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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dr. Casanova-Moreno studied the characteristics of chemically modified electrodes, typically employed in bio-sensors used for healthcare applications. Different processes that create imperfections on the deposited organic layers were described. These results are expected to translate into better performance and reliability of the modified biosensors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Williams examined the interactions between the digestive enzyme, human pancreatic alpha-amylase, and various inhibitors, to determine how they reduce the rate of starch digestion. She discovered a new binding motif that blocks substrate access to the enzyme's catalytic site. These studies may lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Minami studied the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He developed and implemented an action-based psycho-social reconciliation approach, to foster peace between survivors and perpetrators of that genocide living in the same villages. This research will help in developing the world's first evidence-based war prevention and peace building strategy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. McDermott completed his doctoral studies in the field of Physics. He made advances in understanding the structure of quantum entanglement and also in explaining the relation between information and gravity. Dr. McDermott's findings will assist future researchers working in this field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Dunn studied the structure of human genes. She developed a method for isolating multi-component particles that are involved in the expression of genes. This tool will allow scientists around the world to better understand and treat a wide variety of human diseases, including various cancers, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Luzi studied the movement of sediment in gravel bed mountain streams. He demonstrated the importance of larger-than-average streambed particles in controlling channel stability and patterns of sediment transport. This research can in turn be used to assess the potential effects of development on aquatic habitats. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zhang investigated the role of blood platelets in causing heart disease. He developed and applied novel bioinformatic and mass spectrometry tools to identify drugs that might potentially prevent inflammation resulting from platelet activation. This research contributes to the development of intervention strategies for cardiovascular diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ziraknejad designed a novel sensor structure and processor to estimate the head position and orientation of a vehicle occupant. The device he created can properly position the head restraint for each occupant. If installed in a vehicle, it's expected that this device would be able to mitigate whiplash injuries in rear end collisions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Leong examined the impacts of future climate change on freshwater supply for the oil sands industry. She found that changes in annual river flow patterns will impact the frequency of water shortages that mining companies will face. This research can inform water management and policy decisions in adapting to a changing climate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Rungta studied how brain cells swell, a neurological problem underlying certain forms of brain edema. By developing a new technique to silence gene expression in brain cells, Dr. Rungta identified a novel chloride channel in neurons that, when activated, causes swelling. These findings may lead to the development of treatments for brain edema. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zhang investigated the bio-molecular mechanisms that cause Alzheimer's disease. Her study identified a novel risk factor in the Tmp21 gene, and further examined how this risk factor contributed to disease development. Her research will potentially lead to the identification of novel targets in treatment of Alzheimer's disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Abdullah studied the effects of cleaning chemicals on the membranes of water treatment plants. He developed a model to demonstrate the ageing process of membranes caused by exposure to chemical cleaning agents. The model will assist design engineers to select efficient membrane cleaning protocols, in order to save on membrane replacement costs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zaikova studied marine sponges in order to understand how animals interact with microbes. She showed that the sponge immune system can recognize a variety of microbes and the microbes can affect the host's immune response. This work sheds light on the oldest mechanisms used by animals to recognize microbes, with implications for medical research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zhang conducted research into the causes of ovarian cancer. She discovered that homeobox B4, a developmental gene, suppressed invasion of human epithelial ovarian cancer cells via CD44, a cell surface adhesive molecule. This research is the first to demonstrate the role of homeobox B4 in epithelial ovarian cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zhou has conducted research on Zeeman deceleration, which utilizes magnetic fields to decelerate molecular beams. Dr. Zhou has successfully applied Zeeman deceleration to complex polyatomic species. This research outcome puts many interesting experiments within reach. The applications could range from cold chemistry to quantum information. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Grisdale studied the genomes of a red alga and a fungal parasite. His research examined the effects of genome reduction on fundamental cellular and genetic processes. This study shows that some reduced systems can tolerate the loss of genes that are critical for survival in most organisms, showing new limits of genetic flexibility. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Shah has completed her PhD in the field of Microbiology and Immunology. She found that the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which causes the disease whooping cough, can change its surface to affect interactions with the human immune system. These studies broaden our understanding of whooping cough and have implications for vaccine development. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Nogueira studied aspects of a surprising connection between Quantum Mechanics and Gravity called Holographic Principle, a novel framework that allows for a better understanding of the nature of gravity. The research builds upon what was previously known and furthers our understanding of the behaviour of objects such as Black Holes and Boson Starts. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Baloy examined the ways in which non-Indigenous people learn about Indigenous peoples in Vancouver, a city built on unceded Coast Salish lands. She argued that settler colonialism continues to shape everyday encounters, emotions, and meaning-making. This study illustrates why meaningful reconciliation must thoughtfully engage non-Indigenous people. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Volek examined the uptake of Mikhail Bakhtin's work in contemporary sociolinguistic research, and found that Bakhtin has been cited as the authority for a variety of contradictory positions. Dr. Volek argues that this is a product of the sociality of language and offers insight into the relationship between theory and applied language research. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Behnamfar's work was focused on developing design techniques and integrated circuits for a new class of ultrasonic transducers. She developed transducer models that can be used in circuit design environments. She also implemented integrated circuits for super resolution imaging and for improving electro-mechanical efficiency of the transducers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Foulds studied the cardiac and vascular health of Aboriginal adults, and their responses to exercise. She found that the benefits of exercise were different for Aboriginal adults than for Europeans. She showed that the relation of blood pressure to vascular health differs among ethnic groups, with greater dangers of hypertension for Aboriginals. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Tesluk studied the influence of environmentalism and Aboriginal rights on natural resource governance in northwest British Columbia. This work provides insight into the different ways that settler and First Nations communities are responding to environmental problems, as they confront the decline of forestry and rise of new energy industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Esmailzadeh conducted her research in medical genetics with a focus on cancer genetics and molecular biology. Her research highlights the role of a gene in the development of an aggressive type of lymphoma. The results of this work pave the way to a greater understanding of disease mechanisms and potential new therapeutic options. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Lytle investigated the worldviews of three groups of stakeholders in resource development: the developers, local residents and opponents of development. He found strong links between the differing worldviews and levels of acceptance of resource development. This may help developers to recognize potential conflict before it arises in the field. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |