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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Platelets are a highly valued blood product but their storage is limited to 1 week. Dr. Hadjesfandiari has developed a polymer coating for platelet bags to minimize unwanted effects of bag material on platelets. A decrease in platelet and bacterial adhesion on the coated bags has the potential to improve quality and safety of platelet transfusion. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Byun examined the philosophical origin of agnosticism by analyzing underappreciated works of the inventor of the word "agnostic." Thomas Huxley, also known as "Darwin's bulldog," proposed agnosticism as a guide to knowledge. This research shows that it is not a passive, wishy-washy stance, but a constructive, confident position on evidence. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2017 | The world is full of mixtures of unobserved source signals. Dr. Zou's doctoral studies focused on recovering the underlying source signals from a limited number of observations. His proposed methods can be utilized in a wide class of physiological signals for artifact removal and for better interpretations of these signals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Blood clots affect millions of people every day. Through her research, Dr. Carter identified a novel mechanism by which new generation anticoagulants enhance the breakdown of clots. Her findings are of particular interest in the treatment of thrombosis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Miller studied the relationship between patterns in a child's visual attention and how well they get along with others. She found that children who were faster to perceive angry expressions also were more likely to be aggressive. This research increases our understanding of attention and will inform programs targeting social wellbeing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Timm studied building online rapport with suicidal clients. She found that counsellors with rapport interacted in a genuine, often informal manner. In chats without rapport, clients perceived the chats as scripted, robotic, and circular. The results suggest that traditional counselling techniques may require revision in an online environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Villarreal-Herrera used algebraic tools to understand geometric objects such as shapes and graphs, or in general, abstract spaces. He focused primarily in the space of commuting elements of a Lie group. This object expands classical concepts in algebraic topology, such as vector bundles and their characteristic classes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Fidanza studied how immune responses to common infections, primarily those occurring early in life, can be protective against leukemia development. This work provides meaningful insight into the natural history of childhood leukemia and helps explain a number of long standing epidemiological associations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Rosenman studied social finance, a form of investing that tries to generate benefits for society alongside private profits. She found that social finance depends on public subsidies, but gives investors more control over the governance of anti-poverty services. The study illustrates some of the limitations of market-based poverty solutions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Northrup demonstrated how populations of rainbow trout are able to tolerate high pH and how altering hatchery practices can affect this tolerance. This research will aid in the management of rainbow trout and help to sustain an important recreational fishery in the face of environmental change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Barriers in epithelia block germs and prevent fluid loss. Gliotactin is essential to form these barriers, but too much Gliotactin leads to tumor-like growth and tissue disruption. Dr. Samarasekera identified cellular pathways that are involved in this tissue disruption, increasing our understanding why misregulation of barrier proteins can lead to cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Mohibullah examined how legacies of the 9/11 attacks, particularly Islamophobia, affected the senses of self and place of Muslims living in New York City. Her research linked questions of citizenship, identity, place and affect, and challenged the misconceptions that Muslims are monolithic and that Islam is an inherently violent belief system. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Wason studied the acquisition and processing of seismic data. She designed simultaneous-source acquisitions that provide flexibility for better survey-area coverage and speedup acquisition, and developed processing techniques to address the challenge of source separation. This work will help improve survey efficiency and accuracy while reducing cost. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ponder studied the causality of municipal bankruptcy in the United States. She found that majority-minority urban areas experience higher rates of bankruptcy while causes are linked to costly repairs on ageing infrastructure. Her research contributes to understandings of how sustainability efforts, austerity governance, and finance intersect. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Mysore Balasubramanya proposed novel, cost-effective enhancements to the power saving mechanism currently adopted by the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. The proposed solutions address battery operated Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices, especially those in low network coverage and result in improved energy efficiency, thus increasing their battery life. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Khoshdarregi developed physics-based mathematical models for threading oil pipes. His models help improve the productivity and accuracy of the threading operation and minimize rupture of oil pipes in offshore and land-based oil transportation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Granados studied the effects of human activities on plants and animals in a Malaysian Borneo. She showed that the combined threats of logging and hunting could affect tropical forest regeneration and could also affect how animals use the forest. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Qiu studied the interplay of heart cells and coxsackievirus B3, a virus causing lethal heart diseases. He clarified the modulation and role of two cardiac proteins in supporting viral survival. His research advances our understanding of viral infection in the heart and provides potential drug targets for the treatment of infectious heart diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Reyes examined the influence of markets and culture on the use of native forests in Chile. This research helps us to understand how forests are used and why, in the context of a complex socioecological system. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Tremblay studied the mechanism by which the anti-Parkinsonian drug ropinirole induces impulse control disorders. Her studies with rats demonstrated the involvement of a specific neural dopaminergic pathway and intracellular signaling cascade. Her findings may help develop strategies to mitigate these effects while preserving benefits this drug provides. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Wallace computed universal critical exponents for phase transitions in models of ferromagnets and linear polymers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Siegle examined how heat waves affect individual energy balance, reproduction, and population growth in an intertidal crustacean. His research identified gaps in bioenergetic models, demonstrating that the effect of transient heat stress on populations is sensitive to time-scale and broader life-history traits. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Wang studied the evolution of non-coding RNAs and duplicated genes in plants. He found the rapid evolution of non-coding RNAs and their distinct features from proteins in evolution. This knowledge will provide important clues to further functional studies of plant genomes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Stokes investigated how First Nations could benefit from LNG projects in northern B.C., while mitigating any negative impacts. Study results showed that initiatives for education, training, employment, good governance, social historical barriers, environmental protection and other supports are needed to ensure long-term sustainability. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Burrows identified and characterized a vitamin A responsive transcription factor expressed in immune cells of the intestine and uncovered its role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |