A Conversation with Prof. Bernie Kraatz: Graduate Studies, Mentorship, and Expectations

​Event Description

​Graduate studies can be rewarding, but they can also be complex and difficult to navigate, especially when it comes to applications, supervision, and expectations. This webinar offers an open conversation about graduate training and mentorship from the perspective of a faculty supervisor.

​In this session, participants will engage in a guided conversation with Prof. Bernie Kraatz, who will share reflections from his experience mentoring graduate students and postdocs across different stages of his academic career. The discussion will explore how supervisors think about selecting graduate students and postdocs, what expectations typically exist once students join a research group, and what success looks like from a supervisor’s perspective.

​The conversation will also touch on common challenges faced by graduate students and postdocs, how mentorship relationships evolve over time, and what students should consider when choosing a supervisor and research environment. The session will conclude with practical advice for prospective and current graduate students preparing for graduate studies or navigating their academic journey.

​Speaker Bio

​Prof. Bernie Kraatz is a Professor at the University of Toronto and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He completed his PhD at the University of Calgary and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Maryland and the Weizmann Institute of Science. He has held academic and research appointments at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of Toronto. Prof. Kraatz has received multiple awards for research excellence and mentorship, including a Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials, and has served in leadership roles within his department.