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. Bordet studied volcanic rocks formed 50 million years ago in central British Columbia. She showed that volcanism was triggered by dynamic interactions between tectonic plates and ancient subducted slabs beneath the Canadian Cordillera. Outcomes of this study apply to both mineral and oil and gas resources exploration in British Columbia. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Hu has shown how the complex enzymes produced by mushrooms and fungi can break down cellulose, found in woods and plants. Cellulose is the world's most common form of sugar and it can be used to make biofuels. Dr. Hu (or Who) plans to continue exploring the universe in his time-travelling police box, the Tardis, powered by renewable biofuels! | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Comin investigated the physics of correlated oxide materials and the manifestation of charge localization as a hallmark of unconventional states of matter. This experimental work focused on the discovery of charge ordering in high-temperature superconducting copper-oxides and of novel relativistic insulating phases in iridium-based materials. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. DeGiuli studied the flow of granular materials like sand and soil, and derived fundamental equations governing stress transmission in those materials. These equations will improve the mathematical models used every day by civil, chemical, and mechanical engineers in a range of industries, from food processing to pharmaceuticals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Wang examined how the function of an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase is regulated in the heart. She found that this enzyme is controlled by multiple factors, and diabetes disrupts the proper functioning of this enzyme. This research is expected to assist in the development of therapeutic targets that prevent diabetic heart disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Latifi studied the way structures might respond to an earthquake when they are close to the causative fault. He factored the flexibility of the foundation system into his research. Results of this study help engineers to predict the expected response of various structures which are close to a fault, and might be affected by Near-Fault ground motions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ma's doctoral work focussed on development of high strength fibres by co-spinning of polyethylene with carbon nanotube. Through polymer grafting, the compatibility between carbon nanotubes and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene matrix has been greatly improved. Her study may aid further research and development of light weight armour products. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kramer worked with Iraqi children to study how writing, poetic imagination, and creative processes are all integral to the building of peace. She revealed that peace-building is supported by intellectual and creative processes that invite us to listen with the heart. Dr. Kramer's research contributes new perspectives on transformative education. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Leung discovered two reactions which employ ultraviolet light, for example sunlight, to transfer fluorine atoms to organic molecules. He also discovered a safer source-equivalent of atomic fluorine. These contributions might provide a new and reliable strategy for scientists to synthesize fluorine containing drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sun examined the security of two popular social login systems that have been adopted by millions of websites, and social networks such as Facebook. His investigation revealed several critical weaknesses in the design and implementation of these login systems. He proposed and evaluated practical countermeasures to mitigate the uncovered threats. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Russell studied how intestinal microbes influence allergic diseases. She showed that antibiotic exposure early in life can affect populations of intestinal bacteria and make animals more susceptible to asthma and food allergies. This research highlights a role for healthy intestinal bacteria in the treatment and prevention of allergic diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | The Northwest Coast bentwood box acted as a metaphor to frame this study. Dr. Parent examined four Aboriginal Early University Promotion Initiatives and three Aboriginal University Transition Programs at universities in British Columbia. Her findings will help us understand how universities can be wholistically transformed for Indigenous learners. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zhou developed a new kind of biomedical ceramic cement: calcium phosphate silicate cement. Its properties are an improvement on existing bio-cements. Biomaterials based on this new cement are currently used in dentistry and can be potentially used in orthopaedics. His research contributed new knowledge and materials to the biomedical community. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ng studied the factors that determine whether cancer cells live or die following the initial step of detaching from the primary tumor site and metastasizing to other organs. He found that tumor cells are in a state of stress and reduced energy levels during this process, and depend on mechanisms to overcome this stress to survive. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Surendradoss investigated the mechanism of drug-induced liver injury. He focussed on the liver injury caused by a commonly used drug called valproic acid, which is used to treat seizures. The findings of his research enabled a greater understanding of the role of various pathways of biotransformation in the liver injury caused by valproic acid | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Moore conducted an eight month ethnographic study in a classroom of youth studying film. In the current media rich context, this research considers the use of popular culture and digital video production in educational spaces. This study informs current discussions in pedagogy, media education, and youth studies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ang studied abdominal aneurysms at the James Hogg Research Centre. She found that elevated levels of the enzyme Granzyme B contribute to the weakening of the abdominal aorta, and increased susceptibility to rupture and death. Her findings may lead to development of a novel drug strategy for treating aneurysms and other inflammatory diseases | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Preto conducted an ethical and legal analysis of Canada's approach to clinical trial oversight. She identified various shortcomings and examined the different implications these have across industry and academic trials. Findings will benefit policy makers working to improve clinical trial oversight, researchers and trial participants. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Mohammadigoushki studied the dynamics and flow of bubbles in liquid foam. He investigated how the properties of the foam can be changed by bubble size and distribution. He showed that foam can be purposely manipulated for a wide variety of applications, from helping to recover oil from wells, to producing better cosmetics, soap and shampoo. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Bakhoda conducted his research in the field of Computer Architecture. He developed a framework to simultaneously increase the performance and reduce the cost of hardware accelerators like graphic processing units. His findings can be employed in a wide range of hardware designs ranging from future smart phones to high performance servers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Mohseni Kiasari studied the applications of zinc oxide nanostructures in novel environmental sensors as well as organic solar cells. In his work, Dr. Mohseni Kiasari argues that by utilizing zinc oxide nanostructures the electronic performance of the devices can be improved and the cost of fabrication can be eventually reduced. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Rubio Gijon studied crime fiction films produced in Francoist Spain and Peronist Argentina from 1951 to 1955. He argues that by using the crime fiction genre, which helps to maintain the dominant ideology, the films oppose authoritarianism through narrative and formal strategies such as visual elements from film noir or Italian Neorealism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Wickenden completed his research in the field of organic chemistry. His work provides alternative strategies that may be used towards the development of new pharmaceutical compounds. With these improvements, researchers may one day be able to lower the cost of drugs to the public. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kazemi developed a microbial fuel cell that can effectively produce electricity from wastewater. She investigated whether the membrane that separates the anode from the cathode in the fuel cell can reduce energy costs. Her findings will be a step towards determining whether microbial fuel cells will reduce the cost of wastewater treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Xavier prepared "smart" bio-materials from cellulose, a wood derivative. The materials were developed by grafting a temperature responsive polymer from the cellulose derivative. This research has set the grounds for future studies regarding potential applications, which include tissue engineering, drug delivery, filtration membranes and sensors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |