Faculty of Science

Canadian Immigration Updates

Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more

Notice: Canadian Immigration Updates

At �� Science, outstanding scientists and students strive to unravel the principles that underlie our universe - from the subatomic to the macroscopic, from pure mathematics to biotechnology, from ecosystems to galactic systems. Through the breadth and depth of our academic endeavours and the calibre of the people who make up our community, we take pride in discovering new scientific knowledge and preparing Canada’s and the world’s next generation of scientists.

A diverse range of highly ranked programs

With access to master’s and doctoral degrees through nine departments and 350 research groups, our graduate students work with world-class faculty to explore the basic sciences, and to pursue interdisciplinary and applied research across departments and units. ��’s research excellence in environmental science, math, physics, plant and animal science, computer science, geology and biology is consistently rated best in Canada by international and national ranking agencies.

Committed to outstanding graduate training

�� Science houses a wide range of prestigious NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience and related industry programs: from atmospheric aerosols to high-throughput biology, from biodiversity research and ecosystems services to plant cell wall biosynthesis, from quantum science and new materials to applied geochemistry. The options for enriched graduate training in industry related fields are almost endless.

World-class research infrastructure

Our affiliated institutes and centres include ��'s Michael Smith Laboratories, Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Life Sciences Institute, Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, and TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics.

Top research talent

�� Science boasts more than 50 Canada Research Chairs, 12 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates. Our graduate students have won 15 prestigious Vanier Scholarships.

A diverse, supportive community of scholars

�� Science is committed to excellence, collaboration and inclusion. Women account for 41 per cent of the Faculty's graduate enrollments, and the percentage of international students has increased to 50 per cent over the past decade.

Fact Sheet

Mission

To nurture an exceptional scientific learning and research environment for the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.

��

678

Master's Students

(2023)
1038

Doctoral Students

(2023)
435

Graduate Degrees Awarded

(2022)
428

Full-Time Faculty
161.6

million in Research Awards

Research Centres

Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

Computational Sciences and Mathematics

Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Lithoprobe: Canada's National Geoscience Project

Genomics and Biological Sciences

Geomatics for Informed Decisions Network

Human-Computer Interaction

Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics

Life Sciences

Chemistry and Materials Science

Physics

�� ATLAS Project at Large Hadron Collider

Sustainability

Research Facilities

Designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines, the (ESB) lies at the heart of the science precinct on ��’s Vancouver Campus. The $75 million facility is home to Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Statistics, the Pacific Institute of the Mathematical Sciences, and the dean’s office of the Faculty of Science. ESB’s teaching facilities will help Canada meet the challenges of a transforming and growing resource sector. Just as importantly, the researchers and students working and learning in the facility will offer a valuable flow of well-trained talent, new ideas, and fresh professional perspectives to industry.

Research Highlights

Receiving more than $120 million in annual research funding, �� Science faculty members conduct top-tier research in the life, physical, earth and computational sciences. Their discoveries help build our understanding of natural laws—driving insights into sustainability, biodiversity, human health, nanoscience and new materials, probability, artificial intelligence, exoplanets and a wide range of other areas.

�� Science boasts 50 Canada Research Chairs and 10 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and has been home to two Nobel Laureates.��

Schools / Departments

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.

Name	Academic Unit(s)	Research Interests
Jellinek, Mark	Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences	Volcanology, Geodynamics, Planetary Science, Geological Fluid Mechanics
Jetter, Reinhard	Department of Botany, Department of Chemistry	Chemical sciences; Plant biology; Analytical Chemistry; Biological Chemistry; Molecular Genetics; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Ecophysiology
Joe, Harry Sue Wah	Department of Statistics	Statistics; Statistics and Probabilities; copula construction; dependence modelling; extreme value inference; non-normal time series; parsimonous high-dimensional dependence
Johnson, Catherine	Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences	Lunar geophysics, Evolution of Mars' Magnetic Field and Atmosphere
Johnson, Mark	Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences	Geology; Natural environment sciences; Agriculture; Biogeochemistry; Carbon cycle; Climate Changes and Impacts; data science; Ecohydrology; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Fresh Water; Ground Water and Water Tables; Hydrological Cycle and Reservoirs; Land and Soil; land use; Running Water Hydrosystem; Water and Sustainability
Jones, David	Department of Physics & Astronomy	Atomic, optical and molecular physics,Ultrafast Optics, Spectroscopy
Karczmarek, Joanna	Department of Physics & Astronomy	Particle physics theory (including aspects of field theory and string theory); Physical sciences; Emergent spacetime and gravity; Matrix models; Noncommutative geometry; String theory
Karu, Kalle	Department of Mathematics	Algebraic geometry, toric varieties, log geometry, combinatorics of fans and posets
Keeling, Patrick John	Department of Botany	Molecular evolution and cell biology of eukaryotes
Kenne, Steve Cyrille	Department of Mathematics	Calculus of variations, systems theory and control theory; Partial and ordinary differential equations; Mathematical biology; Optimal control theory; Partial Differential Equations; Multiscale modelling of infectious diseases
Kiczales, Gregor	Department of Computer Science	MOOCs, Blended Learning, Flexible Learning, University Strategy for Flexible and Blended Learning, Computer Science Education, Programming Languages, Programming languages, aspect-oriented programming, foundations, reflections and meta programming, software design
Kim, Young-Heon	Department of Mathematics	Partial Differential Equations and Geometry
King, Kayla	Department of Zoology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology	host-microbial parasite/pathogen systems
Kopylova, Maya	Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences	diamond ore deposits, Diamond exploration, petrology and volcanology
Korthauer, Keegan	Department of Statistics	Bioinformatics; Genomics; Statistics; Epigenomics; Single-cell analysis; Statistical genomics
Kremen, Claire	Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, Department of Zoology	Natural environment sciences; Zoology; agroecological farming systems; Reconciliation of agricultural land use with biodiversity conservation; sustainable landscapes
Krems, Roman	Department of Chemistry	Theoretical chemistry, Molecular Spectroscopy, Dynamics of few- and many-body molecular systems in electromagnetic fields
Kronstad, James	Michael Smith Laboratories	Bioinformatics; Immunology; Microbiology; Plant biology; Mycology; Fungal diseases of plants; Genomics and Proteomics; Medical Mycology; Molecular Genetics; Pathogenesis of infectious diseases; Plant-Microbe Interactions
Kunimoto, Michelle	Department of Physics & Astronomy	exoplanet detection, characterization, and demographics
Laba, Izabella	Department of Mathematics	Harmonic analysis, geometric measure theory and additive combinatorics
Lakshmanan, Laks	Department of Computer Science	data management and data cleaning; data warehousing and OLAP; data and text mining; analytics on big graphs and news; social networks and media; recommender systems
Leander, Brian	Department of Botany, Department of Zoology	Plant biology; Zoology; Comparative organismal biology; Evolutionary morphology; Evolutionary protistology; Marine biodiversity; Marine invertebrate zoology; Phylogenetic biology; Species discovery
Lecuyer, Mathias	Department of Computer Science	Machine learning systems; Guarantees of robustness, privacy, and security
Leeks, Asher	Department of Zoology	Biological evolution; Social evolution in viruses; Evolutionary Biology; Virology; Evolutionary theory; Mathematical modeling; Bioinformatics; Social evolution; Microbiology
Lemieux, Caroline	Department of Computer Science	Programming languages and software engineering; help developers improve the correctness, security, and performance of software systems; test-input generation; specification mining; program synthesis

Graduate Student Stories

Kabir Bhalla

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)

Contribution of polyphosphate to Cryptococcal disease

Katrin Steinthorsdottir

Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD)

Feasibility of in-situ carbon mineralization in serpentinite via shallow injection, B.C., Canada

Aaron Klymasz-Swartz

Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD)

Physiological development of the amphibian gill; do the gills take on a dominant role for ion regulation before gas exchange as observed in developing teleost fish?

Becca Beutel

Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD)

Water mass variability on the northeast Pacific shelf and what this means for biogeochemical conditions under a changing climate

Michael Yin

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)

Supporting and extending virtual entertainment experiences

Madison Chapel

Master of Science in Bioinformatics (MSc)

Evolution of gene regulatory networks

W. Austin Guild

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)

Investigating the protective role of endogenous retroviruses against herpes simplex virus-2 infection

Cara James

Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD)

Understanding deep-sea mining particulate clouds: predicting environmental impacts, informing regulation and monitoring pollutants

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by �� faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Science.

��

Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
�� Author(s): Brian Hunt (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 21699275
Volume: 130
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Reports on Progress in Physics
�� Author(s): Alison Lister (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00344885
Volume: 88
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Genome Research
�� Author(s): Judith Mank (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 10889051
Volume: 35
Page Range: 1325-1336
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of Biological Chemistry
�� Author(s): Lindsay Eltis (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science), William Mohn (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00219258
Volume: 301
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Global Biogeochemical Cycles
�� Author(s): Sean Crowe (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 08866236
Volume: 39
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Functional Ecology
�� Author(s): Sean Michaletz (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 02698463
Volume: 39
Page Range: 1606-1621
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology
�� Author(s): Matthijs Smit (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00107999
Volume: 180
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Global Change Biology
�� Author(s): Daniel Pauly (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 13541013
Volume: 31
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Canadian Mathematical Bulletin
�� Author(s): Dragos Ghioca (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00084395
Volume: 68
Page Range: 461-476
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
�� Author(s): Catherine Johnson (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 21699097
Volume: 130
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Molecular Biology and Evolution
�� Author(s): Nobuhiko Tokuriki (Michael Smith Labs / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 07374038
Volume: 42
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Astrophysical Journal
�� Author(s): Jessica McIver (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0004637X
Volume: 985
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
�� Author(s): Sean Graham (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 10557903
Volume: 207
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Astronomy and Astrophysics
�� Author(s): Douglas Scott (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00046361
Volume: 698
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Marine Environmental Research
�� Author(s): Christopher Harley (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 01411136
Volume: 208
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Microchemical Journal
�� Author(s): Reinhard Jetter (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 0026265X
Volume: 213
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Nature Climate Change
�� Author(s): Loren Rieseberg (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1758678X
Volume: 15
Page Range: 673-681
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Vaccines
�� Author(s): Marc Horwitz (Microbiology & Immunology / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 13
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Society
�� Author(s): Dragos Ghioca (Mathematics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00049727
Volume: 111
Page Range: 433-444
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Global Biogeochemical Cycles
�� Author(s): Harold Bradbury (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 08866236
Volume: 39
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of Experimental Biology
�� Author(s): Katie Marshall (Zoology / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00220949
Volume: 228
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
�� Author(s): Douglas Scott (Physics & Astronomy / Faculty of Science)
Volume: 2025
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
�� Author(s): Laura Parfrey (Botany / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00992240
Volume: 91
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
�� Author(s): Trevor Campbell (Statistics / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 1359835X
Volume: 193
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Ecology
�� Author(s): Claire Kremen (Institute for Resources,Environment & Sustainability / Faculty of Science)
ISSN: 00129658
Volume: 106
Publication Date: June 2025

Recent Thesis Submissions

(MIIM - PHD)
(MIIM - MSC)
(GSAT - MSC)
(MIIM - MSC)
(GSAT - MSC)
(CHEM - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(BOTA - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(GSAT - PHD)
(ZOOL - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(BIOF - MSC)
(CHEM - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(GSAT - MSC)
(MIIM - PHD)
(MIIM - MSC)
(MIIM - MSC)
(PHYS - MSC)
(ZOOL - PHD)
(BOTA - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(PHYS - PHD)
(CHEM - PHD)
(OCGY - PHD)
(BIOF - MSC)

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
2025	Dr. Zhu examined two applications of oscillatory integral techniques, both analytic and geometric. One area of his research contributes to classifying geometric properties captured by various approaches to measure sets. The other promotes identifying geometric and algebraic patterns in rough sets.	Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
2025	Dr. Nadeau developed sustainable nickel catalysts and methodologies that facilitate inert bond activation reactions for more sustainable organic transformations. His insights are relevant to the conversion of inert waste materials, such as methane, into value-added products.	Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)
2025	Dr. Tanprasert is a human-computer interaction researcher. Her dissertation focuses on designing personas of AI-driven agents to increase learners’ engagement in online learning environments. Her findings provide a foundational framework for designing agents to meet the user’s social and emotional needs in the educational domain and beyond.	Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD)
2025	Improving confidence in computer-based modeling of potential harm posed by chemicals requires analysis of the associated uncertainty. Dr. Achar developed frameworks and methods that support uncertainty analysis in the models and their predictions. This work helps increase acceptance of the models and their predictions for regulatory application.	Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (PhD)
2025	Dr. Alizadeh studied seed germination and found that regulatory proteins help seeds break dormancy and use stored nutrients for growth. His research uncovered how these proteins interact to control genes involved in germination, nutrient use, and environmental responses. These insights could enhance crop growth and resilience.	Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD)
2025	Dr. Li studied highly flexible nonparametric statistical methods that are often difficult to apply in practice. He developed new techniques using simple, reliable approximations, making these powerful methods usable for data analysis. This allows researchers in various fields to better understand complex data with powerful models.	Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (PhD)
2025	Dr. Leckenby studied exotic nuclear decay that occurs in the core of stars to understand how the heavy elements were created. The experiment he analysed on thallium-205 was essential in predicting the amount of lead-205 in the first meteorites formed in our Solar System. These meteorites indicate that our Sun took 10 million years to form.	Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
2025	Dr. Malhotra's research focused on severe skin reactions in breast radiotherapy. She developed techniques to model, predict, and decrease the risk of moist desquamation using treatment plans.	Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD)
2025	Dr. Chui used weather modelling to explore how human-caused changes to the climate and terrain of BC could have changed the weather of the province. These changes can have impacts on public health across BC, and on local ecosystems around coal mines. His work resulted in a large dataset that will be used by provincial researchers for years to come.	Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)
2024	Dr. Bajaj assessed the climate risks embedded in domestic supply and international imports of food, both globally and with a focus on Canada. He developed novel datasets and innovative analyses that demonstrate the importance of taking a systemic approach to building food system resilience to climate change.	Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (PhD)

Pages

��

��