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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The human intestine contains trillions of microbes. Dr. Huus studied how these intestinal bacteria respond to malnutrition, a serious global health issue. She found that malnourished gut bacteria change their metabolism and interact differently with the immune system. Understanding these differences may help to improve treatments for malnutrition. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Wamer studied novel forms of quantum magnetism that correspond to physical systems with a larger number of symmetries. He classified the phases of matter of these systems and deepened our understanding of a large family of theoretical models, whose applicability spans from material science to mathematical physics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Bragg explored the lifeworlds of Syrian refugee families living in a mini-enclave in Canada. She explored the work that refugee mothers do to support their families in Canada, and the profound challenges they face and overcome. Her work argues that refugee stories should be the foundation on which policy decisions about refugees are made. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Chen studied the processing-microstructure-property relationships of thermoset composite materials that are toughened by particulate interlayer. His discovery of a new mechanism for how processing conditions affect the microstructure and properties of these materials contributes to fundamental materials science and has industrial applications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Al-Digs developed analytical models and algorithmic methods for operational monitoring and control tasks that ensure reliable and efficient operation of electric power systems. His research will enable real-time detection of disturbances, offer computationally efficient dynamic contingency analysis, and optimize power system asset utilization. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Brown used budding yeast as a model to investigate the cellular response to DNA damage, which is highly conserved between yeast and humans. He revised a recently proposed model of the cellular response to DNA damage and discovered that a scaffolding protein called Rtt107 cooperates with different protein partners to prevent mutations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Fu focused on the design of protein-based biomaterials at both molecular and macroscopic levels. Her research allows for precise control over the mechanical performance of protein-based hydrogels for a variety of applications, such as soft actuators, cartilage-like biomaterials, and artificial substrates for laboratory cell biology studies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Adams showed that preturbing the machinery necessary for moving calcium and lipids between different components of cells in the testis results in the dysregulation of mammalian sperm release. His work has substantially added to the knowledge of sperm release mechanisms and has provided insight into infertility disorders in men. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Delgado used narrative inquiry to explore the pedagogical potential of student activism, and how the experience of activism transforms both the role of students and activists. Dr. Delgado studied the context of resistance from economics students to traditional content and pedagogies of introductory economics courses in UK universities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Epifanov developed novel applications of sulfuryl fluoride, a common fumigant produced industrially on a multi-ton scale. The unique chemical properties of sulfuryl fluoride was used to render important transformations in organic synthesis to be more efficient and operationally simpler than existing methods. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Tam studied how the costs of lying, either derived from physiological and moral barriers or fear of being caught lying, affect people's behavior. This research assists policy makers in implementing effective self-reporting mechanisms. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Wang studied the technology of high pressure grinding rolls for improved energy efficiency in the mining industry. He developed models for sizing, circuit design and process simulation of this technology. His findings promote this technology and enable its evaluation with greater confidence and significantly lower sample and testing requirements. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | In a community of practice, Dr. Smith artistically explored the pedagogical possibilities and ethics of photo-based memory work in the exhibition Against Disappearance: A Photographic Search for Memory. Her work on lexical thinking and visual lifewriting expands understandings of photographic inquiry, highlighting a/r/tography's creative potential. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Zolaktaf studied ways to improve the prediction of nucleic acid kinetics. This study provides more efficient computational methods for predicting nucleic acid kinetics and improving the underlying kinetic models for nucleic acids. Her contributions will make it easier to design nucleic-acid based devices, such as DNA robots. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Kumar analyzed the non-metal fraction from the waste of printed circuit boards and the electronic waste recycling industry and showed the economic and environmental benefits of reprocessing. He proposed potentially cost-effective physical processing solutions to recycle non-metal fractions that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Tamura elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which beneficial microbes in our gut utilize complex carbohydrates constituting dietary fibers that we humans cannot digest on our own. His research will inform future therapeutics based on targeted manipulation of gut microbial composition, which influences essentially all aspects of human health. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Nickason examines Canada's efforts to give effect to First Nations' rights of self-determination and self-government. She demonstrates that cultural differences, in the ways First Nations and settler societies conceive of legitimacy, have undermined our capacity to negotiate new arrangements to give effect to these rights. | Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Rich's research identified important gaps in the state of the knowledge of chronic disease multimorbidity for transgender people, demonstrated feasibility of innovative methods to identify transgender samples in administrative data, and provided epidemiologic evidence of multimorbidity disparity for transgender people living with HIV. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2021 | Since the early 2000s, private condominium developers have taken on new roles as builders of low-income housing in Canada. Dr. Hyde examined the causes and consequences of these policy arrangements in Toronto and Vancouver, concluding that current density agreements have led to trade-offs that do not meet public needs for affordable housing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Starting from the observation that working-class people are massively underrepresented in legislatures almost everywhere, Dr. Hemingway's research showed that the class backgrounds of politicians shape their attitudes and the policies they enact in office, particularly relating to inequality and economic issues. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Woodard developed two automated systems for assessing the behaviour of laboratory mice within their home-cage, allowing these animals to be tested in a high-throughput and low-stress manner. These systems were used to study mice carrying the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Yanko created and investigated a novel approach for assessing arts learning experiences. He discovered how the arts can enable educators to illuminate the values and judgments of student creativity, imagination, and meaning-making. Findings show this practice to be inclusive, democratic, and tangible for all learners in a classroom community. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Malette's work investigated how post-secondary environments impact undergraduate student mental health stigma, service use and the likelihood for experiencing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Findings from this work highlighted the importance of examining social influences on student wellbeing.. | Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Ebner examined the impacts of ongoing economic restructuring on development processes and experiences of workers in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. DiPucchio developed catalysts based on the element Tantalum to accelerate carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. These resultant catalysts used ureate ligands and displayed reactivity that allowed for making new types of drug-inspired products. Her project has inspired a variety of current and future projects in the Schafer lab." | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |