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
2022 Dr. Hare's arts-based research examined how educators draw on what they are feeling in their bodies to navigate teaching sexual health education. The findings showed how sex educators balance ever-shifting knowledge, realities, and priorities in uneasy but stable ways. The study offered valuable insights for improving pedagogy and practices. Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD)
2022 Dr. Yang examined how carbon is made governable in the urban settings by investigating the discursive elements, the formal and informal structures and norms of the policy processes. This research highlights the particular narratives, governance logics and social practices used in the mobilization of climate policy. Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD)
2022 Dr. Byrne studied the complex dynamics of viral infections, examining how various viruses are transmitted and how elicited immune responses change over time. Combining methods of biological data collection and mathematical modelling, her work brings insight into potential treatment, vaccination, and control strategies. Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Fairhurst studied the effect of long duration megathrust earthquake motions on the structural response of reinforced concrete shearwall buildings. His work included novel methods of ground motion characterization along with recommendations to ensure new buildings at risk from megathrust earthquakes meet minimum safety standards. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2022 Dr. Xu used cellulose nanoparticles and graphene oxide to make materials with ordered structures. These materials have lightweight, mechanical adaptive, or photonic properties. They have applications in optical sensors and patterning. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2022 Dr. Rattray developed methods to investigate protein-protein interactions in host cells during Salmonella infection. These approaches assist us in better understanding host-pathogen interactions. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Rahal studied the process of designing educational technology with educators. Several factors that facilitate and/or hinder the design process were identified and explicated in his study. The study also contributed methodological guidelines on generating valid and reliable knowledge in participatory design research. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (PhD)
2022 The law of negligence claims to deter accidental wrongdoers from causing harm. The mixed doctrinal and qualitative research in this dissertation suggest that in the law of negligence in Canada, deterrence is largely illusory. Potential wrongdoers are so well protected by liability insurance that there is little inclination to avoid causing harm. Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD)
2022 Dr. Zhang developed a sensor fusion system in a human-prosthesis-environment loop to recognize the environments, predict the motion intent of different users, and control the motion of prosthesis. The proposed methods increase the intelligence of wearable robots, improve the human-robot interaction, and help amputees walk in complex environments. Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
2022 In line with a research priority recently established by the World Health Organization, Dr. Schwartz adapted a pan-Canadian chronic disease prevention program for Brazilians. He revealed significant improvements in lifestyle behaviours demonstrating the efficacy of this intervention in the fight against chronic disease in lower-income countries. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Lewis studied the reproduction of inequalities in Thailand's state forests through a poststructuralist examination of illegal logging. Dr. Lewis showed that the continued logging of natural forests in Thailand was a manifestation of structured inequalities and sovereign violence imposed on the forest landscape and Indigenous Peoples. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2022 Dr. Folinsbee developed a sheaf model for Riemann functions. He used this model to express the graph Riemann-Roch theorem as a Euler characteristic. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2022 Dr. Lim studied the patterns of gene expression changes across thousands of human and mouse datasets, which can be used to interpret results from genetic studies. The findings deepen our understanding of gene expression patterns and their potential for discovering gene functions related to human health and disease. Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mitchell developed methods to examine the variability in flowing landslide movement to better estimate the areas potentially impacted by landslides, and the range of depth and velocity of those impacts. This was done using a combination of statistical modelling of observations of past events, and computer simulations of flowing landslides. Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
2022 Dr. Brant-Birioukov developed a Mohawk discourse of renewal within curriculum studies. By attending to ancestral knowledge in relation to estrangement and homecoming, she argues for the re-centering of Indigenous knowledges in educational theory and methodology. Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)
2022 Dr. Baghela used statistical learning methods to identify distinct gene expression patterns in early sepsis patients that predict impending disease severity. He indicates these patterns can be rapidly measured in patient blood at hospital admission, providing clinicians with an accurate and early means to predict specific patient outcomes. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2022 Dr. Gamlen-Greene studied the population dynamics of two amphibians of conservation concern - the Western Toad and the Northern Red-legged Frog, in Haida Gwaii and southwest BC. She found Haida Gwaii toads are genetically unique and less diverse and may be vulnerable to spreading introduced frogs. Her findings are informing conservation. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2022 Dr. Rodrigues established laser ultrasonics as a quantitative measurement technique to in-situ monitor phase transformations in titanium alloys and developed a systematic methodology to quantify different phases from microstructural images. These studies are of relevance to design advanced titanium alloys for biomedical and aerospace applications. Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD)
2022 Dr. Su's work will help the world oil sector reduce its carbon footprint. He showed that lipids, such as used cooking oil, can be co-processed at refineries with fossil fuels, significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping BC, Canada and the world meet its climate mitigation targets. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2022 Dr. Kamel mitigated statical issues in modeling bike ridership and safety such as measurement errors and temporal correlation. He assessed the impact of land use, bike network, and demographics on bike ridership and safety. He supported urban planners by developing a zone-based index to represent both biking attractiveness and crash risk. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2022 Dr. Hill studied galaxy clusters, which are the largest structures in the Universe. He observed one of the most distant galaxy clusters known using a range of telescopes in order to understand how gas was converted into stars at the onset of cluster formation. His thesis helps explain why galaxy evolution occurred differently in dense environments. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2022 Dr. Sharkia worked on semiconductor integrated circuits: He developed a type-I subsampling phase-locked loop, that achieves low noise and low power consumption, in a compact footprint. He also developed flexible serrodyne-based frequency synthesizers that can be used to efficiently generate and distribute clock signals in modern integrated circuits. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2022 Dr. Rosales developed a novel surfacing algorithm to convert raw VR drawings into usable 3D models. He also created a new VR brush that increases the number of shapes that can be comfortably drawn. This research expands the range of applications of VR drawings and makes VR drawing a practical alternative to 3D modeling for inexperienced users. Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Abrar-ul-Hassan researched the role of instructors, who were working in public and private postsecondary institutions located in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, as assessors in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs. His research contributes to the understanding of EAP assessment practices in a Canadian context. Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD)
2022 Dr. TeBokkel explains how British Romantic poetry was influenced by agricultural improvement and, in turn, informed the capitalist agriculture. As a result, modern farming practice, labour, technology, management, research, and legislation still rely on Romantic tropes and genres. Doctor of Philosophy in English (PhD)

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