Biological sciences

Applied Animal Biology offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to a Ph.D. degree in animal physiology, behaviour, welfare, and management of livestock, companion animals, research animals, wildlife species, aquaculture, and on the human-animal relationship. The program is...

Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program provides advanced, research-based education that will prepare students for a career in academic, industrial, or professional positions in British Columbia and beyond. The Program offers MSc and PhD degrees, with the option to transfer from...

Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)

The Botany Department is one of the largest and strongest plant-focused departments in North America with roots extending back to the founding of UBC in 1915. Our departmental community of more than 260 consists of 40 full-time faculty members, several part-time faculty or associates, about 100...

Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)

The graduate program in Cell and Developmental Biology offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees to students undertaking advanced study and research in cell and developmental biology. The program is flexible and is designed to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of students and the broad nature of research in...

Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)

The Genome Science and Technology graduate program is a trans-disciplinary program that combines genomic research with leading-edge technology development in genome sciences for students pursing an M.Sc. or Ph.D. This program is intended to accommodate the diverse background of students and the...

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)

The UBC Department of Medical Genetics is an inspiring and productive community of scholars of genetics and genomics. It is an outstanding provider of knowledge, technical expertise, and compassionate care for our patients. Faculty members in the Department of Medical Genetics are at the forefront...

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)

The Microbiology and Immunology programme includes the study of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites as well as the immune system. Students can investigate the ecology, evolution and environments of microorganisms, the diseases they cause, the microbiome and its influence on the immune system and...

Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience strives to educate and support graduate students as they expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge about the brain through enriching research experiences. The program embraces principles of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes and accommodates...

Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Plant Science graduate program offers advanced study in applied plant biology, with a commitment to development of sustainable managed agroecosystems. Our graduate program offers opportunities for advanced studies in basic and applied research, leading to M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees, in plant production...

Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia is one of the strongest and most broadly based life science departments in Canada, with a scope that spans from molecules to cells, whole organisms, populations, and communities. It is home to approximately forty highly funded, well-...

Master of Science in Applied Animal Biology (MSc)

Applied Animal Biology offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to a M. Sc. degree in animal physiology, behaviour, welfare, and management of livestock, companion animals, research animals, wildlife species, aquaculture, and on the human-animal relationship. The program is...

Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSc)

Master of Science in Botany (MSc)

Master of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology (MSc)

Master of Science in Genetic Counselling (MSc)

Over the past decade, advances in genomic medicine and genetic technology have been dramatic. Genetic counsellors have an integral role to play in helping patients and other healthcare professionals understand the options, benefits and limitations of this rapidly changing landscape. Established in...

Master of Science in Genome Science and Technology (MSc)

Master of Science in Medical Genetics (MSc)

The UBC Department of Medical Genetics is an inspiring and productive community of scholars of genetics and genomics; an outstanding provider of knowledge, technical expertise, and compassionate care for our patients. The Department is composed of dozens of faculty members at the forefront of their...

Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology (MSc)

Master of Science in Neuroscience (MSc)

Master of Science in Oceans and Fisheries (MSc)

The Program is designed to train marine and freshwater scientists to undertake basic and applied research that will help foster healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems and sustainable resource use. Students broaden their interdisciplinary expertise and acquire professional experience in areas...

Master of Science in Plant Science (MSc)

Master of Science in Zoology (MSc)

UBC Researchers conducting research in Biological sciences

A

Altshuler, Doug

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Zoology; flight control; visual guidance; visual neuroscience; neuroethology; avian biomechanics; aerodynamics; wing morphing; motor control

Angert, Amy

Department of Botany, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Plant biology; Zoology; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity; biogeography; biological responses to climate change; Conservation Biology; Ecological and Ecophysiological Processes; evolutionary ecology; population biology

Arcese, Peter

Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Global change biology; Ecology; Conservation Biology; Evolutionary Biology; conservation finance

Auger-Methe, Marie

Department of Statistics, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Fisheries sciences; Statistics; Zoology; Animal movement; Polar ecology; Statistical Ecology

Auld, Vanessa

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Zoology; Cell; Cell Biology; Development; Developmental Genetics; epithelia; Genetics; glia; in vivo imaging; Molecular Genetics; nervous system; Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis; permeability barriers

Aviles, Leticia

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Community ecology (except invasive species ecology); Animal behaviour

B

Baliga, Vikram

Faculty of Science

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Zoology

Bamji, Shernaz

Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Medical and biomedical engineering; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; neurodevelopmental disease; primary neuronal cultures; synapse biology; transgenic mouse models

Berbee, Mary

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Plant biology; Mycology; Evolution and Phylogenesis; Microorganisms; Taxonomy and Systematics; fungi; molecular phylogenetics; mycology; systematics

Boyd, Lara

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Learning; Learning and Memory; Motor System; Motor learning; Neurophysiology; Physiology; Plasticity / Neuronal Regeneration; stroke

Brooks-Wilson, Angela

Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; cancer families; cancer genetics; genetic susceptibility; human genetics; longevity; Super seniors

Brotto, Lori

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Human reproduction and development sciences; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Clinical psychology; mindfulness; Sexual Dysfunctions; sexual desire; treatment of sexual concerns; women's sexual health; asexuality; digital health interventions

Brown, Carolyn Janet

Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; Health counselling; Applied Genetics; Chromosomes: Structure / Organization; DNA methylation; Epigenetic control of gene expression; Gene Regulation and Expression; Genes escaping X-chromosome inactivation; Long non-coding RNAs; X-chromosome inactivation; XIST RNA

Brumer, Harry

Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Biochemistry; Chemical sciences; Genomics; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; biomass; carbohydrates; cellulose; Chemical Synthesis and Catalysis; Enzymes; microbiota; plant cell walls; polysaccharides

Budzynski, Marek

Faculty of Medicine

Postdoctoral Fellow

Cell biology; Other basic medicine and life sciences; Transcription; Stem Cells; transcription factors; Cell division; Stress responses

C

Cairns, Brian

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences (except clinical aspects); electrophysiology; headache; Neuropharmacology; Oro-Facial Pain; pain; pain mechanisms; peripheral analgesics; sex-related differences; temporomandibular disorders

Cembrowski, Mark Steven

Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Molecular neuroscience; Mathematical modelling and simulation; Mechanisms of memory in the brain; Anxiety; Big Data; Bioinformatics; Cell types; Computation; CRISPR-Cas9; Fear; Genetics; modeling; Neural circuits; neuroscience; Neuroscience of memory; PTSD; RNAseq

Cerri, Ronaldo

Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Animal and dairy sciences; Animal behaviour; Animal developmental and reproductive biology; Animal physiology; Agricultural Machinery and Technology; Animal Production; Animal Reproduction; Biotechnology and Activity monitors; Dairy cattle reproduction; Endocrine Regulation; Endometrium-conceptus cross communication; Estrous cycle physiology in cattle; Inflammation and stress; Production medicine in dairy cattle

Cheung, Wai Lung

Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Global change biology; Ecological impacts of climate change; climate change; Marine Ecosystems; sustainability; biodiversity; Interdisciplinary

Christensen, Villy

Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Fisheries management; Global change biology; Ecosystem function

Ciernia, Annie

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Biochemistry; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Autism; Brain development; Epigenetics; Gene-Environment Interactions; Neurodevelopmental disorders

Conibear, Elizabeth

Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Other basic medicine and life sciences; Protein trafficking in cell biology; Molecular genetics; Functional genomics; Membranes; Enzymes and Proteins; Vesicle Trafficking; Molecular Genetics; Neurodegenerative diseases; Protein Palmitoylation; Cell Signaling and Cancer

Correia, Miguel

Faculty of Science

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Marine ecology (including marine ichthyology); marine conservation; Syngnathid biology; marine ecology

D

Dao Duc, Khanh

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Genomics; Mathematical biology; Neurocognitive patterns and neural networks; Agricultural spatial analysis and modelling; combine mathematical,computational and statistical tools to study fundamental biological processes; regulation and determinants of gene expression and translation; Machine Learning for Biological Imaging and Microscopy; Database development and management; Biological and Artificial Neural Networks for geometric representation

DeMarco, Mari

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Other medical sciences; Analytical chemistry, n.e.c.; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; Neurodegenerative diorders; Alzheimer's disease; Frontotemporal degeneration; Clinical mass spectrometry; Parkinson's disease; Lewy body dementia; ALS

Doherty, Jeff

Faculty of Science

Postdoctoral Fellow

Parasitology; Behavioural ecology; Animal behaviour; Insect biology; host-parasite interactions; multidisciplinary research; host manipulation; ethology; Disease Ecology

E

Eltis, Lindsay

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Biochemistry; Genomics; Immunology; Microbiology; Bacterial catabolism of steroids and lignin; biocatalyst development; Enzymes and Proteins; Metabolism (Living Organisms); Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Enns, James

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Behavioural neuroscience of reward and motivation; attention; action kinematics; social perception; perceptual development

F

Fisher, Cynthia

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Basic medicine and life sciences; Medical and biomedical engineering; Biological sciences; Health sciences; Stem cells and regenerative medicine; Epigenetics and chromatin level regulation of gene expression; Hematopoiesis and immunology

Foster, Leonard

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Biochemistry; Genomics; Agriculture; antigen presentation; Bioinformatics; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Biotechnology; Cell Signaling and Infectious and Immune Diseases; Honey bees; host-pathogen interactions; Immune System; Microbiology; Proteomics; Systems Biology

Frankel, Adam

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Other basic medicine and life sciences; Enzymes (including kinetics and mechanisms, and biocatalyst); Protein Biochemistry; arginine methylation; Histones; Nucleosomes; post-translational modifications; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Organic Molecules and Biomolecules; Bioactive Molecules; Proteins; Chemical Biology; drug discovery; Target Engagement; yeast; Amino acids

Friedman, Jan Marshall

Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Other clinical medicine; Genetic medicine; Genomics; Health counselling; Application of whole genome sequencing to diagnose genetic disease; Birth defects epidemiology; Clinical genomics; Developmental Genetics; Genetics and Heredity; Neurofibromatosis

Frommel, Andrea

Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Animal physiology, environmental stress; Sustainable Aquaculture; climate change; Early development in fish; Alternative feeds in aquaculture; Fish physiology

G

Giaschi, Deborah

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; amblyopia; reading; dyslexia; motion perception; binocular vision; visual development

Gordon, Michael

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Zoology; Chemosensation; Drosophila; Feeding; Gustation; Neural circuits; Neuronal Systems; neuroscience; Sensory systems; Taste

Graf, Daniel

Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Bone, skin and cartilage science; Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Developmental genetics (including sex determination); Developmental and degenerative pathologies associated with cartilage, bone, and teeth

Guenette, Jordan

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Respiratory diseases; Other biological sciences; Clinical exercise physiology; Cardiorespiratory physiology; Mechanisms and management of breathlessness and exercise intolerance; Chronic respiratory diseases

H

Haas, Kurt

Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Medical and biomedical engineering; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Autism; Brain Circuit Development; Dendritogenesis; Epilepsy; Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neurological diseases; Neuronal Communication and Neurotransmission; Neuronal Computation; Neuronal Modeling; Neuronal Systems; Neuronal and Synaptic Activity; Plasticity / Neuronal Regeneration; Synaptic Plasticity

Hallam, Steven

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Microbiome; Microbial ecology; metagenomics; Biological engineering; Synthetic biology; Bioinformatics; Machine Learning; Entrepreneurship

Harley, Christopher

Department of Zoology, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Fisheries sciences; Zoology; climate change; community ecology; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; marine algae; marine invertebrates

Hawley, Alyse

Faculty (non-G+PS member)

Hayden, Michael

Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Genetic medicine; Health counselling; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Diabetes; Disease progression; Drug development; Gene Therapy; Genetic Diseases; Huntington disease; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative disorders

Hirst, Martin

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genomics; Immunology; Microbiology; Carcinogenesis; Cellular Differentiation; Epigenomics; Leukemia; Molecular Genetics

Hodges, Nicola

School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Sport and exercise psychology; Behavioural neuroscience of learning and memory; action anticipation and observation; coaching and motor skill expertise; skill acquisition; Motor learning; observational learning and instruction; sports skill development

Hoffman, Kira

Faculty of Forestry

Postdoctoral Fellow

Landscape ecology; Fire ecology; Indigenous fire stewardship; Dendroecology

Hoodless, Pamela

Department of Medical Genetics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Computational cell biology; Cancer; Genomics; Medical and biomedical engineering; Nucleic acids studies; Developmental Genetics; Embryology; Embryonic Development; Epigenetics; Heart Valve / Valvular Diseases; Heart valve formation; Liver; Liver development; Stem Cells and Organogenesis; transcriptional regulation

Howe, Leann

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Biochemistry; chromatin; Transcription

Huan, Tao

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Bioinformatics, n.e.c.; Analytical spectrometry; Metabolomics; Separation science; Cancer progression and metastasis; Human nutrition and metabolism; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Machine Learning; Bioinformatics

Hunt, Brian

Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Faculty of Science

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Marine ecology (including marine ichthyology); Biological oceanography; Biodiversity; Ecosystem function; Ecological impacts of climate change; Community ecology (except invasive species ecology); marine food webs; ecosystem oceanography; plankton dynamics; open ocean; Coastal Ecosystems; climate change impacts on the ocean; salmon ecology; food web nutrition; microplastics; stable isotopes; forage fish; zooplankton; Urban oceans; Thiamine defficiency; Stormwater