2026 Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision

The Advanced Interface Design Lab proudly congratulates its Director and dedicated advisor, Professor Catherine Burns, on being selected as a recipient of the 2026 Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

Dr. Catherine M. Burns is a Professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo and the Director of the Advanced Interface Design Lab. Her research is situated at the intersection of engineering and human-centred technologies, with a focus on designing and understanding complex systems. Through the Advanced Interface Design Lab, this work is applied across a range of domains, including healthcare, robotics, defence, transportation, cybersecurity, finance, and automation.

Beyond her academic role, Dr. Burns has held key institutional leadership positions, including Associate Vice President, Health Initiatives in the Office of Research. In this capacity, she advanced strategic priorities in health and health technology, fostered research partnerships, and supported equity in research and national funding initiatives.

A visionary builder of research capacity, Dr. Burns founded the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and guided its growth from a faculty-based initiative to a university-wide centre. She also chaired the University’s Health Initiatives Task Force in 2020, helping to shape a comprehensive institutional health strategy aligned with Waterloo’s 2025 Strategic Plan. Today, the University of Waterloo stands as a leading hub for health-related innovation.

This University-wide award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to graduate mentorship. Dr. Burns exemplifies this commitment through her thoughtful guidance, encouragement of independent research, and sustained dedication to student success.

Across her roles, as Director, Associate Vice President, and faculty advisor, Dr. Burns’ work is consistently grounded in mentorship. She supports a diverse community of postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and international scholars, contributing to the development of future leaders in engineering. At the same time, she maintains an extensive body of published research that reflects both the breadth and impact of her work.

Students and colleagues note that her impact as a supervisor is far-reaching:

“Dr. Catherine Burns is an important figure in the engineering community at the University of Waterloo as a supervisor who fundamentally transforms her students’ lives.”

Dr. Burns’ “commitment to student success is rare, demonstrated by how she works proactively to build partnerships both internally and externally to support research opportunities and broader professional development.”

“Through her example, Dr. Burns demonstrates that excellent supervision is not solely about academic achievement, but about nurturing ethical, compassionate, and well-rounded professionals.”

“Many of her former students now hold faculty positions at renowned universities and have become research leaders in their own right. Others serve as senior researchers at prestigious research centers or occupy executive and leadership roles in major technology companies, including several within the “Magnificent 7”, at the Director and even VP levels.”

Professor Burns is widely recognized for fostering a supportive and collaborative research environment in which graduate students are encouraged to explore innovative ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and grow as scholars and professionals.

The Advanced Interface Design Lab celebrates this well-deserved recognition and thanks Professor Burns for her continued leadership and commitment to graduate education.