Doctoral Citations

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
2023 Dr. Guo demonstrated the flexibility and capability of using buccal tablets with nanotechnology to deliver insulin with fast onset of action as injection which can be administrated more conveniently and had a long duration of blood glucose reduction effect. His research provided a promising way to deliver insulin orally. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2023 Dr. Huang studied the impact of genetics on heart-related side effects caused by cancer drugs, and explored ways to minimize them. Her research offers new insights that can assist doctors in identifying genetic mutations in patients before initiating cancer therapies, improving cancer treatment safety and efficacy. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Tarazona developed a method for interfacing two different types of simulators for large electric networks. A hybrid simulator operating with such a method offers an accurate and efficient alternative for modeling the future electric networks which will have a high percentage of renewable energy sources. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2023 Dr. Zhang investigated fundamental steps in Platinum catalyzed reactions. He focused on mechanism understandings and new reaction discoveries. A better understanding of fundamental steps in catalytic cycles helps scientists develop efficient and inexpensive industrial processes. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Kuppusamy developed a process of extracting rare earth elements from waste material. These elements are essential for the manufacturing of EV motors & wind turbines and are critical for the transition to green energy-economy. Because of Dr. Kuppusamy's work, these elements can be co-produced from BC coal deposits in a sustainable manner. Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
2023 Dr. Kajabadi identifies the cell population and molecular signals responsible for inducing muscle atrophy, a progressive condition of muscle loss commonly seen in chronic pathologies such as cancer associated cachexia. This finding can help in developing therapeutics aimed at ameliorating disease-induced muscle atrophy. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Angsongna's work explored the word structure and the sound system of Dagaare, a language spoken in northwestern Ghana. His research showed how words are formed and how they differ in the expression of grammatical meanings. This research contributes to the documentation of the language and to the development of linguistic theory. Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)
2023 The simulation of frictional contact is a challenging problem in computer graphics. Dr. Larionov developed methods to accurately simulate friction between objects with smooth surfaces and showed where current methods fail. This work pushed the boundaries of acceptable friction behaviour in graphics, and opened promising avenues for future research. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2023 Dr. Shankar explored practices with immigration data in Canada. Findings emphasize difference, interdependence, and the need for negotiation of responsibilities across groups working with immigration data. Her work offers implications to governmental and non-governmental actors for ethical decision making and the use of communities' data with care. Doctor of Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies (PhD)
2023 Dr. Somo investigated the adaptation of aerobic capacity in fish in the intertidal environment. Focusing on the effects of oxygen, temperature, and body size, these studies illuminate how marine organisms in this environment have evolved to thrive under harsh, variable conditions, with lessons for how species might fare under climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Langman studied mechanisms of stress adaptation in cancer cells and identified novel functions of stress granule proteins in tumor growth and metastasis. Her research revealed new therapeutic targets for some of the deadliest pediatric cancers. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ojerinde investigated the cervical screening experiences of Black African immigrant women in BC. She found that the participants' social identities interact with different contexts of Canadian society and the healthcare system to create barriers to cervical screening uptake. Her findings may have implications for practice. Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
2023 Dr. Poisson has investigated various uses of surface-initated polymerization techniques to solve current challenges in organic optoelectronics. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Khanna examined how nanoscale flow cytometry could improve the analysis and isolation of extracellular vesicles. He identified how STEAP-1 positive extracellular vesicles can be diagnostic of prostate cancer more accurately than currently available blood tests, and subsequently developed a novel method to isolate this subpopulation. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2023 Dr. Zhang studies online gamblers' betting behavior, examining how prior wins/losses affect ones' future betting. She identifies high-risk gamblers based on their behavior and develops interventions to reduce bets, improving prevention and intervention for gambling disorder Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Fagan examined if physical activity prevents substance use among Canadian youth. Overall, there was no evidence that physical activity confers broad, universal benefits in prevention. However, sport participation may provide a contextual experience that enhances school connectedness which in turn is associated with substance use prevention. Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Abraham studied how subduction earthquakes influence regional seismic risk assessment in BC. She developed damage and loss functions for main BC building typologies to confirm the impact of subduction events in BC localities. Her study helps better understand the impact of significant earthquakes on regional seismic risk in the province. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2023 Dr. Seiler developed novel flotation conditions for the selective separation of a nickel mineral, named awaruite, from ultramafic rocks. Awaruite deposits are a promising nickel feedstock to support the transformation to clean low carbon technologies. His research contributes to the development of awaruite deposits into nickel mines. Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
2023 Dr. Bercovici examined how neural activity in the prefrontal cortex supports behavioural flexibility. She showed that prefrontal neurons convey distinctive information for guiding choices during different phases of the decision-action sequence. Her research reveals how neural activity in this region shapes animals' perception of the decision context. Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Desmarès studies patterns of discrimination in key citizenship policies adopted after World War II in France and Switzerland. She finds that new policies (re)introduced discriminatory provisions based on gender, race, ability status, and one's mode of nationality acquisition. Her work highlights the limits and drifts of liberal citizenship. Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD)
2023 Dr. Solomons studied patterns of nervous system sensitisation in musculoskeletal pain syndromes. This research gives insight into the nature of persistent pain problems that is expected to inform more effective management strategies. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ao studied plant immune receptors - molecular tools that plants use to recognize and defend against pathogens. He characterized two genes that enable fine-tuned immune responses. These findings not only deepen our understanding of how plants activate defense in the face of threats, but also contribute to the engineering of crop protection. Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2023 To make a generic version of an antibody protein medicine, Dr. Gupta developed and applied a technology to engineer the genetic code of mammalian cells to produce them with the desired sugar components. This technology is intended to increase the probability of regulatory approval, reducing the cost and time for generic medicine development. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2023 Dr. Hathaway studied risky decision making in rats. They found that pairing lights and sounds with reward on a risky decision-making task can both increase risky choice and impair flexibility. They identified the orbitofrontal cortex as a key region underlying this effect. These findings advance our understanding of gambling disorder in humans. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ha studied the function and regulation of a unique class of genes which are expressed only when inherited from the mother or father. Her research furthers our understanding of the mechanism regulating the expression of a maternally-expressed gene and may impact the management and diagnosis of patients with imprinting disorders. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)

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