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. Gray discovered that, during stressful experiences, a neurotransmitter in the brain called vasopressin assists by restricting the release of stress hormones. This suggests that vasopressin is an important regulator of stress, and that low levels of vasopressin may be a factor in mental illnesses like depression, particularly in senior citizens and women. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Topornycky argues that moral responsibility does not require that choice originates outside the natural web of cause and effect. Choice is of moral concern because it partially constitutes our personhood. When we treat each other as persons, we are concerned with each other's will, which we protect by affording rights, and also holding one another responsible. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Jardon studied factors that affect the ability of genetically-engineered cells to produce proteins to treat diseases such as cancer or stroke. He showed that by inhibiting the process called autophagy, which causes cells to "eat" themselves, protein production could be increased, without affecting its quality. This research can benefit patients in need of modern biotechnology products. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Through his research, Dr. Loonchanta identified the structure of gelsolin, a protein involved in the regulation of cell movement. The findings contribute to our understanding of how cells "walk", and can be applied to the design of drugs which help to prevent the spread of cancer cells. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Salas-Fernandez studied new drugs for the treatment of malaria. She designed and evaluated a series of ant-imalarial drugs to explore the connections between structure and activity. This research contributes to the understanding of structural features that might help to overcome resistance to anti-malarial drugs. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Himmel examined the role of T cells and T regulatory cells in the human immune system and particularly in the setting of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dr. Himmel's work will further the development of clinical therapy using T cells or T regulatory cells for the treatment of chronic immune disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Park studied stories written in Classical Chinese which are included in Korean story collections from the 17th- to the 19th century. Her research highlights the diversity of the historical contexts of that period, challenges existing nationalistic scholarship, and opens up new possibilities for studying Korean literary culture. | Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD) |
| 2012 | High-risk neuroblastoma is an aggressive cancer that affects nerve cells and is hard to cure in children over 1 year of age. Dr.Morozova used state-of-the-art technologies to crack the genetic code of neuroblastoma cells. Her research revealed genetic errors that could provide clues for the development of new therapies for neuroblastoma patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Kirby worked with three ethnic groups in Panama to explore how farmers from different cultures manage crop choices and farming practices when faced with new market opportunities. She demonstrated that farmers incorporate cultural norms into their practices, which in turn increases crop diversity and food security within the country. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Stock investigated and defined the chemical variations preserved in the rocks surrounding the Red Lake Gold Mines in Northwestern Ontario. Through the documentation of both mineral and rock chemistry, she was able to identify the influences on gold formation and construct a new exploration tool | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Plemel tested several strategies that focused on replacing a biological substance known as myelin following injury to the nervous system. Loss of myelin is a common occurrence after Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injury and strategies improving myelin replacement should provide new treatments for these conditions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Vassilenko studied leukemia in mussels, which is associated with the presence of pesticides and oil in the water, and is similar to leukemia in humans. Dr. Vassilenko studied genetic and cellular transformations in the mussels, to develop leukemia detection methods. The results of the study will contribute to environmental monitoring and testing for carcinogens in our waters. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Mills participated in the ATLAS particle physics experiment on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. He made record-setting new measurements of a class of subatomic particles. The techniques he developed will benefit the particle physics community by allowing them to make high-precision measurements, using cheaper and more compact detectors than previously thought possible. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Vigneault developed a new kind of reactor that produces pure hydrogen for use in numerous kinds of vehicles. He built a membrane reactor that extracts hydrogen from water and methane in a compact way which has never been done before. The work will help fueling stations, and companies with large fleets of vehicles, to produce hydrogen efficiently and economically on-site. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Controlling and eliminating defects in die casting processes is an on-going challenge for manufacturers. Dr. Shi developed an original, advanced control methodology for die casting processes, to improve the operational conditions and minimize the defects that arise. The paper based on her research won an award from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Huang's research focused on improving the quality of service in next generation wireless communication systems. Efficient and flexible methods for allocating system resources were developed to enable better utilization of the radio spectrum. Dr. Huang's work aims to meet the growing demand for always-on, seamless and ubiquitous wireless communication services. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Au developed a theory to explain the development of Chinese socialist institutions from 1978 to 2011, based on case studies of Chinese legal reforms. He argues that change arose from the interplay between traditional socialist ideas and local practicalities. The research contributes to our understanding of past reforms and future policy considerations in China. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Debruin's research revealed a new role for the gene podocalyxin in blood vessels. She uncovered that podocalyxin is required on cells that line the blood vessels to maintain normal lung structure and vascular permeability. This work establishes an important role for podocalyxin in lung vascular health and function. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Majumdar worked on methods to increase the speed of Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans. His methods do not require any alteration in the hardware of the scanner; the acceleration can be achieved by modifying the software associated with it. His methods can be used to speed-up existing scanners with minimal cost. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Wong showed how high-elevation whitebark pine trees have become endangered due to an introduced fungal disease and native insects. She discovered irrecoverable shifts in species composition due to poor pine regeneration, decreased competition among adult trees, and increased growth of alternate tree species. Her research shows how global environmental change, such as introduced diseases, puts native species at risk. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Rozada conducted his research in the field of Mathematics. He studied the mathematical theory behind pattern formation in biological organisms. His work focused on the instabilities that give rise to variation in the patterns. It is expected his findings will contribute to this area of study. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Johnstone studied turn-of-the-20th century adventure texts that portray western Canada as the last North American frontier. She argues that Canadian and American feminist, adventure writers of the time use metaphors of physical movement in western Canada, to debate ideas of cultural identity, and to broaden women's horizons on both sides of the border. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Zhong developed an improved capillary electrophoresis-electrospray-ionization-mass spectrometry interface. This technology was proved to be useful for analysis of a variety of chemical compounds, such as small drug molecules, metabolites, peptides, proteins, and carbohydrates. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. Speechley examined decision-making processes in patients with schizophrenia. He found that patients have a diminished capacity to activate the logical reasoning parts of the brain when faced with conflicts between intuition and reasoning. This discovery aids doctors in comprehending why patients with schizophrenia maintain delusional beliefs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2012 | Dr. O'Day examined the ways in which part-time workers in Japan are organizing into new types of labour unions. Through fieldwork, he looked at how several unions were attempting to gain higher wages and improve job security. His research contributes to greater appreciation of how culture influences labour politics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |