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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dr. Salem studied the maximum flow through pulp pressure screens that enhance quality in pulp and paper production. He developed a new model that explains why existing screens fail and supported his theory with extensive experimental data. The outcome of this research will enhance the understanding of pulp screening methods and benefit the industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Trew examined the goals people have for social interactions. She found that those who experienced positive emotions were less worried about avoiding rejection and that people with social anxiety who engaged in kind acts were less concerned about avoiding negative outcomes. This suggests that kindness may improve the treatment of social anxiety. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Drugge studied the political thought of Isaiah Berlin. Berlin's work was used to explore ways in which different accounts of moral conflict affect how we think about political action and judgment. Getting our account of moral conflict right, Dr. Drugge shows, can help us think more productively about political disagreement and compromise. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Bauerschmidt studied problems related to the mathematical analysis of long chains of molecules, so-called polymer chains. Physicists and chemists have been interested in properties of these chains for decades, but their rigorous mathematical study has proven to be challenging. Dr. Bauerschmidt's thesis contributes to this theoretical understanding. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. de Souza studied nonparametric regression, a statistical technique that allows for varying forms of data dependencies. She proposed a new methodology to study dependencies when crucial information is absent from the data. She applied her method to determine power usage in buildings when the status of cooling and heating devices is not recorded. | Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Rastkar conducted research in Human-centric Software Engineering. She developed techniques to produce text summaries for a variety of software artifacts generated during the software development process. By conducting user studies, she showed that those summaries help software developers address their information needs more quickly and easily. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Whiffen's research was related to the catalytic conversion of wood biomass to renewable fuel. Her work identified a catalyst formulation that led to increased fuel yields from biomass. Her findings assist in the development of a renewable fuel technology that can potentially help to alleviate Canada's dependence on fossil fuel. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Cochrane studied genes involved in a form of childhood leukemia. He found that PCGF5, a member of a gene family known as the Polycomb Group, was switched on in leukemia. His research offers new insight into the way genes are regulated during development of the embryo, in the production of white blood cells, and in cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Dunlop examined the ways in which individuals make sense of their lives. He argued that such sense-making pursuits can manifest within distinct modes of thought. These processes carry implications for our understanding of culture, the self, and psychological functioning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lee studied human brain tumours. In her pre-clinical investigations, she discovered that the depletion of a protein called polo-like kinase 1 not only killed the majority of the brain cancer cells tested, but also eliminated the notoriously chemo-resistant "brain cancer initiating cell", which may be one of the causes of disease recurrence. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Hawkins explored the experiences of nurses educated in the Philippines seeking RN licensure in Canada. She found their experiences are shaped by prevailing ideologies of neocolonialism and neo-liberalism and intersecting relations of gender, race, and class. Such structures put nurses at risk of marginalization, exploitation, and powerlessness. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr.Yazdan-Panah studied the concentrations of gases in stored wood pellets. She quantified those gases and investigated the effectiveness of ventilating procedures to reduce the gas concentration. Her work will help in designing ventilation systems to maintain safe levels of gases in storage of wood pellets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Parreira conducted research into haulage systems for open pit mining. She developed a simulation model to compare an Autonomous Haulage Truck System with a conventional manually-operated system. The work identified the degree of improvement achievable, including economic, safety, and environmental protection benefits. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. May investigated the notion of 'network' in art, learning, and teaching by examining artists who work with relational practices and digital media, and who also teach in universities. She found that there are connections between the participants' art and teaching practices that have significant implications for the future of art education. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Whitman identified several biases in how people judge hypotheses and found one bias was increased in delusional schizophrenia patients. She also developed new ways to analyze brain imaging data, using them to study brain networks involved in hypothesis judgment. This work will help us to understand the brain activity involved in delusional beliefs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Ahmadlouydarab studied the flow of fluids with more than one component, such as air and water. He researched the flow mechanisms through media that have micro-scale pores and uncovered novel physics in the transition between flow regimes. These are important steps in the development of microfluidic devices, such as the heat exchangers in computers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Du investigated treatments for osteoporosis, osteosclerosis, and cardiovascular and lung diseases. He showed how collagen and elastin are broken down by the proteins Cathepsins K and V. The significance of Dr. Du's work is that he identified alternative methods to reduce or eliminate the side-effects of classic treatments, for the benefit of patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Yang investigated symmetries and exact solutions for partial differential equations. He introduced a new method for seeking further symmetries and he also obtained new solutions for the non-linear Kompaneets equation. Researchers in applied mathematics and physics may benefit from his results. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. D'Amour studied anxiety in learners. She worked for two years with one highly anxious math student. Her in-depth analysis of this case study drew from an unusual combination of psycho-analytic and complexity theory. The work contributes to a nuanced understanding of anxiety and the affective dimensions of learning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Wernicke examined the impact on BC French teachers of their study abroad experiences in France, and how those affected their sense of professional identity. She found that an overwhelming concern with being an "authentic" French speaker can diminish teachers' sense of expertise and shapes how they teach and engage in further teacher development | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Ebadian evaluated the agricultural biomass supply chain. The purpose was to determine whether performance could be improved in terms of demand fulfillment and logistics costs. To this end, he developed an integrated tactical and operational planning model to design and schedule the supply chain for a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. McKendry investigated ways in which homeless men use Vancouver public libraries. She found that, in addition to information needs, public libraries are inclusive places that also serve the social needs of homeless men. These findings may be of interest to librarians planning library programs and to architects designing future library buildings. | Doctor of Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lindgren has spent over 20 years studying the environmental impact of intensive management of young forests throughout BC's interior. His research has clearly demonstrated that forests can be managed for increased productivity without compromising biodiversity. These results can enhance the economic and environmental values of our forests. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Erfan explored the healing potential of the planning profession while working with a small Indigenous community on Vancouver Island. Her dissertation, written largely as autobiographical fiction, tells the stories of her action research engagement, and proposes a path forward for a therapeutic orientation to planning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Planning (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Guang Dai studied how seniors make the decision of purchasing a long term care insurance policy. His work also explored why people's family names matter in rural China area. His research advances our understanding of an individual's economic behaviour and market outcome, under various cultural and institutional environments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |