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 | Dr. Jenkin explored the process of expiration in various rodent species. She found that typically the intercostal and abdominal muscles are silenced, but that under certain conditions, these muscles become active to enhance the volume and flow rates of the breath. Her work expands our knowledge of how the brain controls breathing in mammals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Sauer studied the structural and economic attributes of a novel cable supported bridge system. His research enables decision makers to evaluate the system against their specific project needs and, where suitable, it provides engineers with the tools required to achieve an optimal design. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Jamshidi studied a rare cancer called epithelioid sarcoma. His results show that while it is a complex disease, inhibition of a specific protein called EZH2 can be of therapeutic value. His work has resulted in the inclusion of epithelioid sarcoma in EZH2 inhibitor clinical trials in the US and Canada. | Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ranamukhaarachchi focused his research on microneedles to replace hypodermic needles during injections and blood draws. He studied the mechanics of skin during microneedle insertion for fluid injections and biosensing. His work yielded insight into the development of medical devices to change how drugs are administered and replace blood tests. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. McKenzie studied the quantum physics of magnetic materials. He examined magnetic phase transitions, analogous to the transition between water and ice, at extremely low temperatures. This research is relevant to the development of quantum computation, as well as being of fundamental interest in quantum physics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Coia developed a flexible statistical approach for forecasting extreme events such as big floods and large insurance claims, by carefully garnering information from precursors. He also identified a new probabilistic model that can allow a varying level of risk. This research will allow us to better develop early warning systems for disasters. | Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Chen used rainbow trout from desert habitats as a model to study thermal adaptation. He illuminated adaptive changes in DNA, RNA and physiology that enable trout to survive and physiologically thrive in high temperature water. His research will contribute to the conservation and management of fish species in the current era of global warming. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Priegert developed new methods of affixing phosphorus-containing flame retardants to cellulosic substrates. This work could allow for the wider use of products derived from renewable sources such as wood, thereby decreasing society's reliance on petroleum-derived materials. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Liu studied judicial reform in China from the 1980s to 2015, focusing on the autonomy of judges in Chinese courts. Her research investigated the main influence in the adjudication and independence of the judges. This research will inform policy making and implementation of future judicial reform in China. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Tsui developed simulation models for the combustion of natural gas, aimed at understanding the dynamics within the reacting process. The models allow for more cost-effective optimisations for engines, which would have a positive impact on issues related to global warming by promoting the sustainable use of fossil fuels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ho developed new methods in fluid simulation for the study of non-Newtonian liquids in complex three dimensional domains. His work was used to explore saliva's lubricative effects in swallowing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Mehr developed screening technologies to search the human gut for sugar-modifying enzymes. He discovered numerous enzymes capable of building or breaking down complex biochemicals. This included the discovery of an enzyme capable of converting the blood type A antigen into blood type O, rendering it as universally donatable blood. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Blood transfusions are an integral component of modern-day healthcare. Dr. Atkins developed an innovative analytical tool to non-invasively determine the quality of stored red blood cells without needing to compromise the sterility of the storage bag. His findings have implications for the management and use of donated blood in medical treatments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Patterson challenged modern ideas of games by examining the social significance of parlour games as forms of cultural expression in medieval and early modern England and France. Her research shows the varied methods by which medieval players enjoyed playing games and how the idea of 'game' developed and changed over time. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Goh studied how organisms respond to cellular stress, an important process in disease and aging. She identified two new regulators of stress responses that are found in many animals including humans. This research may allow the identification of new therapeutic targets for cancer and other age-related diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Hilton demonstrated that ageing plays a role in nerve cell growth following spinal cord injury. He also identified a new form of neuroplasticity underlying recovery following spinal cord injury. This assists us in designing clinical trials and developing effective treatments for paralysis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Berg explored evidence projecting a future world of limited fossil energy use. His research mapped out linkages between petroleum geology, energy economics and climate science. He concludes that future educators should embrace a post-carbon pedagogy in their practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ali investigated the complex process of Canadian crude oil refining. His study highlighted the role of molecular structure and process conditions on gum formation. These results will help find ways to limit catalyst deactivation by gum formation, a major obstacle in oil sands upgrading, and will improve the proficiency of plants in Canada. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Gamu analyzed the politics behind mining companies' attempts to manage social conflicts in the Peruvian highlands. His research challenges the idea that corporate social responsibility initiatives are effective instruments for mitigating the inherently destabilizing effects of industrial mining in local communities in developing countries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Lee studied statistical extremes involving several variables. He explored methods to investigate extreme value models with connections driven by hidden factors or proximity of sites. Examples in the environmental and financial areas include the annual maximum stream flows at various locations along a river, and extreme stock returns. | Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ye's studies focused on a family of models of gradient type with sub-quadratic actions. He studied the fluctuations of the microscopic model, and established a connection between the microscopic system and macroscopic world. His findings contribute to our understanding of models in statistical mechanics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Xu studied two genes that regulate the development of insulin producing pancreatic beta-cells. HIs findings have shown that these genes are indispensable for beta-cell development and maintenance. These results improve our understanding of how beta-cells are derived and may aid in cell generation, ultimately working towards a cure for diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2017 | What happens when an extra electron is injected into a magnetic insulator? A better understanding of this question is needed for the design of novel electronic components and materials. In his thesis, Dr. Moeller investigated how far temperature plays a role and showed that in some cases, similar models can lead to drastically different results. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Jalali developed an efficient and accurate method to improve the simulation of high-speed turbulent flows in aerodynamics. This method, which is an alternative to more expensive experimental studies, can be utilized to analyze commercial transport aircraft and improve the design of more efficient future aircraft. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Milani Fard focused on improving the quality of web applications through automated testing and maintenance. The evaluation results point to the effectiveness of the proposed techniques in terms of fault detection capability and accuracy. His automated techniques reduce the time and effort of manual testing and maintenance. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |