Alumni on Success

Jill Zwicker

Choose your research topic and supervisor wisely. You will be dedicating several years to your graduate studies, so you want to enjoy it! Study something about which you are truly passionate.

Andrew Ibey

Check in with yourself with everything you do. What do you like, what would you want to change? Keep moving your career towards your interests. Getting to where you want to be takes persistence. Be patient with yourself as you move through your journey.

Erin Tranfield

Oh this is not an easy question – I suppose I will be brutally honest and say that biological science is broken at the moment. There are too many post-docs, not enough positions for PIs, funding is scare, and all you are evaluated on is the number of papers you…

Juliana Negreiros

I would suggest that current graduate students dedicate their coursework, research, practicum, and internship experiences to topics, populations, and types of interventions that they are most passionate about. Having such academic and applied background in a specific…

Gary Lopaschuk

Work hard and be up to date on the scientific literature in your field.

Michael More

Get involved as much as you can during your graduate program, especially with activities spearheaded by other graduate students: informal research talks, Three Minute Thesis, student-led conferences, social events, the works. These are your future colleagues or mentors (…

Andreanne Doyon

It's important to develop connections and networks within your program, the university at large, as well as outside the university within your field. People can help you if they remember who you are. Whatever you want to do after you graduate, try and get some direct…

Ellen T Arena

I would advise students to be open to new opportunities – even those that may take them from what they considered their own predefined career path. As long as they are enthusiastic, fulfilled, and inspired, doors will fly open and could lead anywhere. I would never have…

Asato Ikeda

Be strategic about future professional life but also flexible.

Sazid Zaman

Always be positive and keep networking.

Adam Ford

Follow what is interesting to you and opens the most doors for your next step. You don't need to decide what you want to be when you grow up right now, but seek opportunities that will empower you with choices in the future.

Ricardo Rivera-Acevedo

Network, network, network with the people in your desired field or industry. They will be instrumental in helping you achieve your career goals.

Anne Bjorkman

Networking is key. Other than doing good research and publishing, of course, having a network of colleagues and (potential future) collaborators can be incredibly helpful when looking for a job. As your supervisor to introduce you to people, go to and present at…

Meredith Diane Mantooth

Get out into the community and build relationships with people doing the kind of work you want to do. Education alone isn't enough to find a satisfying career; professional experience is a must.

Benjamin Good

It may sound like a broken record, but the most important thing you can do (aside from excellent work, which is a given) is to get yourself out there and meet people. Go to conferences and use social media to make yourself known (carefully).

Taylor Davis

If you want a job in academia, make sure you understand how competitive the job market is in your field. Also make sure you have a good plan for funding for your ENTIRE time in grad school. And stay on track with timing as you progress through your program. If you get…

Stephen Ney

Consider opportunities outside of the richest countries, outside of where your professors trained, and outside of where your discipline's top conferences are held, in places where your skills might be in greater demand.