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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dr. Bérubé compared the language and reading skills, in both English and French, of Anglophone and ESL students in French immersion programs. He found that by Grade 6, all students had developed equally strong skills. This confirms that French immersion programs are viable for all students in promoting bilingualism in the official languages in Canada. | Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Speech Sciences (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Poon studied a set of immune cells called macrophages and their role during lung inflammation. She discovered that the binding of macrophages to hyaluronan, a common carbohydrate, is required for their proliferation and retention in the lung. Her work provides insight that will further the development of treatment for respiratory diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Smithyman developed novel methods that enable processing of on-land seismic data, to generate detailed geophysical images. He applied the new techniques to produce models of rock type in the Nechako-Chilcotin plateau, British Columbia. These models can be used to infer rock type and interpret underground geology, from surface to about 2 km depth. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Thu compared lung tumours of smokers and people who have never smoked. She found they exhibit differential disruption of genes and cellular pathways, supporting the hypothesis that lung cancers in these two cohorts are distinct diseases. Dr. Thu's findings suggest lung cancer patients may benefit from treatment that considers their smoking history. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Russell examined whether a new measure of Quality of Life is relevant and appropriate to use with people who are homeless, or vulnerably housed. Her study findings support the use of this measure. However, she also proposed a new approach to evaluating the content validity of measures, and that has application across many disciplines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Durgan studied people with mental and behavioural disorders in Vancouver's downtown eastside. This interdisciplinary project suggests grassroots movements, combined with a scientific approach, provide a comprehensive solution to issues that are global in scope. The findings benefit professionals working in psychiatry, architecture and philosophy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Ruzzini showed how an important chemical reaction occurs in bacteria that degrade pollutants and cause disease. His findings have broader implications for the development of new bioremediation strategies and the rational design of therapeutics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Williams conducted focus groups to learn about the experiences of adults who had grown up in globally mobile families. New ways of understanding those adults, as well as cultures in general, will help professionals working with diverse populations to provide more effective support. It will also inform future research into cultural diversity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lee characterized and developed a novel therapeutic for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. He achieved this using a lipid drug delivery system that silenced the expression of cancer causing genes. This therapeutic holds great potential as a future treatment option for prostate cancer patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Zhang showed that patients who do not use asthma drugs appropriately are more likely to use health services to manage their disease, compared with those who use medications according to guidelines. These findings reinforce to clinicians the importance of closely monitoring patient drug therapy and encouraging appropriate use of asthma drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Kenyon investigated why some African HIV advocacy groups choose to use the language of human rights. She found this was due to leadership, organizational structure and the belief that rights-based advocacy changes health-seeking behaviour, improving access to care. This research will be useful to those living with and conducting advocacy on HIV. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Human culture's a biological mystery no other beast has such a history mutating faster than mere genes can by knowledge shared freely, 'tween woman and man. Dr. Chudek asks how this strange cascade started our phenotypes outpacing what our genome charted. He says: reputataional exploitation's the key to beating evil teachers and setting culture free. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Diamant contacted research in underwater telecommunication. He developed and demonstrated transmission in the ocean using acoustic waves to connect divers, submarine, and autonomous underwater vehicles, and to located their position underwater. His work has been recognized as an important step to assist oceanographers in exploring the ocean. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Kharouba showed that historical records can be used to study the influence of temperature on the timing of animal and plant life cycle events, such as flowering. The timing of these events was sensitive to temperature and differed among interacting species. These findings will be helpful in predicting how species will respond to climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Rashtian's research focused on improving the performance of radio-frequency integrated circuits in the front-end of wireless communication systems, using an inexpensive and simple biasing technique. The results of his research can be used to increase the dynamic range and to decrease the power consumption in wireless communication devices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lynch explored the re-use of churches as loft apartments in downtown Toronto. The transformation of these former sacred spaces to lofts illustrates the relationships between religious change and new forms of urban development. Beyond their former purpose, church-style lofts represent new secular and economic arrangements in urban landscapes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Weisser's research focused on Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She examined the impact of immune cells, called macrophages, on disease severity. She found that converting inflammatory "killer" macrophages to healing cells offers promising new treatment options for patients suffering from intestinal inflammation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Watson studied letter-colour synaesthesia, an unusual trait where each letter is associated with a particular colour. He showed that many of these associations are acquired in childhood, and that they can be useful for learning. These findings will help us understand the development of such unusual traits, but also of more typical associations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Murray completed his studies in the field of Psychology. He showed that the perceived threat of infectious disease causes higher levels of social and political conservatism, and causes lower levels of scientific innovation. These findings add to our understanding of what causes psychological variation between people and across cultures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Siemiatycki examined Vancouver's shift from the resource economy of the 1980s to a consumption economy, defined by business-class immigration, tourism and real estate development. Case studies of the hospitality, legal and video game sectors show this economic shift has left workers and firms in a precarious condition which needs further study. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Alba studied the flow of two liquids in inclined pipes. The two fluids were found to mix differently depending on their densities, pumping rate and the angle at which the pipes inclined. The results obtained can be used to efficiently predict and design the flows in oil well processes and also in the food and chemical processing industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Emami studied an advanced wireless communication system for underground mines and tunnels. She used radio-frequency measurements and mathematical analyses to model the ways in which wireless signals behave. The design of the best antenna configurations for these environments will contribute to enhanced safety and productivity in underground mines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Wiens studied the experiences of mothers living with the challenges and uncertainties associated with an adult child's mental illness. The findings of this research were best understood through the conceptual lens of nonfinite loss and have significant implications for theory, research, and counselling psychology practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Pena studied sepsis, which is the major infection-related cause of death worldwide. She demonstrated that most sepsis patients have a strong immuno-suppression profile known as endo-toxin tolerance. She also discovered valuable biomarkers that identify this profile, predict severity, and may enhance treatments to improve sepsis survival rates. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. L'Abbé studied ways in which Ronald Johnson, an American avant-garde poet, used botanical metaphors to represent the human mind and language. She argues that Johnson's poetry revives the horticultural metaphors in words such as cultivation and culture and shows how plant metaphors apply to the study of cognition, perception and poetic vision. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |