The purpose of this program is to help new students navigate their program and academic milestones, providing ground-floor knowledge of what to expect, potential pitfalls and how to get around them. The Grad Buddies Mentorship Program is not a mental health resource.

The Graduate Student Councils, the Faculty Wellness Program and the Faculty of Medicine Graduate Studies Office are pleased to offer the Grad Buddies Mentorship Program, a peer-to-peer mentoring program matching senior graduate students or postdoctoral fellows from all programs with new students.

All students and postdoctoral fellows interested in participating as mentors will benefit from specialized training throughout the year.

Mentors are expected to:

  • Meet with mentee(s) at least 2 times a month, initially, and then as needed.
  • Help the mentee navigate milestones of their degree (TAC proposal, subsequent TAC meetings, WIPs, comprehensive/transfer exam, class suggestions, etc.).
  • Give advice pertaining to career options (academia, government, industry, etc.) and how to set up a good career trajectory.
  • Provide advice on how to apply for salary awards, scholarships, and travel bursaries (and information about what opportunities are available)
  • Help navigate academia. What does it exactly entail to become a professor or senior scientist?
  • Provide advice on how to manage their time. E.g. What are some tips for how to consistently conduct bench work while still fitting in time for classes and staying up to date on literature in your field?
  • Provide advice on how to navigate interpersonal dynamics in a lab.

Please note that mentors are not expected to be responsible for another student’s mental health or wellbeing. If there are any signs that a student mentee is struggling with mental health issues, they are to redirect that student to the Faculty Wellness service at [email protected].

If you are interested in participating in the Grad Buddies Mentorship Program as a mentor, or if you would like to be mentored, please register here: