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. Noroozi conducted research in Mechanical Engineering at UBC's Applied Fluid Mechanics laboratory. He examined the flow of liquid crystalline materials as a substitute for lubricants in human body joints. His findings will contribute greatly to the advancement of medical science in treating patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Roy studied rotary forming techniques, a type of metal forming which enhances material utilization. He developed frameworks to assist industry in process adoption and determining process effects on final products. His research has assisted in creating more economical manufacturing techniques for the automotive, aerospace and chemical industries. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Baradaran-Heravi conducted research in medical genetics. He discovered the underlying molecular mechanism for a fatal, multisystem childhood genetic disorder called "Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia".Patients, clinicians and basic scientists will benefit from the findings of this research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Wright studied the ecology of microbes living in the oxygen starved waters of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Her research showed that an abundant group of bacteria called Marine Group A may play a role in marine sulfur cycling. These results will assist us in understanding the impact of microbial processes on marine ecosystems and climate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Dzikowski studied ruby and sapphire bearing rocks near Revelstoke, British Columbia and Kimmirut, Nunavut. Her work describes how gem corundum formed in these rocks and provides exploration strategies for finding more of these types of deposits. This work will assist those studying and searching for gem corundum deposits around the world. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Thain identified functional variations in two genes that affect the mortality of patients with septic shock. This furthers the development of personalized treatment options. One of the genes was previously unknown to impact the outcome of severe infections and now has the potential to be developed as a much needed treatment in intensive care units. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lucido studied advanced modelling techniques for treatment planning in Radiation Oncology. He designed a method to incorporate microscopic details into clinical treatment planning, to more accurately predict the patient's response to the therapy. This was the first approach capable of making use of these details for realistic clinical situations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Chen conducted his research in the field of quantum gravity. He developed a model of gravitational field which hypothesized that although the space-time is continuous when viewed on a large scale, a closer view shows it is actually made up of discrete points. This work has provided a means to remove anomolies from quantum gravity calculations. . | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Emami studied an advanced wireless communication system for underground mines and tunnels. She used radio-frequency measurements and mathematical analyses to model the ways in which wireless signals behave. The design of the best antenna configurations for these environments will contribute to enhanced safety and productivity in underground mines. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Smithyman developed novel methods that enable processing of on-land seismic data, to generate detailed geophysical images. He applied the new techniques to produce models of rock type in the Nechako-Chilcotin plateau, British Columbia. These models can be used to infer rock type and interpret underground geology, from surface to about 2 km depth. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Hayashi examined the relationship between policing and the health of people who inject drugs in Bangkok, Thailand. Her research found that repressive policing did not suppress the illegal drug market and instead contributed to human rights abuses and health-related harm. Her findings support the call for more balanced approaches to drug control. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Van Huizen examined the 1926-1984 Canadian-U.S. controversy over Seattle's many attempts to build the High Ross Dam and flood into British Columbia. He demonstrates that such disputes hinge on conflicting ideas about development and the politics of cross-border places, and points to the prevalence of "green liberalism" to resolve them. | Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. MacKenzie examined long-term decision-making in democratic systems. He argues that democratic institutions can help produce conditions that are conducive to effective longer-term thinking and farsighted action. This research challenges the notion that democracies are not capable of effectively managing pressing long-term economic problems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Vidal's research focussed on depression in Latin American immigrants in Canada. She applied a global mental health approach to culturally adapt a psychotherapy treatment. It is the first clinical tool designed to treat depression in immigrants in Canada. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Sharma studied the inertial motion sensors which deploy air bags, navigate aircraft and detect hand motions with devices such as Wii. He developed techniques to make micro-sensors smaller and more sensitive, relying on coupling between mechanical and electronics subsystems. This technology is evolving quickly and opening doors for new applications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Grillo examined representations of race and ethnicity in discourses by Peruvian Andean indigenous authors, from the conquest of Peru by Spaniards in the 16th century to the present. She argues that an idea of race is imposed to Andean subjects through discourses on religion and education, and can be traced back to the beginning of colonization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Pang studied Geometric Analysis. Together with his supervisors, he obtained results on the uniqueness of solutions of certain nonlinear differential equations, and how to construct minimal surfaces, which are surfaces of critical area, in general boundary situations. These works enhance the theory of minimal surfaces. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Kotur studied nitrate and nitrite uptake in plants, which is critical for their growth. She found a novel nitrate transporter in roots that functions at low nitrate concentration, and induces other nitrate-responsive genes. This transporter may help breeders to improve nitrogen-use efficiency in crops, to minimize fertilizer consumption. | Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Cadieux studied C. neoformans, a fungus that causes disease in humans and animals. She found this fungus has different mechanisms to acquire heme, a nutrient essential to humans, and she identified the first protein involved in heme uptake. Her findings may lead to better treatment for diseases caused by the fungus, such as pneumonia and meningitis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Cheng modeled a reactor for treating nitric oxides in industrial flue gas. This novel reactor would overcome some difficulties in nitric oxide reduction technology. The model developed in this study could help with designing and optimizing the reactor, to further improve its performance and benefit both the environment and human health. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Nielsen completed her research in the field of Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice. She explored the personal narratives of women who had experienced breast cancer. She argues that "disruptive breast cancer narratives" have the potential to shift public perceptions, breast cancer culture, and biomedical understandings of the disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Winslow conducted theoretical physics research into the interactions of fundamental particles. His work has contributed to our understanding of the possible existence of extra spatial dimensions at current experiments, the lack of primordial antimatter throughout the universe, and the unexpected, recently observed behaviour of the top quark. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Regambal examined the traumatic events experienced by first responders in northern British Columbia. She found that first responders were more likely to experience traumatic stress if they were called to events they perceived as chaotic or exceeding their resources. This underscores the need to understand the characteristics of traumatic events. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Huft developed new methods for manufacturing small silicone chips for biomedical research. This new generation of microfluidic chips allows experiments to be automated so multiple experiments can be run at the same time with minimal resources. His work could facilitate advancements in prenatal diagnostics, drug development and DNA analysis | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2013 | Dr. Lodha developed environmentally-friendly, magnesia-based ceramics for metal convertors, which operate like furnaces. These non-ferrous, metallurgical convertors are used to extract metals other than iron. Since the improved liners require lower heat treatment temperatures they result in a more efficient and energy-saving extraction process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |