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. 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) |
| 2017 | Dr. Tavormina completed her research in Counselling Psychology. Her research comprised a qualitative micro-analysis of the process of attunement, disruption and repair in the therapist/client dyad. Her study filled in a significant gap in the literature, informed existing theory on affect regulation, attachment, and the change process in therapy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Morton investigated the impact of novelty on sexual desire and sexual satisfaction in men and women in committed relationships. This research has important implications for couple therapy and self-help resources aimed at benefiting couples in long-term relationships who want to enhance their sexual desire and satisfaction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Lee studied how religion and spirituality matter in the consumer use, design, and engineering of media and technology. His research showcases how educators, makers, and hackers, articulate networks of theological values alongside technological creations, practices, and personal ways of being. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Valdés studied how robots and motion-tracking technology improve therapy effectiveness for people post-stroke. Through realtime force and visual feedback, findings showed reduced undesirable trunk compensation during upper-limb exercise. His results support the idea of using technology for the rehabilitation of people with stroke. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Ukah assessed the validity of the fullPIERS model, a clinical risk prediction model, for women admitted with pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and showed that it can be used to guide effective management of such women to prevent maternal complications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2017 | Dr. Biswas studied the molecular mechanisms by which virus particles escape infected cells. Utilizing insect viruses, he discovered novel methods by which virus particles interact with host proteins to enable the rapid escape from infected cells. This information is critical for understanding virus pathology and disease spread. | Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD) |