Waterloo celebrates graduate supervisory excellence | Current Graduate Students

Graduate student success is built on strong mentorship, and this year’s three Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision winners exemplify what it means to be outstanding mentors, advisors, and role models.

Each year, the University of Waterloo recognizes faculty members who go above and beyond in guiding, supporting, and inspiring their graduate students. This year’s winners recognized outstanding supervisors from the faculties of Engineering, Environment, and Science.

“As a university, we recognize the profound impact that dedicated graduate supervisors have on the academic and professional journeys of our students,” says Dr. Justin Wan, interim associate vice-president, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. “The recipients of this year’s Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision exemplify the mentorship, guidance and commitment that fosters an environment where graduate students can truly thrive. We are proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions to our graduate community.”

2025-2026 winners

Catherine Burns, Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Dr. Catherine Burns, a professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Human Factors in Healthcare Systems, has received the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision, a recognition that comes as little surprise to the students and colleagues who have worked alongside her for more than two decades.

As director of the Advanced Interface Design Lab, Burns has built an internationally recognized research program in human-centred design and artificial intelligence in healthcare. Her 17 doctoral and 42 master's graduates now hold faculty positions, lead research teams and occupy senior roles at organizations including Google, IBM and Airbnb.

Dr. Lisa Aultman-Hall, chair of the Department of Systems Design Engineering, describes Burns as a supervisor who leads by example and believes mentorship means advocacy and celebration of students' growth, not simply oversight of their research. Students consistently describe her as a supervisor who provides structure without sacrificing independence, and who remains present through career changes, personal setbacks and the inevitable uncertainties of doctoral work.

PhD student Krizia Francisco captured this spirit directly, saying that Catherine "focused on my abilities and reminded me that the journey itself is the PhD, not just convocation."

Amelia Clarke, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, Faculty of Environment

Dr. Amelia Clarke, a professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, has received the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision in recognition of her exceptional commitment to student mentorship, research leadership and community impact.

Over her distinguished career at Waterloo, Clarke has supervised more than 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom now hold influential positions in academia, government and the non-profit sector. She currently supervises eight graduate students alongside five full-time research staff.

A defining feature of Clarke's supervisory approach is her emphasis on collaborative goal-setting. Students describe a shared process of co-creating supervision plans that allow them to take meaningful ownership of their research direction from the earliest stages. Clarke also actively supports her students in securing competitive funding, mentoring them through scholarship applications and grant proposals. Several students credit her guidance with helping them obtain major awards that strengthened their academic profiles and eased financial pressures.

The letters of support in her nomination package speak to both her professional impact and her character. As one nominator wrote, "what distinguishes Dr. Clarke most profoundly is her humanity. She cares deeply for her students as people, not just as researchers." Another noted: "To me, she is not only a mentor and professor but also a guardian, someone who shields her students from discouragement and helps them face challenges with confidence and strength."

Chris Yakymchuk, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science

Dr. Chris Yakymchuk, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has received the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision in recognition of his exceptional dedication to student training and his broad expertise across the geosciences.

Yakymchuk's research spans mountain formation, continental crust development, fluid-rock interactions and the origin of mineral deposits and critical minerals. This research depth makes him a uniquely well-rounded mentor, capable of training students in fieldwork, petrology, instrumental analyses, and numerical modelling.

His students have earned an impressive array of honours, including a NSERC Vanier Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, UW Alumni Gold Medal Finalist recognition, and the W.B. Pearson Medal, among others. Students trained in his lab have gone on to careers in government agencies, industry and academia.

The letters of support in Yakymchuk's nomination package reflect the lasting impression his mentorship leaves. "In just over 10 years at the University of Waterloo, Chris has established a truly outstanding graduate student supervision style that enables award-winning students to flourish," wrote Dr. Brian Kendall, professor and interim department chair. Current master's student Jessica Gareau added that Yakymchuk "unfailingly ensures that his students feel supported and valued."

Carson Kinney (PhD, ’25) described Yakymchuk as a mentor whose "philosophy is rooted in understanding the whole student — including our personal goals, background, academic strengths, and the career paths that excite us."

Yakymchuk previously received the Department's Jane Lang Excellence in Earth and Environmental Sciences award in 2020 for his outstanding teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association, established the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision to recognize faculty members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to graduate student mentorship.

Award recipients receive a $1,000 cash prize, a Waterloo-crested certificate, and will be recognized at the Celebration of Teaching Excellence and Innovation in the fall term.