Dr. David Hammond is an outstanding graduate student mentor. A Professor in the School of Public Health & Health Systems at the University of Waterloo since 2014, he has supervised 30 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, several of whom have moved on to become faculty members and hold national research leadership positions. He is currently the primary supervisor for one Master’s student and five Doctoral students.
A global leader in research on tobacco, food, and substance use policy, Dr. Hammond models excellence in scholarship, professional conduct, and integrity, and he works hard to instil these qualities in his graduate students. In addition to targeted training activities, his research program provides opportunities for students to work with internationally-renowned researchers and to publish their work in leading journals. In the past five years, more than 80% of Dr. Hammond’s peer-reviewed publications have a trainee as first author.
According to his former and current graduate students, what makes Dr. Hammond’s mentorship so special is the time and energy that he dedicates to them. He meets frequently with his students individually and in lab groups, and is always available to review scholarship applications, edit manuscripts, and prepare for conferences. He is also lauded for encouraging students to maintain a healthy lifestyle beyond the lab. “Dr. Hammond promotes work-life balance and encourages us to take breaks,” reports a current PhD student, “and he takes an interest in our lives outside of work.” It is this welcoming, supportive, and creative research environment that leads Dr. Hammond’s students to excellence, in both their professional and personal lives. “Dave genuinely cares about people, especially his graduate students,” reflects a former PhD. “He is everything that an awesome graduate student supervisor is supposed to be.”
