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. Desjardins investigated the regulation of the Ets1 transcription factor, which controls growth in both normal cells and tumors. Specifically, she uncovered how a flexible part of the Ets1 protein inhibits its ability to bind gene DNA. Her work sheds light on the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating gene expression and cancer development. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Steinmann analyzed video works by artists Melanie Gilligan and Hito Steyerl through the lens of what Michel Foucault called biopower. She argued that these works show how biopower shapes the neoliberal subject through surveillance and documentation. Her work demonstrates that this politically engaged art offers new insight into biopower. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gold studied the processes involved in regulating inflammatory diseases, particularly allergic asthma. He focused on how a protein involved in immune cell activation can act to influence the development of an immune response. This research provides important insight for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of allergic diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Sanders conducted research into the cause of Huntington disease, a fatal disease that attacks neurons in the brain. She found that the protein HIP14 is essential for life and is involved in localization in the cell, neuron function, and Huntington disease. Her research may lead to new treatments for Huntington disease, epilepsy, and paralysis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Archila studied how the direction of shaking during an earthquake affects the seismic behaviour of tall buildings located close to an active fault. His research outcome is an efficient method to estimate the critical demands a building could experience when struck by an earthquake. This will improve design procedures used by structural engineers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Vallejo studied the mechanisms of breast cancer progression. She discovered a new protein complex important for the survival of cancerous cell and for metastasis. Her findings identified a new target for breast cancer therapy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Liu studied the high temperature electrochemical behaviour of titanium in UBC's Corrosion Group. Her research findings are helpful in predicting corrosion rates of titanium in the leaching industry. She developed a chemical oxidation method to improve the corrosion resistance of titanium and extend the service time of titanium-made equipment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mobini's research was on the use of forestry by-products as a renewable source of energy. He focused on the development and application of object-oriented simulation models for the design and analysis of biofuel and bioenergy supply chains. His findings will help to increase the efficiency of the forestry industry and secure the energy supply. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Condensed matter physics strives to understand how and why technologically interesting materials have the properties that they do. Using an advanced variation on an experiment first explained by Albert Einstein 110 years ago, Dr. Ludbrook showed how a single layer of carbon atoms (a material known as graphene) can be transformed into a superconductor. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Samadi addressed the ways in which power plants meet consumer demand for power. Demand Side Management uses different techniques to manage power delivery, mainly by shifting the load from peak hours to off-peak hours. Dr. Samadi proposed algorithms to better utilize the power generating capacity without having to install new infrastructures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Abedini developed an integrated model to quantify methane generation from municipal solid waste landfills. The new model can be used to design and operate landfill gas collection and utilization systems. The model can also more accurately quantify greenhouse gas emission levels from municipal landfills, on both national and international scales. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Pourghiasian studied two common forms of cancer: breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Cancer imaging can assist us to detect tumors earlier, so different targets in these cancers were studied and evaluated for new ways of cancer imaging. It is expected that patients with breast or prostate cancer will benefit from this research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Albrecht's research addressed the mechanisms behind the development of Diabetes. He showed that endosomes of the beta-cell can direct insulin signalling and contribute to the regulation of cellular calcium content. Understanding these processes helps to develop therapeutics directed towards the treatment of Diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Li identified a novel phosphorylation site on a protein, Gp78. In response to cellular stress signaling, it regulates its ability to degrade various proteins, including itself and a cancer suppressor. These studies further our understanding of the Gp78 function in cancer progression and metastasis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Jung studied the character of test-focused education in South Korea, and its dire consequences on the society and individuals. Using the concept of "voice", he argues that understanding what it means to care for the self, care for others, and the relationship between them, ought to be fundamental tasks for educators and parents. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. El|anowski examined the relationships between violence and culture in post-World War Two Warsaw, Poland. He showed how destruction maps, photographs of ruins, museum exhibitions, and memorials influenced reconstruction. His research exposes the extreme cultural and material complexities of postwar urban environments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. De Souza studied the mechanisms regulating the expression of the huntingtin gene. This is the gene that causes Huntington's Disease, a genetic disorder with no cure. This research allows us to better understand the role huntingtin plays in normal cellular functions and may assist in the development of future treatments for Huntington's Disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mackenzie tells a biographic layered story of the source of a dramatist's idea. His "playmaking as learning" approach identifies seven interconnected spaces in the writing process for theatre. His internationally presented drama research offers insights into storytelling authority, fear in creative writing, and fathers, sons, and authors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gacoin studied how teachers and students taking part in an HIV prevention program in South Africa understand messages related to gender equity. She argues that it is crucial to pay attention to the complex educational spaces within which people make sense of social identities, and the power relations between those identities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gooding helped elucidate apparent inconsistencies in the unification of general relativity and quantum theory, by constructing and analysing a theoretical model of a self-gravitating interferometer. Dr. Gooding also used an extension of this model to demonstrate a novel form of intrinsic decoherence due to gravitational self-interaction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Holmes developed a framework for physics labs that engages students in authentic experimentation. She found that a quantitative decision tree to structure experiments improves the scientific reasoning of students and their understanding of the nature of science, even when the structure is removed, developing them as independent critical thinkers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Duca studied unconventional and environmentally-friendly water treatments for small and remote first nation communities in Canada. She investigated the Vacuum Ultra-Violet process, which is able to degrade organics in water. This work will contribute to the development of an additional tool for dealing with micro-pollutants in rural communities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Kealy examined the approaches used by psychotherapists in the treatment of pathological narcissism. He found that therapists modified their approaches based on patients' interpersonal difficulties. His work highlights the expertise of community psychotherapists and suggests possibilities in the treatment of narcissistic disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Atrafi conducted her research in the mineral processing group at UBC Mining Department. She studied the impact of fatty acids on gas dispersion in solutions, and promoted a method to improve performance in mineral processing plants. The findings of this research will benefit mining industry and improves efficiency in phosphate processing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Mitigation of greenhouse gas-fuelled climate change is a challenge requiring many approaches. Dr. Harrison's research demonstrated that the reaction of certain industrial wastes with carbon dioxide could help offset industrial greenhouse gas emissions. This research also provided insight into the response of natural processes to climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |