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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. Xu developed a chemical synthesis of tetrodotoxin, a pufferfish poison that is being investigated for its ability to treat cancer-related pain. This newer and more efficient method will contribute to the discovery of powerful and non-addictive compounds for pain management. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2016 Dr. Casquilho Resende developed statistical models to better understand localized weather regimes in complex geographical regions. Her design strategy for monitoring networks provides critical data for both scientists and governmental agencies, contributing to the surveillance of environmental processes and further understanding Earth's climate. Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Shahriari contributed to the increasingly relevant field of Bayesian optimization and sequential experimental design. His work explores automatically tuning experiments in order to avoid tedious labour often reserved for graduate students, lab technicians, and other highly qualified personel. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2016 Dr. Hu developed a technique to measure the molecular structures of water surfaces. She applied this technique to investigate how the ordering and orientation of water molecules were affected by the electric field imposed by different surfactants. Her findings provide new insights into sustaining clean water sources. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2016 Dr. Cao's doctoral studies focused on the design and synthesis of shape-shifting molecules. These molecules give rise to changes in either light absorption or emission colours, which can be used to distinguish different chemical and biological environments. His findings may contribute to new smart light-harvesting materials and new fluorescent dyes for study of neurological degenerative diseases. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2016 Dr. Bitter completed his doctoral research in the field of atomic, molecular and optical physics. He used sequences of ultra-short laser pulses to study and control chaotic motion in rotating molecules. Controlling chaos has far reaching implications for the ultimate prospect of using light to control chemical reactions. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2016 Dr. Gilbert investigated the population genetics of complex demographic history. She compared methods for estimating effective population size and examined the impact on local adaptation during range expansion. These studies improve our understanding of natural populations and their abilities to adapt to new and changing environments. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2016 Dr. Busta studied the structures and biosynthesis of the wax compounds that cover plant surfaces. He found that wax coverings vary greatly between plant species, plant organs, and even plant cell types. His findings suggest that wax biosynthesis plays a significant role in optimizing each plant surface for its distinct local environmental condition. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2016 Dr. Christian studied how changes in the extracellular matrix regulate the expression of genes that are linked to cancer progression. She showed that two focal adhesion proteins, FAK and talin, are important for these gene expression changes. Her work could contribute to the development of new drugs for treating cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)
2016 Plants possess complex immune systems to combat pathogens. Dr. Huang uncovered novel components of a protein degradation complex. He examined their roles in the regulation of immune receptor homeostasis. His research highlights the importance of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in fine tuning immune responses in plants. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)

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