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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dr. de Paula studied the effectiveness of riparian buffer management strategies to protect stream ecosystems in agricultural landscapes of the Amazon. These strategies were retaining forests in place and land abandonment for natural regeneration. He found that both strategies were effective, contributing to more sustainable agriculture practices | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Fenninger studied the role of calcium channels in immune cells. He demonstrated that a specific channel is vital for an efficient immune response and that its mutation causes an immunodeficiency. His research highlights the importance of calcium channels in the immune system and their role as novel targets for therapeutic drug intervention. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Multistage compressors are used extensively in high-speed natural gas operations and liquid natural gas industries. Dr. Hemmati's research proposed a new approach for identifying safe operation regions of these compressors. His work enriches our understanding of how to accurately estimate the stable boundaries of rotor bearing machinery. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. van der Zwan studied the factors limiting production of renewable biomass-based products. Through insights in rheology and enzymology, he revealed the underlying causes of key limitations and the mechanisms by which enzymes can be used to overcome them. This work betters our understanding of what is required to develop a sustainable bioeconomy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Boyle examined the role of repetition in a selection of postmodern compositions, proposing new theoretical principles for understanding the perception of musical segments. Her work expands on previous discussions of musical form by explaining not only the emergence of closed segments, but also of more open forms and processes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Musicology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Osmond created and analyzed mathematical models of evolution to ask how genetic adaptation is expected to overcome two challenges: (1) intermediate genotypes are deleterious and (2) rapid environmental change threatens extinction. Both are difficult problems but can be overcome by genetic drift and rapid evolution, respectively. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Henkelmann searched for heavy quarks, predicted by theories beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics. He analyzed data recorded by the ATLAS detector at CERN and contributed to the determination of the relative spatial position of the inner most measurement devices of the detector, allowing for a successful data taking campaign. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Shafai studied visual perception in adults with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Results show that the earliest levels of visual processing are typical, but face perception skills were impaired in ASD. There was a correlation between expression perception and social competence, providing insight into potential avenues for intervention. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2018 | Iron is a critical nutritional requirement for bacteria to establish infection. Dr. Verstraete investigated how the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus produces molecules to steal iron from the host. Her work demonstrates the ability of this pathogen to cause disease and opens new avenues for the development of diagnostics and therapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Hosseinizand showed that drying and densification of microalgae is a feasible way to produce renewable fuels from microalgae. This finding eliminates the need for other expensive microalgae conversion methods and leads to faster commercialization of microalgae-based fuels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Aalamifar studied the smart grid, the electrical supply networks that integrate the digital technology in order to monitor and control the power grid. She developed optimal frameworks and efficient algorithms for designing advanced metering infrastructures. Her work will significantly advance the automation of power grid networks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Wiens examined how psychologists can assess management-level job candidates for problematic personality traits and help organizations predict job performance. He also showed how such problematic traits can hinder manager's workplace relationships and disrupt their leadership effectiveness. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Dinsdale developed new statistical methods to improve the prediction of oceanographic measurements, for example water temperature, using data collected by tags attached to marine mammals such as seals. This research helps to improve our understanding of changing ocean dynamics in sparsely sampled areas such as near Antarctica. | Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Qian studied molecular interactions. He introduced a new algorithm to a conventional method to make it applicable in real life applications such as anti-cancer drug-screening technology. His research has provided a new solution to the measurement of drug-binding, and it will potentially benefit the pharmaceutical industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Commodore examined Indigenous doctoral student's journeys to and experiences at a Canadian university. She found that students established success by creating community, maintaining family and cultural connections, and engaging in Indigenous and faculty mentoring programs. These findings inform policy, programs, and student services for Indigenous doctoral students. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Viljoen's study looked at creating and comparing trauma-informed behaviour plans to regular behaviour plans for primary school children with a history of adverse childhood experiences. While results were inconclusive, the research suggested trauma-informed practice would be most effective using a school-wide model. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Engarnevis studied moisture transport through polymeric membranes. He developed experimental and mathematical methods to explain the interactions between environmental stresses and permeation properties of composite membranes. His findings contribute to the development of high-performance membranes for vapor transport applications such as energy recovery in modern ventilation systems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Gao examined the organization of intracellular organelle membranes at the nanoscale. He showed the mechanism for organizing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) nanodomains and distinct types of membrane contacts between the ER and mitochondria. His studies may help to address the significance of membrane ultrastructure functioning in human disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Muslukhov investigated how users and application developers protect sensitive data stored in smartphones. The results of his research suggest that both sides struggle, but in different ways. While smartphone users often choose easy-to-guess passwords, application developers lack specific knowledge required to keep data secure. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Klassen examined how exercise improves recovery after stroke. Her studies investigated the impact of various exercise intensities and doses on walking and functional recovery in the early phase post stroke. This research will greatly contribute to stroke rehabilitation knowledge and maximizing recovery for individuals who have had a stroke. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Asiri developed the hypertonic saline analgesia assay, an efficient and inexpensive assay for testing analgesics in mice. He found that the new assay detected a broad range of analgesics using fewer animals compared to conventional assays and did not inflict undue suffering. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Prebble studied criminal offenses that overlap with one another, asking when that overlap contributes to the problem of there being too much criminal law. Using gendered violence case studies, she found that some specific criminal offences are justified because they give a name to distinct gendered harms that would otherwise not be fully recongised by the criminal law. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Salimi conducted an 18 year review of outcomes related to cleft lip and palate patients treated at BC's Children's Hospital in order to evaluate the incidence and potential risk of fistula development. She further developed a protocol for comprehensive follow up of cleft lip and palate patients in the shape of a standardized assessment form. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Orthodontics (PhD/Dip. Orthodontics) |
| 2018 | Dr. Dehkordi designed and developed a simple and low cost mobile technology for screening sleep and sleep apnea in children using a pulse oximeter connected to a smartphone. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Buckels' research explored the psychology of subclinical, everyday sadism. She developed a self-report questionnaire that predicts cruel behaviours such as online trolling, deficits in interpersonal accuracy, and callous judgments about harm and suffering. This research challenges assumptions that sadism is always sexual or criminal in nature. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |