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. Wang examined the connection between corporate behaviour and macroeconomic phenomena. He found physical investment is decreasing with outsourcing, which contributes to the general downward trend of investment in the US. His research also includes connection between macro volatility and micro volatility, and the effect of monetary policy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. McConechy studied uterine and ovarian cancers. Her research led to the discovery of cancer-specific mutation profiles, and focused on examining the effects of these mutations on protein structure and function. This work has contributed to the pathology field by helping to improve the classification and diagnosis of uterine and ovarian cancers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Salnykova demonstrated that ethnic conflict is associated with the level of deliberative capacity. She studied this relationship on the cases of post-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia. She explored the factors of deliberative capacity and the types of deliberative systems that may exist. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Lin studied factors that are important for attaching and removing the fatty acid, palmitate, from proteins in our bodies, and why this is significant. By identifying new enzymes that are responsible for the detachment of these fatty acid groups, he has made a remarkable contribution towards finding treatments for Huntington's disease and cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Xie studied how packages or sets of items can be automatically recommended to Internet users for such activities as trip-planning and course planning. The resulting recommendations are based on a user's preferences and constraints, such as budget. The packages built for each user provide immediate improvement to the level of customization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Cienciala examined how the physical environment in stream channels influences the distribution, quality and disturbance of fish habitat. This research informs natural resource management, conservation and restoration. It also provides insights into the potential consequences of land use and climate change for fish populations in running waters. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Leach studied winter stream temperature in the rain-on-snow zone of the Pacific Northwest. He found that winter stream thermal regimes are influenced by transient snow cover and hill-slope runoff during rainstorms. This research improves our ability to effectively manage stream ecosystems as they respond to environmental change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Peihani studied a global regulatory body called the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, comprised of central bankers and bank supervisors. He examined the extent to which the Basel Committee's governance, operation, and policy formation have been perceived to be legitimate, and how this perception affects the committee's broader function. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Hanson studies genes and genomes that have been obtained from the environment. He developed MetaPathways, an analytical software that can be applied to this biological 'Big Data'. This work provides researchers and clinicians with a powerful framework that can be used to compare gene and genomes from oceans, soils and the human intestinal tract. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zeb conducted his research in the area of communication management. He developed a methodology to define communications for implementation in software. Software developers, construction industry experts and general users can apply this methodology to effectively and efficiently define various kinds of communication in the construction industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Elez explored the role that social relationships play in the settlement of survivors of political violence who now live in Canada. Her study suggests a definition of settlement as a continuous, interactive and social process rooted in its larger context. It also informs clinical and social practices that aid the settlement of migrant survivors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Fanaswala challenged the theories of Markovian dynamics used in radar-based target tracking. He devised novel non-Markovian models to detect unusual target behaviour from target state trajectories. His study demonstrates the usefulness of such models in applications involving trajectory classification and joint gesture recognition and tracking. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mills studied proteins in the brain that allow neurons to stick together and form memories. His research showed that being able to forget old memories is an important part of learning, and forgetting requires the weakening of molecular connections between neurons. His work provides new insights into how our brains store and manage information. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wyllie's research involved two aspect of rock fall hazards. First, actual rock fall events were carefully documented to provide data for calibration of rock fall computer models. Second, an improved rock fall protection net has been developed which minimizes the absorption of impact energy and reduces construction costs for these structures. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Toleno studied food and morality in the history of premodern Chinese Buddhism. Translating passages from a tenth-century Buddhist encyclopedia, he found eating portrayed as a skilled activity rather than one governed by rules. His study will help scholars of Chinese religion re-evaluate the question of what motivated Buddhist food practices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Bakan sang his way to a Ph.D. An accomplished musician and songwriter, his dissertation included original songs and stories about songwriting that broke new ground in music education research methodology. He dedicates his doctorate to his late parents, Drs. Mildred and David Bakan, and accepts congratulations from his sister, Dr. Abigail Bakan. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Sharma conducted research into blood vessels in UBC's Department of Pharmacology. She investigated the protective effects of a novel protein that improves blood vessel function and reduces atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up in the blood vessels. Her findings suggest an alternate treatment strategy for cardiovascular disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Tenove explained why the principle of inclusion is critical for international organizations to promote justice and democracy. He investigated the relationship between the International Criminal Court and victims of crimes, and he suggested ways in which this institution and others might be more inclusive of the people they seek to assist. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Razavi examined the complexity of maintenance scheduling for aircraft engines. He found that deploying the most cost-effect maintenance planning strategies resulted in improved flying operation and better maintenance practices. The outcome of this research will contribute greatly to the advancement of maintenance scheduling in aviation industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Goldsworthy examined how a specific professional development intervention affected retention of critical care nurses. Findings showed that the intervention, which included human simulation, predicted intent to stay in the intensive care unit and the nursing profession. This evidence has important implications for stabilizing the nurse workforce. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Najafi researched ways to improve the accuracy of medical procedures guided by diagnostic sonography, which aids imaging. His new methods for calibrating and tracking measure anatomical targets and needles with an accuracy of less than a millimeter. These methods are now the world standard, and will improve surgery, biopsies and drug delivery. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Leung's research focused on cardiovascular complications of diabetes. She investigated potential factors that influence contractile functions of the heart and blood vessels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Her results provide important insights on how specific drugs can improve cardiovascular performance in the diabetic population. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Powers studied the use of satellite imagery and other geospatial techniques for large-area conservation. He focused on challenges in protecting current and future Canadian boreal forest ecosystems and biodiversity. His research contributed to progress in mapping biodiversity, locating critical habitat, and addressing the impact of climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Is the motion of raindrops on a window predictable? Vancouver's drizzle might suggest it is. Nonetheless, Dr. Garcia Ramos characterized a class of predictable mathematical models, concluding that predictable behaviour is not common. In a chaotic world, he believes human progress should focus on adaptability more than control of the environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Grothe studied materials in the Laboratory for Atomic Imaging Research at UBC. This allowed her to investigate the interactions between electrons and their environment within a crystal, including the glue that pairs electrons in a high temperature superconductor. Her work serves as a foundation for others to understand, probe and develop new materials in the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |