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. Moyers studied natural selection on flowering time across the range of the silverleaf sunflower. Early flowering is favoured in some populations and late flowering in others, but flowering at different times means fewer opportunities to mate. This study provides insight into how natural selection can cause a single species to diverge into two. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Porteus studied red fox culling in Britain, which aims to keep fox density low on specific sites during the bird nesting period. He developed a local-scale population dynamics model to determine the effectiveness of culling. The model was then used to evaluate alternative culling strategies to reduce potential impacts of fox predation on birds. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Wilson explored the ways in which female adolescents with depression worked with their parents toward recovery. She found that the parent-adolescent relationship and familial support were key in stories of recovery. This research adds new dimensions to our understanding of recovery processes as goal-directed projects in families. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zhang studied the gene regulation and function of an inflammatory factor called M.I.F. in stroke and Alzheimer's disease. She found that this factor protects neurons during a stroke, and plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease. These findings provide insights into developing better treatment for stroke and Alzheimer's patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Zrill completed his doctoral studies in the field of Economics. He developed a new approach to measure and recover preferences from observed economic choices made by individuals. This method can be applied in order to assess the distribution and magnitude of certain behavioural characteristics in the population, for example attitudes toward risk. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Bhatnagar studied spinal cord deformation during injury. He showed how a rodent's spinal cord injury can be quantified and related to the ensuing tissue damage. This work helps us to further understand the link between biomechanics and biology in spinal cord injury, and spans the fields of mechanical engineering, neuroscience and medical imaging. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Kilic developed a unified mathematical model to predict the optimal conditions of machining parts in a virtual environment. The science-based mathematical model enables the industry to produce mechanical parts more efficiently by eliminating costly physical trials. The results have a wide application in aerospace and machine tool industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Fotsing examined the concept of culture in the contemporary African novel. His analysis demonstrates that there is a mixture of local and global cultures in fictional books written by African authors. It is therefore difficult to refer to that literature as if it had one single identity. This research challenges assumptions about African writing. | Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Colleter studied the impacts of fishing on food chains in marine ecosystems. He developed new tools, notably an online database to gather and communicate information from ecosystem models. He used that database to perform a large meta-analysis, and identified typical ways in which marine food chains are affected by fishing activities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. He conducted research in UBC's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. He developed a novel probe for monitoring electrostatics and flow of particles in reactors used to make polyethylene and other products. His work is expected to help industry to solve static charge problems and improve the behaviour of commercial-scale reactors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Podgorski completed his research in the field of Neuroscience. He designed and built the first microscope able to simultaneously record synaptic input across an entire neuron in an awake animal. He used this and other technologies he developed to explain how patterns of activity shape the detailed structure of dendrites in developing neurons. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Mahmoudzadeh developed a solar rechargeable battery. The novel design results in less expensive utilization of solar power with higher energy storage yields, compared with a system of separate solar cells and batteries. It is hoped the solar battery will facilitate wider use of solar energy and reduce global carbon emissions from fossil fuels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Aluthge developed a family of catalysts to generate biodegradable plastics. These polymers are derived from renewable resources and the catalysts produce superior materials with a variety of potential applications. It is hoped this work will contribute to the wider use of biodegradable plastics, which will ultimately benefit the environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Gao completed his doctoral research in the field of Chemistry. He studied mass spectrometry and his findings allow for improved modelling of space charge effects. In addition he developed a new method to reduce these effects. As a result, the instrument performance of linear quadrupole ion trap mass analyzers can be improved. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Li studied the shear load capacity of cross laminated timber, or CLT, which is used to build tall timber buildings worldwide. This research expands our understanding of the CLT rolling shear, or the shear behaviour related to wood grain. The finding of the study leads to rational design of CLT timber structures at target performance level. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Krusi examined the social and structural factors that shape the working conditions of street-based sex workers in Vancouver. Her research shows how evolving sex work legislation, policing practices, and stigma intersect, to shape the working conditions of street-based sex workers, including their citizenship rights, violence, and ill health. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Poirier conducted research on Tuberculosis. She demonstrated how Myco-bacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes Tuberculosis, manipulates and controls the infected host cell for its own advantage and survival. Her research could impact drug discovery and development, to better manage or prevent this notorious disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Suderman showed that the National Survey of Student Engagement is not currently designed to meet the diverse perspectives of international undergraduate students. Her study used extensive focus group analysis and the findings will influence international student development in higher education and research on student engagement theory. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2015 | Dr. Pascoe studied the airways of asthmatics. He examined the mechanical and molecular alterations that occur in the muscle that surrounds the airways. His research identified how normal muscle behaviours can affect airway stiffness, and may interact with changes in gene expression, to increase airway narrowing and limit the benefits of deep breaths. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 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) |