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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dr. Chan examined the enabling mechanisms for optimizing lean, spark-ignition for natural gas engines. His research demonstrated stable ultra-lean combustion using a novel spark-ignition strategy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Barakauskas measured several presynaptic proteins in brain samples, developing and validating new methods to do so. Some of these proteins were altered in distinct regions of the striatum in post-mortem brain samples of subjects with schizophrenia. These findings implicate these proteins in brain dysfunction in patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Gallo identified new roles for a metabolic gene in maintaining the structure of mitochondria and controlling programmed cell death, insulin secretion and germline stem cell proliferation. His studies produced new insight into how some mitochondrial proteins are able to integrate metabolic and cell survival signals with implications for the treatment of metabolic diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Shoa investigated an artificial muscle actuator device and characterized and modeled its physical properties. She studied the feasibility of using this device for guiding a catheter through arteries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Cameron collected data with Canada's Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars space telescope to explore physics not reproducible in any lab on Earth. Surface vibrations of the star HR 1217, which has a magnetic field 1000 times stronger than the Sun's, were used to probe seismically the star's hidden interior and test the accuracy of astrophysical models. | Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Tang's dissertation studies the responses of Canadian manufacturing industries to the recent rise in the value of the Canadian dollar and the comparison of modern macroeconomic models' ability to capture data patterns. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Zhou studied the cellular mechanisms underlying spreading depression, the propagating depolarization that underlies the aura of migraine. She discovered that a novel form of regenerative glutamate-release generates spreading depression independent of classical synaptic transmission. This research provides insight into migraine pathophysiology and potential new therapeutic targets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Wilson studied the DNA of lung cancer cells to identify new genes associated with familial risk, drug response, and survival. His research involved the use of novel techniques and yielded results that are significant not only to the research community, but to lung-cancer patients as well. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Fattah developed control strategies for operating a reactor that can be used to recover phosphorus from wastewater, in the form of struvite, that provides a sustainable source of slow-release fertilizer. The chemical and process control models developed will enable easier, increased yield and higher operational efficiency of the process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Lee investigated how natural killer cells prevent type 1 diabetes. Her works showed that this subset of cells is important for the immune system to suppress the development of autoimmunity. She further demonstrated that these cells can be manipulated into activity, inducing a protective mechanism that prevents onset of type 1 diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Johnston studied the politics of citizenship in the city of Ahmedabad, India. His work contributes to understanding the urban poor's negotiation of constitutional rights within the changing relationship between the Indian state and everyday life. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Hennessy explored the use of new media by museums and anthropologists to create First Nations access to ethnographic collections from their communities. Using participatory methodologies, her research illuminated both the opportunities and tensions associated with the digitization of cultural heritage and the circulation of indigenous cultural property. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Machial investigated the comparative toxicity of selected plant essential oils to four agricultural insect pests, and assessed the effects of the most toxic oil, patchouli oil, on the detoxicative abilities of these insects. Development of reduced risk plant essential oil-based pesticides is warranted despite technical and practical challenges. | Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Brooks developed new methods for linking microbial community structure to soil functions in forests. Dr. Brooks developed novel techniques to visualize fine-scale soil enzyme activity in forests and identify the species of symbiotic fungi and bacteria associated with enzyme activity, and how these change as forests age. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Turner studied the way in which families respond to health shocks and retirement incentives. Her research suggests that cooperation among household members can mitigate the economic effects of bad health outcomes and that the resulting gains are very sensitive to the degree of family cohesion. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Krzyzanowski examined the cumulative impacts of air pollution in British Columbia's Treaty 8 traditional territory. Air pollution levels were found capable of impacting forests, freshwater ecosystems and forest dependent communities. Community-based monitoring and comprehensive emission's reporting were recommended to minimise and manage the impacts of air pollution in northeast BC. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Roig investigated risk factors, incidence and impact of falls on quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He found that risk factors and incidence of falls increased in people with COPD. More importantly, falls appear to have a negative impact on some domains of quality of life. The results of this study emphasize the importance of preventing falls. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Srikongsri developed a hydromechanical framework to explain the onset of retention incompatibility between soil and a geotextile filter in cyclic flow conditions. The framework is used to examine the inherent margin of safety in recommended design criteria, and thereby enhance confidence in the use of geotextile filters in engineering practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Wabnitz built ecological models to understand the role of green turtles in Pacific reef and Caribbean seagrass ecosystems, and developed new methods to map underwater habitats using satellite data. Her findings highlight sea turtles? importance to ecosystem resilience and the current lack of habitat data to meet international conservation targets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Wang developed a damage accumulation model to assess the structural performance of wood composites made with Mountain-Pine-Beetle-killed wood. This research helps to determine if the mechanical properties of these products allow their use as beams, headers and columns in commercial and residential housing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Banting investigated the local and not-so-local audiences addressed by fiction and theatre set in Vancouver. Her research demonstrated a new method for studying how novels, short stories, and plays set up relationships between people and places near and far. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Bahadoorsingh compared the nitrification rates in different wastewater treatment processes. Her research related specific nitrification rates of membrane and conventional treatment processes to various parameters and the bacteria community structure and abundance. The research is significant as it clarifies that the nitrification performance between the two wastewater treatment processes is similar. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Iyioha introduces a theory of Integrated Governance for health systems to address disparities between health governance regimes and consumer healthcare behaviour. She proposes that Integrated governance, which incorporates non-conventional human and material resources into health systems management, can create a functional health system for reducing inequity in healthcare delivery. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Shi investigated the effects and mechanisms of growth differentiation factor 9 on activin-regulated inhibin and progesterone production in ovarian granulosa cells. These novel studies help us to understand the roles of these growth factors in the development of the ovarian follicles during the menstrual cycle. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Fell studied the health effects of natural materials on occupants of the built indoor environment. He found that the application of wood surfaces in buildings decreased stress responses. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |