Celebrating professors for their support and guidance of graduate students

By Joe Petrik, Bertrand Guenin, Siva Sivoththaman, Jack Weatherston, Martin Ross, Katie McQuaid and Marta Bailey University of Waterloo

The Awards of Excellence in Graduate Supervision were recently announced recognizing Dr. Peter Huck one of our Microplastics Fingerprinting Project members.

“As an institution, we are committed to creating environments in which graduate students are empowered and supported as they pursue their academic, professional and personal successes,” says Jeff Casello, associate vice-president, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. 

“The relationships between graduate students and their academic supervisors are critical to achieving this goal. Our colleagues who are receiving the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision have been and continue to be exceptional collaborators with and mentors to our students. We are thrilled to celebrate their vast contributions to the graduate community.”  

Dr. Peter Huck

Peter Huck

Dr. Peter Huck is a professor and NSERC chair holder in Water Treatment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is an internationally recognized researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of water treatment and quality. His expertise in this area has led to multiple appointments to Ontario’s Advisory Council on Drinking Water Standards and Testing.

His outstanding scholarly output includes more than 800 articles in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and book chapters, many of which were co-authored with graduate students. In recognition of this vital work, Dr. Huck was elected as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2019. 

In his role as educator, Dr. Huck has graduated close to 100 PhD and master’s students and has supervised more than 15 postdoctoral scholars. He has been praised by students and colleagues for his mentorship and commitment to creating lasting connections with a new generation of engineers.  

As one former graduate student put it, “[Dr. Huck] is not merely an academic mentor but a lifelong friend who builds honest and genuine relationships with each of his students.”  

The conscientious and caring approach gives graduate students the best opportunity to succeed. Many of Dr. Huck’s students now occupy prestigious roles in academia and industry, a testament to his value as a teacher and research supervisor.