ubc okanagan thesis

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A thesis (master’s) or dissertation (doctoral) is the final product of a student’s time in graduate school. Students should begin planning their thesis/dissertation from the very beginning of their degree program.

In general, a thesis/dissertation should reflect the writer’s ability to:

• Critically analyze the relevant literature
• Use and describe in detail the appropriate methodology for the research undertaken
• Conduct research and present findings
• Verify knowledge claims and sources meticulously
• Locate the work of the thesis and its findings within the broader field or discipline
• Communicate the research and analysis effectively

Information about the scope of a dissertation can be found in our policy manual .

The thesis/dissertation must be a coherent document that provides a complete and systematic account of the student’s research. It may incorporate work from submitted, accepted or published journal articles, which may or may not have co-authors.

Prospective or current graduate students who have questions about theses and dissertations that are not answered below, or are in need of additional support, are encouraged to contact the office by email ( [email protected] ).

Preparation

Students should prepare for their thesis from the very beginning of their degree program.

PREPARE YOUR THESIS

Examination

Students in thesis-based graduate programs must defend their theses in an oral examination

Students must submit their final thesis documentation electronically to [email protected] .

POST DEFENCE SUBMISSION

Every candidate for a degree must make a formal application for degree conferral via the Student Service Centre (SSC)

DEGREE CONFERRAL

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We are here to assist you. Our specialist can help with updating your table of contents, inserting a new chapter, correctly using the settings for headings, and so much more.

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Set Q&A Sessions are currently on hold. Please email [email protected] for assistance and questions about thesis formatting.

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Additional Thesis Formatting Resources

The College of Graduate Studies has created several additional resources to help you format your thesis:

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Climate and Climate Change in the Okanagan

Theses and dissertations.

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• Syilx Okanagan Nation

If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access electronic resources remotely.

Community members can access most electronic resources on a UBC Okanagan library computer or a laptop at the Innovation Library. UBC Library computers require users to login. Community users can obtain guest access IDs from the Library Service Desk or a librarian at the  Innovation Library  (located in downtown Kelowna). Current government-issued photo ID is required.  

Please note materials in cIRcle,  the University of British Columbia's digital repository for research and teaching materials,  are openly accessible to anyone on the web. 

Belliveau, S. (2005). Grapes of warmth?! The vulnerability of the grape and wine industry in the Okanagan Valley to climate change. (Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Belzile, J.A. (2011).  Lessons from Oz to the Okanagan: Water policy and structural reform in a changing climate (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://circle.ubc.ca/

Good Water, D. (2018). Okanagan Syilx historical and contemporary salmon distribution : underpinning social and governance structures (T) . University of British Columbia.

Langsdale, S.M. (2007).  Participatory model building for exploring water management and climate change futures in the Okanagan Basin, British Columbia, Canada (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://circle.ubc.ca/

Loewen, T. M. (2020). Integrating ecosystem services and biodiversity in landscape management for multifunctional agroecosystems: A case study in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia (T) . University of British Columbia.

Matthew, M. (2020). Secwépemc water governance : re-imagining water relationality (T) . University of British Columbia.

Mirmasoudi, S. (2019).  High-Resolution Modeling of Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply and Demand, and GHG Emissions in an Okanagan-Similkameen Subwatershed, British Columbia, Canada (Doctoral Dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Neale, T.L. (2006). Impacts of climate change and population growth on residential water demand in the Okanagan Basin, British Columbia (Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Noestheden, M. (2018). Smoke-taint : chemically characterizing smoke-exposed Vitis vinifera L. berries and wines to inform the development of preventative and remedial strategies (T) . University of British Columbia.

Scibek, J. (2005). Modelling the impacts of climate change on groundwater: A comparative study of two unconfined aquifers in southern British Columbia and northern Washington state (Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Schorb, N.C. (2006). Informing agricultural adaptation policy: Risk management insights from wine-grape growers in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, (Master's of Science). Retrieved from https://circle.ubc.ca/

Toews, M.W. (2007). Modelling climate change impacts on groundwater recharge in a semi-arid region, southern Okanagan, British Columbia (Master's of Science). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

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• URL: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/climatechangeokanagan

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Curiosity meets clarity at UBC Okanagan’s Three Minute Thesis challenge

Graduate students get three minutes to explain their research on stage.

April 3, 2024

Rita Lam participated in a previous Three Minute Thesis event at UBC Okanagan

Who: UBCO graduate students What: Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna When: April 9, 2024, 5 to 8 pm Tickets: eventbrite.ca/e/ubc-okanagan-three-minute-thesis-final-2024-tickets-804265839777

UBC Okanagan graduate students will attempt to convey the complicated concepts behind their master’s or doctoral thesis in the time it takes the average pop song to play.

They can use a single slide, but no other props or aids.

UBC Okanagan invites the public to this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT ) finals on April 9. This unique competition challenges the brightest graduate student minds to summarize their complex master’s or doctoral research in just three minutes, armed with nothing but a single slide and the power of story.

Imagine the complexity of unravelling neural networks or the subtleties of climate change adaptation strategies, all condensed into a narrative as engaging as your favourite podcast.

Beyond the competitive edge and the attractive prizes—$3,000 for the winner, $2,000 for the runner-up and $1,000 for the alumni UBC People’s Choice awardee—the 3MT finals stand as a testament to the art of communication. The victor earns not only the prize but also the honour of representing their campus at the Western Regional 3MT Competition in May, hosted by UBCO.

From 5 to 8 pm, the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ Mary Irwin Theatre will host this celebration of knowledge and the artful craft of concise communication. Tickets are available at: eventbrite.ca/e/ubc-okanagan-three-minute-thesis-final-2024-tickets-804265839777.

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About UBC Okanagan

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning founded in partnership with local Indigenous peoples, the Syilx Okanagan Nation, in whose traditional, ancestral and unceded territory the campus resides. The most established and influential global rankings all consistently place UBC in the top five per cent of universities in the world, and among the top three Canadian universities.

The Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world in British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. For more visit ok.ubc.ca .

Discover more about UBC Okanagan

Innovation Precinct Annexation 1 (IA1) 3505 Spectrum Court Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 2Z1

We respectfully acknowledge the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples, in whose traditional, ancestral, unceded territory UBC Okanagan is situated.

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Better predicting future outcomes

For UBC statistician Jeff Andrews, data science isn’t just about numbers, computers and programming. It’s an all-encompassing language that can translate knowledge in almost every field of study and professional practice.

Andrews leads students through methods to quantify all sorts of information, everything from text documents and images, to chemical properties, physical properties or consumer preferences. Students gain computer-programming skills and achieve insight into modern statistical methods.

“I think students will be surprised by the breadth of computational techniques at their disposal. We guide students to use these tools properly in order to draw useful conclusions and make accurate predictions.”

Jeff Andrews Associate Professor, Statistics

Personalizing medicine treatments

In partnership with the BC Cancer Agency, UBC Okanagan researchers are uncovering why some patients fall ill from radiation therapy while other patients do not.

“The goal is personalized medicine. We are collecting data and studying why some patients get very sick from radiation. We want to know why these patients’ bodies react this way and if there’s a mechanistic basis to this reaction.

“Our philosophy is if there is something about you that we can measure, something that tells us you are going to be sensitive to radiation, then we can tailor your treatment accordingly. Essentially, physicians and physicists would be armed with patient information to predict this outcome and can spare the patient of any sickness.”

Christina Haston Assistant Professor, Medical Physics

Integrating math into solutions

UBC Okanagan’s Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis & Nonsmooth Analysis (COCANA) is a place where faculty members and students from several different disciplines connect to conduct world-class research.

“We are a very cohesive group. Students can be co-supervised by faculty members across math, computer science and statistics. The real benefit is that all members are not identical in their focus and expertise.

“We specialize in different applied and theoretical approaches, but we all connect and work together to come up with unique solutions to problems.”

COCANA has attracted top students, post-docs and professors from all over the world, including Brazil, China, France, Israel, the U.S. and Vietnam.

Heinz Bauschke Professor, Mathematics

CENTRES, INSTITUTES, AND LABS

Our centres, institutes and labs form the foundation of our research efforts, where our faculty work with many community and industry partners to advance knowledge and practice in the field of quantitative sciences and provide hands-on research and learning opportunities for students.

UBC’s Okanagan campus is now an official site of the Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS). Several BIRS events will be hosted on the UBC campus in Kelowna, primarily in the summer months, starting in 2021. Ten research workshops in a variety of areas in mathematics, computer science, statistics and theoretical physics are being scheduled into the period from May through August. Learn more.

The medical physics laboratory is a multi-user facility with research interests in radiation oncology medical physics. Research programs include: understanding normal and tumour tissue response to radiation; determining predictors of radiation sensitivity and injury; and the development of 3D radiation dosimetry systems. Learn more.

OCANA CoLab is part of the Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis and Nonsmooth Analysis (COCANA), which performs fundamental research in convex and nonsmooth analysis and transfers the results to industry by solving practical industrial problems with a focus on commercial applications. COCANA researchers are mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers who apply state-of-the-art optimization techniques to solve real-life problems and provide our industrial partners an edge over their competition. OCANA CoLab allows research collaboration on-site or remotely. We routinely host seminars with researchers participating from the Pacific Northwest and abroad (e.g. Newcastle, Australia). Learn more.

CA² Lab is part of the Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis and Nonsmooth Analysis (COCANA), which performs fundamental research in convex and nonsmooth analysis and transfers the results to industry by solving practical industrial problems with a focus on commercial applications. COCANA researchers are mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers who apply state-of-the-art optimization techniques to solve real-life problems and provide our industrial partners an edge over their competition. We leverage industry-sponsored funding with grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and MITACS, thereby more than doubling our partners’ investment in research. We have many man-years of experience in optimization and operations research applied to engineering and health science and are always looking for new partners. Learn more.

The database research Group led by Ramon Lawrence studies how to store, find, and organize data efficiently. Current projects include databases for environmental monitoring and sensor networks, database tuning and optimization, and databases for embedded systems, cell phones, and flash drives. The database research group focuses on all practical applications of data management.

The Distributed Database Laboratory performs applied research into data management challenges for relational, NoSQL, and BigData systems. Researchers and developers are engaged in projects on the small-scale sensor and embedded databases and large-scale BigData projects for the Industrial Internet. Our expertise includes software engineering, system development, and consulting. We have worked with Fortune 500 companies, including GE, and our research group specializes in database integration, implementation design, and software development. Learn more.

The Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services (BRAES) is a group of over 30 faculty members and their graduate students working in ecology, biodiversity and conservation, and environmental sustainability on UBC’s Okanagan Campus.  BRAES’ special strength is its multidisciplinary focus, with members from departments of biology, mathematics and statistics, literary and cultural studies, earth and environmental sciences, physical geography, economics and creative arts. Learn more.

The Applied Micro and Nanosystems Facility (AMNF) is a class-100 micro/nanofabrication facility at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The facility has microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication capabilities for thin-film deposition, photolithography, chemical processing, electronic prototyping and laser micromilling. The multi-user facility supports numerous areas of applied sciences. Learn more.

Okanagan Digital Microfluidics Laboratory at University of British Columbia conducts research on control, fabrication and modeling of Digital Microfluidic biochips. Digital microfluidic devices provide a new technology platform for controlled motion of small fluid volumes.

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Although wildfire is a natural and essential characteristic of forestry ecology, current climate and migration patterns appear to increase fire risk within the wildland-urban interface. Fire managers across Canada have grappled with strategic resource management issues related to suppressing and mitigating wildfires for decades. In recent years, they have turned to statistical modellers to assess the uncertainties and risks to both human life and property.

With improved predictive models of fire behaviour, provincial fire management agencies can hope to allocate scarce fire suppression resources more efficiently. The Data Visualization Laboratory contains the computing infrastructure needed to enable Data Scientists at UBC Okanagan to develop static and mobile software tools for use by fire managers in real time and for long-term strategic planning. While fire science is a significant priority for the lab, as a Data Science facility, it is also set up to handle data visualization and modelling problems arising in other areas, most notably, quality assurance applications arising in computational medical physics through collaborations with the BC Cancer Agency. Learn more.

Research Themes

Accelerator physics & dosimetry.

Investigating particle and photon beams and their mutual interactions with the goal of developing novel accelerators or radiation devices.

Algorithm Design & Analysis

Designing algorithms to solve different types of problems in the branch of computer science and information technology.

Artificial Intelligence

Creating intelligent machines that work and react like humans. Some of the activities computers with artificial intelligence are designed for include: speech recognition and learning.

Computing Science

Examining the theory, experimentation, and engineering that form the basis for the design and use of computers. This research studies algorithms that process, store, and communicate digital information.

Using scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured, similar to data mining.

High Precision Radiotherapy

Evaluating high precision methods in radiation oncology to enable an optimal and fast translation of these methods into clinical application.

Human-Computer Interaction

Researching the design and use of computer technology, focused on the interfaces between people and computers. Researchers in the field of HCI both observe the ways in which humans interact with computers and design technologies that let humans interact with computers in novel ways.

Medical Imaging

Creating visual representations of the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology).

Number Theory & Algebra

Using the techniques of abstract algebra to study the integers, rational numbers, and their generalizations.

Optimization

Finding a minimum (or a maximum) of a function subject to constraints. Optimization problems are of fundamental importance in mathematics, computer science, engineering and related areas. In applications, solutions of optimization problems may correspond to optimal scheduling assignments, optimal treatment plans for radiation therapy, and optimal investment strategies.

Social Network Models

Investigating social structures through the use of networks and graph theory. This research characterizes networked structures in terms of nodes (individual actors, people, or things within the network) and the ties, edges, or links (relationships or interactions) that connect them.

Statistics & Probability

Exploring the study of chance and how data is handled using different analysis techniques and collection methods.

Search for Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science faculty members with the right expertise.

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Opportunities for Undergraduates

The Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable research experience. You can participate in research through Directed Studies and/or Honours opportunities. Or consider a Capstone Project, where you can work with a team of students to develop software for an actual client. Explore your options and apply below.

The position : Carry out your own research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, supervised reading, participation in a seminar, and one or more programming projects. With different topics, this course may be taken twice for credit.

You can earn three or six credits for the project, depending upon if they register for a one-term or two-term option.

Prerequisites : Third-year standing and the permission of the department head.

Directed Studies Application Forms

The opportunity: Capstone projects allow students in computer science to gain real-world experience developing software for an actual client. Students must produce a comprehensive report and deliver a formal presentation.

Prerequisites: Refer to the Academic Calendar for the most up-to-date prerequisites specific to computer science capstone projects.

The position : Students will undertake a research project as agreed upon by the student, supervising faculty member, and department head. A written thesis and a public presentation (poster or seminar) are required.

Prerequisites : Fourth-year standing; admission to the BA or BSc Computer Science Honours Program; and permission of the department head.

Honours Thesis Application Forms

Awards for undergraduates.

The Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) and the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) provide exceptional research experiences for students at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The purpose of the awards is to encourage undergraduate students to pursue innovative and original research as part of their learning experience.

Our Partners and Donors

Together, we are making a difference, locally and around the world. Our partners and donors allow us to carry out our mission of helping the community, making advancements in research, and providing quality education in the field of computer science, mathematics, physics and statistics.

If you are interested in becoming a partner or donor, we would love to hear from you .

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• No Place Like (No) Home : Architecture and Displacement...

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Ubc graduate research, no place like (no) home : architecture and displacement through storytelling chowdhury, meena --> -->.

This thesis explored my mother’s story of displacement in an attempt to show that storytelling can help create better architectural representation. While hearing my mother’s story, I realized that she had an interesting relationship with architecture and time.  She was forcefully moved from place to place without ever knowing what was going to happen next, and she would always make changes to her space in order to adapt to her needs. The current way to represent architecture does not represent this complex relationship with space. Architects need to develop new ways of representing the spaces that refugees live in and that highlight these temporal aspects. As a case study, I created a garment that incorporates elements of her story as a refugee as she verbally reported them to me, as well as visual representations of multiple places where she lived as a refugee.

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• Chowdhury_M_ARCH549_No_place_like_no_home_2024.pdf -- 30.15MB

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Permanent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0442339

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How To: Submit a thesis or dissertation to cIRcle

By cIRcle staff on Dec 06, 2021

Photo courtesy: Don Erhardt / UBC Brand & Marketing

As UBC’s research repository, cIRcle hosts all UBC theses and dissertations.

Any UBC Vancouver Graduate students who are preparing to submit their thesis or dissertation to cIRcle should refer to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office’s Final Submission Instructions prior to starting a cIRcle submission to ensure all steps are followed and to avoid any delays in processing. All questions related to UBC Vancouver theses or dissertations should be directed to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at [email protected] .

UBC Okanagan Graduate students should refer to the College of Graduate Studies Post-Defence Submission  page to familiarize themselves with the submission process before starting. Any questions about the submission process should be directed to the College of Graduate Studies at [email protected] .

The cIRcle Theses and Dissertations page highlights key steps in the submission process for all graduating UBC students.

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• This event has passed.

Thesis Writing: Writing the Research Proposal

October 6, 2022 at 2:00 pm.

This in-person workshop will provide an overview of research proposal writing for thesis and dissertation projects across a range of disciplines, as well as writing strategies and examples from successful proposals. You are encouraged to bring questions.

Suitable for graduate students from all disciplines.

REGISTER NOW

Question?  Contact [email protected]

This workshop qualifies for the Scholarly Research, Writing, and Publishing Credential  offered through the College of Graduate Studies.

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We respectfully acknowledge the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples, in whose traditional, ancestral, unceded territory UBC Okanagan is situated.

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Dr. Frederic Menard Graduate Program Coordinator 250.807.8225 [email protected]

Sheila Williamson Graduate Program Assistant 250.807.8094 [email protected]

Master of Science (MSc), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Graduate Program Overview

The chemistry graduate program at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC offers tier-one research-based degrees to students in a collegial, close-knit setting.

Our dynamic faculty and students are engaged in a variety of research projects, many in collaboration with partners in government, non-profit agencies or industry.

Chemistry’s research-based MSc and PhD degrees provide students with theoretical expertise, practical expertise, and critical analysis, as well as experience in the application of scientific results to real-world problems.

Students enrolled in the MSc program will learn useful skills and methods as well as undertake practical research on real-world problems in the field of chemistry. Graduates with the MSc degree are prepared for employment opportunities in government, management, industry, education, and consulting, or for further studies leading toward an advanced degree such as the PhD.

PROGRAM MILESTONES

• establishing a faculty supervisory committee
• preparing, presenting, and defending a thesis research proposal
• completing coursework
• researching, writing, and defending a thesis
• publishing research results

COURSEWORK & THESIS REQUIREMENTS

• 23-credit research-based thesis
• 7 credits of coursework, with a cumulative average of 76% or higher
• chemistry seminar course

Most MSc students become teaching assistants for at least one semester in order to gain valuable teaching experience and to learn effective communication strategies.

Exceptional MSc students can transfer to the PhD program after one year if they meet program requirements, and if they’re approved by their supervisory committee and the departmental graduate program.

The PhD is an advanced research degree that requires original and substantive contributions to the advancement of our understanding of chemistry. Graduates of the PhD program are prepared for careers that involve conducting independent research and teaching in academia, government, and industry.

• preparing, presenting, and defending a dissertation research proposal
• passing an oral candidacy examination that demonstrates breadth and depth of knowledge in one’s chosen field and specialization
• completing dissertation research and writing, and defending the work

It is expected that PhD students will also communicate research results via conference presentations and publications in scientific journals. Most PhD students become TAs in order to gain valuable teaching experience and to enhance their communication skills.

At the PhD level, coursework is required only at the discretion of the student’s supervisory committee, depending on previous course credits from the prior MSc degree and the nature of their research objectives.

Research & Supervisors

Graduate students can pursue these and other faculty research and teaching interests:

• Analytical chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Biomolecular and solid state modelling
• Cell mechanics and mechanobiology
• Chemical biology
• Chemistry education
• Environmental chemistry
• Glycoscience
• Inorganic chemistry
• Metabolomics
• Nanoscience
• Organic chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Plant chemistry and biotechnology
• Single-molecule biophysics
• Theoretical chemistry and physics

Exceptional students are invited to apply to join UBC Okanagan’s vibrant chemistry graduate program.

Please contact a potential faculty supervisor before you start the application process. We look forward to hearing about your research interests and career goals.

Graduate student supervisor

Dang Lab – Plant Bioactive Compounds Research Lab

Plants produce hundreds of thousands of distinct small-molecule natural products, many of which are invaluable nutrients, commodity products, and therapeutics.

At the heart of the beautiful Okanagan Valley, Dang Group integrates biochemistry, chemistry, bioinformatics, and molecular genetics to elucidate and engineer the biosynthesis of valuable small molecules from medicinal plants. Our ultimate aim is to learn and to translate natural metabolism into innovative biotechnologies to meet the ever-increasing demands of high-value chemicals.

DiLabio Lab

Noncovalent interactions play a central role in determining structure and reactivity throughout chemistry and physics. Our group develops and applies computational methods to understand this role.

We also computational chemistry techniques to study a wide variety of radical systems in chemistry, biochemistry and physics. Our current research focuses on quantum effects in enzymes that mediate radical rearrangement processes and on the potential for non-redox metal cations to act as a chemoprotective against radical damage through hydrogen atom transfer reactions.

Godin Lab – Solar Energy & Spectroscopy Group

The group aims to make impactful contributions to worldwide efforts in developing affordable clean energy. Our main focus is understanding the photophysical and photochemical processes that dictate efficiency in solar fuel producing systems. Our advanced time-resolved optical spectroscopy techniques give us the insights necessary to understand the influence of key physical and chemical parameters, and optimize material synthesis with strong rational.

The McNeil Research Group conducts chemistry education research by using our classrooms as our laboratories. We study the challenges associated with teaching and learning university-level chemistry and develop innovative learning strategies to address those challenges.

THE MENARD LAB

The Menard lab works at the interface between chemistry and biology. We use small molecules to study and manipulate biological systems. The group provides a multidisciplinary environment where students and researchers work together to develop new chemical and biophysical tools for the study of living systems.

PLANT SECONDARY METABOLITE ANALYTICAL RESEARCH TEAM (PLANTSMART) 

PlantSMART investigates the chemicals produced by plants and how plant chemicals affect human health. Research themes include: chemistry of cannabis and other medicinal plants; plant chemistry for food security; chemistry of natural non-protein amino acids; chemical regulation of plant signalling behaviour; chemistry of plant responses to light.

Earth-abundant transition metal catalysts that operate under mild conditions will be required for valorization of renewable resources and more sustainable organic synthesis. The Smith research group has explored metal-mediated radical reactions based on reversible homolysis of chromium-alkyl bonds in well-defined organometallic complexes.

WOLTHERS RESEARCH GROUP

Enzymes are large macromolecules that serve as biological catalysts for an immense number of biochemical reactions. We explore how enzymes can serve as valuable tools for the synthesis of new drugs and other high commodity chemicals, and also lead to the treatment of diseases, including bacterial infections, cancer, and metabolic disorders.

SINGLE MOLECULE CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS LAB

We study the biophysics of cells at the  single molecule  and  single cell  levels. Our studies address fundamental cell biology questions that have many practical applications from smart DNA-based biomaterials to cell screening technology.

SHIPLEY LAB

Our lab focuses on describing the chemistry of medicinal plants and bacteria to investigate the chemical differences between species and samples. This is used to discover biological activities, optimize natural health product formulation, identify adulterated products, and classify species by their chemistry.

ZANDBERG LAB

A key objective of our lab is to combine capillary electrophoresis (CE) and mass spectrometry (MS) into a sensitive and high resolution method for glycan analysis. As a complement to the development of improved hyphenated analytical methods, we are also interested in devising more efficient sample preparation techniques. We also explore the roles played by glycans in diverse biological phenomena. Our lab members: investigate the effects of known chemical inhibitors of glycan processing enzymes; synthesize and test new inhibitors; devise assays to explore the functions of glycan biosynthetic enzymes; develop new methods for identifying glycan-binding proteins and their target.

STORY: Designer Molecules

Associate Professor, Fred Menard

STORY: The Power of Plants

Assistant Professor, Thu-Thuy Dang

Students & Theses

Meet our students.

See what our students are up to—find them in our Contact page for their research interests, supervisors, alma maters, and info.

Theses & Dissertations

Search all UBC Okanagan  department of chemistry student publications at cIRcle , the University’s digital repository for research and teaching materials.

STORY: Inspired to pioneer

Alicia Mercer, MSc Student

VIDEO: Solving beautiful problems

Stephanie Bishop, MSc Student

Admission Requirements

Admission to UBC graduate programs is competitive. Applicants must meet the following criteria.

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc) APPLICANTS 

Applicants to the chemistry MSc program are expected to have:

• the academic equivalent of a four-year BSc from UBC in chemistry or a related field, with a minimum average of B+ (76%) or better in their third- or fourth-year classes, or
• at least 12 credits in third- and fourth-year classes in their intended field of study, with an A- (80%) grade or better, or
• significant formal training and relevant professional experience

Your background training must be sufficient for advanced work in your chosen field.

DOCTORAL APPLICANTS (PhD)

PhD applicants are expected to:

• hold the academic equivalent of a two-year master’s degree from UBC in chemistry or a related field, with a B+ (76%) average or better,
• demonstrate clear evidence of research ability or potential

EXCEPTIONAL CASES

In exceptional cases, applicants who do not meet the requirements stated above, but who have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience, may be granted admissions on the recommendation of the Chemistry Graduate Program Committee and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the  UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar  for full admission and program requirements information. The calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

Note: In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct. 

The College of Graduate Studies  defines additional requirements and degree equivalencies.

International applicants to the chemistry MSc program are expected to:

• have the academic equivalent of a four-year BSc from UBC in chemistry or a related field, with a minimum average of B+ (76%) or better in their third- or fourth-year classes, or
• have at least 12 credits in third- and fourth-year classes in their intended field of study, with an A- (80%) grade or better, and
• present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language (please see details below)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS  

Applicants from a university outside Canada at which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to graduate studies are:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 90 overall with a minimum score of 22 in Reading & Listening and a minimum score of 21 in Writing & Speaking (Internet version); minimum score of 22 in Reading & Listening and a minimum score of 21 in Writing (paper version). The TOEFL institution code is 0965. TOEFL MyBest Scores that meet the above minimum scores are acceptable as meeting the English language test requirements; or
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service): minimum overall band score of 6.5, with no individual score less than 6.0.

International PhD applicants are expected to:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 90 overall with a minimum score of 22 in Reading & Listening and a minimum score of 21 in Writing & Speaking (Internet version); minimum score of 22 in Reading & Listening and a minimum score of 21 in Writing (paper version). TOEFL MyBest Scores that meet the above minimum scores are acceptable as meeting the English language test requirements; or

REQUIRED GRADES AND CREDENTIAL GUIDE

Grades and degree credentials required by UBC vary by country. Search the  Required Grades and Credential Guide —a guide to assist international students in estimating their eligibility.

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORS

An international student advisor can answer questions about immigration, medical insurance and the transition to UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC. Visit the  International Programs and Services website  to meet the team.

Tuition & Funding

Tuition amounts presented here are estimates only and all fees are subject to change. For official tuition and fee information, visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar , a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

Tuition is paid three times a year, on the first day of each term: Winter Term 1 (September), Winter Term 2 (January), and Summer Term (May).

Funding Opportunities

Graduate student stipends are funded through a combination of internal and external funding awards, Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships.

This funding is guaranteed to the minimums stated below, assuming both satisfactory progress in the program and satisfactory performance as a TA (if applicable).

Students are expected whenever possible to apply for relevant scholarships and fellowships. These include principally, but are not limited to, Canadian Tri-Council scholarships, University Graduate Fellowships, and Graduate Dean’s Entrance Scholarships.

If students wish to hold off-campus (external) employment, they should discuss with their supervisor, particularly if the student is a grant-holder, as restrictions on hours of work may apply.

GRADUATE ENTRANCE AWARD

The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science offers a $15,000 merit-based entrance scholarship to three exceptional individuals entering their first year of thesis-based graduate studies under a supervisor from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, or an Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies program with a supervisor who is a member of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science.

All applicants to Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science graduate programs who have submitted an application by January 31 will be automatically considered for the award. No additional application is required. Successful applicants will be notified by March 15.

The Department of Chemistry has funding opportunities and assistantships available for qualified students.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS (TA)

Paid TA positions are provided through the Department of Chemistry and allow graduate students to develop skills in teaching, supervision, facilitation, and student assessment. Teaching assistants may lead seminars, help teach undergraduate courses, or assist in student evaluations and marking.

• MA students are eligible for paid TA positions for up to two years.
• PhD students are eligible for paid TA positions for up to four years.
• TA positions usually occur September to April. TA hours and wages are governed by the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU).

Teaching assistants are mentored by their supervisor and via the Centre for Teaching and Learning . To learn more or apply for a position, see our Careers page.

Research Assistantships (RA)

As paid research assistants, graduate students assist their supervisor or other researchers in conducting high-level research. RAs are typically funded by a supervisor’s external grants, contracts or other sources of funding, and, therefore, are not guaranteed.

Research Assistantships are wholly dependent upon individual research supervisor’s funding. RA positions may take place at any time during the school year and wages and hours will vary. RA positions are not guaranteed. Talk to your potential supervisor about RA opportunities.

The College of Graduate Studies administers merit-based graduate awards at the Okanagan campus. The College manages a number of award competitions each year and administers payment of all internal awards and selected external awards.

External Awards

All prospective graduate students (Domestic and International) should explore and apply for external awards and fellowships, including awards offered by Canada’s three research councils: CIHR , NSERC and SSHRC .

Graduate scholarships and awards may also be available from foundations, private organizations or foreign governments (check with your country’s education authority).

How to Apply

Find a supervisor.

Please contact our faculty supervisors before starting your application. Admission to the program requires the confirmed availability and mentor-match with a faculty supervisor as well as meeting program-specific criteria and requirements.

A complete application package will contain:

• Online application and application fee
• Unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended are required for the application package. However, if admitted, the student must submit official transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies
• English language test (for non-native speakers of English)
• CV or resumé
• Three reference forms or letters

Applying takes time. We recommend you start your application two months in advance.

For full consideration students should submit all application materials by the following deadlines:

Apply to UBC today!

Ubc’s okanagan campus.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. In the chemistry program at UBC’s Okanagan campus, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

DYNAMIC CITY

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of about 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

NATURAL BEAUTY

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Check out this 360-degree video: Kelowna From Above .*

* Best viewed using desktop Chrome or Firefox (desktop) or YouTube app (mobile).

CAMPUS HOUSING

Full-time UBC Okanagan students can live in residence, which offers modern living with easy access to academic and personal support. Residences are surrounded by hiking and biking trails, plus panoramic views of the campus and valley.

• Student Residence
• Important Housing Dates

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

• Living Off Campus Resources
• Kelowna Off Campus Student Housing Facebook group*

* UBC does not verify or endorse information shared on this third-party website, which is offered here as a public resource only.

Join the club! Make friends with similar interests, compare notes and organize and participate in academic and recreational events in the  Chemistry Course Union .

College of Graduate Studies: CoGS offers orientation events to support you in your first steps as a graduate student at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Stay active: Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and play—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness and Wellness Centre and our 1,561 square-metre gymnasium, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and nationally ranked varsity athletics. Have a ball in Sports and Recreation .

Relax: The Graduate Collegium is a gathering place where grad students can hang out, eat lunch, spend time with their fellow students, and attend or host special events. The lounge-style room is open seven days and week and is outfitted with comfortable furniture, kitchen facilities, and individual and group-work spaces.

College of Graduate Studies : Your hub for administrative support and such things as graduate workshops for professional development and for assisting you from the admissions process through to your graduation.

Centre for Scholarly Communication : Supports graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty in disseminating their research. The Library’s CSC provides one-on-one consultations and workshops, including writing support for theses, dissertations, journal articles, and grant proposals.

Centre for Teaching and Learning : Provides support related to teaching, TA training, and use of technology in educational programming.

Learn more about graduate student resources and support.

Careers and Occupations

With a Chemistry MSc or PhD degree from the University of British Columbia, graduates are well-positioned to thrive in a variety of occupations, such as:

• Agricultural Scientist
• Analytical Chemist
• Chemistry Teacher
• Chemical Engineer
• Chemical Information Management Specialist
• Chemistry Research Technologist
• Consumer Product Chemist
• Environmental Chemist
• Food Scientist/Technologist
• Forensic Chemist
• Formulation Chemist
• Hazardous Waste Management Specialist
• Laboratory Manager
• Occupational Safety Specialist
• Oil and Petroleum Chemist
• Medicinal Chemist
• Patent Agent
• Pharmaceutical Chemist
• Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
• Pollution Control Technologist
• Process Chemist
• Quality Assurance Technician
• Quality Control Manager
• Science Writer/Journalist
• Soil Scientist
• Technical Writer
• Technology Transfer Officer
• Toxicologist
• Water/Wastewater Treatment Analyst

Career Services

Map out your future and prepare to hit the ground running with resources and services provided by the Advising & Involvement Centre .

Tell your story with resumé and cover-letter strategies, and search Work Study jobs for experience relevant to your degree and career goals. You can also book an appointment to meet one-on-one with our career advisor.

alumni UBC is a member-driven association that offers a variety of lifetime programming and communications to enrich the lives of UBC graduates.

The ‘Your Next Step’ program offers webinars, speaker series and professional development sessions. It is designed to provide advice, tips and resources in areas of career development to graduates for life after university.

Realize the promise of a global community with shared ambition for a better world and an exceptional UBC.

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UBC Okanagan Campus Plan Update

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UBC is embarking on a public planning process that will inform how the Okanagan campus will use its land over the next 20 years. The first round of community engagement wrapped up on February 9, 2024.

Community engagement  .

UBC Campus Planning is engaging the campus community on the Campus Plan Update (the Update), a public planning process to update the 2015 Campus Plan for UBC’s Okanagan campus. This first round of public engagement took place from January 22 to February 9, 2024. The purpose of engagement was to share information on the Update and seek feedback on seven emerging themes and proposed strategies. You can learn more about these themes below.

Campus Planning engaged with the campus community, culminating in more than 1,300 engagement touchpoints. Community input identified opportunities and challenges Campus Planning will consider as part of the Update and are helping inform and refine each of the seven emerging themes.

To learn more about what we heard from the community, read the Engagement Summary Report .

Feedback from this engagement, alongside supporting technical work, will be used to refine the emerging themes, which will inform the development of Guiding Principles and Strategies. The emerging themes will be included in the Final Terms of Reference for the Campus Plan Update and will guide the UBC Campus Planning’s approach to planning and decision-making. The Final Terms of Reference will be submitted to the Okanagan Leadership Council for approval in spring 2024.

A draft Campus Plan Update will be developed in summer 2024 and presented to the community for feedback in fall 2024. A revised Update, informed by community input, will be submitted to the UBC Board of Governors for adoption by early 2025.

About the Plan

A campus plan sets the long-term vision for the physical campus and serves as a tool to guide campus growth that is consistent with the university’s academic mission and strategic plan. The 2015 Campus Plan established a vision for the future of UBC Okanagan. Here are a few examples of how this plan shaped the campus we have today:

• a new access to the campus from John Hindle Drive, which provides direct access for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles to the west side of campus;
• the transit exchange, which added nine new bus bays and four bus layover stations, as well as transit shelters, transit lanes and cycling facilities, and;
• the pedestrianisation of University Way, which has transformed this road into a public space for connecting and gathering.

Why Update the UBC Okanagan Campus Plan?  

Now, almost 10 years later, the Campus Plan Update provides the opportunity to refine and enhance the directions in the 2015 Campus Plan in several key areas that reflect the university’s new and emerging priorities. Some of these priorities include climate action, Indigeneity, inclusivity, accessibility, and wellbeing, and integrate campus growth with that of Kelowna and the surrounding region.

Emerging Themes

To address new priorities, strategies around Emerging Themes have been identified through technical work, discussion with the UBC administration, and early conversations with UBC Okanagan community members:

• Academic Mission:   Identify additional development sites and the potential to enhance existing spaces to support learning and research.
• Campus as a More Complete Community:   Enhance and expand on-campus housing options and ensure the day to day needs of the campus community are met within the context of a growing Kelowna Gateway area and the broader region.
• Honouring Place and Protocols:   Strengthen recognition of our location in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
• Climate Action and Sustainability:   Support the targets set out in the university’s Climate Action Plan 2030 in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while fostering a climate-adaptive and resilient campus.
• Landscape and Ecology:   Protect and enrich campus ecology and biodiversity and support connecting landscapes systems beyond the campus.
• Inclusivity, Accessibility and Wellbeing:   Ensure the diversity of the campus community is reflected in the Campus Plan Update to achieve the best learning, working, and living environments for all.
• Connectivity and Transportation:   Support improved connectivity to, from and around the campus and ensure alignment with the City of Kelowna’s 2040 Transportation Master Plan.

To learn more about the emerging themes and the preliminary strategies for each, view this PDF of the engagement display boards.

Areas of Focus

This map provides a rough idea of where on campus there will be changes as an outcome of this Update:

• Upper Bench / Upper Innovation Precinct Opportunities include new neighbourhood housing, public amenities and transport connections.
• Lower Innovation Precinct Opportunities include mixed use space for housing and commercial, public amenities, and research & innovation partnerships.
• The Okanagan Grasslands Opportunities include integration with development on E Lot, eastern campus gateway, landscape restoration, campus infrastructure (e.g., rainwater management) and transition to Indigenous landscape area (#4).
• Pond & Syilx Indigenous Landscape Opportunities include landscape naturalization, outdoor gathering space and space for Indigenous teaching and learning.
• South Campus Neighbourhood Opportunities include campus gateway from the south and athletics and student housing needs.
• Upper / West Side of Campus Opportunities include parking structure and connection to West Campus.

Honouring Place and Protocols  

The UBC Okanagan campus has the unique distinction of being founded in partnership with the Syilx Okanagan Nation. Learn more about UBC’s engagement with the Syilx Okanagan Nation: https://ok.ubc.ca/about/indigenous-engagement/ .   

A comprehensive engagement process with Syilx Okanagan community partners and campus Indigenous communities is being developed in consultation with the UBC Okanagan’s Senior Advisor on Indigenous Affairs and Syilx Okanagan community partners. Engagement will seek to strengthen and enhance UBC’s relationship with the Syilx Okanagan Nation and receive input on how the Campus Plan Update can build on the university’s continued efforts to enhance recognition of UBC Okanagan’s location in the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan, enrich Syilx presence and cultural expression on the campus, and ensure the campus is welcoming and inclusive of Indigenous peoples.  

For more background on the campus…

Questions  .

If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, contact:  

Madeleine Zammar Manager of Engagement, Campus and Community Planning [email protected]  

Abigail Riley  Associate Director, Campus Planning | Office of Campus Planning [email protected]  

Campus Planning | Office of Campus Planning

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You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here .

Major in Biology

Note: The UBC Okanagan campus also offers Majors in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology , Microbiology , and Zoology .

The Biology Major is designed to provide students with an excellent grounding in all fields of biology and the basic practical skills of the working biologist. This program prepares students for graduate school and professional programs. Students graduating from the UBC Okanagan campus with a B.Sc. in Biology will have a wide variety of practical experience and skills in laboratory, fieldwork, and communications (both oral and written).

Electives to satisfy B.Sc. Degree Requirements should include a minimum of 12 credits of Arts electives (in addition to 6 credits in English) and 12 credits of other courses (chosen, if needed, to ensure prerequisites are met for third- and fourth-year elective courses).

A minimum of 42 upper-level credits are required, which include at least 36 credits of Science courses (including at least 30 credits of Biology courses).

1 BIOL 116, 125; CHEM 111, 113 or 121, 123; and MATH 100, 101 or 103 should be taken in the first year to ensure students have the prerequisites for second year.

2 Credit will only be granted for one of ENGL 112 OR 114.

3 Strongly recommended.

Biology Honours Program

The Honours in Biology is an intensive program of study based on coursework and research experience. Students who complete this program will have the ability to work independently and with a high level of competency. The course requirements are the same as in the Major in Biology program, except students must complete 6 credits of BIOL 440.

Admission Requirements

• Fourth-year standing.
• A minimum overall grade average of 75% over all courses completed.
• Enrolment in BIOL 440 with a research project and research supervisor approved by the department head.

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of the course requirements for the Major in Biology.
• A 75% overall grade average.
• BIOL 440, with a minimum grade of 75%. A written thesis is required, with a public presentation of the thesis in the form of a poster session or a seminar.

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UBC SoTL Seed Program

Program Link: https://isotl.ctlt.ubc.ca/services/sotl-seed-program/

Sponsor: The UBC Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISoTL) and the  Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology  (CTLT)

Value: There are two support models which you can apply for:  SoTL Seed: Full Support  and  SoTL Seed: Limited Support . The application form and process is the same for both, but we invite you to read the information below and consider which support model better suits your needs.

SoTL Seed: Full Support

For projects that have not yet started, or are in early stages of implementation and require help with research design and/or extensive support with data collection and analysis. Support includes:

• Up to 70 hours of project support from a SoTL Specialist. SoTL Specialists are graduate students with SoTL and behavioural research experience who can assist with project design, ethics applications, surveys, focus groups/interviews, and analyses, and more.
• Limited support for instructional and learning design, provided by the Curriculum and Course Services at CTLT.
• Cohort-based meetings in which informal feedback is offered by cohort peers.
• Up to $200 CAD in discretionary funds to support research expenses (i.e., participant costs and disciplinary data interpretation).
• Up to $500 CAD to support the dissemination of project outcomes.

SoTL Seed: Limited Support

For projects that require support with specific components, such as project design; developing a BREB application; developing a questionnaire; conducting interviews/focus groups; or conducting analyses with pre-existing data. Support includes:

• 20 hours of project support from a SoTL Specialist. SoTL Specialists are graduate students with SoTL and behavioural research experience who can assist with project design, ethics applications, surveys, focus groups/interviews, and analyses, and more.
• Limited discretionary funds to support research expenses (i.e., participant costs and disciplinary data interpretation), assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Description: The UBC Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISoTL) and the  Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology  (CTLT) offer a support program for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects. The SoTL Seed Program provides those interested in exploring the impact of their pedagogical choices with graduate research specialists, collegial collaborations, and limited funding.

All UBC faculty and staff are invited to apply. Priority is given to full time faculty members, those who teach at the undergraduate level, and those who have not had an active SoTL Seed project in the last 12 months. Recipients are expected to disseminate their work and to participate in events to share the outputs of their work with the wider UBC community. The life cycle of a project is typically one to two years.

Trends in the SoTL Seed Program

Since program inception in 2014, an average of 45% of applications have been accepted every year. Applicants are primarily Educational Leadership Faculty, but we have also supported projects from Research Stream, Contract, and Clinical Faculty, and staff.

Common areas of practice being investigated:

• Innovative assessment, such as peer grading, ungrading, and group exams.
• Adoption of learning technologies (e.g., apps, collaborative tools, new online resources, etc.)
• Pedagogies fostering student engagement through student-centered approaches (e.g., community-engaged learning, experiential learning, etc)
• Group projects and team formation.

Common areas of impact being explored:

• Diversity and inclusion: Exploring more equitable practices and pedagogies.
• Student attitudes, engagement and motivation: Better understanding of students’ level of satisfaction, confidence, motivations, and perceptions about pedagogies or disciplinary knowledge.
• Disciplinary specific skills: Improving how students retain key concepts in a course, or mastering particular professional skills.
• Student actions and behaviours: Understanding and/or facilitating student participation (in class, online discussions, etc.), or time spent on particular tasks.

We encourage you to review  past and ongoing projects  to learn about the breadth of work being done at UBC.

SoTL Seed projects should  propose meaningful and novel questions  about student learning or teaching activities, with the goal of  gathering evidence  to answer those questions, and then  sharing the results  to contribute to the field of SoTL.

The following criteria are used to evaluate the proposals:

• Impact:  Does the project have the potential to advance our knowledge of teaching and learning at UBC?
• Novelty:  Is the project investigating a novel practice or context for the practice, which cannot already be found within the SoTL literature?
• Practicality:  Can the goals be accomplished within the designated time frame? Is the project plan provided able to accomplish the stated goals? Is the proposed project within the scope of support provided by this program?

When developing your SoTL Seed application, be clear in what you plan to investigate, what you hope to learn from the inquiry process, and how this work connects to your teaching practice. When writing your application, be sure to:

• Review the literature  related to your inquiry and situate your work within it. Make sure your study will provide a novel understanding or application of the practice under examination.
• Narrow your focus of inquiry to 1-3 concrete, attainable and relevant research questions; the SoTL Seed program is a starting point for learning about what is happening in your context.
• Envision a research plan that includes possible sources of data and methods, and a tentative timeline. Consider how different sources of data might help  answer your research questions (i.e., a mixed-methods approach).

Eligibility

• UBC Vancouver or Okanagan faculty, staff or post-docs are eligible to apply as Principal Applicants. Priority is given to full-time faculty members who teach at the undergraduate level.
• Graduate and undergraduate students may be listed as co-applicants or additional supports on the application.
• Project evaluation for TLEF, OER fund, or other UBC funded initiatives will not be supported by the SoTL Seed Fund, please contact  [email protected]  for consultation on these projects.
• The SoTL Seed Program does not support projects that are part of or related to a student’s thesis or dissertation.

Deadline to submit your application through ISoTL’s web application platform

May 27, 2024

Contact: If you have any questions, contact ISoTL Program Staff at [email protected]

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