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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Dr. Chae studied nano-composite materials for bone tissue regeneration in UBC's Department of Materials Engineering. He designed new strategies to produce bone-like materials and structures for better interaction between those materials and bone cells. This research offers new ideas to regeneration scientists treating patients with bone defects. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Kroc's study was at the intersection of harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory. With his supervisor, he constructed examples of special sets that behave like pieces of a circle but have no area. The existence of such sets implies several important analytical results. The study contributes to future research in this area of mathematics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Payne developed a simple model for managing high-risk pregnancies in Africa and South Asia. Using mobile phones, community health workers in under-resourced countries can safely manage pregnancies complicated by high blood pressure. This mobile application has been used to manage thousands of pregnancies with demonstrated health improvements. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Sharifi's doctoral studies focussed on the flow of gas through off-shore pipelines. He developed a method of evaluating the performance of water-soluble additives that improve gas flow and prevent blockages. His findings contribute to energy management, and address global warming and environmental threats, through improved gas transmission. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Tong studied forecast evaluation in financial markets from an investment perspective. He proposed a structural approach, which assessed the portfolio value of forecasts when there are limited historical data. His study advanced our understanding of the economic value of forecasts when there is limited previous information available. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wang focused on the interaction between homecare robots and the human receiving the care. He designed a new adaptive robust observer to reconstruct the interaction force and make it safer. This interaction force observer could reduce the cost of the homecare system significantly, and also guarantee safe interaction between robot and human. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Hunt developed computational approaches to improve detection of regions in the human genome that are dedicated to the regulation of gene expression. Her research has improved our understanding and interpretation of large-scale genomics data, and her findings will directly impact the clinical analysis of human DNA sequences. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Fung developed enhancements to Graphics Processing Units, known as GPUs. GPUs have evolved from specialized computer graphics processors into a new type of parallel processor, found on most PCs, smartphones and tablets, and widely used in scientific and big-data computing. Dr. Fung's advances boost GPU efficiency and ease GPU software development. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Blinch studied how the brain processes the coordinated movements of both arms. He found that these movements are represented in the brain as a single action, and not independent actions for each arm. This knowledge will aid in the design of user-friendly interfaces, and help develop therapies for people who have difficulties with coordination. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Buckley studied nurses in rural practices. She investigated the ways in which rural healthcare policies and processes affect the nurses' ability to offer equitable, safe and ethical care. She found major issues, which can place rural populations at risk, and concluded that collaboration is needed to improve the quality of rural healthcare. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Robinson wrote a memoir about caring for her daughter who had an eating disorder, the impact on her family, and her encounters with health-care professionals. The findings of an online focus group with pediatric nurses, who read her memoir, pointed to the lack of knowledge of the disorder and the need for education and changes in care protocols. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Yue developed a model to predict the chemistry of iron in sulfate-containing solutions. The model was then used to investigate the extraction of copper from copper-bearing minerals in these solutions. His work allows for new optimization studies of industrial processes for the extraction of copper and other metals from their minerals and ores. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Jacobs developed a Mineral Carbonation Parameter. This system inexpensively processes chemical data from rocks, to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that might be stored in a mineral form. Mining companies can use this calculator to evaluate the potential to implement an industrial-scale mineral carbonation operation at their mining sites. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Thompson developed computer software that can calculate rational ways to behave in complex games. Using this software, he studied the effects of strategic voting in elections and strategic bidding in online auctions. His findings will assist researchers and practitioners in understanding existing economic markets and in designing new ones. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ahmadi spent three years completing doctoral research in the area of power and energy systems. His main contributions include improving the reliability and efficiency of electricity distribution through automation. To this end, he developed novel mathematical methods. Outcomes of this research are being adopted by utilities including BC Hydro. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. McGuigan evaluated the social impact assessments conducted for major projects in rural and small-town British Columbia. The findings strengthen our understanding of how the social benefits and burdens of development are managed. The study benefits all British Columbians since everyone relies on the sustainable development of natural resources. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Pollock examined how people control their balance after suffering a stroke. She found motor control deficits and heightened anxiety affect postural responses post-stroke. Her findings suggest there are positive and negative compensations in the way the body responds to loss of balance. Dr. Pollock aims to improve rehabilitation following a stroke. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Lawson completed his doctoral studies in the field of Physics. His research focussed on the observational consequences of a novel compact composite dark matter model. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Khosravi developed an innovative daylighting system. It incorporates adaptable optical elements to capture sunlight outside buildings and transfer it to the dark interior. This system can be used to illuminate multi-storey buildings using sunlight, which enhances lighting quality and reduces energy consumption and the electrical load of buildings. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Through a dual linguistic and literary analysis, Dr. Wubbold examined a selection of contemporary Mayan poems. Her research focuses primarily on the use of polysemous terminology and poetic devices. This study reveals how complex networks of symbolic meaning are conceptualized and encoded in language and poetic expressions unique to Mayan culture. | Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Denholm investigated the work of academic middle managers in a Canadian college. She revealed a discrepancy between expectations for leadership development and the reality of managerial obligations. Her insider's account suggests that professional development and changes in organizational culture are needed to enable college leaders to flourish. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gilani's research examined the chain-of-custody certification adoption and the state of innovation in the value-added wood products sector of British Columbia. He subsequently developed a change management model to promote the uptake of certification. This research explains the impact at the individual producer level and at the industry level.". | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Duncan completed her doctoral program in the field of Experimental Medicine. She studied signalling pathways in innate immune cells exposed to bacterial products. Her research revealed a novel pathway for pathogen recognition and has implications for human health and disease, most particularly the development of sepsis and septic shock. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wang completed his doctoral research in the field of Mechanical Engineering. His studies focused on the geometry processing of measurement data from 3D scanners, and errors arising in the scanning process. The models and methods he proposes have the potential to improve data quality, and this will benefit applications in reverse engineering. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mandic investigated how a group of marine fish species evolved to live in an environment with periodically low oxygen levels. She found a number of cellular and biochemical traits that underlie tolerance to low oxygen. Her work contributes to understanding how animals live where they do, particularly animals inhabiting stressful environments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |