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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dr. Hall examined the relationship between harbour porpoise behaviour, and oceanographic and celestial events. She found the foraging strategies used by porpoise are specialized and are related to season, tidal direction, and lunar phase. She also discovered two sites where porpoises breed, the first to be identified in British Columbia. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Ajami's study of the central nervous system showed that blood-derived cells do not contribute to maintenance of microglia, innate immune cells in the brain and spinal cord. She found infiltration of blood-derived macrophages is responsible for the progress of Multiple Sclerosis. This ground-breaking discovery has implications for MS treatments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Andrew Penner has shown through numerical simulation that accretion of a magnetofluid onto a black hole allows for the development of a time independent accretion flow. This work extends existing accretion theories to include more astrophysically relevant scenarios. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Hepperle used computers to study the formation of decamethyldizincocene, the first known molecule to have a bond between any of the 3d transition metals. He further contributed to a study of how a particular zirconium catalyst can cheaply and cleanly produce an enantiopure form of cyclic amines, the building blocks for many pharmaceuticals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Boskic examined the critical literacy practices of Alternative Reality Game players. The players, who were situated globally, worked collaboratively to imagine solutions to urgent contemporary social problems. The results suggest that such games can be used successfully to foster ethical sensitivity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Liang investigated several beamforming schemes for Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and relaying wireless communication systems. His proposed schemes may find application in several current or upcoming wireless communication standards. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Shah-Mansouri studied protocol design for wireless sensor networks. Wireless sensor networks are communication networks consisting of small and inexpensive wireless devices used for home automation and disaster management. Using mathematical tools like optimization theory, Dr. Shah-Mansouri developed algorithms aiming to prolong the lifetime of such networks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Gill studied a mathematical process which could be used to model the aggregate motion of a large number of randomly branching particles which also move randomly. His research could model, for example, a population of oceanic plankton during an algal bloom. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Milkeraitis developed a new astronomical technique to detect clusters of galaxies. She discovered over fifteen thousand clusters of galaxies from nearby to over 8 Billion lightyears away which were emitting light when our Universe was quite young, and measured properties such as mass. This work contributes to dark energy and dark matter research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Herrera improved methods for analyzing fuel cells and their failure modes. These studies have helped to advance the understanding and the subsequent commercialization of fuel cells. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Jankovic investigated new ceramic materials for proton conducting fuel cells operating at an intermediate temperature of 200-500 C. Her study of the relationship between material composition, properties and performance, and development of a material with enhanced properties, are a significant contribution to this important clean energy area. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Marchand used computer simulations to study models which describe polarons, objects composed of one electron and a surrounding cloud of sound waves. He discovered that the properties of polarons can be significantly modified in those models. This work extended previous techniques to allow these more complex models to be investigated efficiently. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Gorgy examined the transport of a group of compounds in biosolids-amended soil and clay lining materials for landfills. These compounds are added to many consumer products as flame retardants and are found in biosolids and landfill leachates. He found that they can potentially move in the soil and clay lining material. The research is helpful in establishing land application of biosolids and waste disposal regulations as well as landfill lining design requirements. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Vanden Hoek investigated how a vital blood clotting protein also plays a subsequent role in dissolving the clot. Her research suggests a novel target for the development of safer and more effective therapeutics for heart attack and stroke due to thrombosis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Johnson explored the educational supports and barriers experienced by urban Indigenous children in BC's provincial child protection system. She developed an Indigenous educational model to wrap around their Western and Indigenous educational needs. This research illuminates transformative Indigenous education and Indigenous self determination. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Wong investigated the role of a protein called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the thickening of blood vessels, particularly in heart transplants. His research highlighted the abnormal presence of VEGF in human disease, showed its effect on cholesterol accumulation, and explored potential treatments targeting this protein. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2011 | Tuberculosis is a infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Dr. Yam studied a bacterial pathway for cholesterol breakdown important for infecting the host. She demonstrated the role of two enzymes in this cholesterol pathway and identified several compounds which may lead to the development of new drugs against TB. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. McLellan studied cancer genetics. Her work focused on developing smart cancer treatments by using what we know about a cancer's genetic background to target malignant cells more effectively. Her most significant contribution was the finding that a new treatment for breast cancer may be effective in treating a much wider variety of cancers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Verreault has contributed to define strategies to improve chemotherapeutic drug delivery and efficacy in one of the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Forrest examined the three dimensional nature of physical transport processes in lakes with specific interest in horizontal temperature variability of the water column. His use of unmanned submarines as data collection platforms in this effort allowed unique observations to be made in ice-covered environments that would be otherwise near-impossible. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Eszter Boros investigated a variety of acyclic chelates for the rapid and efficient coordination of radiometals. One lead compound, H2dedpa, was identified and further investigated for nuclear medicine applications such as myocardiac perfusion and cancer imaging. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Leung formulated several models for the cardiovascular system, and developed corresponding identification methods. She subsequently applied her models and methods to minimally-invasive monitoring of the heart's output in post-surgical infants in the intensive care unit and non-invasive measurement of the arterial pulse wave velocity in children. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Pirmoradi developed a miniature implantable device for drug delivery. Using this device, physicians can deliver precisely controlled dosage of highly potent drugs, thus avoiding adverse side effects. A novel application of this device is through implantation behind the eye to treat retinal damage caused by diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Madani's studies were in the field of Mechanical Engineering, and he developed a novel technique for separating and classifying particles. His technique can be applied to a vast range of particle sizes. It has application in pulp and paper industry, mining and biomedical science. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2011 | Dr. Moayeri explored how teachers and students use the web in participatory ways. She extends New Literacies Theory, literacies that combine technology and ethos, by proposing that no one form of literacy supersedes or holds more value than another. Her research recommends refraining from devaluing existing forms of literacy when integrating new forms. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |