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At UBC Science, outstanding scientists and students strive to unravel the principles that underlie our universe - from the subatomic to the macroscopic, from pure mathematics to biotechnology, from ecosystems to galactic systems. Through the breadth and depth of our academic endeavours and the calibre of the people who make up our community, we take pride in discovering new scientific knowledge and preparing Canada’s and the world’s next generation of scientists.

A diverse range of highly ranked programs

With access to master’s and doctoral degrees through nine departments and 350 research groups, our graduate students work with world-class faculty to explore the basic sciences, and to pursue interdisciplinary and applied research across departments and units. UBC’s research excellence in environmental science, math, physics, plant and animal science, computer science, geology and biology is consistently rated best in Canada by international and national ranking agencies.

Committed to outstanding graduate training

UBC Science houses a wide range of prestigious NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience and related industry programs: from atmospheric aerosols to high-throughput biology, from biodiversity research and ecosystems services to plant cell wall biosynthesis, from quantum science and new materials to applied geochemistry. The options for enriched graduate training in industry related fields are almost endless.

World-class research infrastructure

Our affiliated institutes and centres include UBC's Michael Smith Laboratories, Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Life Sciences Institute, Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, and TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics.

Top research talent

UBC Science boasts more than 50 Canada Research Chairs, 12 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates. Our graduate students have won 15 prestigious Vanier Scholarships.

A diverse, supportive community of scholars

UBC Science is committed to excellence, collaboration and inclusion. Women account for 41 per cent of the Faculty's graduate enrollments, and the percentage of international students has increased to 50 per cent over the past decade.

Mission
To nurture an exceptional scientific learning and research environment for the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.
 

Research Centres

Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

Computational Sciences and Mathematics

Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Genomics and Biological Sciences

Human-Computer Interaction

Life Sciences

Chemistry and Materials Science

Physics

Sustainability

Research Facilities

Designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines, the Earth Sciences Building (ESB) lies at the heart of the science precinct on UBC’s Vancouver Campus. The $75 million facility is home to Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Statistics, the Pacific Institute of the Mathematical Sciences, and the dean’s office of the Faculty of Science. ESB’s teaching facilities will help Canada meet the challenges of a transforming and growing resource sector. Just as importantly, the researchers and students working and learning in the facility will offer a valuable flow of well-trained talent, new ideas, and fresh professional perspectives to industry.

Research Highlights

Receiving more than $120 million in annual research funding, UBC Science faculty members conduct top-tier research in the life, physical, earth and computational sciences. Their discoveries help build our understanding of natural laws—driving insights into sustainability, biodiversity, human health, nanoscience and new materials, probability, artificial intelligence, exoplanets and a wide range of other areas.

UBC Science boasts 50 Canada Research Chairs and 10 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates. 

Schools / Departments

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Science.

 

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

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
2015 Dr. Kroc's study was at the intersection of harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory. With his supervisor, he constructed examples of special sets that behave like pieces of a circle but have no area. The existence of such sets implies several important analytical results. The study contributes to future research in this area of mathematics. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2015 Dr. Hunt developed computational approaches to improve detection of regions in the human genome that are dedicated to the regulation of gene expression. Her research has improved our understanding and interpretation of large-scale genomics data, and her findings will directly impact the clinical analysis of human DNA sequences. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2015 Dr. Thompson developed computer software that can calculate rational ways to behave in complex games. Using this software, he studied the effects of strategic voting in elections and strategic bidding in online auctions. His findings will assist researchers and practitioners in understanding existing economic markets and in designing new ones. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2015 Dr. Lawson completed his doctoral studies in the field of Physics. His research focussed on the observational consequences of a novel compact composite dark matter model. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2015 Dr. Khosravi developed an innovative daylighting system. It incorporates adaptable optical elements to capture sunlight outside buildings and transfer it to the dark interior. This system can be used to illuminate multi-storey buildings using sunlight, which enhances lighting quality and reduces energy consumption and the electrical load of buildings. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2015 Dr. Mandic investigated how a group of marine fish species evolved to live in an environment with periodically low oxygen levels. She found a number of cellular and biochemical traits that underlie tolerance to low oxygen. Her work contributes to understanding how animals live where they do, particularly animals inhabiting stressful environments. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2015 Dr. Osten's research focused on developing new catalysts for making biodegradable plastics. The results of her study will help future researchers to make new environmentally-friendly plastics for a variety of applications. It is hoped that these plastics will help to contribute to a cleaner environment. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2015 Dr. Hoos examined the impacts of climate change on kelp along the Pacific coast of North America. Experimental increases in temperature, carbon dioxide, and UV radiation reduced growth and reproduction at each stage of their life history cycle. This research works towards building a predictive model for future populations impacted by climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2015 Dr. Menzel-Jones developed systematic methods for extracting molecular information. This research utilized spectroscopic data to better understand the internal structure and dynamical processes within molecules. The work can be applied by physicists to investigate a broad range of problems where detailed knowledge of the system is required. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2015 Dr. Wambach completed his research in the field of Chemistry. He synthesized reactive molecules containing transition metals and probed their potential to catalyze reactions that involve addition and release of hydrogen. The reactivity of these compounds with hydrogen revealed a unique way protons from hydrogen can transfer to and from metals. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)

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