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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dr. Shalev developed genomic resources for western redcedar and found low genetic diversity despite remarkable responsiveness to natural and artificial selection in this important tree species. These resources were used to find genomic areas associated with multiple traits of interest for the application of genomics to operational forestry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Shin explored how popular media in South Korea portrayed the pursuit of wealth as a masculine quality during the 1960s and the early 1970s. Unlike conventional portrayals of South Korean capitalism as state-led development, Dr. Shin showed how popular media encouraged ordinary South Koreans to embrace profit-seeking and capital accumulation. | Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD) |
| 2022 | The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all. Dr. Detwyler studied its early impacts on instructors of English as a second language in Canada. Their talk about emergency remote teaching reflected pandemic vulnerability among learners, precarious employment in the sector, and Canada's settler-colonial past as ongoing professional challenges. | Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD) |
| 2022 | One of the biggest puzzles in modern physics is dark energy, which is causing the expansion of the universe to speed up. Dr. Höfer helped build the largest radio telescope in Canada named CHIME. To exploit the complex CHIME data, she developed advanced simulation and analysis techniques. Her results will have an impact on future radio surveys. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Kaur used a variety of computational approaches to assess a key question of why certain groups of species are more diverse than others. She found species interactions do not shape diversity uniformly, but they can drive diversity differences across the tree of life. Her work demonstrates the importance of methodology when studying interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Ahadi presents two new models for a critical approach to historical and contemporary issues in art, politics, and philosophy. These models are Thought-Activism and the Visitor. This work is deeply influenced by the philosophy of Alain Badiou, supplemented by the philosophy of language of Martin Heidegger. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. St. Rose Yeo studied the possibilities generated by creative practices to subvert temporal dominance as formulated in Western modernity. Her work contributes to ongoing discourses that suggest creative practices play a critical role in transforming systems of harm in our global present. | Doctor of Philosophy in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Tong studied the nature of weak interactions using computational and spectroscopic methods. The research showed a better picture of weak interactions and their significance in petroleum-coke modification and pharmaceutical drug synthesis. This allows for a more appropriate utilization of such interactions in chemistry and biology. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Fregonese added a valuable contribution to the area of nonlinear mechanics by developing a new theory for needle insertion mechanics. This body of work includes both theoretical and experimental components. Given the practical relevance of this problem, the potential impact of this research is far-reaching. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Hesketh showed that heatwaves have spatially variable consequences on the survival of invertebrates on rocky shores in British Columbia and that repeated exposure to high temperatures has cumulative negative effects on biodiversity. These findings help us anticipate the future of our shorelines in the face of ongoing climate and ocean change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Lo studied how Mandarin-English bilinguals use vowel-initial pitch to distinguish certain speech sounds. He found that these bilinguals use pitch as a cue, but to different degrees, when pronouncing and listening to words in Mandarin versus English. This research informs both the flexibility of and limitations in how bilinguals process speech. | Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Brodyn examines how queerness impacts the way people imagine and create families. Three inter-related studies illuminate the ways queer people employ individual and relational strengths in order to transform the family context into a site of potential healing from societal stigmatization and trauma. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Ton explored the inhibition of challenging drug targets in prostate cancer and COVID-19. He deployed innovative computer-aided drug design methodologies to access a wider range of therapeutic opportunities against the two diseases. His research provides the framework for the development of novel anti-cancer and antiviral drugs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Ruissen applied a continuous-time framework to examine how the bidirectional relationship between affect and physical activity unfolds over time. This work introduced an innovative approach to studying dynamic psychological processes in relation to health behaviours. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Winarko investigated a novel process for copper extraction from chalcopyrite, a copper-bearing mineral. He showed that the rate of copper extraction could be significantly improved by adding a small amount of iodine. This research offers a potential technology that could unlock value from vast amounts of previously uneconomical low-grade ores. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Giffen analysed a transnational archive of literary responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and showed how the turn to sacred address constitutes a life-saving practice of freedom in the face of death. Her research proposes new methodologies for reading the politics of illness, literature and globalization in sacred and secular worlds. | Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Malik developed novel paradigms to study the planning and execution of skilled leg movements. His work provides new opportunities to understand the brain's use of peripheral vision when planning to step over obstacles and the importance of coordinating the joints of the lower limb for the recovery of skilled walking after partial paralysis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Mitishita investigated turbulent flows of complex fluids such as polymer and surfactant solutions. His experiments contributed to better understanding the relationship between fluid properties and energy savings via turbulent drag reduction. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2022 | The core of Dr. Jung's doctoral research is to pioneer the novel reactivities of neutral and cationic indium compounds. He developed a series of indium compounds, and these were investigated for the formation of functionalized polymers. His studies can help to design catalysts and synthesize advanced polymers. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2022 | Carbon dioxide concentration has increased significantly in the environment contributing to global climate changes. Dr. Baalbaki designed efficient methods that convert carbon dioxide to plastics and other valuable chemicals. His research has advanced our understanding of CO2 capture and utilization processes that will address environmental threats | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Wong investigated how the flexible components of the avian wing structure, individually and as a multi-component coupled system, improved aerodynamic performance. These findings provide mechanisms for tuning aeroelastic response to flight behaviors which may inspire future aeronautical designs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Ghosh studied the effects of social integration and in-group ties on economic performance and growth. He showed that intergroup contact between Hindu and Muslim Indian factory workers improved productivity and attitudes. He also found that weakening in-group (family) ties in the historical U.S. context led to greater urbanization and income. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Ling developed learning-based algorithms for animating simulated characters naturally and realistically. He showed that symmetry, curriculum, and proper task abstraction are critical for solving challenging control tasks. His research illuminates the role of inductive biases in reinforcement learning. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Chen used a high-throughput method to explore 2 Metallo-beta-lactamases enzymes present in the clinics, generating largescale datasets on their resistance behaviors. He gained deeper understanding of MBLs, such as how antibiotic concentrations affect bacteria containing MBLs, and how and why behaviours may differ between MBLs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. De Silva studied how the platelet's structural framework, termed the actin cytoskeleton, and the supporting actin-binding proteins, regulate platelet cell death and shape change. Dr. De Silva's findings identify the actin-binding protein filamin A as a critical player in multiple aspects of platelet function. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |