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2025 Award for Excellence in Supervision: Peter Unrau

As a faculty member in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry for over two decades, Dr. Peter Unrau is known for cultivating a research environment where graduate students thrive intellectually and professionally. His mentorship style combines high expectations with unwavering support, guiding students to develop technical excellence, critical thinking, and the confidence to lead.

Unrau’s lab is a hub of curiosity-driven research, where students are encouraged to formulate hypotheses, defend their ideas in dynamic group discussions, and engage deeply with the scientific process.

Department Chair Dr. Lisa Craig says, “His lab offers a rich intellectual environment where students thrive. He works closely with each trainee to build strong foundational knowledge and technical skills while nurturing their curiosity. His high expectations are paired with continual support, reinforcing progress and building confidence.”

Unrau’s commitment to individualized mentorship is a hallmark of his supervision. He meets regularly with students one-on-one, creating a safe and inclusive space that fosters creativity and resilience. His students consistently publish in high-impact journals, present at prestigious conferences, and earn competitive awards—including the Governor General’s Gold Medal. Many have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry.

Dr. Shanker Shyam Sundhar Panchapakesan, now Senior Assistant Professor at SASTRA University in Tamilnadu, India, shares a deeply personal account of Unrau’s mentorship.

Says Panchapakesan, “Dr. Unrau’s mentorship was foundational to my growth as a scientist and shaped the trajectory of my academic and professional career. Moving to Canada for my PhD was my first international experience, and Dr. Unrau went well beyond his professional obligations to ensure a smooth transition. He picked me up at the airport, helped me shop for clothes after my baggage was lost, and even hosted me in his home until I found permanent accommodation. His kindness and support helped me navigate the initial cultural and logistical challenges of moving abroad. Academically, he created a lab environment that encouraged intellectual curiosity, independence, and critical thinking. His mentorship has had a lasting and transformative impact on my professional life.”

Says Lena Dolgosheina, a former PhD student and now Research Grant Facilitator at UBC’s Life Sciences Institute, “Dr. Unrau fosters an intellectually vibrant and supportive environment that challenges students to think ‘outside the box’. His emphasis on rigour and reproducibility shaped my scientific habits necessary for a research-intensive career. His outstanding patience and genuine interest in his students’ well-being created a sense of belonging that was vital to my academic and personal development.”

Unrau’s mentorship philosophy is grounded in the belief that great science is driven by curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to tackle unsolved problems.

“My goal is to train independent, creative, and rigorous scientists who not only excel within the lab but engage actively with the global research community,” he says. His students regularly collaborate across disciplines and borders, coauthoring papers and presenting at major conferences—experiences that enrich their careers and broaden their perspectives.

Former student Dr. Hani Zaher, now Professor of Biology and Co-director of the Plant and Microbial Biosciences Graduate Program at Washington University in St. Louis, says, “I owe much of my success as an independent investigator to Peter’s mentorship. He was extremely generous with his time and cultivated an environment that promoted independence. His training set a foundation that continues to benefit me today.”

Beyond the lab, Unrau is a leader in graduate education innovation. He actively involves students in departmental seminars and is leading the Biomedical and Environmental Sensor Training (BEST) program—an interdisciplinary NSERC CREATE initiative that unites SFU’s Faculties of Science and Applied Science with engineers at the University of Waterloo to offer world-class, multi-institutional graduate training.

We congratulate Dr. Peter Unrau on receiving the 2025 Graduate Studies Award for Excellence in Supervision. His dedication to mentorship, research excellence, and student success continues to shape the next generation of scientists and leaders.

The 2026 Graduate Studies Awards for Excellence are opening soon for nominations. Nominations will be accepted from November 1, 2025 until 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 17, 2026.