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. Chalmers developed a theory of Ideologically challenging entertainment designed to mitigate "us vs. them" beliefs. Using this, she created and directed a theatrical production that confronted views of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Audience responses revealed that entertainment can moderate the ideologies that lead to violent conflict and genocide. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Preto conducted an ethical and legal analysis of Canada's approach to clinical trial oversight. She identified various shortcomings and examined the different implications these have across industry and academic trials. Findings will benefit policy makers working to improve clinical trial oversight, researchers and trial participants. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Berger explored leadership in early childhood education. She argues that leadership was enacted when educators shared powerful narratives about children's educational experiences with their communities. These narratives ignited dialogue about the values and purposes of early education and positioned early childhood educators as community leaders. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Mohseni Kiasari studied the applications of zinc oxide nanostructures in novel environmental sensors as well as organic solar cells. In his work, Dr. Mohseni Kiasari argues that by utilizing zinc oxide nanostructures the electronic performance of the devices can be improved and the cost of fabrication can be eventually reduced. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Lundeberg investigated the electronic properties of graphene, in particular how quantum phase coherence and magnetic fields affect the motion of electrons of graphene at very low temperatures. This research will help to design and understand future quantum electronic devices based on graphene. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Newell conducted research on identifying vulnerable neck postures that may be present prior to a head impact in an accidental car rollover. She demonstrated that being upside-down and bracing for impact by tensing the neck muscles can change the posture of the neck. These findings are important to understanding and preventing neck injuries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Cheng investigated cell migration which is crucial for normal growth and cancer development. She discovered novel mechanisms that co-ordinate key molecules regulating cell movement. Her research enhances our understanding of the complex signalling network governing cell motility and will help to identify novel targets for treating metastatic tumors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ramirez-Espinosa conducted research into three judicial cases: Delgamuukw in Canada, Nibutani Dam in Japan and Zirahuen in Mexico. She concluded that in these three cases, the Indigenous plaintiffs' claims could not succeed due to issues of uncertainty in the law, lack of adequate remedies and the use of a concept of sovereignty that is outdated. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Rubio Gijon studied crime fiction films produced in Francoist Spain and Peronist Argentina from 1951 to 1955. He argues that by using the crime fiction genre, which helps to maintain the dominant ideology, the films oppose authoritarianism through narrative and formal strategies such as visual elements from film noir or Italian Neorealism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Poole studied the negotiations by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states which led to the adoption of their 2007 Charter. She argues that the positions of individual states on democracy and human rights are shaped by perceptions of legitimacy. This research helps us to understand the dynamics of politically diverse regions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Shafiei Sabet studied the preparation and properties of cellulose nanocrystal suspensions. Her work provided a deeper understanding of the structure formation and flow properties of this novel material, which resulted in the ntroduction of new applications in the food, medical, and pulp and paper industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Beygi developed test models to assist Australian scientists developing biosensors. These biosensors have applications in medical diagnosis, and for detection of hazardous materials in the environment. Unlike earlier versions, the developed models have an analytical approach to optimize the design and analyze the performance of biosensors. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Wang studied optics based on silicon chips, similar to those used for electronic integrated circuits. He developed various optical devices and circuits that allow us to control the propagation of light on a chip. This work is expected to have a broad range of applications, including optical communications and bio-sensing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Yonson's work generated new metal catalysts for facilitating chemical reactions. These chemical reactions resulted in the formation of carbon-nitrogen or carbon-carbon bonds, which are fundamental to organic chemistry. This research will help inform further development of metal catalysts for use in chemical synthesis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | The 21st century marked a shift in the perspective of care for people with disabilities. Dr. Mousavi explored the views of Canadian occupational therapists on this Capabilities Approach. The study concluded that this approach could help to align rehabilitation services with human rights initiatives of the World Health Organization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Tooke examined energy demand in the building sector. He developed a novel technique for mapping the thermal energy requirements of individual buildings using airborne laser scanning data. These energy maps provide a valuable planning resource when designing strategies to reduce the environment impact of buildings. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Arya studied problems in video copyright protection and quality assessment. To protect copyright, he developed novel image watermarking methods to make videos resistant to different types of attacks. His methods for video quality assessment can enhance the performance of multimedia networks and deliver high-quality content to the end users. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Forestieri studied the chemistry of therapeutic compounds found in nature. His achievements included the first synthesis of a new steroid to treat tuberculosis and discovery of a new natural product with potential anti-diabetic properties. These outcomes may enable more effective strategies to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and type 2 diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Paudel studied the ecosystem in the boreal forest of the southwest Yukon. His research focussed on the impact of changing climate, fires and spruce bark beetle on tree regeneration, forest productivity and biodiversity in the region. His findings will support the work being done to manage this important ecosystem. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Tian studied collective responsibility and how political decisions affect our understanding of it. She argues that the deliberative model of democratic practice is more justifiable than the aggregative one. Deliberative democracy helps us exercise public reason, recognize the shared nature of collective decisions, and generate new collective actions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Zebardast completed his doctoral studies in the field of Materials Engineering. He developed an electrochemical sensor and a novel method to detect particulate fouling in the heat exchangers of high temperature-high pressure power plants. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Ng studied the factors that determine whether cancer cells live or die following the initial step of detaching from the primary tumor site and metastasizing to other organs. He found that tumor cells are in a state of stress and reduced energy levels during this process, and depend on mechanisms to overcome this stress to survive. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Sinpeng examined why ordinary people rose up against democracy. Her study of an anti-democratic political movement in Thailand showed that people may subvert the democratic system when they became marginalized. A major implication of her work is that democracy would be more stable if minority voices are respected. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Araghi-Rahi studied the influences of climate on productivity and soil carbon storage in forests across British Columbia. Precipitation and drought indices were the most influential climatic factors. This implies that future shifts in precipitation patterns, rather than temperature, will most affect the carbon dynamics of forests in the region. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2014 | Dr. Chapariha devised a method for fast and accurate modeling of generators and motors in electrical power systems. His models will transform many commercial simulation programs used worldwide, and enable faster evolution of the electrical grids into smart integrated and sustainable energy systems of the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |