Return to on campus research

This message was originally sent to research-based graduate students by Charmaine Dean, vice-president research and international, and Jeff Casello, associate vice-president, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

• We are restarting on campus research in a phased approach with an emphasis on safety.
• You must talk to your supervisor(s) about the safe conduct of research before work resumes.
• The Faculty Associate Deans, Graduate Studies and the Graduate Student Association are available to facilitate and support you in these conversations as necessary.

As you know, we have been developing plans for a phased restart of research activities on campus. We are starting this phased approach now and our plan aims to maintaining the safety of everyone in our community.

In these first phases of our gradual restart, we are following this simple process:

1.       Researchers – Principal Investigators (PIs) – who want to access physical facilities are submitting requests, including a mandatory safety plan, with the Office of Research.

2.       PIs must also discuss their safety plan protocols and processes with all researchers, including graduate students. We will only approve plans if all researchers express a willingness to proceed.

We strongly encourage you to communicate openly with your supervisor in all situations, but especially as you and your supervisor consider returning to conduct research using campus facilities.  If you and your supervisor are unable to come to an agreement on the return to on campus research, you should contact your Faculty Associate Dean, Graduate Studies who will be pleased to support you in finding a resolution. The Graduate Student Association is also available to serve as an advocate for you.

We all recognize the instrumental role that you as graduate students play in our research and we are very pleased to be taking steps to restart on campus activities that support one of our core missions – conducting impactful research.   We will also be providing more information on other supports for research, including the Library, in coming weeks.

We are unequivocally committed to ensuring your safety and your agency in determining your academic path.  We want to remind you that as you continue your academic journey at Waterloo, you can access the Guide for Graduate Research and Supervision and review resources available to you.  Stay well.