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 | NID |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dr. He developed a self-supervised machine learning tool that minimizes the need for extensive human annotation, thereby alleviating the reliance on costly human labor during the machine learning development process. | Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Kuang studied the political economy of global 5G governance. Her dissertation, "A Mosaic of Mundane Innovations," shows how a new open and decentralized form of global governance took shape in the 5G technology regime. Her work foregrounds new possibilities for latecomer economies to participate in the making of the international economic order. | Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Shamei demonstrated that humans employ posture within the vocal tract when speaking, and that the control of posture is similar across gross and fine motor skills. These findings help to unify our understanding of human motor control across different domains. | Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Rees developed and characterized dextran-coated nanoparticles and nanoparticle assemblies for bioanalytical applications such as the specific labelling of cancer cells. These materials were very brightly fluorescent, stable, non-fouling, and will help enable point-of-care diagnostic technology that will make molecular medicine more accessible. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Heaslip examined the unsolicited help receiving experiences of persons with visual impairments, targeting what is and isn't helpful during these interactions. The prominent themes identified were consent, assumptions, courtesy, consideration and respect. Findings were used to generate recommendations for navigating these complex interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Gryba, in partnership with Inupiat hunters, developed new methods to include Indigenous Knowledge in statistical models as a sole data source and with animal movement data. This work highlights Indigenous Knowledge that is not available in scientific data, and provides new ways for Indigenous Knowledge to be included in species management. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. De Souza developed a theoretical framework locating allyship as a social phenomenon. In several empirical studies, Dr. De Souza compared reactive and proactive efforts to improve women's workplace experiences, illustrating the importance of a multiple-dimensional view of allyship that prioritizes the desires of disadvantaged group members. | Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Macdonald examined how patients with chronic illness participate in civic organizations that help bring the patient perspective to health research. His work contributes to our knowledge on how to create institutions of research that are responsive and able to integrate input from patients and the public. | Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Wu explored composite nanofibers for creating smart and flexible yarns that can generate electrical signals in response to mechanical and optical stimuli. The yarns can be assembled into electronic textiles for sensing body movement or identifying intense light exposure. | Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) |
| 2024 | How do actors protect their wellbeing, nurture their creativity, and cultivate an ensemble so supportive it embraces its audience? Dr. Fogal studied the theatre training of her four primary mentors including her father Dean Fogal. Preserving their oral traditions through text and film, she illuminates the deeply relational nature of their techniques. | Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Nogues explored how the personality of dairy cattle and the way they cope with stress can influence how they interact with others in their social group. Better understanding this individual variation in social behaviour can inform management practices that improve dairy cattle welfare. | Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Burge studied how relationality plays a role in the revitalization of Lingít, an Indigenous language spoken in the Pacific Northwest. Her work reflects on ideas of gender, identity, organizational structures and academia, and how the intersection of those themes speaks to the active fight to reclaim Lingít as a language, and as a community. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Alaeiilkhchi explored the effects of ketogenic diets, ketone esters and metformin on mouse models of multiple sclerosis. He discovered that these metabolic treatments could enhance cell repair processes, offering promising avenues for new MS treatments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Valverde developed a methodology using X-ray micro-computed tomography to characterize silt-size soil particles and their spatial arrangement at the micro-scale. The findings lay the groundwork for refining geotechnical engineering designs by considering the influence of micro-level particle organization on the macro behavior of silty soils. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Akbari explored DNA methylation in normal and cancerous human samples. He created tools to detect genetic regions with parent-specific methylation and uncovered several novel regions. He also developed a technique that discerns if a child's genetic variations come from the father or mother, without needing any information from parents. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Fournier uncovered a new role for ARID1A, a gene lost in about 7% of all cancers, in the maintenance of genome integrity. Using CRISPR screening, he also identified vulnerabilities of cancer cells that lose ARID1A. This work expands our understanding of how these tumours develop and provides potential new avenues for treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Pashaei designed and fabricated novel solar cell devices made with materials as thin as one atom. He incorporated various engineering methods to make them more practical. His work proposes innovative designs to make efficient solar cells. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Possnig studied how algorithmic learning by firms affects prices. He showed what kinds of behaviours can be learned by competing algorithms, depending on the market and details of the algorithms. He used this approach to determine when and how collusive behaviours will emerge from algorithmic competition. | Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD) |
| 2024 | Around the world people breathe in polluted air that irritates their lungs and causes inflammation. Dr. Huff's research demonstrated that current anti-inflammatory asthma medications increase common cold infections in human lung cells exposed to pollution, and identified three new medicines that reduce air pollution induced inflammation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Zandsalimy developed novel methods to improve the numerical stability and convergence rate of computational simulations. These cutting-edge tools are highly efficient and readily applicable to current industrial simulation software. His automated methods substantially reduce the computational resources required for diverse applications. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2024 | Dr. Jerowsky compared the efficacy of VR, AR, and outdoor field trips when promoting the critical environmental education of children who have different levels of walking access to quality green space. His findings suggest that immersive media can help to address a lack of access while promoting environmental literacy and a diverse range of knowledges. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Salles advanced the documentation of Pirah√£, a vulnerable language spoken in the Amazon, and contributed to destigmatizing a non-standard dialect of Brazilian Portuguese. Her work also provided a fresh take on a long-standing puzzle in the field of linguistics, by proposing that nouns can be licensed by categories other than articles. | Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD) |
| 2023 | Aneurysms are localized bulges of arteries and they can rupture with fatal consequences. The rupture risk of an aneurysm is related to its mechanical deformations. Dr. Hejazi's work addresses this intriguing behavior by combining experiments, simulations, and clinical studies. The findings of this study can improve the clinical management of aneurysms. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Jewell's research took place in Florida (2019-2020). They argue that everyday experiences of the climate crisis are tied up within cultures of denial and control that have historically served a white supremacist status quo. Responsibly mitigating climate impacts requires reckoning with this, lest they become part of a "new," horrific normal. | Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Williams' thesis oratorio, Sprinkle Coal Dust on my Grave, is based on the West Virginia Mine Wars. Using a mixture of classical and Appalachian musical styles, Williams depicts a violent period of U.S. labor history, employing texts taken from witness testimony as well as songs and poems of the era. | Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA) |