this could improve their physiological health. She found that, following her intervention, volunteers had lower levels of cardio-vascular risk markers than control participants, suggesting novel ways to improve health among youth while contributing positively to society. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Hamilton examined the genomic and phenotypic architecture of a Sitka and white spruce hybrid zone spanning maritime to continental climates in British Columbia. Her research provides insight into the mechanisms underlying adaptation across ecologically transitional hybrid zones, providing new tools for managing these important tree species. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Yang examined one of the largest instances of political migration in modern Chinese history: one million soldiers and civilian refugees who followed Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist regime from mainland China to Taiwan, after the Chinese civil war in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This study of displaced communities in Asia during the Cold War offers new perspectives on exile, displacement, and Chinese diaspora. | Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. van Pel used the genetics of baker's yeast to identify new protein targets for cancer drugs. He used this knowledge to identify chemicals that could selectively kill human tumor cells, which may lead to the development of new drugs to treat a wide variety of cancers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Mawani made a series of compounds for the treatment of bone density disorders, studying their efficacy in cells and bone mineral. From these studies, one compound was identified for the potential oral treatment of osteoporosis and thus requires further analysis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Shahidi-Zandi developed novel, real-time methods to detect and predict epileptic seizures, using scalp Electro-encephalo-grams, or EEG. He tested these methods on EEG data from patients with epilepsy, and showed that the proposed techniques could be applied for diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, and for improving a patient's quality of life. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Wang examined the factors that control the molecular function of a type of immune cell called a T regulatory cell. When the activities of these cells go awry, diseases such as auto-immunity and cancer can result. This research has revealed potential tactics to better use T regulatory cells for treatment of those diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Ikeda used the framework of fascism as a lens through which to understand art and visual culture in wartime Japan. Her study highlighted Japan's intellectual and artistic dialogues with Germany and Italy during the period of extreme nationalism and military conflict and showed how fascism was disseminated through art production and cultural institutions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Wang studied the importance of formal and informal institutions in economic development in China. He found that social capital play important roles in voluntary mutual aid and community management of common pool resources in rural China, and the then-existing family class identities still affect households' current economic status in urban China. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Chi studied the effects of hurricanes on mangrove vegetation on Turneffe Islands, Belize. He showed that, unless humans have intervened, vegetation re-establishes in the same general location after catastrophic hurricanes. He developed a model for formation of islands, or cays, to demonstrate the effects of storm energy on vegetation and coral reefs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Fairbank studied the ways in which cells protect themselves against stress and death. She investigated the role of a particular protein known as gp78, and examined previously unknown ways in which groups of proteins known as G proteins interact. This research deepens our understanding of the complex biology of cell survival and adaptation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Luesink demonstrates the rapid shift, in China, from a cosmology centered in Confucian orthodoxy toward a scientific worldview based on material practices like anatomical dissection and bolstered by a vast technical terminology. The establishment of these practices led to regulation of the profession and attempts to abolish Chinese medicine. | Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Virani examined barriers to predictive testing facing individuals in rural communities who are at risk for the inherited brain disorder, Huntington disease. She developed a novel telehealth testing protocol for predictive testing and showed that this model improves access to testing, without compromising quality of care and support. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Chan used Organization Theory to study professional practice change in health care. She examined the role of physician engagement and inter-organizational collaboration in bringing about practice change among family physicians. Her case study showed that professional boundaries were able to shift among family physicians involved with the Division of Family Practice in BC. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |