Research Supervisors

Canadian Immigration Updates

Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more

The supervisor is the key person in a thesis-based graduate degree program. The principal role of the supervisor is to help students achieve their scholastic potential and to chair the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Supervisor will provide reasonable commitment, accessibility, professionalism, stimulation, guidance, respect and consistent encouragement to the student. Learn more

Graduate programs have different expectations regarding prospective students contacting faculty members. Some require commitment of a faculty member as thesis supervisor prior to applying while others assign supervisors in the first year. Please review the requirements for each program in the degree listing under the heading "Admission Information & Requirements" in step 3 "Prepare Application" under "Thesis Supervision".

Advice on how to reach out to supervisors

 
Name Rolesort ascending Faculty Academic Unit
Price, Morgan Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine Department of Family Practice
Bass, John Associate Professor Faculty of Applied Science School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture
Ballarin, Roberta Associate Professor Faculty of Arts Department of Philosophy
Zhang, Gaoheng Associate Professor Faculty of Arts Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies
Tocheva, Elitza Associate Professor Faculty of Science Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Gelinas-Lemaire, Vincent Associate Professor Faculty of Arts Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies
Caragata, Lea Associate Professor Faculty of Arts School of Social Work
Shan, Hongxia Associate Professor Faculty of Education Department of Educational Studies
Ponga de la Torre, Mauricio Associate Professor Faculty of Applied Science Department of Mechanical Engineering
Herdman, Anthony Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine School of Audiology and Speech Sciences
Mattison, Thomas Associate Professor Faculty of Science Department of Physics & Astronomy
Kolind, Shannon Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine Division of Neurology
Rusk, Bruce Associate Professor Faculty of Arts Department of Asian Studies
Goble, J. Scott Associate Professor Faculty of Education Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy
Stephens, Christopher Associate Professor Faculty of Arts Department of Philosophy
Eryigit Madzwamuse, Suna Associate Professor Faculty of Education Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education
Kontogiorgos, Vasileios Associate Professor Faculty of Land and Food Systems Food, Nutrition & Health

Pages

 

Other Researcher Directories

Reaching Out Tips

Complete these steps before you reach out to a faculty member!

Check requirements
  • Familiarize yourself with program requirements. You want to learn as much as possible from the information available to you before you reach out to a faculty member. Be sure to visit the graduate degree program listing and program-specific websites.
  • Check whether the program requires you to seek commitment from a supervisor prior to submitting an application. For some programs this is an essential step while others match successful applicants with faculty members within the first year of study. This is either indicated in the program profile under "Admission Information & Requirements" - "Prepare Application" - "Supervision" or on the program website.
Focus your search
  • Identify specific faculty members who are conducting research in your specific area of interest.
  • Establish that your research interests align with the faculty member’s research interests.
    • Read up on the faculty members in the program and the research being conducted in the department.
    • Familiarize yourself with their work, read their recent publications and past theses/dissertations that they supervised. Be certain that their research is indeed what you are hoping to study.
Make a good impression
  • Compose an error-free and grammatically correct email addressed to your specifically targeted faculty member, and remember to use their correct titles.
    • Do not send non-specific, mass emails to everyone in the department hoping for a match.
    • Address the faculty members by name. Your contact should be genuine rather than generic.
  • Include a brief outline of your academic background, why you are interested in working with the faculty member, and what experience you could bring to the department. The supervision enquiry form guides you with targeted questions. Ensure to craft compelling answers to these questions.
  • Highlight your achievements and why you are a top student. Faculty members receive dozens of requests from prospective students and you may have less than 30 seconds to pique someone’s interest.
  • Demonstrate that you are familiar with their research:
    • Convey the specific ways you are a good fit for the program.
    • Convey the specific ways the program/lab/faculty member is a good fit for the research you are interested in/already conducting.
  • Be enthusiastic, but don’t overdo it.
Attend an information session

G+PS regularly provides virtual sessions that focus on admission requirements and procedures and tips how to improve your application.