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. Brouse created a software system for monitoring pain during general anesthesia. The system analyzes the heart rate and respiration to produce a pain index. He showed that the pain index increases during painful stimuli, and decreases after large doses of anesthetic. Pain monitoring can help improve patient safety during general anesthesia. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Leung established a process for designing wound dressings composed of ultrafine fibres. Through material selection and modification, he demonstrated his research findings by developing an anti-scarring dressing with customizable drug release. The outcome of this research will benefit patients worldwide recovering from surgical and burn wounds. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Bruni's research in mathematics focused on Algebraic Number Theory. He proved a result on Diophantine equations, extending existing work, by giving an explicit characterization of many solutions to specific types of these equations. This work will continue the field by offering novel insights into increasingly more difficult problems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Prior examined the neuroendocrine regulation of pair-bond maintenance in the life-long monogamous zebra finch. Her work demonstrates breeding- and context-specific effects of sex steroids in the regulation of pair maintenance. This work, more broadly, expands our understanding of social affiliation across species. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Xu studied the use of machine learning techniques for solving NP-hard problems. He demonstrated that the performance of algorithms and actual solutions can be accurately predicted based on cheaply computable features. He further introduced automated algorithm design approaches that advanced the state-of-the-art for solving NP-hard problems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Eliyan created electro-chemical models to show the corrosion reactions in oil pipelines. His innovative approach showed how the micro-structures of the welded pipeline steels are affected by environmental conditions. His work contributes to making Canadian oil pipelines safer, more corrosion-resistant, and more economical to construct and operate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wang studied the causes of an autoimmune hair loss disease called alopecia areata. He discovered the triggers of the immune attack leading to hair loss, linked the disease with heart tissue damage, and created a new disease model. His research advanced our understanding of the development and adverse outcomes of alopecia areata. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Shesterinina studied mobilization in civil war. Intensive fieldwork in Abkhazia showed that it was activation of collective norms and understandings of history and identity that triggered participation in violence, rather than personal safety calculations. This research helps us understand the decisions of ordinary people in high-risk conditions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Patterson's research shows that population health is stronger in democratic countries. Compared to other countries, democracies have about 11 years of longer life expectancy, 57% less infant mortality, and 21% less overall mortality. He concludes that democracies improve life expectancy, in large part by promoting economic prosperity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Liu developed a broadly applicable strategy for preparing radioactive diagnosis drugs. Based on this strategy, a series of promising radiolabeled peptides have been made, two of which are scheduled to enter early phase clinical trials. Dr. Liu's work has been recognized as an essential step in developing personalized medicine for cancer patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Rosales worked in the history and philosophy of science, at both the Department of Philosophy and the Biodiversity Research Centre at UBC . He showed that scientists need narratives to explore, represent, and explain the world. Our understanding of science is incomplete without taking into account its narrative component. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Hunter explored sustainability policy and practice at Vancouver Island University. She interviewed administrators, faculty and students and applied the work of sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu, to help explain why some sustainability policies and practices are more successful than others, and how a campus culture of sustainability can be increased. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Toews studied the effects and consequences of the interbreeding among birds, specifically species of warblers. Using a range of techniques, data and field research, he demonstrated varied outcomes when distinct bird groups interbreed. Dr. Toews' findings have important implications for our understanding of adaptation and the formation of species. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. McKeown examined the ways student survey results are used to measure program quality and student learning at UBC. She found that averaging student survey results across program majors could result in misleading information about program quality. Her study has implications for the design of program effectiveness surveys and evaluation research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Tockman examined indigenous rights and self-governance in Bolivia. He observed divergent trajectories in 11 new institutions of indigenous self-governance, which is due to power relations among indigenous peoples and contemporary territorial boundaries. He explained why the government has grown increasingly ambivalent toward indigenous rights. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Bowden investigated the ways in which bacteria lead to infection in humans. She studied a protein made by the superbug Staphylo-coccus aureus, and discovered how it interacts with the red blood cell protein hemoglobin, in order to get iron. These studies provide insight into how bacteria acquire the iron they need to establish infection in humans. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Plaut's study brought together the worlds of journalism, human rights and socio- political change, across state and national borders. Over a period of two years, she interviewed 45 journalists and journalism educators from the Saami and Romani communities in six countries. Her findings inform best practices for teaching human rights journalism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Knight explored the ethical implications of routine HIV testing practices among young men in Vancouver. In his research, he described how HIV-related stigma can be influenced by routine testing practices, as well as how young men choose to test for HIV based on relational values such as solidarity and health equity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sihota investigated hydro-carbon contamination. She developed a new approach to assess the extent and rate of natural degradation processes at hydro-carbon-impacted field sites. This helps us understand the role of naturally occurring degradation processes in contaminant mass removal, and can aid in assessment and management of contaminated sites. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Greuel studied speech perception in preverbal infants, and discovered that changing the shape of their mouths with various teething toys affected the way infants process speech. This helps us understand the early links between speech perception and production, and may lead to new treatment methods for children with speech and language disorders. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Fu investigated how high school physics teachers in China exercise both their individual and collective influence in the on-going nationwide curriculum reform. The study offers a clear understanding of the impact of physics teachers and sheds light on the efforts to attain the desired curriculum decentralization in China. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. McDonald investigated interactions between opportunistic pathogens and human immune cells in diseases with underlying defects in immunity. In particular, she found that the bacteria Burkholderia cenocepacia has multifaceted ways of evading the innate immune response and that potent neutrophil activity is required to prevent infections. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kovacevic studied Listeria mono-cyto-gen-es, a foodborne bacterium that causes disease in humans. She found some bacteria are more likely to cause disease, and they possess genetic elements that improve their survival in the food chain. This research highlights the need for better control and detection of high-risk Listeria strains. | Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sveinsson's research focussed on the genetic evolution of plants. He succeeded in demonstrating the usefulness of DNA sequencing methodology, in addressing biological questions about several species of plants. The results of his study are likely to be of benefit to other researchers working in the field of plant evolutionary biology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Kukard developed a micro-reactor to study catalysts for upgrading of Canadian oilsand bitumen. This reactor allowed him to determine both how the catalyst functions and how it loses performance. His contributions will allow for a better understanding and more efficient development of catalysts for oil upgrading processes in the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |