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 | Bleeding is the major side-effect of heparin anticoagulants that are used to prevent blood clotting during surgeries. Dr. Kalathottukaren developed a molecule that is nontoxic and efficient to stop bleeding induced by heparins. Successful translation of this molecule into clinics would reduce blood transfusions and make anticoagulation therapy safer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2017 | High-speed turbo-machines can suffer from self-induced instabilities as in the unstable operation of NASA's space shuttle engines during the space exploration race with the Soviet Union. Dr. Miraskari's research investigates such faults, proposes safe regions of operation, and offers prospective design modifications for high speed rotating machinery. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Wolowic studied digital technology use among Nisga'a and Tsimshian youth before and after the arrival of Facebook and cell phones in their small city. Her research shows how this urban Indigenous community uses Facebook to re-express traditions and respond to challenges created by colonialism. Her collaborations also created images that circulated among the community in digital and material forms. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Hussein developed a novel microscopic pedestrian simulation model. His model showed a high accuracy in simulating pedestrian movements and predicting their behavior during different interactions. His research will aid in developing a solid understanding of pedestrian behavior and studying a variety of applications, including pedestrian safety. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Jalaal studied droplets of complex fluids. He developed mathematical and experimental methods to analyze flows in small scales. His findings contribute to the development of new fabrication techniques such as 3D printing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Evans-Cockle examined the influence of Erasmian Christian Humanism on the prophetic poetics of Edmund Spenser and John Milton. He showed how Erasmus's grammatical hermeneutics changed the way early modern Protestants read the Bible and how this, in turn, opened new creative horizons for the exploitation of biblical texts by early modern poets. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Zhang developed genetic models to study the development of tissues in the human body, including muscle, fat, and bones. By characterizing a key regulatory factor, his research highlights how development is controlled by genetic information beyond the DNA. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Drover studied the development of new chemical transformations. His work has led to developments in metal-based homogeneous catalysis for agrochemical synthesis and the use of molecular oxygen as a green oxidant. Green chemicals are designed to reduce negative impact on the environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Sullivan worked on the PIENU experiment at TRIUMF. This experiment measures the decay properties of the pion, an unstable particle made of quarks. This measurement will then be compared with the theoretical prediction, either confirming our understanding of pion decay, or pointing the way to new physics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Rajabali embarked on a personal, philosophical and pedagogical study into the kinship between poetic discourse and spiritual expression. Her arts-based research lyrically illuminated how contemplative encounters nurture spiritual literacy. She demonstrates that purposeful engagement in creative practices is a rich gateway to holistic learning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Palangi studied deep learning, a branch of machine learning focused on artificial neural networks. He examined methods for sequence modelling with applications in natural languages, web search engines and distributed compressive sensing. This work furthers our understanding of artificial intelligence and human language technologies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | How do changes to protein quality control networks perturb proteostasis - a process required for cell viability? To address this question Dr. Comyn established a flow cytometry based screen to identify factors involved in proteostasis. This work provides a valuable resource for future studies of protein quality control and protein stability. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Babaei developed a novel approach for the assessment of digging conditions in open pit mining operations using electric rope shovels as a tool. The proposed approach helps mines to improve their productivity while significantly reducing the overall mining cost. Dr. Babaei's solution has been implemented in different mines in Canada. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Kim studied string theory and its application. Specifically, he examined gravity theory and its holographic relationship to quantum field theory. His investigations extend our understanding of the electric properties of materials. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. MacDonald studied the sources of variation in ecological communities, using the organisms found inside of tropical bromeliads. He found that communities of larger organisms are more easily predicted by the environment. Among these larger organisms, species were different in how well they avoided predators. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Imam studied the incidence of lower limb amputation and the provision of rehabilitation services in Canada. In addition she designed and evaluated a novel approach towards cost-effective and accessible rehabilitation for individuals with lower limb amputation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Li studied how drug-resistant prostate cancer develops. He found a novel target for this lethal disease and applied a computer-aided system to screen for superior inhibitors of this target. His study provides a potential therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant prostate cancer that may eventually benefit the patient survival. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Croft's research examined a new facet in the psychological study of gender stereotypes. She found that the division of labor at home, particularly men's contribution to childcare and housework, is causally linked to the roles girls & women expect to occupy outside the home. This extends prior research exploring workplace equality in isolation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Gorokhovskaia examined the relationship between elections, protest, and political participation in Russia's modern hybrid authoritarian regime. She found that although electoral competition is heavily manipulated, it remains possible for citizens to meaningfully influence a regime's behavior even from within a repressive political system. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Mills explored the cultivation of mindfulness with university students who struggle with mental health issues. She found specific practices, mindfulness groups, and support of others to be important factors for students. This research gives deeper understanding of how counseling centers might help students use mindfulness as a part of treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Caines studied the consequences of non-rational expectations in macroeconomic systems. His work shows how information constraints in asset and credit markets can lead to significant propagation of shocks. The results are used to explain recent experiences in US housing markets and have important implications for asset pricing properties. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Cambero studied the production of bioenergy and biofuels using forestry by-products. Her models inform decisions related to designing a supply chain aimed at generating additional revenue for the forest industry. Her work will ultimately help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create job opportunities for forest-dependent communities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Courtade's doctoral studies focused on the processing of hormones in the pancreas. He developed an assay to detect a novel hormone precursor in humans, and modeled his findings in rodent models of diabetes. His research increases our understanding of hormone function in the pancreas during the healthy and diabetic state. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Schroeder evaluated the latency, availability, and use of storage and network resources in personal file synchronization platforms. He developed a scalable peer-to-peer file system that provides a unified view of a person's data so that any file can be accessed from any device, regardless of where it was created or where it is currently stored. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2016 | Dr. Hamilton studied ice-ocean interactions in the Canadian High-Arctic. His research provided new insight into how ice shelves, massive floating platforms of ice, influence ocean properties and circulation in polar fjords, and how the collapse of ice shelves due to climate warming will impact the dynamics of marine-terminating glaciers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |