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 NID
2019 Dr. Thistlethwaite analysed the application of genomic based methodologies to conifer breeding. She used thousands of genetic markers to predict key economic traits, for the purpose of making selection decisions. Her research highlights areas for investment which will foster more dynamic and fruitful breeding programs in the future. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2019 Current HIV treatment can effectively manage infection, but it is not a cure. Hence, there is a need for new kinds of anti-HIV drugs. Dr. Zamiri discovered two anti-HIV molecules active in both wild and drug resistant HIV strains. Her research suggests a mechanism of action different from the current HIV drugs and may inform future therapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Lee explored ways to non-invasively stimulate the brain safely to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms. She investigated effects of electrical vestibular stimulation on brain activity and motor behaviours altered in Parkinson's disease. This work provided insights into neural mechanisms behind the effects and brain-behaviour relationships. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2019 Dr. Kovalchik developed computational tools for the analysis of high-resolution mass spectrometry data relating to oil sands process-affected water and cancer biology. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2019 Dr. Kwon examined insulin independent ways to lower blood sugar in order to find new therapies for diabetes. She found that the hormone leptin lowers blood sugar by remodeling metabolic pathways in the liver and discovered a small molecule, which mimics leptin. These results indicate that leptin or its mimetic may be a useful therapy for diabetes. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2019 Dr. Skaien studied the relationship between natural selection and genetic variation through observing local deer and seablush, a flowering species native to western North America. Her results illustrate the effect of natural selection by browsing deer on this species' ability to persist in the face of natural and human-induced environmental change. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2019 Dr. Sanchez explored the continuing impact of Samuel Beckett's literary and dramatic texts on contemporary art practices, focusing specifically on the works of three artists: Stan Douglas, Paul Chan and Tania Bruguera. She identified the "Beckett Effect" as politically and artistically significant in contemporary art. Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD)
2019 Dr. Neave investigated how dairy calves and dairy goats cope with common stressful feeding practices on commercial farms. She found that personality traits impact feeding behaviour, feed intake and growth. Her work proposes alternative feeding practices that improve animal welfare by attending to individual needs and promoting natural behaviour. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2019 Dr. Zou studied how to efficiently model engineering products using computers. Through his work, he discovered the fundamental issues and challenges of the modeling efficiency problem and presented effective solutions. His findings and solutions could significantly reduce the time and cost in engineering design and improve design productivity. Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
2019 Dr. Andrews explored indigenous spirituality in rural Ghana, focusing upon the intersections between music, ritual, and social development. His research illuminated the importance of recognizing and supporting indigenous spirituality as a key agent in mitigating cultural loss and how it contributes to a community's resilience. Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (PhD)
2019 Dr. Hamad studied methane oxidation catalysts to reduce the emissions from natural gas vehicles (NGVs). He developed a new catalyst formulation to minimize the catalysts deactivation by water and sulphur oxides. His results may have improved methane oxidation catalyst formulations for NGV converters to reduce the exhaust gas of unburned methane. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2019 Dr. Maltesen engaged in a discourse analysis of how policies, perceptions and contexts create conditions for participation in Adult Basic Education at Vancouver Island University. She reveals that power and governmentality, located in welfare regimes and policy structures, bind thought and constrain action. Her findings will impact local practice. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD)
2019 Dr. Sachdeva designed techniques for biomechanical simulation of the human hand. He modelled the dynamics of tendons wrapped on bones. He developed anatomical simulation software capable of modelling human hand function driven by muscles. Such a model may be used to explain the role of different muscles and ligaments in coordinating movement. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2019 Dr. Cantin studied quantum systems. He showed that certain quasiparticles can be localized by disorder and modeled a tool to study material surfaces. His work improves our understanding of energy transport in materials and gives a foundation for machine learning to solve the inverse scattering problem for surface-sensitive molecular interferometers. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2019 Dr. MacGillivray studied wheelchair training in older adults. She conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of motor skill-based wheelchair propulsion training. Results showed that older adults significantly improved their wheelchair propulsion biomechanics with training but not with unguided practice. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Zacchia studied the production of radioactive material for use in medical scans. Combining knowledge from engineering, chemistry and nuclear physics, he developed new theoretical models to understand radioactivity production. The tools he developed will facilitate new and more efficient medical scans for diagnostics and medical research. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2019 Dr. Heckelman evaluated different agricultural development approaches underway in the Philippine rice sector and examined the resilience outcomes of conventional and organic rice systems in the country. This research illuminates the necessary conditions and factors for building farmer capacities to enhance climate resilience. Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
2019 Dr. Vabi examined the link between public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility. He identified conditions under which partnerships can be used to responsibly and efficiently drive community development. This research highlights one way corporations can successfully achieve sustainable development goals. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2019 Dr. Zhang studied how institutional investors, such as mutual funds, specialize in a different class of assets. Based on empirical evidence, he developed a model that relates an institution's investment horizon with the characteristics of its stock holdings. His work contributes to the understanding of the behavior of financial institutions. Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Finance (PhD)
2019 Dr. Nazari studied self-education and teacher personal and professional development through Currere, a concept that promotes an autobiographical examination. His study helps teachers understand their own and their students voice more fully in order to connect with their individuality and create singular ways of thinking, learning, and being in the world. Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)
2019 Dr. Heim studied the role of intonation in Canadian English for the negotiation of shared beliefs. He discovered that the shape of the sentence melody correlates with the interpretation of the speaker's confidence and their response expectation. This study sheds a new light on how speakers encode their attitudes and intentions in conversation. Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)
2019 Dr. Song examined the newly created autonomy among female Catholic virgins of nineteenth-century Korea under the intensified control of French missionaries. This research invalidated the established conclusion in Korean history that Catholicism liberated Korean women and contributed to destroying the patriarchy in Choson Korea. Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD)
2019 Dr. Nolan studied the contradictory relationship between terrorism prevention and multiculturalism in Australia. She argued that combining the two can undermine positive community relations and service delivery for marginalised communities. Her research illuminates the unique role of local council workers to resist these effects. Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD)
2019 Dr. Buckler examined physical literacy training programs for early childhood educators. Her findings support the effectiveness of these programs and argue the need to offer training and ongoing support to educators. Her work has implications on early childhood education, training curriculum and professional development. Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD)
2019 Dr. Lewis developed gels using nanoparticles made from wood. The gels are water-filled, soft materials that can change their properties in a controllable way. These new materials have potential applications in environmental remediation, tissue engineering, and energy storage. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)