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. Farias studied connections between foreign policy motivations and the provision of development assistance to Brazil. The analysis shed light on issues of power, foreign policy analysis, and development assistance. The study also draws attention to South-to-South cooperation, emerging donors, and Brazilian foreign policy and biofuels diplomacy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Sitwell investigated the effects of dark matter and dark energy on cosmological 21-cm radiation and developed models of cosmological inflation. The changes to the 21-cm signal in the presence of dark matter and dark energy were described. This provides probes of these mysterious substances that may illuminate our understanding of them. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Lim developed a new method of stimulating and imaging brain networks in an animal model of stroke. This research demonstrated that a small stroke can have wide-spread consequences on the brain network. Network-wide changes were observed in the early and late stages after stroke, suggesting that the process of spontaneous recovery occurs over time | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Vandenberg studied the history of Chinese and Japanese hospitals in British Columbia, from 1880 to 1920. She contributes significant new insights into Canadian nursing and hospital history. She argues that these hospitals not only met local health and cultural needs, but also played an important role in broader issues of social justice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Dunham designed and built software to assist in the collaborative documentation and analysis of endangered indigenous languages. This aids researchers conducting fieldwork in linguistics. The online application he designed is currently used on nine under-documented languages, and promises to contribute to their study, preservation and revival. | Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. LeBlanc investigated the desiccation resistance mechanisms of a soil-residing bacterium known to degrade a broad range of organic compounds, both natural and xenobiotic. His goal is to better understand the physiology of key pollutant-degrading bacteria so that effective bioremediation strategies for contaminated soils may be realized. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Aftab studied ways in which a protein that mediates cell-to-cell communication influences the migration of brain cancer cells. She showed that reducing cell-to-cell communication increases the rate and pattern of brain cancer cell migration. Since migration of these cells created a barrier to treatment, her findings may lead to improved therapies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mousavifar completed doctoral studies in the field of wireless communications in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He proposed a novel frequency spectrum sensing technique, whereby unused frequency channels can be identified more efficiently. As a result of his research, overhead costs can be reduced in future wireless communication systems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. O'Neill completed his doctoral studies in bioinformatics at the BC Cancer Research Centre. He developed and applied computational methods for analysing data from many cells of many cancer patients at the same time. These methods will aid researchers in finding new drug targets and clinical tests for acute myeloid leukemia and other cancers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Centeno studied low-rise structures with reinforced masonry walls, and their vulnerability to earthquakes. Using computer simulations based on experimental results, he developed a method for predicting base wall sliding movement. This method will improve the current Canadian Masonry Code procedures for seismic design of masonry wall structures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Komarnisky studied Mexican migrants in Alaska. She found that both locations, and a shared experience of mobility between them, are what makes these people feel at home in the world. This study adds to our understanding of migration patterns and experiences of place, and can contribute to policies that improve the lives of migrants everywhere. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Garcia-Armas conducted research in the fields of algebra and algebraic geometry. He solved problems related to the classification and description of group actions on algebraic varieties over arbitrary base fields, with an emphasis on algebraic curves. His results provide new insights on the fascinating interplay between algebra and geometry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Jones explored women's recovery from an eating disorder, specifically, support received from an intimate partner. Her findings indicate that sense of safety and mutual commitment are significant for women and their male partners. Her research is one of the first studies to highlight the role of partners in recovery from an eating disorder. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Chiang identified a gene called GATA2, and showed that it plays a key role in human prostate cancer metastasis. She subsequently demonstrated that this gene could be used for potential treatment and prognosis of metastatic prostate cancer. This study may contribute to considerable improvements in the management of prostate cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wong developed a model of chronic jaw muscle pain that used nerve growth factor, a key mediator of pain, to induce muscle tenderness. He found that it works, in part, via activation of a specific glutamate receptor on nerve fibers. The effect is also greater in females than in males. These findings may lead to new treatments for this disorder. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Jett studied a mouse model of the human genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis 1. Her research demonstrated that the product of the gene, neurofibromin, has an important role in normal function of the blood vessels and heart. These studies provide novel insights into the cardiovascular disease that occurs in people with neurofibromatosis 1. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Ghanbarian's research focussed on investigating the ways in which water affects the attraction between DNA molecules. She developed a computationally efficient model for the interaction of DNA molecules in the presence of water. Her studies open new windows for investigating DNA properties in various applications such as gene therapy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Horvath performed translational research on a multigenerational family with a neurodegenerative disease, characterizing the biochemical phenotype and select gene sequencing. She continued with hypothesis-generating research, looking for a candidate gene, and did transcriptome analysis. She also developed a treatment that has proven helpful. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Pearce completed her doctoral studies in the field of Geography. She contrasted the creative and mainstream understandings of the economy in two community economic development organizations. Following her research, she illustrated the impacts of economic ideas in alternative economic projects. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. DesRoches explored the concept of natural capital. Economists who embrace natural capital no longer view nature as storehouse of inert materials, but rather as a collection of active production processes that are furnished by nature for free. Nature is depicted as a garden containing objects purposefully arranged by humans to serve their own needs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wang studied general relativity with the focus on a universe model with one extra dimension. He showed, for the first time, that the results of gravitational collapse due to strong data are black holes with finite extension into the extra dimension. His work built the foundation of the numerical study on time-dependent processes in the model. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zhu studied the manufacture process of advanced high-strength steels used in the automotive industry. He developed a computer model to simulate the processing of automotive steels. His research provides the steel industry with guidance in designing optimal processing routes to manufacture advanced high-strength steels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Chen developed an active damping method for machine tools, using a novel linear magnetic actuator. This actuator and active damping method can be used in manufacturing industries, to damp the vibrations of large and flexible boring bars or shafts in the machining process. These innovations improve machining stability and increase productivity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Tomm examined how cooperative rules and agreements emerge in political conflicts within and between states. He developed an innovative theory of how the process of deliberation and argument can contribute to cooperation, by building trust between opponents. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Liu investigated the genetic control of the secondary cell walls of plants. This research provided new insights into secondary cell wall regulatory networks, and how the biomass in those plant cell walls can be converted to biofuel. In the future, this biomass may help to reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuels and increase sustainability. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |