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 | Dr. Nakhaie studied soil and pitting corrosion of zinc and galvanized steel. He developed a mathematical model to predict the corrosion rate of hot-dip galvanized steel power transmission towers. The new developed model showed promising results to calculate the corrosion rate of buried galvanized steel in different soil and environment conditions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Liang studied droplet corrosion behavior in diluted bitumen pipelines. By examining the same area of pipeline steel before and after exposure to bitumen, he found no obvious signs of corrosion, even at high temperatures. His findings also show that prior deformation of the steel increases the corrosion penetration rate. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hunter studied the impact of spinal cord injury on pelvic peripheral neurons and organs. She characterized changes in input and output neurons supplying pelvic organs, and differences in bladder activity following high and low transections. This work paves the way for the treatment of important secondary consequences of spinal cord injury. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sanchez explored the continuing impact of Samuel Beckett's literary and dramatic texts on contemporary art practices, focusing specifically on the works of three artists: Stan Douglas, Paul Chan and Tania Bruguera. She identified the "Beckett Effect" as politically and artistically significant in contemporary art. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Carney studied the safety of medications commonly used to aid smoking cessation. He also developed a novel method of evaluating comparative effectiveness using health claims data. The results of his thesis will aid physicians, patients, and policy-makers to make informed choices regarding smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Using numerical simulations, Dr. Chen demonstrated the emergence of high-energy physics phenomena in topological quantum matter. She proposed the creation of Majorana particles, chiral anomalies, and black hole holograms in mesoscopic quantum systems. Her proposals allow us to probe these elusive physics concepts in cost-effective table-top experiments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Zimmerman designed and synthesized a new ligand scaffold for nickel and palladium complexes. The resulting metal complexes and and their reactivity patterns were studied and what emerged was that the ligand can participate in chemistry at the metal center. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2019 | Applying arts-based methods, Dr. Stooshnov researched the relationship between virtual reality (VR) and drama within literacy learning. He compared VR technology to historical theatre practices by creating a dramatic dialogue between past and future. This work considers the educational possibilities of interactive engagement in a virtual classroom. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Yeh studied the biomechanics of aortic aneurysm and heart valves. His research identified the physical parameters affecting the stresses experienced by the aneurysm and blood flow. Combined with blood coagulation characterizations, his work can enhance the current management for aneurysm patients via patient-specific modelling. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hussein developed methods to help people who suffer from epilepsy. These methods analyze the brain data of the patient to determine whether a person is experiencing a seizure or whether a seizure is imminent. This knowledge is used to warn patients of upcoming seizures so they stop unsafe activities and better regulate their medication intake. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. York examined how metabolic reprogramming shapes the brain's immune system. Both her results and methodological contributions to the research community have provided a clearer understanding of the link between cellular metabolism and the immune state of the brain. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sriram studied structures termed tubulobulbar complexes, which are involved in removing cell-to-cell attachments during sperm development in the mammalian testis. She developed methods in culture and in vivo to test the hypothesis that these complexes are involved in the movement of the next generation of sperm cells within the testis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Implantable electronic devices have been evolving at a rapid pace. Dr. Cai investigated several design techniques and various systems in developing the radio system to meet the stringent size and power requirements of miniaturized biomedical implantable devices. This work contributes to next generation diagnostics and therapeutics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Smith-Dijak demonstrated that processes regulating the stability of brain cell function are disrupted in Huntington disease, and can be restored by treatment with drugs that stimulate the sigma-1 receptor. This helps us better understand the processes underlying neurodegenerative diseases and how to treat them. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Takai investigated orthographic processing in the brain. He found that the brain is a system for symbol processing that keeps becoming faster, more specific and efficient than processing unfamiliar visual symbols throughout adulthood. These results assist learners of an additional language in our multicultural society. | Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Speech Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Polycystic ovary syndrome, known as PCOS, affects up to 18% of women worldwide. Dr. Cutler examined the impact of nutrition on the metabolic, reproductive and mental health of women. Her findings support the need for more comprehensive treatment options for PCOS. | Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Liu studied a special type of quantum materials called Dirac materials. He proved that the response of Dirac materials to elastic deformation highly mimics that to electromagnetic fields. This unique feature makes Dirac materials stand out from other quantum materials and renders them useful for the future application in quantum technologies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Knesl studied how technological innovations affect firms, households and stock prices. His work connects technological improvements to movements of stock prices by looking at how technology affects different types of labor. His empirical evidence shows a specific connection between macro economy and stock markets. | Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Finance (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Rafn's research focused on delivery of rehabilitation for women with breast cancer. She provided insight into the experiences and preferences for delivery, and developed resources to support self-managed detection and rehabilitation of issues. This work may improve early detection, access to care, and prevent the development of chronic issues. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Sarwar developed flexible sensors that can detect pressure, light touch and proximity. Such sensors can detect the slippage of an object and can help equip robots to conduct dextrous manipulations such as cracking an egg. In addition to applications in flexible cell phones, the sensors are able to mimic human skin for use in robotics and prosthetics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Pow examined the social support process. She found that what people think is at stake during stressful situations might play a role in shaping the support process. She also found that the type of support mobilized is related to fluctuations in pain intensity for those with rheumatoid arthritis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Hassan developed several adaptive transmission schemes that can simultaneously improve the throughput and provide latency guarantee for delay-sensitive traffic in the terrestrial free space optical communication systems. These transmission schemes can substantially improve the performance of fifth-generation fixed wireless access and backhaul networks. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Cox studied models of the loss of information in quantum systems. He developed a way of understanding how the information stored in a quantum system can be divided into its constituent parts and how this information can be transferred to the environment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Lambert studied why nearly half of all women do not adhere to hormonal therapy for breast cancer. She highlighted the complexity of adherence from the perspective of women and healthcare providers. Understanding real-world factors influencing adherence is important in determining how to better support women in using these therapies over time. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2019 | Dr. Yao used machine learning and advanced statistical models to study the acute health effect of air pollution. She discovered that ambulance calls for heart, lung and diabetic conditions increased within hours of exposure to wildfire smoke. Her findings can help protect public health from the growing impacts of wildfire smoke under climate change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |