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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dr. Butts studied how hormones released in the body during stress affect brain function. She investigated the mechanism by which those hormones regulate the neurotransmitter, dopamine, in an area of the brain that is important for complex cognitive function. Her findings provide insight into novel treatment strategies for stress-related psychiatric disorders | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Kravchenko has performed theoretical work in the area of physical chemistry. She created computer models describing the behaviour of fluids, a fundamental problem that requires large computational power. The outcomes of this research are relevant to a wide range of research areas, from atmospheric chemistry to industrial aerosols. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Gibb's research was in the field of adult education policy studies. She analyzed the policies that regulate the English language assessment of new immigrants seeking entry into the professions in Canada. Her research will assist educators, policy makers, employers and professional regulatory bodies to develop policy and educational practices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Hollander designed novel methods for discovering biomarkers for heart health. Using these methods, she discovered biomarker panels that can predict and diagnose acute cardiac allograft rejection and diagnose recovered heart function. Her work may improve heart transplant and heart failure patient management. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Anema's field of study, epidemiology, explores the causes, distribution and control of diseases in populations. She studied the impacts of food insecurity on clinical outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS. Her findings directly inform public health policies at provincial and national levels in Canada, and globally within the United Nations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Diab explored debates about security after September 11. His findings highlight a gap between arguments in favour of extraordinary measures and evidence about the nature of outstanding threats. He concluded that while serious risks remain, a better understanding of those risks will help us to preserve core rights in times of fear. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Nelms developed an approach and complementary tools to improve the identification of risk in the early phases of public/private partnership infrastructure projects, including transportation systems and buildings. Her methods and tools improve current practice by helping to develop a more comprehensive list of project risks and response strategies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Grant examined the impact of smoke-free policies on inpatient psychiatric units in Northern BC. He studied how health policy unfolds in real-world situations. His work highlights the importance of considering local contexts and the values and beliefs of those most affected by policy change, as a way to improve policy fidelity and health outcomes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Luo studied ocean processes such as circulation and carbon flux with chemical tracers. His research improved the methods we use, to better understand the role that oceans play in climate change. This work provides several promising future research perspectives for oceanography, which are especially beneficial to scientists who study climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Rashid studied the vulnerability of software programs to intermittent hardware faults that impact processors, due to manufacturing defects and extreme operating conditions. She subsequently analyzed and built techniques to diagnose and reconfigure the fault-prone component of the processor. Her work improves the reliability of future processors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Earp studied the genetics of ovarian cancer risk and the genetics of the variation in menopause age, two complex human traits that impact women's health. It is hoped that an improved understanding of the heritable genetics of these traits will lead to improved treatment and prevention of ovarian cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Yenjaichon studied ways of mixing liquid and gas in pulp fibre suspensions in pipes, based on a novel technique. The results provide a better understanding of flow and basic concepts for designing and operating a key component of pulp and paper processing. The technique has been successfully implemented on an industrial scale for the first time. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Kang identified two new ways to increase HDL cholesterol. HDL is known as good cholesterol, and research has shown that increasing good cholesterol can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Increasing good cholesterol in these two ways represents new strategies to treat these diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Goyal developed accurate models and scalable algorithms for social influence analysis. This research assists us in understanding the flow of information in online social networks like Facebook and Twitter, in addition to improving applications like viral marketing and recommender systems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Wang explored ways in which language learning can be re-designed in a 3D gaming environment. Her research demonstrates that using a 3D gaming environment as a catalyst for change may provide language learners with opportunities to go beyond context boundaries. They can learn a target language without physically stepping out of their home countries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Sinclair developed a critical methodology to understand Anishinaabeg narratives from past to present. He used principles derived from the Anishinaabeg clan system. His work suggests that Anishinaabeg creative and critical expressions are political and intellectual practices, in which culture and nationhood are defined, initiated, and sustained. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Smythe's work examined the defence policies of Canada and Australia. She highlighted a post-Cold War trend of using military forces to address non-traditional security threats, such as disaster relief. She demonstrated the significant, but often unrecognized implications this has had for the training and deployment of western military forces. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Adolph studied how practitioners manage the process of software development. He discovered their central concern is related to social processes rather than technical processes. The theory he built explains how people resolve their central concern; it is useful for designing more relevant software methodologies and training programs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Tham's research identified the processes involved in establishing certain aspects of the structure of the kidney and of the brain. His findings may lead to the discovery of novel treatments for some diseases, including the abnormal accumulation of water in the brain tissue that may occur following a stroke. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Reimer studied primary education in Cambodia. She explored how village-level stakeholders understand and implement the dominant Western notions of formal education promoted in low-income countries. Her research demonstrates that intentional consideration of local cultural norms and values is essential for improving educational quality. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Saenz-Garza developed a Vacuum Microwave technique for protecting natural antimicrobials that are capable of preventing the growth of destructive microorganisms in food. She subsequently tested controlled release of the encapsulated antimicrobial for the preservation of fresh apple slices, as a model for increasing the shelf life of fresh cut fruit. | Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Rideout asked why some people resist the highly processed and unhealthy food products that are ubiquitous in western society. She found that those people are motivated by a deep sense that food is sacred. She argues that fostering recognition of food's intrinsic value through meaningful connections could lead to a healthier food system overall. | Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Dragomir studied super-Earth extrasolar planets by monitoring the decrease in brightness they cause as they transit in front of their host stars. The observations were acquired with MOST, the first Canadian space telescope. Her research contributes to the still sparse understanding of the structure and composition of these exotic planets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Chow examined the ability of newborns to metabolize and clear the antidepressant Fluoxetine taken by their mothers. The passive transfer of the drug from pregnant women to the fetus constitutes a major route of drug exposure in newborns. This research will enrich knowledge of drug clearance in the pediatric population. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Deggan is a literary scholar interested in the aesthetic means by which landscape representations are used to communicate aspects of human consciousness. His work offers an ecologically focused means of linking ethics, art, and the environment across different cultural media, focussing upon global cinema and the novel. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |