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. Round examined the interaction between non-steroidal molecules and sex hormone-binding globulin. He showed that this interaction has the ability to modulate testosterone levels in circulation, and may be pharmaceutically useful for testosterone replacement therapy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Sedivy-Haley studied responses to Salmonella infection in macrophage activation states, including the "tolerant" state seen in sepsis. She identified differences in gene expression that may account for different levels of resistance to Salmonella. This could help us to improve the ability of macrophages to resist infection and treat sepsis. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Miro explored how place helps to mitigate and reinforce socio-economic divides. He found that new patterns of urban disadvantage in the suburbs are the result of both push and pull factors, and that for a growing number of low-income newcomers, a move to the suburbs presents both challenges and opportunities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Planning (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Radzimski found that, contrary to expectations, university mathematics knowledge plays a limited role in future high school math teachers' understanding of the secondary curriculum. She argues that mathematicians and teacher educators should work together to help future teachers understand how content expertise can impact pedagogical practice. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Colovic studied the use of radioactive amino acids (RAAs) in cancer detection. Using an imaging technique called positron emission tomography, she evaluated several RAAs as probes for imaging biomarkers of altered cancer metabolism. Her research brought the development of fluoroaminosuberic acid or FASu one step closer to clinical use. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Coleman studied the regulation of swarming motility in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes lung and hospital-acquired infections. Her findings show that swarming, a multicellular movement that enables pathogens to spread over surfaces, is a complex behaviour that increases antibiotic resistance and influences disease virulence. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2020 | One of the important technical challenges of heavy viscous oils concerns cost-effective transportation. Dr. Sarmadi used theoretical and computational methods to investigate a novel triple-layer core-annular lubricated pipeline flow. Her study established a novel method for the stable and efficient transport of highly viscous oils. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Jones studied how various plastic films impact soil and crop micro-climate when they are used as soil mulch covers or on greenhouses. Using data that he collected through field experiments, he developed models to help crop producers around the world make informed decisions when they use plastic films to extend a crop's growing season. | Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD) |
| 2020 | The entry of calcium ions into immune cells stimulates cellular replication. Calcium channels participate in mediating calcium entry. Dr. Stanwood characterized antibodies against voltage-dependent calcium channels and discovered growth inhibitory effects against cells of lymphoma. The findings contribute to the field of cancer research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Ransom examined the nature of perceptual learning for expertise, arguing that it is best understood as involving a change in the contents of perceptual experience itself, rather than simply the sorts of inferences experts are able to make. This has an impact on real-world training programs in fields from medicine to military to art criticism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Turgeon-Solis studied Eighteenth Century authors' fascination with the figure of the nun. Her research sheds new light on a social imagination that was prevalent in the Eighteenth Century, and is an original contribution to the study of the representation of women in literature. | Doctor of Philosophy in French (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Post examined the impact of genetic differences associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared with those found in control populations. Through the use of high throughput assays, she identified genetic variants that impact protein function and structure. This will improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying ASD. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2020 | How natural is the link between topology and properties of materials? The first part of Dr. Sheinbaum Frank's thesis fills a gap in the classification of materials using a method that studies shapes using algebra, known as K-theory. What makes quantum mechanics weird? A new connection between K-theory and contextuality is presented in part 2. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Ghiasisis studied the conversion of biomass and bio waste material into fuel. He investigated the methods and mechanism of mass and energy densification. He has contributed to the design, optimization and operation of pilot scale steam explosion and torrefaction systems that produce environmentally friendly bio-coal as replacement to coal and fossil fuels. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Bolderston studied the experiences of gay and lesbian radiation therapists coming out at work. Using an authoethnographic narrative inquiry approach, her findings showed that sexual orientation disclosure is dependent on context and can affect relationships with patients and co-workers in positive and negative ways. | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Johal's research seeks to understand how shame and stigma have shaped women's participation in Punjabi theatre, and to analyze the factors that can enable female participation and success in the face of constraint. Her research focused on the life stories of four women who have made significant contributions to Punjabi theatre. | Doctor of Philosophy in Asian Studies (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Jackson examined artist placements within industry and government in the U.K. and Western Europe from 1969-1976. Exploring themes of class, labor, time, and the political potential of art, Jackson proposed an alternative perspective of the relationship between art and politics during the 1960s and 1970s. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Alkouatli's research explored pedagogies for teaching Islam to children and youth. She discerned a three-part typography that engages with unique learner dimensions, the need for Canadian cultural relevance, and the importance of esoteric interactions. This research highlights new directions in Islamic education research and teacher education. | Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Shim found that the protein CD45 regulates red blood cell progenitors in the spleen, which protect mice from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by interacting with cells in the spleen. This work shows the importance of CD45 as a modulator of immune response and suggests a novel approach to treating the systemic inflammation associated with IBD. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Barker examined the impact of the child welfare system on health and substance use outcomes among young people who use drugs in Vancouver. Her research identifies policy opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of marginalized youth in care, and suggests extending services to facilitate successful transitions among those who age out. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Shimell studied a gene that is disrupted in many patients with intellectual disability and epilepsy. His work demonstrates how this gene can guide the development of brain connections and how disrupting the proper function of this gene may lead to disorders of the brain. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Atiquzzaman revealed the mediating role of NSAIDs in the increased risk of heart diseases among osteoarthritis patients. He also evaluated the cardiovascular safety of various NSAIDs used to treat osteoarthritis. This will help to understand the link between osteoarthritis and heart disease better and improve the safe treatment of this disease. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Cai's research focused on improving ways of determining how regions of the brain interact with one another. She examined interaction patterns of the brainstem, representations of brain regional activity, and changes to connectivity between regions over time. This research will ultimately assist in disease evaluation and treatment assessment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Costa studied how physical, economic, and social infrastructure in urban communities interact and affect recovery from earthquakes. Using computer models to simulate an earthquake in Vancouver, he estimates that recovery would take more than four years. These findings can inform decision-making and improve our capacity to prepare for disasters. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Sanad developed tools and techniques to design relay communication satellite constellations for servicing Earth observation satellite constellations. This will allow for the fast delivery of Earth images to the end-users, which is significant in natural disaster and national security situations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |