Congratulations to all of our doctoral graduates.

Doctoral students contribute to UBC and the world through their research. Each doctoral student leaves a legacy at UBC Okanagan, with their research laying the groundwork for future generations of graduate students to build on.

In recognition of the accomplishments of its doctoral graduates, UBC has instituted publishing and sharing doctoral citations during graduation ceremonies. Doctoral citations summarize the nature of the independent research, the contribution to knowledge made by the candidate in the dissertation, and the intellectual and/or practical value of the work.

Below is a list of doctoral citations for students who graduated in recent years and who will be graduating in June 2023.

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Student Name Specialization Graduation Year Citation
Dr. Anshuman Dey
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Dey evaluated the thermal management of high-frequency magnetic components in power electronic systems. The proposed low-cost thermal modelling approaches helped significantly reduce the computation cost of electronic component thermal models, allowing for the rapid estimation of electronic component thermal performance for varying boundary conditions.

Dr. Brock Burgess
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2023

Dr. Burgess developed and applied genetic techniques to inform the management of invasive deer in the Haida Gwaii archipelago. His research provided inferences of deer movement between islands and helped determine if and where deer could be removed. This work provided actionable data to support decision-makers in their efforts to restore the ecological integrity of islands in Haida Gwaii.

Dr. Brooke Shafer
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Shafer investigated how exposure to low oxygen (or hypoxia) affects the neural reflex control of the sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system recruitment strategies, and blood pressure regulation. This research provides insight into the mechanistic pathways that promote hypertension development in clinical conditions where hypoxemia may be a feature.

Dr. Chelsea Fay Baumgartner
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Baumgartner examined the status of queer women and “assigned female at birth” artists of Muslim heritage in U.S and Canadian art institutions to show how current conceptions of inclusion are not able to deal with the interlocking experiences of oppression these artists face and express in their work.

Dr. Christine Tallon
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Tallon investigated the impact that sitting has on brain blood flow in healthy children. The key finding indicated that prolonged sitting results in a decrease in a metric assessing cerebrovascular health. Breaking up prolonged sitting with hourly 10-minute exercise breaks prevented these changes.

Dr. Darielle Talarico
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Talarico explored a means of scaling up a private or individual practise to help people explore their political views in relation to others’ views. An instrument was designed to facilitate one’s inquiry in a manner that avoids tendencies towards confirmation bias and groupthink. An experimental assessment found the instrument, along with a gamified version, increased participants’ willingness to politically participate.

Dr. Debasmita Mukherjee
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Mukherjee established a comprehensive taxonomy of intelligence levels for human-robot collaboration. Based on a thorough review of the impact of natural and efficient communication to team fluency, she proposed a novel multimodal, human communication inspired framework that allows robots to adapt to human behaviour for reliable human-robot communication in industrial settings.

Dr. Dilsora Fozilova
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Fozilova studied the relationship between the secular state and Islam in Uzbekistan, paying specific attention to the repertoire of conflicting attitudes leading to the dialectical radicalization between these institutions. The government’s relationship with Islam indicates the type of secularism practiced, and what secular means, in Uzbekistan.

Dr. Dongying Wang
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2023

Dr. Wang developed a methodology for improvements to scatter plot smoothing that exploit background information. The methodology was applied in various ways, including image segmentation problems for videos of lab-based fires.

Dr. Edel Rolando Martinez Concepcion
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Martinez developed advanced numerical models for buried oil and gas pipelines for stress corrosion cracking in contact with a near-neutral pH environment. His solutions provided a holistic framework to understand the initiation and propagation of corrosion-induced cracking that will help decision-makers to manage aging pipes.

Dr. Gregory Courtice
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Courtice demonstrated that suspended sediment exposure-response observations for salmonids are best explained by the product of concentration and duration of exposure. When applied to management, this parameter may improve environmental and economic outcomes for river construction projects that release suspended sediment.

Dr. Haile Woldesellasse
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Woldesellasse developed a Bayesian belief network and geographic information system (GIS) integrated decision support framework for external corrosion risk assessment of oil and gas transmission pipelines. The proposed framework will aid decision makers in managing spatially distributed aging pipelines.

Dr. Hamid Daghigh
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Daghigh developed a fast, automated methodology that extracts the discontinuity planes’ orientations from a 3D model of rock structures built using remote sensing techniques. The methodology yields accurate results with less bias and replaces labor-intensive manual measurements. This research helps to better identify discontinuity planes and their orientation, and improves rock stabilization design and safety.

Dr. Hirra Zafar
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Zafar critically analyzed the operational factors and response metrics in a food waste fed microbial fuel cell. Her work focused on sustainable management of food waste with simultaneous renewable energy generation, while exploring different configurations of microbial fuel cells. The findings recommend practical solutions for application of microbial fuel cells on a large scale.

Dr. Islam Osman
Doctor of Philosophy
Computer Science 2023

Dr. Osman developed a dynamically growing neural network, creating an innovative approach to learning that requires only a few examples rather than a massive amount of data. This breakthrough allows artificial intelligence (AI) systems to continuously learn new tasks without forgetting previous ones, which has been a significant challenge in AI. With Dr. Osman’s model, we may be one step closer to creating AI systems that can learn and adapt like humans.

Dr. Jennifer Upshaw
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2023

Dr. Upshaw developed a new eye-tracking program to examine the nature of attention issues in stroke patients with neglect. This research provides new insights into how patients with neglect view their world, and is an important foundation for improved diagnosis, understanding, and treatment options for stroke patients with neglect.

Dr. Jill Robinson
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2023

Dr. Robinson examined the relationship between thoughts and cannabis use behaviour. Dr. Robinson’ s research found that thinking patterns play a critical role in developing, maintaining, and reducing substance use. Her research contributes to the understanding of cognition in substance use.

Dr. Jintao Han
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Han focused on developing efficient and accurate simulation methods for next-generation high-voltage direct current converters, which are critical for the reliable and efficient operation of power grids. His research has significant intellectual and practical value, as it helps researchers and engineers better understand the performance of advanced multilevel converters and design more efficient and reliable power systems.

Dr. Jordan Carr
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Carr’s research investigated the integration of multiple physiological systems in the control of cerebral and peripheral blood flow in humans. These studies contributed to the understanding of vascular regulation, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, and blood pressure in healthy participants, and so will underpin future investigations in disease.

Dr. Justine Magnuson
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Magnuson assessed electrophysiological responses of the brain and muscles alongside task performance scores to provide new insight into the cortical, neuromuscular, and motor responses to both mental and physical fatigue.

Dr. Lauren Arnold
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Arnold examined how to account for cumulative social effects during environmental assessments of resource development projects. By analyzing assessments for hydroelectric developments, Dr. Arnold developed guidance for assessing social impacts that accumulate over time and regions, and outlined the regulatory capacity needed to implement these cumulative effects assessments.

Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Abdelalim Sakr
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Sakr studied novel nanocomposite bioinks for bioprinting applications. His work succeeded in developing clay based and electrically conductive bioinks that have potential for bone and neural tissue engineering applications.

Dr. Majid Moradzadeh
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Moradzadeh proposed comprehensive and computationally feasible frameworks to accommodate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles using energy storage systems integrated with renewable generation and demand-side management programs.

Dr. Manjot Kaur
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Kaur developed a decision support system to identify, predict, and improve the performance of buried water infrastructure under urban densification. The developed system consists of various methods and approaches to assess, manage, and improve the performance of buried water infrastructure. This study will help municipalities in mitigating the impacts of densification for sustainable development.

Dr. Mathew Debenham
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Debenham examined how low oxygen influences standing balance and the function of reflexes contributing to human movement. Dr. Debenham’s research demonstrated that low oxygen reduced multiple sensory reflexes and that increased postural sway seems to be a compensatory mechanism for our brain to receive more sensory information.

Dr. Mathew Rieger
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Rieger studied interactions between the heart, lungs and brain in children travelling to high altitudes, as well as in children who live in remote high-altitude locations. His work highlights the unique ways in which children adapt to low-oxygen environments, which will help develop future high-altitude travel guidelines for young families.

Dr. Megan MacPherson
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. MacPherson developed a library of theory-based, user-informed text messages to improve adherence to exercise and diet changes following the Small Steps for Big Changes Diabetes Prevention Program. This research provides an exemplar for how to develop mobile health interventions with implementation in mind.

Dr. Meredith Rusk
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Rusk studied how immersing within local Indigenous Knowledge systems can build teachers’ consciousness of racism, privilege, and power, and validate these knowledges in mainstream education. This research demonstrated the need for educators to break down biases and put effort into learning about Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives, and pedagogies.

Dr. Mohamed Hegazi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Hegazi studied fuel cell battery hybrid propulsion for zero emissions freight switching locomotives. His work optimized propulsion component sizing and prototyped Canada’s first hydrogen powered railway vehicle.

Dr. Myfanwy Bakker
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2023

Dr. Bakker examined the mental health benefits of a brief app-based loving-kindness meditation practice. Participants showed decreases in depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and negative emotions compared to a control group. Her findings lend support for the use of brief loving-kindness meditation practices to reduce distress.

Dr. Natasha Haskey
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2023

Dr. Haskey examined the impact of the Mediterranean Diet on the microbiome in individuals living with an inflammatory bowel disease called Ulcerative Colitis. She discovered that the unique blend of fats found in the Mediterranean Diet improved symptoms, reduced inflammation, and led to beneficial changes to the intestinal bacteria. This research offers a new strategy to manage Ulcerative Colitis.

Dr. Nicholas Hebda
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2023

Dr. Hebda studied wildfire impacts on drinking water quality on Vancouver Island. He found strong evidence of past fire-related water contamination that lasted for decades and may be exacerbated by climate change. His research informs source water protection strategies and can be applied elsewhere to assess wildfire risk to drinking water.

Dr. Nicola Campbell
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Campbell studied traditional and contemporary Indigenous storytelling practices spiraling from Interior Salish tmixw out to Indigenous storytelling practices across Turtle Island. Elders’ teachings tell us that Indigenous stories are medicine. Dr. Campbells research explores storytelling practices that inspire Indigenous persistence and renewal.

Dr. Peyman Amiri
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Amiri developed novel techniques to overcome the control challenges in high-performance electric vehicle battery charging systems. The proposed methods facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles through the use of high-efficiency and high-power battery chargers, which get nations around the world a step closer to sustainable growth.

Dr. Rakiba Rayhana
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Rayhana focused on video data analysis to automate water pipeline inspection. She developed deep-learning-based automated frameworks to detect pipe defects and butterfly valves in real-time. Her research outcomes contribute to the improved condition assessment of water pipelines and facilitate strategic water pipeline replacement plans.

Dr. Ran Zhang
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Zhang designed high-performance deep learning-based algorithms for shipping container code detection and recognition. The research outcomes significantly advance the automated shipping container code recognition systems.

Dr. Resty Nabaterega
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Nabaterega optimized volatile fatty acids’ (VFAs) production from municipal sludge. VFAs are the precursors for methane production, a renewable energy source. Results from the study have a substantial practical impact and can be used by engineers and municipalities to increase energy supply to regulate the increasing global fossil fuel prices.

Dr. Rina Garcia Chua
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2023

Dr. Chua analyzed several anthologies of environmental poetry in terms of their treatment of place, nation, migration, and dispossession. Her analysis contrasted the stories, or metanarratives, implied by the editors’ selections, and highlighted the role of Indigenous, Black, People of Colour and immigrant poets in questioning Eurocentric constructions of environment.

Dr. Rowan Smart
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Smart examined the contribution of muscles and tendons to functional force control through sex-, age- and disease-based population comparatives. This research demonstrates that mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit and the coordination between muscles play key roles in producing steady force output and maintaining balance.

Dr. Sadia Ishaq
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Ishaq developed an integrated decision-making framework that can evaluate Low Impact Developments by considering their public health risks, environmental performance, and economic cost. The results of her research are valuable in promoting both human well-being and sustainable development during project planning, thereby contributing to the achievement of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda goals.

Dr. Sarah Lawrason
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2023

Dr. Lawrason examined factors that influence the quantity and quality of leisure-time physical activity participation among individuals with spinal cord injury who walk. In partnership with research users, this work led to the development of a physical activity mobile health program, called SCI Step Together. The evaluation showed that SCI Step Together holds promise as a feasible and acceptable program among individuals with spinal cord injury who walk.

Dr. Sarin Raj Pokhrel
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2023

Dr. Pokhrel developed an integrated urban water management framework for British Columbia municipalities to evaluate and benchmark their water system’s performance using a One Water Approach index. He built a model of a One Water community that will help urban water managers in enhancing their water management strategies and advised policy makers in establishing integrated water policies.

Dr. Seyedbahram Talebjedi
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Talebjedi developed an acoustic-based lab-on-a-chip device for the separation and isolation of exosomes. These vesicles play a crucial role in intercellular communication and the transfer of biomolecules between cells. The newly developed acoustic resonator was capable of precise manipulation and separation of nanoscale particles and exosomes.

Dr. Shahab Zeraati Dizjeh
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Zeraati studied the mutual interaction of turbulence and heat transfer in forced and natural convection through high-fidelity numerical analysis of the fluid flows in solar chimneys and textured pipes. Through his analysis, valuable instructions, guidelines, and numerical tools were presented to design more efficient thermal systems.

Dr. Sina Kianfar
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Kianfar developed a fundamental understanding of residual stress evolution in aluminum powertrain components. Employing innovative finite element method modeling and comprehensive experimental tests, he explored microstructure, thermomechanical properties, and residual stresses. His findings contribute to optimizing next-generation internal combustion engines in the automotive industry, enabling sustainable and high-efficiency products.

Dr. Stefanie Ciszewski
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2023

Dr. Ciszewski examined the efficacy of a novel intervention that integrated psychological approaches and behaviour change techniques for weight management. Dr. Ciszewski showed that improvements in well-being were associated with changes in weight, highlighting the importance of targeting psychological factors in behavioural health interventions.

Dr. Tina Olfatbakhsh
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Olfatbakhsh established a novel artificial intelligence-based model to connect the geometrical features of composite fabrics to their material properties directly based on their microstructure images and without extensive experimental trials. Her model was found to be highly accurate and can be used for advanced composite property predictions in manufacturing industries.

Dr. Yue Zhang
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2023

Dr. Zhang pushed the boundary of next-generation battery technology. Using recycled materials, she developed a safer, cleaner, and more powerful battery for electric vehicles. This novel battery technology will extend electric vehicle range, accelerate transportation electrification, and promote circular economy development in Canada.

Dr. Zhila Bahrami
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2023

Dr. Bahrami provided automated solutions for terminals to inspect the safety and security of shipping containers. The proposed solutions are based on artificial intelligence that benefit the global transportation industry and will assist in the standardization and reinforcement of container management and logistics at terminals.

Dr. Abdul Rahman Masoud
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Masoud developed an adaptive learning-based travel behaviour model and proposed a suite of empirical tools that provide a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of neighbourhood design on quality of life. He subsequently utilized his evaluation tools to demonstrate the sustainability benefits of the SMARTer Growth design in Kelowna.

Dr. Abdulaziz Alghamdi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Alghamdi developed a framework for the sustainability performance and benchmarking of higher education institutions (HEI) in terms of Water, Energy, and Carbon (WEC) flows. The findings help decision-makers assess the environmental progress made in HEIs and enhance community engagement by providing tools to enable institutions to shift toward a sustainable campus.

Dr. Ahmed Elmouchi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Elmouchi provided a solution for the excessive settlement of Muskeg soils using an environmentally-friendly stabilization technique by making use of the inherent biomass inside the soil. This technique improved the weak soil’s behaviour and led to a small settlement, which will confirm the overlying structures’ safety.

Dr. Alexander Patrician
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Patrician explored how iron bioavailability can influence blood flow responses across different organs (i.e. lungs, brain and peripheral tissues) at high altitude, and whether indigenous high altitude populations (Sherpa and Andeans; who have lived a high altitude for generations) exhibit more advanced strategies for using iron. Over two high altitude expeditions to Nepal and Peru, new evidence is provided that supports that iron status may influence blood flow regulation at high altitude.

Dr. Anber Rana
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Rana critically analyzed the performance of financial incentives in promoting green buildings in Canada. Her work recommends practical solutions for stakeholders by focusing on building design and related economic factors. Her recommendations will improve the strategies for offering financial incentives, and help maximize both environmental and economic benefits.

Dr. Brad Reinholz
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Reinholz developed a novel solenoid with the unique ability to measure and control the position of its plunger using two methods that simultaneously calculate position based on the voltage and current being supplied. Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. patented Dr. Reinholz’s work and is looking at applying it to their fuel delivery systems.

Dr. Bryn Crawford
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Crawford developed artificial intelligence-based models to support manufacturing composite aerospace structures, integrating the knowledge of experts to improve transparency for both the model builders and users. This research demonstrates how we can utilize black-box models in regulated industries with high-stakes decision-making.

Dr. Camilo Andrés Peña Moreno
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Peña examined sustainability in the wine industry using three concepts that emerged from his research: ideological conflicts on how sustainability is defined and practiced; the contested sensory normative of wine; and sustainable wine framed as subversive art. His research aids in understanding how sustainable markets and social movements develop.

Dr. Cody Durrer
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2022

Dr. Durrer investigated the use of a low-carbohydrate, energy-restricted diet implemented by community pharmacists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. He demonstrated that this dietary strategy is effective in reducing the need for diabetes medications while concurrently improving cardiometabolic health in people with type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Corinna Netherton
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Netherton examined the relationship between Indigenous nations and the Canadian government to identify a governance framework to facilitate a respectful partnership. A new framework is based on indigeneity as a social paradigm with a consensus decision-making process, treaty federalism and co-management agreements, and local knowledge.

Dr. Darlene Loland
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Loland explored the connections between nature, mindful attention, and teacher wellbeing, discerning new knowledge and practices that can support mental health in education contexts. Her study further offers the method of eco-mandala as an arts-based approach to data collection when studying nature and human wellbeing.

Dr. Diana Lisi
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2022

Dr. Lisi investigated the use of digital (vs. in-person) communication for managing daily emotions in young adults. Her research helps explain why modes of communication may have different effects on social and emotional well-being and suggests specific targets for digital literacy interventions.

Dr. Donna Benson
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Benson explored how networking and strengthening community relationships could improve food quality and quantity for the Penticton Salvation Army food bank. Her work with the community and students has inspired further university-community collaborations in the Okanagan and internationally.

Dr. Ehab Ghanem
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Ghanem worked on different positioning technologies used in autonomous vehicles. He was able to use low-cost Ultra-wideband (UWB) sensors, to provide positioning capabilities comparable to other positioning technologies based on sensor fusion. This work can be applied to autonomous vehicles in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Dr. Evanya Musolino
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2022

Dr. Musolino explored the impact of pornography consumption on romantic relationships using model-based cluster analysis. Using this technique, she found distinct clusters in terms of individual and relationship functioning, for both the men and the women. This research highlights the complexity of romantic relationships and outlines critical differences between men and women, particularly in how they choose to respond when faced with sensitive questions about their romantic relationships.

Dr. Haroon Mian
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Mian developed an integrated water quality management framework to identify, predict, evaluate, and control the occurrence of contaminants in distribution networks. The framework has the potential to be used by utility managers, planners, and water purveyors to improve drinking water quality.

Dr. Hitendra Kumar
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Hitendra Kumar developed biomaterials that harness the energy from visible light to form complex 3D shapes for recreating tissue mimics which are structurally and functionally like natural tissues in the human body. Further, Dr. Kumar presented a framework for designing complex blood vessel networks for these artificial tissues to sustain the long-term growth of embedded cells.

Dr. Jewelles Smith
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Smith explored systemic barriers experienced by disabled mothers across the lifespan. This study focused on the human rights implications of barriers experienced by disabled women and girls, in particular, how these experiences limit reproductive and sexual health decisions and choices for disabled women who are parents.

Dr. Jianyu Niu
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Niu systematically studied the security and performance of three influential next-generation blockchain protocols. The research has identified several security vulnerabilities in these protocols and then provided some countermeasures. These outcomes help us to design better blockchain protocols.

Dr. Jinelle Gelinas
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2022

Dr. Gelinas investigated exercise limitations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and showed that the cardiovascular system significantly contributes to exercise limitation in many patients. She also developed 2 novel indices of sustainable exercise intensity to optimize exercise prescription for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Dr. Kashish Gupta
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Gupta demonstrated the efficacy of exploiting abstract symmetries to efficiently train complex reinforcement learning agents. Inspired by human learning, the research provokes the use of symmetry to train simple agents, which in turn learn to solve otherwise intractable scenarios, forming a momentous base for the future of reinforcement learning (RL) applications.

Dr. Kendra Todd
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2022

Dr. Todd examined whether exercise can reduce neuropathic pain and improve well-being among persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI). She found that moderate-frequency and -intensity exercise can lead to analgesic effects and improvements in well-being, suggesting that exercise may be used as a management option for neuropathic pain among persons with SCI.

Dr. Kimberly Crosby
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2022

Dr. Crosby examined how price affects hypothetical purchases of cannabis for both recreational and medical cannabis users. She found availability of alternative substances, such as alcohol or prescription opioid medication, affects purchasing of cannabis. The research highlights the importance of unit price as a determinant of choice when it comes to choosing cannabis over other substances.

Dr. Konstantinos Skandalos
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Skandalos studied the seismic design and performance assessment of seismically isolated and mass timber lateral load resisting systems for building structures. To investigate and optimize these systems, he applied different seismic design approaches, finite element analysis and soft computing tools.

Dr. Krista Arias
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Arias’ research presented a poietic autoethnography using ceremony as method in her exploration of the cultural restoration of birth and mothering practices among Xicana Indigenous mothers, women and girls including herself. She offered liberatory restoration principles and processes for the cultural resurgence of the Temazcalli sweathouse, rebozo healing, and Xilonen coming of age ceremonies.

Dr. Kristian Mackowiak
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Mackowiak examined the recovery of tellurium through the recycling of an industrial by-product. Tellurium is an important element in the manufacture of solar panels and other green technologies. Through the development of a three-step process, high purity metallic tellurium was able to be produced.

Dr. Krysta Giles-Hansen
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2022

Dr. Giles-Hansen studied the effect of cumulative forest disturbance on water and carbon cycles in the interior of British Columbia. A new method for regional forest evapotranspiration was developed.

Dr. Lindsay Harris
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Harris used ethnographic and community based participatory research methods to describe the history and current context of the Kamloops Food Policy Council. She argues that the Council’s many initiatives build the community capacity that is needed to bring about expansive visions for a local food system that is regenerative, sovereign and just.

Dr. Logan Volkmann
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2022

Dr Volkmann examined how Pacific marten and other carnivores use forests that have been altered by fire and post-fire salvage logging. This work highlights the importance of residual habitat structure for sensitive species and improves our ability to manage burned landscapes for wildlife in the face of climate change.

Dr. Mark Bergen
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Bergen performed a theoretical and experimental analysis of devices for passive terahertz wireless communication systems. His research highlights opportunities and challenges for this new class of high-speed low-power wireless communication devices.

Dr. Megan Udala
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2022

Dr. Udala examined public perceptions of the Canadian infanticide defence. The results of this dissertation inform how sexism and mental health stigma can influence decisions in the criminal justice system.

Dr. Mitra Tabatabaee
Doctor of Philosophy
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2022

Dr. Tabatabaee identified the essential role of two different ion channels in morphological anomalies of glioma cells that underpin the progression and therapy-resistance of cancers in the brain. These proteins can be targeted to control the progression of invasive brain cancers.

Dr. Mohammad AlHashmi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. AlHashmi developed an energy and environmental performance management framework to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and decrease the associated cost of residential buildings in hot and arid regions.

Dr. Muhammad Sharif
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Sharif developed an integrated framework, which employs WQ & energy-use modelling techniques to identify, evaluate, and simultaneously measure the causes of depleted WQ and high-energy use in a large water distribution system.

Dr. Nassiba Ahadi Maragheh
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Ahadi’s research study explored the settlement and integration experiences of recent Iranian immigrants who live in the suburbs of Surrey, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, the barriers and challenges they face, and the coping strategies they use when faced with a lack of settlement services.

Dr. Nicolas Piette-Lauziere
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2022

Dr. Piette-Lauzière combined regional field mapping and micro-analysis of faults structures to document the geological evolution of the Appalachian Mountains. In the process, he contributed to the fundamental understanding of mountain belt evolution, fault formation and displacement in the context of continent collisions.

Dr. Pengxia Wu
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Wu investigated how to estimate the channel property of 5G wireless signal propagation. She developed algorithms and deep learning approaches to acquire channel state information needed for wireless communications. The proposed approaches will improve the accuracy, computational speed and spectral efficiency of future 5G wireless communications.

Dr. Renzhi Yuan
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Yuan proposed an optimally displaced threshold detection for discriminating between two coherent states. The proposed detection method can be used to improve the communication performance of both classical and quantum communications.

Dr. Reza Sourki
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Sourki developed an efficient model to study the behaviour of flexible textile-based materials. He subsequently applied his method to minimize the defect formation resulting from complex deformations, and thereby, minimized waste materials.

Dr. Rhyann McKay
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2022

Dr. McKay systematically co-developed a theory-based behaviour change intervention to promote leisure time activity in family support providers of people with spinal cord injury. She conducted her research in partnership with community organizations to ensure the findings could be used to support families of people with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Riccardo Graziani
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2022

Dr. Graziani developed new methods for studying rock deformation and ductile flow in shear zones within the lower continental crust. He applied these techniques to unravel the 1.9 billion-year-old tectonic evolution of the eastern Athabasca Mylonite Triangle in Northern Saskatchewan.

Dr. Riley Petillion
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Petillion developed active learning activities for the first-year chemistry classroom and evaluated their impact on student attitudes towards chemistry and academic achievement. He found that by engaging with the learners and making connections to real-world chemical contexts, students would have a greater appreciation for chemistry’s role in society and earn higher course grades.

Dr. Robert Friberg
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Friberg developed a framework for assessing the resilience of rural communities to environmental disturbance. He applied this framework to generate insights for improving the resilience of Alberta communities to mountain pine beetle outbreaks and future impacts from climate change.

Dr. Robert Shaw
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Shaw deconstructed the peer mentorship experience for people with spinal cord injury to better understand how specific elements of peer mentorship contribute to its effectiveness. His research was conducted using a community-based framework to maximize community involvement.

Dr. Ruichao Jiang
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2022

Dr. Jiang showed that certain algebraico-geometric quantity (order of the Galois group) controls the behaviour of random walk models. He demonstrated that in contrast to the known fact that in sphere topology, a finite order can be arbitrarily large, in donuts topology, a finite order can be at most 24.

Dr. Saeed Moghaddam
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Moghaddam developed a novel method to measure the optical functions of silicon thin-films using the measurements of reflectance and transmittance spectra. In addition, he focused on finding the relationship between the micro-structure and the optical results of silicon thin-films, which can be applied in large area electronics such as solar cells and electronic displays.

Dr. Saif Aldabagh
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Aldabagh executed a combination of analytical and experimental research programs to examine the performance of high-strength steel rebars in concrete bridge columns. His work led to the development of design guidelines promoting the efficient use of high-strength steel in bridge columns.

Dr. Sajjad Mohammadnejad Daryani
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Mohammadnejad investigated hydrogen-enriched flames and showed how adding hydrogen influences the flame structure and burning velocity. He challenged a traditionally believed model, which assumes a thin structure for turbulent flames, and developed a model that will facilitate the improved design of combustors and gas turbine engines.

Dr. Sana Saleem
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Saleem developed a continuous performance improvement framework for aquatic centres operating in a cold region. The developed framework consists of methods and approaches to assess, manage, and improve the performance of aquatic centres and will help aquatic centres achieve the goal of sustainability.

Dr. Sandip Dey
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Dey developed an analysis method for evaluating seismic risk to oil and gas pipelines due to permanent ground deformation resulting from fault rupture. This research demonstrates that uncertainty quantification of buried pipeline responses faced with permanent ground deformation hazard can be efficiently and effectively carried out using multi-fidelity techniques.

Dr. Sevda Mohammadi Gharalar
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Mohammadi developed and optimized real-time and miniaturized microwave sensing platforms to enable the monitoring of liquid samples and their contents. The introduced liquid sensors reduced the required volume of liquid samples down to nanoliters that can pave the path towards accurate point-of-care medical diagnosis and at-home testing using biological fluids.

Dr. Suad Alrebdi
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Suad Alrebdi studied the CEOs’ Integration collaboration competencies in seven startups in Kelowna and Riyadh and developed measures for CEO competencies linked to CEO perceptions of startup performance and survival. Dr. Alrebdi found three modes of CEOs’ integration collaboration competencies each of which can be a source of competitive advantage.

Dr. Tharindu Prabatha Hewa Godella Waththage
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2022

Dr. Prabatha integrated life cycle thinking into the building energy retrofits planning and associated decision-making process. The developed decision support tools assist municipalities, building owners, and contractors in identifying economically and environmentally sustainable retrofit strategies to realize their goals. The overall research outcomes support the provincial and federal climate action initiatives and help to enhance the economic performance of the residential building sector.

Dr. Toby Lawrence
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Lawrence employed a decolonial feminist methodology in her study of contemporary curatorial initiatives to consider how they open up space for reimagining curation. Her research demonstrates the significance of relationality and modelling in establishing diverse precedence for curatorial practice and the impact this can have on the ethos and policies of art institutions.

Dr. Tristyn Hay
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2022

Dr. Hay demonstrated how a curricular goal setting intervention in a first-year university science course could increase students’ intrinsic motivation, self-control, control of learning beliefs, and metacognition – all factors associated with persistence and academic success. This research sheds light on how educators may reduce the high post-secondary attrition rates seen across the globe.

Dr. Viki Kumar Prasad
Doctor of Philosophy
Chemistry 2022

Dr. Prasad developed new computationally inexpensive methods that enable accurate quantum mechanical modelling of chemical and biological systems. The methods he developed are valuable for those interested in designing and discovering medicines, catalysts, and materials for various applications.

Dr. Vincent Loi
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr Loi explored the novel integration of light simulation approaches from computational nanophotonics, computer graphics and daylighting to enable multi-scale simulation of the appearance, behavior, and performance of nanoengineered materials including thin metallic films, metallic multilayers, hole arrays, and plasmonic nanostructures.

Dr. Xiang Peng
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Peng studied the integrity assessment of oil and gas pipelines. The research integrated inspection data from two different non-destructive tools for comprehensive assessment results. The outcomes contribute to the safe and efficient operation of oil and gas pipeline systems.

Dr. Xuan Du
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Du developed a new type of wideband feed antenna for radio telescopes. By operating over a wide range of frequency, the developed feed reduces operating cost, enhances sensitivity, and allows for studying different astronomical phenomena simultaneously.

Dr. Yúri Reis Rodrigues
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2022

Dr. Rodrigues developed new control methods that can take advantage of emerging technologies in modern electric power systems. The application of his controllers provides significant opportunities for enhancing the power grid reliability and resilience to disruptive events while simplifying the integration and management of renewable energy sources.

Dr. Zhang Peng
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2022

Dr. Peng assessed the Direct Strength Method against extensive experimental results and conducted numerous column tests, upgrading the Direct Strength Method to be more accurate and economical.

Dr. Adebola Olutayo
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Olutayo developed a new channel model that can accurately describe the environment’s effects on communication signals of emerging wireless systems. These channel models play a vital role in designing, implementing, testing, and deploying these new wireless communication systems.

Dr. Alireza Sadeghifar
Doctor of Philosophy
Chemistry 2021

Dr. Sadeghifar developed a hierarchy of potential models for the adsorption of H2 molecules on ionic surfaces. The proposed models were then used in the molecular simulations of these systems to answer questions that remained in the field for more than 15 years. The proposed models can now be used as a predictive tool to design future experiments and to explore more important properties of these layers.

Dr. Andy Meng
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Meng developed an efficient modelling approach to accurately represent the dynamic phenomena of electric converters. He subsequently applied his method to study the severe fault impact on a large-scale power grid with connections to offshore renewable power plants, thereby lowering the overall computational cost while delivering the accurate response of the system.

Dr. Anil R. Prasad
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Prasad studied a novel Spark Plasma Sintering Technique for the fabrication of nuclear fuel pellets and set up the first facility in Canada with that capability. His research resulted in the fabrication of several prototype fuel pellets with enhanced performance that might be powering future nuclear reactors. This technology was transferred to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and is being actively pursued by Dr. Prasad at CNL

Dr. Arash Dalili Shoaei
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Arash Dalili developed a Lab-on-a-Chip, which by utilizing dielectrophoretic force can manipulate, focus, and separate microparticles and biological cells. His developed device is portable, offers high throughputs and separation efficiency. Therefore, it has vast applications in point-of-care diagnostic and environmental monitoring devices.

Dr. Armin Rashidi Mehrabadi
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Rashidi developed novel characterization and modelling techniques to investigate process-induced defects in the manufacturing of aerospace textile composites. The versatile modelling framework resulting from his research enables the identification of the optimum combinations of material, processing, and part geometrical factors that can lead to defect-free aerospace composite structures.

Dr. Bruno Carturan
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2021

Dr. Carturan built a complex computer model to show that coral species diversity in a reef makes the reef more resilient to disturbances such as storms and bleaching events. His research determined aspects of diversity that confer reef resilience and has concrete applications for the management of coral reefs as the climate changes.

Dr. Candice Quin
Doctor of Philosophy
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2021

Dr. Quin explored the relationship between maternal fat consumption and offspring health by examining differences in infant gut microbes and immune responses in acute and chronic diseases. She found that unsaturated fats reduce immune priming in infants, increasing the risk for poor health outcomes. These studies challenge current dietary guidelines.

Dr. Carmela White
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. White examined how various individual characteristics, such as personality, influenced the benefits of a well-being intervention. Dr. White found that while some nuances were discovered, on average, people randomized to a 6-month well-being program became happier and more satisfied with their lives, regardless of their personality traits.

Dr. Damien Leitner
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Leitner’s research demonstrated how eye-tracking technology predicts performance on cognitive testing in young and older adults, as well as recovery of function after a stroke. This research addressed a need to explore modern technology during the assessment of cognition to further understand brain-behaviour relationships.

Dr. Geoff Coombs
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Coombs showed that acute passive heat stress improves markers of vascular function in both young, healthy individuals and those with spinal cord injuries. The underlying mechanisms will inform longer-term protocols. However, activation of the sympathetic nervous system and chronic heat exposures are important considerations for future research.

Dr. George Luka
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Luka developed simple and inexpensive on-chip-based biosensors and point-of-care diagnostic devices for the detection of pathogens. He subsequently applied his techniques to detect Cryptosporidium in water samples.

Dr. Haibo Feng
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Feng developed a building-level life cycle assessment framework with the integration of Building Information Modelling and Environment Production Declaration. The proposed framework was applied to the residential building sector to support policymakers and industrial practitioners reduce the overall building environmental impacts.

Dr. Iva Lihter
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2021

Dr. Lihter examined deep crustal rocks now exposed in the High Himalaya to decipher the mountain-building processes recorded therein. Her work makes new discoveries on the genesis and age of rocks within the Himalaya and expands the current understanding of the processes active both prior to and during the formation of the mountain belt.

Dr. Jacqueline Kanippayoor
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Kanippayoor developed the first disorder-specific quality of life measure for individuals with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. The measure has shown promising potential for identifying and monitoring long-term changes in life quality among those pursuing early treatment. Most importantly, the measure offers individuals an alternative way of describing their current quality of life in terms that are not focused exclusively on symptom outcomes.

Dr. Jennifer Arpink
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Arpink explored two novel approaches of measuring social support with a sample of women who had experienced intimate partner violence. Having found some benefit to measuring social support in a more nuanced manner, Dr. Arpink suggested future directions for research in this area, as well as some changes and improvements in how we measure social support for survivors of intimate partner violence.

Dr. John Henderson
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Henderson incorporated theoretical insights from Entrepreneurship, Finance, Strategic Management and Data Science disciplines in the development of a predictive firm behaviour model. Dr. Henderson introduced one of the first applications of machine learning as well as the conceptual paradigm of candor to a significant management theory known as Entrepreneurial Orientation. In doing so, Dr. Henderson presents a text-based/semantic relationship to qualify entrepreneurial rhetoric and its association to future entrepreneurial firm behaviours.

Dr. Joshua Stroh
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Stroh utilized an inexpensive mining by-product to develop a new aluminum alloy that boasts superior performance at engine operating conditions. Combined with extensive residual stress and fitness-for-service analyses, this research will help the transportation industry provide a greener and more sustainable means of transportation.

Dr. Kabilan Sakthivel
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Sakthivel developed an easily fabricable, high throughput stretchable platform for applying cyclic tensile strain to cells encapsulated in 3D hydrogels. He extended the platform to study the combinatorial effects of different cell microenvironment factors on cell function, which could be helpful in engineering artificial tissues and organs.

Dr. Kimberley Kaseweter
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Kaseweter examined the prosocial treatment of patients in pain using a sample of undergraduate students and medical residents. She found that the effect of empathy on helping behaviour was moderated by individual differences in pain perception, emotion regulation, and psychopathic traits – potentially contributing to disparities in the treatment of pain.

Dr. Kristen Mancuso
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2021

Dr. Mancuso studied the migration of a common songbird, the Gray Catbird, and an endangered songbird, the Yellow-breasted Chat. She found that catbirds migrate to northeastern Mexico while chats migrate to western Mexico. Her research contributes to understanding the full annual cycle of both species plus informs recovery efforts for the chat.

Dr. Marina Le
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Le’s research examined people’s attitudes and decisions of mentally ill offenders. Her work highlighted the importance of educating people about the Not Criminally Responsible on account of Mental Disorder defence.

Dr. Matiyas Bezabeh
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Bezabeh developed and applied new performance-based wind design (PBWD) frameworks for tall buildings. His research is the first to explore the dynamic response of tall mass-timber buildings using wind tunnel tests. Overall, his dissertation demonstrated the possibility of achieving sustainable and economic tall buildings through PBWD.

Dr. Max Crawford
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Crawford used three studies to investigate if individuals underestimate the benefits of spending time in nature. The results indicate that individuals with a higher connection to nature are more accurate at predicting their emotional response to nature. As well, spending time in nature increases an individual’s happiness and sense of relaxation more than spending time in urban settings.

Dr. Menno Salverda
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Salverda’s research examined three aspects of a framework for dialogue to unsettle taken-for-granted knowledges with a group of central Okanagan professionals: affinity groups, critical learning processes and the role of the facilitator. The findings highlight considerations for community development and critical educational strategies.

Dr. Mike Unrau
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Unrau researched the creativity of transformation across multiple systems by examining novelty-generation through nonlinear dynamics and its impact on psychological and social systems. The outcome offers a complex systems approach to the social intervention of society’s “wicked problems.”

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Aboonasr Shiraz
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Mohammad Shiraz developed a new battery generation of Lithium/Sodium-Selenium batteries, which tries to tackle the issues that arise from current Li-ion batteries. He applied several methods to improve the life long, capacity and stability of mentioned batteries. The work can be implemented in today’s battery technology and make electric vehicles more proficient.

Dr. Mohammed Saif
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Saif developed efficient network coding methods to minimize delay while reducing the burden on the core-network of 5G mobile networks. He subsequently applied his methods to effectively and efficiently stream popular videos to users and optimize data rate. Through extensive simulations, he showed that his proposed methods achieved improved performances over existing schemes.

Dr. Monica Good
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Good studied the difficulties faced by Indigenous speakers as they interact in the Mexican legal setting and the role Indigenous interpreters play in encouraging language and cultural revitalization. This study frames the role of interpreters as cultural gatekeepers and proposes a collaboration between State and Indigenous jurisdictions.

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2021

Dr. Sekhon examined the pathophysiology of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest in humans using invasive multimodal neuromonitoring. This research provided sentinel insights into the cerebrovascular physiology of ischemic brain disease.

Dr. Piyaruwan Perera
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr.Perera developed a life cycle thinking-based approach to plan recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles in urban communities. His research outcomes aid urban communities in reducing their transport-based carbon footprint.

Dr. Qi Zhang
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Zhang researched how the performance of bridge structures can be improved under earthquake hazards. He investigated the dynamic responses of post-tensioned concrete columns and proposed design guidelines using the performance-based design framework. This research enables engineers to build more resilient bridges against earthquake events.

Dr. Rachid Ouache
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Ouache developed an integrated fire risk management framework for Smart-Green multi-unit residential buildings. He established robust machine learning algorithms and solutions to help guide policies. His research illuminates decision-makers’ roles and enhances investments for specific fire prevention, protection, and intervention strategies.

Dr. Rob Mothersole
Doctor of Philosophy
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2021

Dr. Mothersole investigated three unique proteins from the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum in order to identify if they may be viable as drug targets. This research may help in the development of novel treatments of several conditions associated with Fusobacterium nucleatum, such as periodontal diseases, preterm births, and colorectal cancer.

Dr. Saeed Rahbarimanesh
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr. Rahbarimanesh developed a cost-effective and efficient numerical solver for simulating the phase change phenomenon in liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows. His solver has been extensively used to investigate the detailed physics of LNG phase change behaviour in a wide range of industrial applications, aimed at facilitating reliable design and optimization of future green LNG-based fuel systems.

Dr. Salman Alfihed
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Alfihed examined a variety of semiconductors and polymeric materials for the integration of photoconductive terahertz devices and microfluidics as an optoelectronic sensor on a chip. The research results illuminate the role and importance of the terahertz sensors’ architecture for identifying material spectra at the micro-scale.

Dr. Sara Vieira
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Vieira studied the Portuguese community in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), its organizations and Luso-Canadian transnationalism. She suggests there are differences between Luso-Canadian transnationals conceptualizations of identity and bilingualism and the established Portuguese community. Other factors such as gentrification, suburbanization, and acculturation impact this community.

Dr. Sarah MacQueen
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2021

Dr. MacQueen used a stochastic individual-based model to show that the location of wildflower enhancements around a crop and the mechanisms by which bumblebees select foraging sites can strongly affect the pollination services they provide. This work helps blueberry growers with planting decisions and informs future mathematical modelling efforts.

Dr. Serveh Naghshbandi
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2021

Dr. Naghshbandi designed an interdisciplinary framework and developed a multilayered participatory model to identify the main conceptualizations of space from doctoral students’ points of view and make their voices heard. She argues that learning space is an indicator of support and has the potential to improve the well-being of students. 

Dr. Severin Nowak
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Nowak’s research developed novel measurement-based techniques to optimize and control power distribution systems using distributed energy resources.

Dr. Shahin Zareie
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Zareie developed a smart bracing system conceptually to preserve structural health and stability. A prototype of the system has been fabricated, and its behaviour has been confirmed, characterized by experimental tests under the compression and tension loadings.

Dr. Stephanie Bishop
Doctor of Philosophy
Chemistry 2021

Dr. Bishop studied the production of the neurotoxin BMAA by cyanobacteria from Canadian lakes and the Andes in South America. She found that ecosystem complexity as well as nutrient and light availability influence the production of BMAA, which can help us understand how to decrease the risk of human exposure to this toxin in diverse environments.

Dr. Tara Carpenter
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2021

Dr. Carpenter examined how the experience of social ostracization influences our moral judgments of racial in-group and out-group others. This research helps us to understand how we form impressions of others’ moral character and the impacts of ostracization on well-being.

Dr. Tim Abbott
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Abbott compared and optimized multiple biological processes to help protect human health and the environment. His work will help wastewater treatment facilities recover energy and better treat organic matter, chemical contaminants, and recalcitrant forms of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Dr. Yekenalem Abebe
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2021

Dr. Abebe developed a spatiotemporal decision support framework for managing urban stormwater infrastructures focusing on risk assessment, climate change adaptation, and funding strategies. The framework provides a proactive asset management approach and helps municipalities in allocating scarce public resources effectively.

Dr. Yousif Alwai Alcheikhhamdon
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2021

Dr Hamdon investigated the use of Mixed Matrix Membranes for separating propylene off propane in petrochemical facilities. The multi disciplinary research covered the aspects of membrane material development, process design and simulation. The research aimed at reducing the separation process energy demand and carbon footprint

Dr. Yuanshi Zhang
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2021

Dr. Zhang’s research proposes an adaptive droop control method to regulate the active power flowing through the direct current cable without using any additional power electronics devices. This research greatly reduces the capital cost and power loss compared with the traditional power flow control methods.

Dr. Alexandra Yacyshyn
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology 2020

Dr. Yacyshyn showed that the response of the neuromuscular system to fatiguing exercise depends on the biological sex and age of participants as well as the muscle group tested. This research improves our understanding of fatigue and will aid researchers and rehabilitation specialists in tailoring their protocols to better assess muscle function.

Dr. Araz Sholehkerdar
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Ayelign Mengesha Adal
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Adal developed molecular markers for lavender fingerprinting and diversity studies, and examined the biosynthesis of monoterpenes – the major components of lavender essential oils. He cloned and functionally characterized six genes responsible for the production of precursors and key monoterpenes that are critical steps to improve lavender oils.

Dr. Bara Emran
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2020

Motivated by today’s ever-increasing demand for deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles in broad applications, Dr. Emran developed new control algorithms to improve their performance and stability. Through his research, he has contributed significantly to their safety and reliability subject to severe external disturbances and system failure. His research results enable the use of aerial vehicles in number of civilian applications including package delivery, transportation and pipeline monitoring.

Dr. Bruno Carturan
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

No citation at this time.

Dr. Chad Davis
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Cong Xu
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Xu developed numerical models to better understand the behaviour of bolted wire mesh for rock slope stabilization. He revealed the force and displacement response of steel wire mesh with various bolt patterns and spacing when the mesh is subject to loads from an unstable rock. This research has significant implications for improving the effectiveness of mesh on rock slopes using a proper bolt arrangement.

Dr. Cynthia Bourne
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Bourne researched the influence of a set of design principles on the outcomes of a global service learning project situated in a challenging context. Her findings revealed that the three core values of respect, reciprocity, and reflection, were central to a creating a good global service learning project, worth doing for both students and in-country partners.

Dr. Donna-Leigh Goodman
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Goodman was passionate about improving chemistry education. Specifically, she studied the widespread use of misleading and conflicting concepts found in college chemistry teaching materials and classroom practices. In particular, Dr. Goodman’s research involved identifying the “threshold concepts” that best support students’ language development about and conceptual understanding of chemistry.

Dr. Esraa Jamal
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr.Jamal developed a business case for sustainability that linked the transportation system and projects with the quality of life,specifically by incorporating social case analysis to the economic,strategic,and implementation cases of conventional business case development methodology.Her methodology will help decision makers make informed decisions when planning and evaluating transportation projects.

Dr. Etienne Myette-Cote
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

No citation at this time.

Dr. Hamidreza Hafezinasab
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2020

Battery chargers and Data Centers need direct current electricity for operation, thus converters are used to change the alternating input mains into Direct Current (DC) electricity. Electricity is available in single-phase (two wires) and three-phase (three-wire) form. Three-phase is more economical for high power applications.Dr. Hafezinasab’s study focuses on high efficiency three-phase AC/DC converters.

Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Passmore’s work involves taking notice of nature in daily routines. Her multi-national research builds a strong case that simply noting emotions evoked by everyday nature strengthens feelings of connection and elevation. Her validated Noticing Nature intervention has a powerful effect on wellbeing, even without spending more time in nature.

Dr. Iman Aghanejad
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Isadora Louise Quintans
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Quintans studied the differences between the interactions of plants with beneficial and pathogenic fungi, and how beneficial fungi enhance plants defenses against pathogens. She identified thousands of genes that can cause or prevent fungal infections in plants. She also found novel antimicrobial peptides that represent promising targets for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry. Together, these data will lead to the development of better strategies to control fungal diseases.

Dr. Jeannette Angel
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Angel’s research engages people in social change through community-based artworks and processes. The dissertation contributes an interdisciplinary design methodology and a model for nurturing creative experiential learning. This work can inform sustainability researchers situated in and across environmental, educational and health sectors.

Dr. Jiayu Ye
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Ye studied how nutrients, especially fat, affect metabolic disorders such as heart diseases. Her conclusion challenges the current dietary fat guidelines on promoting polyunsaturated fats, which conversely worsen the preexisting chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Her research makes people rethink dietary choices and provides a potential therapeutic target on managing metabolic diseases.

Dr. Joanne Taylor
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr Taylor investigated food security and food sovereignty in the Creston Valley of British Columbia during the renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty in the Creston Valley of British Columbia. Dr Taylor developed an innovative framework tool using key socio-economic factors which helped to assess food security and define the challenges to food producers in the area.

Dr. Johnathan Laumer
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2020

Dr. Jonathan Laumer examined the distribution of chemical bonds present within various types of thin-films of carbon, using an optical characterization technique. Through a characterization of the shape and form of the resultant spectra, he was able to quantitatively delineate between different types of thin-film carbon. This work has broad implications, both from basic materials and applications perspectives.

Dr. Lindsey Reinholz
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2020

Dr. Reinholz developed a method for constructing non-congruent numbers that have arbitrarily many distinct prime factors. This technique allows known non-congruent numbers to be extended to produce infinitely many new non-congruent numbers, thereby considerably broadening the collection of non-congruent numbers that can be generated and described.

Dr. Ma Hui
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2020

In multi-antenna systems, secure transmission designs are important for physical layer security which is a promising information security technique. In this thesis, Dr. Hui’s research focused on the secure transmission designs for three jamming signal aided multi-antenna systems, which can be applied in the next generation communication networks.

Dr. Maria Martignoni
Doctor of Philosophy
Mathematics 2020

Dr. Martignoni studied the risks and benefits associated with the use of organic fertilizers consisting of commercially grown arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. She developed a series of mathematical models to determine when the introduced fungal fertilizers can coexist with native fungi and boost productivity, versus when the use of fungal fertilizers constitutes a biodiversity risk and it is ultimately detrimental to crop yield. Dr. Martignoni’s work sheds light on strategies for the management of a broad range of mutualistic communities that play a critical role in agriculture, such as below-ground microbes, bees, or other animal pollinators.

Dr. Mary Kjorven
Doctor of Philosophy
Nursing 2020

Dr. Kjorven examined the complexities of navigating her roles of clinical nurse specialist in geriatrics and daughter while caring for her hospitalized older adult father within a health care system that is risk adverse. Her research will help guide collaboration with patients and families in team based and person and family centered care.

Dr. Mathieu Aubin
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Aubin studied the relationship among queer small presses, poetry, and lesbian and gay liberation movements in Vancouver. His study argues that small presses in Vancouver contributed to the development of liberation movements by creating queer-friendly cultural communities, publishing books, and circulating these objects to LGBTQ2+ readers.

Dr. Matt Husain
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Husain’s interdisciplinary research investigates poverty and class relations in the context of development aid projects in Bangladesh. Dr. Husain theorizes dual hegemony, an alliance between the political and economic elite and the international aid industry, to explain why development aid to impoverished countries benefit aid facilitators and donors, as well as a few wealthy clients, rather than empowering aid recipients on the ground.

Dr. Md. Lukman Sarker
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Sarker investigated the structural and regulatory genes that control the biosynthesis of essential oil constituents in lavender. His work resulted in the discovery of important genes that control oil composition in this plant. Dr. Sarker also developed a comprehensive transcriptome database, which facilitates the cloning of genes expressed in lavender leaves and flowers.

Dr. Michael Tymko
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Tymko’s thesis encompassed data collected on three separate high altitude expeditions in the United States, Nepal, and Peru. The research objective was to determine the impact of hypoxia on blood vessel health in lowlanders and high altitude indigenous populations. The primary was that that blood vessel function was impaired at high altitude, which was mediated by elevated neural activity.

Dr. Moein Ahmadi Pour Shirazi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Ahmadipour examined the effects of web and flange openings on structural capacity of timber I-joists,and proposed a design approach for such beams. He argues that the current wood design code does not address the existence of such openings effectively. His research paves the way for a safer design approach for such important building components.

Dr. Mohamed Mohamed
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2020

Dr. Mohamed tackled some of the hurdles of current microscale tissue engineering methods. He developed efficient technologies and biomaterials for the biofabrication of 3D bioprinted and microfluidically produced constructs that can treat or replace an affected tissue. His research is a step towards translating research into real solutions for several medical problems.

Dr. Mohammad Haji Mohammadi Sani Abadi
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2020

Dr. Haji Mohammadi developed a mathematical formulation to perform numerical simulation of turbulent bubbly flows in complex geometries. He subsequently implemented the formulation into a parallel C++ code to run various real-life test cases. This novel formulation allows us to perform simulations of fluid flow with much less computational burden.

Dr. Mohammad Kamali
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Kamali developed a multi-level decision support framework to quantify and benchmark the life cycle sustainability of residential modular buildings. This framework assists in selecting optimal construction methods and also improving the life cycle sustainability performance of modular buildings.

Dr. Nathalie Hager
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Hager examined the proposed transformation of art history into World Art History, a new approach to the study of all the worlds art based on seeking out connections between objects and their makers across nations, world regions, and time. Dr. Hager argued that World Art History signals a paradigm shift within the discipline of art history.

Dr. Ngandu Balekelayi Celestin Balek
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

No citation at this time.

Dr. Nurmunira Muhammad
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Muhammad developed a novel chemical additive using locally available bentonite soil for mitigating the problematic subgrade soil. Through Dr. Muhammad’s work the additive was employed as a soil stabilization technique for improving the strength and resilient modulus of the silty sand soil. She subsequently studied the mechanism of strength development in weak soil through microstructural analysis.

Dr. Osei Boakye Fordwour
Doctor of Philosophy
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Peyman Yousefi
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Yousefi’s research was on development of an integrated management plan for urban water resources. He worked on analytical models to detect for any leakage and failure through the pipeline in water distribution systems. His research led to the development of an analytical technique, allowing for lower costs, higher accuracy and more reliability.

Dr. Ran Wei
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology 2020

Dr. Wei studied deceptive language, focusing on changes in a person’s language pattern during deception. His research explored modeling techniques that can utilize the uniqueness of individual language style, and demonstrated the benefit of doing so in enhancing the performance of automatized lie detection systems.

Dr. Roya Samanipour
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Sepehr Zarif Mansour
Doctor of Philosophy
Mechanical Engineering 2020

Motion control in micrometer scales is a challenging task due to the required stringent accuracies. Conventional sensors that can help to achieve such accuracies are often bulky and expensive. Dr. Zarif Mansour developed novel techniques to minimize the direct use of sensors in micro-positioning devices that use piezoelectric actuators. His research helps designers to design compact and economic positioning stages with micrometer accuracies.

Dr. Shelley Cook
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Cook used social capital theory and participatory, spatial methods to promote understanding of homeless people’s presence/mobility in the urban environment. Her findings have significant theoretical implications and in the development of strength-based approaches to homelessness service delivery that foster maximum therapeutic benefit.

Dr. Soroush Dehghani
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical Engineering 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Sudip Shrestha
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Environmental Sciences 2020

Dr. Shrestha investigated the geological evolution of the mid-crust in the Himalaya. His research focused primarily on characterizing the cryptic geological structure of the mountain belt using an innovative, new analytical approach to detect subtle changes in the pressure-temperature-time paths that rocks record at the microscopic scale.

Dr. Sydney Morgan
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Morgan examined how sulfite and yeast additions during winemaking can alter the microbial communities and sensory profiles of wine, and identified a local population of yeasts that shows great winemaking potential. Her research helps winemakers make more informed decisions, enabling them to produce unique and high-quality wines.

Dr. Taylor Holland
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Holland examined aspects of using symbiotic root fungi to enhance grapevine performance after transplant. He revealed that while symbiotic fungi are often beneficial to young grapevines, it depends on environmental and biotic factors. Overall, fungal inoculants are most advantageous in the presence of stressful environmental growing conditions.

Dr. Tianlong Liu
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

Dr. Liu studied the application of microbial fuel cell technology in winery wastewater treatment. He designed an MFC reactor to treat winery wastewater meanwhile generating electricity, and studied the effect of pH, seasonality, and other operational parameters. This research illuminates the potential of recovering energy from wastewater treatment.

Dr. Tim Abbott
Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering 2020

No citation available at this time.

Dr. Tina Inez Marten
Doctor of Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies 2020

Dr. Marten examined the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program in the Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, from 2000 to 2015. Her case study focuses on German skilled workers and their families, who came to Canada as temporary foreign workers and hoped to gain permanent residence via the BCPNP. Her research reveals the BCPNP lacks oversight and enforcement, and creates a vulnerable workforce.

Dr. Vasileios Kokkoris
Doctor of Philosophy
Biology 2020

Dr. Kokkoris examined the effectiveness of fungal biofertilizers in the field and greenhouse. He found that biofertilizers performance depends on plant and fungal identity, and on soil conditions. The study also showed that unregulated spread of fungal biofertilizers that contain aggressive isolates have the potential to negatively affect natural ecosystems.

Dr. Zhenlin Tian
Doctor of Philosophy
Chemistry 2020

Dr. Tian developed chemical probes to study vital proteins in neurons. He obtained these probes through rational design and chemical synthesis. He subsequently these novel probes in living cells, which proved the application potentials. This research offered new tools to facilitate the elucidation of neurobiology problems.