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
2020 Direct Air Capture is a radical technology which removes carbon dioxide from the air for sequestration or utilization. Dr. Campbell's research provides a new understanding of the reactions involved in this technology and explores alternative reaction pathways with lower temperatures, which enables a more cost-effective removal of CO2 from the air. Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
2020 Dr. Nackiewicz studied how immune cells called macrophages contribute to inflammation in insulin-producing islets in type 2 diabetes. She showed that macrophages could either induce or resolve islet inflammation. This work could aid in the design of therapies that may improve function of islet cells in diabetes. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2020 Dr. Ahmed investigated the effects of preparation design and sintering on the marginal accuracy of zirconia crowns, and established an innovative method for measuring the shrinkage of zirconia crowns during processing. This research provides valuable knowledge for achieving precise fit and improving the clinical success of zirconia restorations. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Prosthodontics (PhD/Dip. Prosthodontics)
2020 Dr. Burnett studied the role of automated activity monitors in the reproductive management of dairy cows. Her findings show the correlation between increased estrous expression and improved fertility. This research demonstrates the importance of estrous expression in breeding decisions and provides alternatives for reducing hormonal interventions. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Caiazzo studied the X-ray emission of neutron stars and black holes. She modelled the polarization of light from pulsars and black holes that accumulate material from companion stars, and from highly magnetized neutron stars called magnetars. She has shown that X-ray polarization can answer many of our questions about these fascinating objects. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2020 Dr. Hussain investigated the feasibility of using volumetric medical images for kidney cancer prediction and prognosis. He developed novel deep neural network-based approaches for kidney cancer detection, cancer grading, and staging for CT scans. This approach will improve our ability to detect and therefore treat kidney cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
2020 Dr. Nasiopoulos examined how real and implied presence are similar or different from each other, and explored potential mechanisms that can account for the effects observed. The evidence from this group of studies furthers our knowledge of social presence effects. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. Wawrykow's research investigated Aboriginal students' sources of and access to self-worth. She modified an analysis method to fit with Indigenous oral storytelling traditions. Her findings highlight Indigenous ways of healing and fostering self-worth and contribute to culturally sensitive delivery of clinical service and conducting research. Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Price attends to a Welsh cultural approach to contemplative connection with the living world. As a response to climate change, her writing explores ways of knowing with trees, culture, words, and ancestors. It offers a creative, devotional, and regenerative approach to environmental and contemplative education. Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. Karimibiuki studied security solutions for dynamic systems within the Internet-of-Things (IoT), such as drones and rovers. He developed mathematical-based methods to detect software vulnerabilities in mobile computer systems such as drones. His work enables the detection of malicious behaviors in autonomous IoT systems. Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD)
2020 Dr. Fong worked on understanding Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and bacteriophages, the viruses that predate these bacteria. She identified several bacteriophages with high efficacy in controlling Salmonella that would be of high value to the food industry. Her research sheds insight into mitigation of this human pathogen in the food chain. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Marpeau studied the reception of Madame Bovary by Flaubert over time, according to various interpretive communities. Her research contributes to the field of cultural studies in the sense that it uses interdisciplinary academic approaches to understand a cultural object and its effects on its readers. Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD)
2020 Dr. Robazza's research focused on the seismic performance of slender ductile reinforced masonry shear walls. His research included both extensive experimental testing and numerical analyses, which demonstrated that properly detailed reinforced masonry shear walls can possess very good energy dissipation and offer reliable seismic force resistance. Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD)
2020 Dr. Ramos Musalem studied how submarine canyons that incise the continental shelf enhance the exchange of tracers, such as nutrients and dissolved gases, between the deep ocean and the shallow shelf. Her research provided a link between biological productivity and biodiversity around the canyons and the dynamics within the canyons. Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD)
2020 Dr. Kuhlmann studied how a mutation in the LRRK2 gene and its corresponding protein alters neurotransmission in Parkinson's disease. She found that the mutation disrupts glutamate transmission in young mice, which may contribute to disease onset. A drug targeting LRRK2 function restored normal neurotransmission, suggesting its treatment potential. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2020 Dr. Stephens studied the climate trends, carbon, and water use of two forests in central Canada for the past two decades. This study helps to quantify the carbon uptake potential of these forests in the future under further climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Mei developed a universal coating that could prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections. With the application of the new coating, interactions between the catheters and urine components can be reduced. This study improves the safety and performance of medical devices, thus improving patients' health. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2020 Dr. Brothers investigated Roman spectacles as a medium for dynastic promotion in the Severan age. She discovered that during this tumultuous period, spectacles offered an opportunity for the emperor to demonstrate his benefaction, to create a positive public image for himself, and to associate himself with the great emperors of the past. Doctor of Philosophy in Classics (PhD)
2020 Dr. Roberson investigated the impact of immigration background on social belonging. Situating the measurement of social belonging in schools within an international comparative context, he shows that immigration background and national multicultural integration policy are valuable explanatory variables in the ecological validity argument. Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Ye used the nematode worm to study how living organisms faithfully maintain and pass down genetic information encoded in their DNA. His study characterized genes and therapeutics that affect this process and provided insights that can shed light on future development of anticancer therapy. Doctor of Philosophy in Genome Science and Technology (PhD)
2020 Dr. McClymont examined multiple aspects of HPV vaccination in women living with HIV. She found that while the vaccine has good efficacy, the post-vaccination burden of oncogenic HPV suggests that cervical screening remains important. These findings will inform the World Health Organization's global strategy for eliminating cervical cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD)
2020 Dr. Su developed two radiation therapy modalities, known as trajectory-based treatments, where the couch moves continuously. This work introduces a novel algorithm for treatment planning, which can accurately model proposed treatment modalities. This method can achieve plans superior to those generated by standard planning systems. Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2020 Dr. Farahbod studied gene expression in human tissues and showed that observed patterns of expression can be attributed to the diverse cellular composition of the samples. By characterizing this feature of expression data, her study assists us in furthering our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms behind the regulation of gene expression. Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD)
2020 Dr. ten Brinke examined the effect of lifestyle strategies on cognitive function in older adults. She showed that computerized cognitive training, especially when combined with exercise, improved cognitive function and its brain networks. Overall, her research supports cognitive training as a promising strategy to promote healthy cognitive aging. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2020 Dr. Varao-Sousa examined whether studies of mind wandering in the lab reflect mind wandering in real life. Her research provides evidence that rates of inattention are affected by both the task and the naturalness of the setting, a conclusion which has profound implications for theories of human attention. Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

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