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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
2016 Dr. Ding completed his doctoral studies in Computer Science. He developed computational algorithms to predict the mutations only in cancer, and further quantify the impacts of these mutations on gene expression. His research improves the potential of identifying the most important mutations in cancer for personalized, targeted therapy. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2016 Dr. Louca investigated how microorganisms interact with their environment. He has shown that microbial metabolic processes at ecosystem scales may be predicted with limited knowledge about the responsible microorganisms. His findings will enable a better understanding of the biochemistry of ecosystems. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Dorador studied the fragmentation process of block caving, an underground mining method. He developed a new approach to estimate block size distribution at drawpoints. His research contributes to the design of block cave mining projects during early stage engineering. Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
2016 Dr. Sabella-Garnier applied methods usually reserved for microscopic physics to study space and time. In so doing, he was able to better describe the behaviour of certain surfaces and to put bounds on the existence of matter with negative energy. This work furthers our understanding of the links between gravity and the other forces of nature. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Wall examined rates of magmatic processes in the Earth's crust using precise radiometric dating of some of the world's largest plutonic bodies. He developed a technique to extract mineral chronometers from rocks that had previously been considered undateable. His results provide key insights into the timescales of magmatism in the Earth's history. Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD)
2016 Dr. McAvoy studied applications of game theory to evolutionary biology. He extended several mathematical models in order to more realistically account for features found in evolving populations. These extensions provide more insight into the evolution of cooperation and help to further develop the field of evolutionary game theory. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Bessmeltsev introduced novel approaches to algorithmically infer artist-intended 3D shape from sketches. His methods interpret artist drawings and create the envisioned 3D CAD or character models. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2016 Dr. Keerthisinghe investigated the role of the signalling protein MUSTACHES in plant development. She discovered how this protein controls the shape and symmetry of the cells that control gas exchange in leaves and the formation of lateral roots. This work will have important implications for understanding water use efficiency in plants. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2016 Dr. Ronagh theorized an accessible and geometric approach to defining the Donaldson-Thomas invariants of algebraic threefolds. These objects play fundamental roles in modern theoretical physics and specifically in string theory. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Johnson identified three novel genes that play a role in plant defense against microbial pathogens. The characterization studies undertaken by Dr. Johnson underscore the complexity inherent in the regulation of plant immune signaling. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)

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