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. Yan investigated techniques for obtaining accurate, efficient, and robust error estimates in computational simulations of aerodynamic flows. As problems grow ever more complex, these methods can provide guidance on the quality of simulated results and are readily applicable to a vast range of problems that can be simulated numerically. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Pastrana examined two ways of making praise more valuable to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The results of this study have important implications for designing interventions for individuals that do not yet find social interactions reinforcing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Ono examined adaptation using lab-evolved populations of yeast. She found that adaptation, and the underlying genetic changes, can depend on the nature and level of stress imposed and the genome of the organism. Her findings give insight into the ability of organisms to adapt to changing environments and the consequences of such adaptation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Roghanian developed a novel cement-free, corrosion-resistant coating material to enhance the durability and service-life of aged or deteriorated concrete pipes. She further designed an accelerated chamber to simulate the bio-corrosion process in sewage pipes and successfully tested this coating. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | In order to produce the proteins needed for cellular processes, the genetic information encoded in our DNA must be carefully read by molecules called transcription factors. Dr. Perez-Borrajero investigated how two of these molecules carry out their functions. Her findings help explain the different mechanisms used to interpret our genetic information correctly. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Stewart worked with youth born of forced relations in the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda. She identified their experiences of discrimination as a national and international problem of accountability and found creative ways they negotiate belonging. Her study will inform policy for those born of sexual violence in other wars. | Doctor of Philosophy in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Av-Gay examined the complexities of learning disabilities by interviewing students and parents. Findings revealed insights into lived experiences relating to their diagnosis; a lack of systemic early identification; and emotional difficulties. This research may contribute to the development of policy and practice on student assessment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Metzger demonstrated that maternal stress and the developmental environment has long-term effects on animals by altering chemical markings on DNA and changing gene expression. His research shows how non-genetic mechanisms can impact adaptive responses to environmental change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Caron completed her doctoral studies in chemistry. She researched novel conducting polymers and metal complexes containing sulfur-bridges. These materials have potential applications in solar cells and organic LEDs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Stocklin-Weinberg studied training programs for artisanal miners in developing countries. She designed a framework for how to launch, monitor and evaluate training to meet the needs of each unique mining community. Her framework will be used to improve the health, safety, labour conditions and environmental footprint of artisanal miners globally. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Janse van Vuuren focused on hydrogen fuel cells - devices which offer a more environmentally friendly means of power conversion. She investigated alternative materials for a conductive layer of the device and showed that graphene could be used to improve the performance and to extend the humidity range under which fuel cells can operate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Rhinitis is inflammation of the nose caused by a virus or allergies. Dr. Kim developed a gene signature approach to investigate the pathophysiological systemic immune responses in peripheral blood collected from patients with allergic rhinitis. This research may be useful to study allergic rhinitis and test the therapeutics to improve treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Campbell developed several economic models to inform healthcare policy aimed at reducing the disproportionate tuberculosis burden seen in migrant populations. He determined that targeting latent tuberculosis infection screening could cost-effectively improve population health and reduce the incidence of tuberculosis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Daenzer studied an alternative and environmentally friendly process to dissolve and recover gold from difficult to treat ores. His findings contribute to the understanding of the effects of by-products on this novel technology and provide opportunities to improve the process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Miorelli studied electromagnetic properties of light- and medium-mass nuclei using ab initio calculations. The findings are fundamental to advance our understanding of strong interaction dynamics in nuclear systems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Rahman developed a novel thermal-tracing technique for the measurement of solids circulation rate between reactors operating at high temperature where alternative techniques are unsuitable. His technique contributes immensely to the development of dual bed gasification technology for production of heat, electrical power, fuels and chemicals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Skandalis studied how hummingbirds' body size and wing shape affects their flight performance. He combined broad species and individual comparisons with fine high-speed filming to show that the evolution of relatively large wings and the ability to change wing shape on the fly have contributed to hummingbirds' impressive aerial abilities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Quader focussed on improving diagnosis reliability of hip instability in infants using ultrasound imaging. His top contribution was in implementing a novel and automatic three-dimensional ultrasound-based system. This has improved the diagnosis reliability of current-state-of-the-art hip instability diagnosis by around 70 percent. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr, Khodabandehloo developed a new method to measure the hydrodynamic size of biomolecules for the detection of protein aggregates in biopharmaceuticals. This method can be used to detect aggregates in drug formulations during production and storage which can have negative side effects. His work will improve patient safety. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Leder developed a novel skill-based, naturalist theory of mental health. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Schaeffer investigated the underlying causes of breathing discomfort and the use of supplemental oxygen for exercise in patients with interstitial lung disease. Her findings have important implications for exercise rehabilitation and symptom management in this population. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Kuo completed her DMA degree in music composition. She wrote a large orchestral work, titled Urban Suite, and several pieces of chamber music during her study. Her thesis, Fantasies, is a sixteen-minute suite for a chamber ensemble. | Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA) |
| 2018 | Dr. Piggot examined how organizations determine which strategies they should adopt in response to new climate change policies. Her work demonstrates that if the right support structures are in place, organizations can quickly come to terms with new requirements to address climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Yang studied nanosheets, the thinnest materials in the world. In the several materials he explored, the most important discovery is the magnetic impurities and their quantum coupling with the electrons in graphene. His work reveals some interesting quantum behavior in nano-materials. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2018 | It is essential for the modern violist to be familiar with various methods of creating sound. Dr. Kwok explored extended techniques and demonstrated teaching methods for students of all ages with six commissioned etudes. Her work encourages students to use these techniques to expand their technical and expressive abilities on their instrument. | Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Instrument (DMA) |