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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dr. Wang examined the security and privacy issues of artificial intelligence, or AI, for digital media. He studied four typical AI models from three dominant computer vision tasks, and designed novel algorithms to expose their threats individually. The findings provide insights for developing more secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. McClure investigated the effect of empathy on how elementary students defend others who are bullied by their peers, exploring different facets of empathy and a range of possible responses to bullying they witness. The study highlighted the need to focus on the more complex facets of empathy when trying to positively influence social change. | Doctor of Philosophy in School and Applied Child Psychology (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Kumar analyzed the non-metal fraction from the waste of printed circuit boards and the electronic waste recycling industry and showed the economic and environmental benefits of reprocessing. He proposed potentially cost-effective physical processing solutions to recycle non-metal fractions that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Kabiri Far studied cementitious interfaces and Fiber Reinforced Concrete, or FRC, for repairing deteriorated concrete structures. This study found FRC effective at mitigating pre-loading damage and improving tensile behavior, and proposed semi-empirical models for use by field practitioners and in numerical simulations of composite elements. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Cole explored the transformative potential of public sector innovation labs in catalyzing change on complex social and environmental challenges. She worked with co-researchers from Canada and Europe, and developed theory and frameworks to strengthen the research and practices of public sector and social innovation labs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Delgado used narrative inquiry to explore the pedagogical potential of student activism, and how the experience of activism transforms both the role of students and activists. Dr. Delgado studied the context of resistance from economics students to traditional content and pedagogies of introductory economics courses in UK universities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Morrice investigated how toxins and risk genes may cause the motor neuron degeneration underlying ALS, a neurodegenerative disease. She identified regulatory elements of gene expression enhancers as novel ALS risk factors. This research provides insight into ALS causal factors which may translate to future therapeutic interventions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Brown used budding yeast as a model to investigate the cellular response to DNA damage, which is highly conserved between yeast and humans. He revised a recently proposed model of the cellular response to DNA damage and discovered that a scaffolding protein called Rtt107 cooperates with different protein partners to prevent mutations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Arefi studied the transport of particles and cells within microfluidic devices that mimic biological systems. This research used computer simulations to help reveal the underlying physics of the phenomena, and its findings may contribute to the design of microfluidic devices that analyze particulate and cell transport through the endothelium. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Astic coupled multi-physics simulations with data science to develop a new methodology to image the subsurface and map underground resources from geophysical data with an improved resolution. This new approach will help locate and estimate the resources available for a sustainable future, such as minerals, water, and CO2 storage capacity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Jabalee examined the molecular changes that occur during cancer progression. He identified silencing of the SMPD3 gene as a driver of cell motility and demonstrated the presence of morphological alterations in non-cancer cells adjacent to tonsil tumors. This work opens the door to development of novel tests for early tumor detection. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Talebian developed a comprehensive cost optimization model to design a hydrogen fueling supply chain for British Columbia. Her work is the first contribution in assessing the incentive effectiveness and emissions mitigation policies for the accelerated adoption of low-carbon hydrogen in the transportation sector. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Mustard investigated how to improve the speed of data analysis on computer systems. He developed a system that runs analysis tasks on novel computer processors that efficiently communicate over data center networks. His research provides insights into how and when to use these new designs to make data analysis faster for everyday users. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Esfandiari developed a system that uses medical image processing algorithms and artificial intelligence to enable surgeons to more clearly and accurately see where spine implants have been placed during a surgery, rather than waiting for a postoperative assessment. His system will reduce the re-operation rate for spine surgery patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2020 | How does one archive the immaterial, the absent, the inaccessible after times of crisis? How does one make visible the disappeared? Dr. O'Brien investigated the work of Lebanese and Palestinian artists who, after the 1975-1990 Civil War in Lebanon, in which 17,000 people were deemed disappeared, make visible these populations and their histories. | Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Law studied the role of ethnic culture in the experience and coping of chronic pain. Her research focused on immigrants from China living with pain in BC. Results revealed a set of cultural beliefs and values that informs their pain management actions. Her work can help enhance patient care for chronic pain in an increasingly global society. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Agnoletti investigated the use of polymeric microspheres as carriers to deliver antibiotics selectively to the lungs after intravenous administration. Her findings support the passive lung targeting strategy to improve the treatments of bacterial lung infections and, potentially, other lung diseases. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Lo explored Chinese heritage maintenance in identity and language practice in BC. Findings illuminate perceptions shaped by migratory trajectory, immigrant generation, and embodied racialized identity. Her research enriches the theoretical discourse in heritage maintenance with language as a conceptual link between heritage and identity. | Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Palis studied cocaine use among patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction at North America's first injectable opioid agonist treatment clinic. Her dissertation quantified and explained variation in patients' patterns of cocaine use. These findings can inform treatment and service provision for people who use both cocaine and opioids. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Brook studied the positive side effects of a vaccine called BCG to determine how it protects from infections, and how it can reduce newborn mortality by 50%. He discovered a new mechanism of protection, describing the essential steps needed for protection, and how protection could be enhanced. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Canning studied how people living with advanced dementia in long-term care continued to experience meaningful engagement. Despite significant losses they demonstrated a range of enduring abilities and skills. Her findings support ways for caregivers to connect with residents during both structured activities and informal interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2020 | As a feminist geographer, Dr. Collard explored the social, political, and legal dimensions of preimplantation genetic tests and the abnormal embryos to which they give rise. She found that the de-selection of these embryos in fertility clinics reflects deeply held assumptions about the bodies and lives we are supposed to want to have and reproduce. | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Bowles investigated an axiomatic framework for problems concerning optimal ways to transport a distribution into another. In his work, he focused on an associated class of non-linear operators and developed their invariant properties. This research contributes to our understanding of common structures that persists across such problems. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Giannone studied identity development in young adults and student-athletes. She found that group interventions that brought young people together to talk about identity helped them develop a stronger sense of who they are and where they are heading. Enhanced identity improved participants' sense of hope, motivation, and self-efficacy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD) |
| 2020 | Dr. Adhami explored the experiences of patients in Cardiac Rehabilitation programs and found they were shaped by intersections of personal, social, and political contexts that overlap at the individual, healthcare provider, and healthcare system level. This suggests a need for a shift from one-size-fits-all to a person-centered care approach. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |