Alumni on Success

Julie Belanger

Keep an open mind because you never know where your career will bring you, don't close any doors too early. Take advantage of the students who are ahead of you by a few years - keep in touch with them to learn from their experience.

Michael Wrinch

You are not the smartest person. You will never be. Listen to others and admit how little you know. That is your strength.

Lucía Terra

Take the time to make the most of your time as graduate student: enjoy!

Kirsten Dalrymple

Take your time to learn. You may feel pressure to finish your degree, but this is the only time that you'll have this type of freedom to learn and grow.

Mehrdad Fatourechi

Do what you are passionate about and not necessarily what is currently hot in the market or your parents/friends want you to do. Learn to code and figure out what the industry really wants. Look for a company where you feel you will love the culture.

Rochelle Hines

Explore career possibilities outside of academia early on, tenure track faculty positions are becoming difficult to obtain in some fields of work and it is important to be realistic about what other amazing options are out there.

Michael Hoff

Always take the time to test out possible careers, through internships, volunteering, summer jobs.

Sherry Zhao

Be open-minded to other people's advice and always reflect on your own experiences.

Anita Cote

Work hard and network.

Bernard Ng

Do internships at different places to find your true interest, even if it delays your graduation a little.

Melanie Badali

"Play to your strengths". Graduate school is a fantastic place to learn about your own strengths and growth opportunities. It can be easy to feel alone and fall into a pit of despair focusing on your weaknesses. Instead, recognize everyone has something to offer. Play to...

Glen Hearns

Develop your creativity and your interests. There is no way to predict what kind of careers will be available in 15 or 20 years, other than that they will likely be different than the ones we have now.

Mohamed Sultan Mohamed Ali

Explore all the available opportunities at UBC. You may not have the same opportunity again.

Andrea Goldson Barnaby

Make the most of the opportunities that present themselves. Try to have a balance in life.

Ali Dashti

Hang in there. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Rami Nader

Have a plan, but be open to alternative opportunities and be willing to follow unplanned opportunities as they come up.

Jill Hamilton

Present and publish your research early and get involved with the community of researchers you see yourself engaging with for the rest of your career. Becoming active in your research community.

Jean Michel Lauzon

Pursue what you like and be honest with yourself about what you don't like. I felt a little trapped since I didn't want to become a researcher but the whole system is set up to train you to become a researcher. I found talking to people that were research-adjacent helped me...

Costanza Casiraghi

I think that the key word for success in science today is "networking.” I was able to secure good post-doc positions by attending national and international scientific conferences where I presented my work. Volunteering activities are also very important to make connections...

Vanessa Timmer

Find your kindred spirits even if they are not at UBC - look for your colleagues worldwide. Keep your research focused but also poke around to other topics and disciplines and ideas. Contact your favourite thought leaders and interact with them.

Samer Al-Kiswany

Graduate study can open multiple career options for you; from academia, industrial research, startups, to specialized highly trained person in the industry. Figure out early what do you like to do after your PhD and tailor your PhD to best help you in your career and to...

Kaela Jubas

Regardless of anticipated career direction, take advantage of relevant networks and look for opportunities to engage and serve with them. If it's an academic career you're after, seeing that engagement through to publication is crucial.

Jasna Jankovic

Always keep a good track record behind you. Leave as best impression as you can on everyone who you worked with or interacted with. Be honest, hard-working, responsible and ethical. Also, stay in touch with your contacts.

Elisabeth Ormandy

It's ok to not have a plan and to follow your passions and see where they take you. A grad degree (especially a PhD) simply won't be possible to complete unless you are passionate about what you're doing.