Faculty of Science
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
Research Centres
Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology
- Biodiversity Research Centre
- Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
- Centre for Microbial Diversity and Evolution
Computational Sciences and Mathematics
- Data Science Institute
- Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems
- Institute of Applied Mathematics
- Statistical Consulting and Research Laboratory
- Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
- Geophysical Inversion Facility
- Lithoprobe: Canada's National Geoscience Project
- Mineral Deposit Research Unit
- Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research
- Seismic Laboratory for Imaging and Modeling
Genomics and Biological Sciences
- Centre for High-Throughput Biology
- Geomatics for Informed Decisions Network
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics
- Michael Smith Laboratories
Human-Computer Interaction
- Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems
- Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics
Life Sciences
- Centre for Blood Research
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries
- Life Sciences Institute
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Neglected Global Diseased Initiative
Chemistry and Materials Science
- Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory
- Max Planck-UBC Centre for Quantum Materials
- Quantum Devices Group
- Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute
Physics
- Antihydrogen Trapping and Spectroscopy at CERN
- Pacific Institute for Theoretical Physics
- TRIUMF: Canada’s National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
- UBC ATLAS Project at Large Hadron Collider
Sustainability
Research Facilities
Designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines, the new 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 updated 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 new 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
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
-
Photochemistry of matrix isolated chiral molecules (CHEM - PHD)
-
Diet and the microbiome in Parkinson's disease (MIIM - PHD)
Doctoral Citations
Year | Citation | Program |
---|---|---|
2012 | Dr. Machtaler studied connexin 43, a protein which normally moves material from one cell to another. He was able to establish for the first time that connexin 43 affects the shape and movement of cells of the immune system known as B lymphocytes. His findings contribute to the understanding of immune system function and tumour biology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Rempel developed new algorithms to improve the display of legacy content on emerging LED-based, high dynamic range display devices. He also studied humans' colour sensitivity and perception of high-contrast imagery. The results of his work can be used in the design of new generations of displays including televisions, computer monitors, and medical displays. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Mottershead performed measurements on the electronic structure of two high-temperature superconductors through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and constructed a new measurement system. Both the measurements themselves and the technological innovations of the new system significantly advance the field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Mee studied the distribution and ecology of an asexually reproducing fish species, and examined processes influencing coexistence of this asexual species with sexually reproducing fish species. His work on this unique component of Canada's biodiversity contributes to a general understanding of the evolution of sexual reproduction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Morrison studied in the field of pure mathematics, specifically Algebraic Geometry. A new technique known as dimensional reduction was developed to compute the virtual motives of certain moduli spaces. It was applied to give new calculations in agreement with the predictions of string theorists. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Lau developed a method for enhancing contrast in images. It is used for converting color images to gray, creating images for different displays, creating images for colorblind people, and combining images. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Hoffman investigated the compositional and mechanical properties of the extremely dense matter found in the outer layers of neutron stars. Her studies indicate a different composition than expected and that the mechanical properties depend on the structure of the outer layers. This research has implications for the interpretation of observations of neutron stars. | Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Lu developed an accurate and efficient system to automatically track and identify players in broadcast sports videos. This system will greatly reduce the effort of collecting game statistics and enhance a user's viewing experience. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
2012 | Dr. Cassis studied the causes of cadmium levels, stress levels, and mortalities in cultured oysters. He worked closely with BC oyster farmers to improve their culture methods based on a better understanding of the marine environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD) |
2012 | Much of our macroscopic and quantum level understanding of matter comes from spectroscopy, the measurement of the absorption and emission of radiation. Dr. Hammond's research developed a novel, coherent, high-power radiation source operating in the extreme ultra-violet regime that has enabled an entirely new set of spectroscopic studies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |