Dr. Catherine Burns, a professor of Systems Design Engineering and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Human Factors in Healthcare Systems, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Suning Wang Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship, presented by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). Dr. Burns is the first University of Waterloo professor to receive this award.
This award marks the third time that Dr. Burns has been recognized for her mentorship and supervision — earlier this year, she was named the recipient of the University's own Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision, and in 2016 she received the Faculty of Engineering's iteration of the award. In 26 years at Waterloo, she has supervised 17 doctoral and 42 master's students, and secured more than $27 million in research funding. In addition, she has held some of Waterloo's biggest administrative positions such as Founding Director of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Executive Director of Sponsored Research and Health Initiatives, and Associate Vice President, Health Initiatives.
At the heart of Dr. Burns' philosophy is the belief that students should come first — "I always schedule my students first, before booking other meetings," Burns said. "We are a university, and anytime our priority is not our students, it seems to me we are off track."
The Dr. Suning Wang Award was established in 2017, and later renamed in 2020 for its inaugural recipient, the late Dr. Suning Wang of Queen's University. Burns will receive the award November 5, 2026, in Regina, Saskatchewan, at the CAGS 64th Annual Conference.