The University of Toronto awarded graduate degrees in chemistry on Friday June 6th to 18 students at Convocation Hall on the St. George campus.
Two MSc and 16 PhD students received their degrees at the Convocation ceremony. Afterward, graduates came together with their families and supporters in Davenport Hall of the Lash Miller Building to take photos and celebrate their achievements.
Diaaeldin Ihab Abdallah, Mahtab Abtahi. Front Row: Nicole Potter, Stephanie Sembastiampillai, Alicia Marie Battaglia.
Department of Chemistry Chair Mark Lautens addressed the gathering, congratulating the successful students on having reached a significant milestone. "For each of you, this is just the beginning, even though it is the end of a period where you have put in an enormous amount of work.”
"You’ve done so much already and I have good news and bad news,” Lautens said. “The good news is you got a degree; the bad news is you are not done learning. You will continue to spend the rest of your lives on an educational journey, one way or another."
“We all know how hard it is to do research when the answers are not known.” Lautens said. He spoke of the future and uncertainties like the effect of AI on society and went on to highlight the vital role of community in supporting students. "As much as you will have been focused on the task, you probably didn't take this journey alone. Maybe it was your siblings, parents, or a partner who somehow kept you going during those times when the lab was, somehow, not everything you originally thought it would be.”
"As you watch your career and those of your fellow students unfold, you’ll see they take all kinds of twists and turns. I certainly did not imagine things would turn out the way they have for me.”
Lautens finished his remarks by speaking about the role of education in building resilience. "A higher degree helps you prepare and adapt to changes that are sure to happen. Maybe the most important skill you have acquired is to learn pivot—to challenges faced in an ongoing project, or taking on a completely new project.”
The Department of Chemistry celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of all our graduates and encourages them to stay connected as they embrace new opportunities and explore life beyond academia.
For a complete list of students who completed an MSc or PhD at Chemistry during the 2024-25 Academic Year, please visit the Graduate Student Alumni section of the Chemistry website.