Thomas Bujaki’s Journey to his PhD in Biology
A two-time Carleton graduate — first with his bachelor’s degree and then his master’s — Thomas Bujaki was juggling a full life. He was an expectant father, civil servant and PhD candidate in Biology, focusing in Genomics and Bioinformatics.
Working with his supervisor Prof. Nicolas Rodrigue, Bujaki studied complex genetic models that help scientists understand evolutionary history and how closely different species are related.
In the middle of this busy chapter, everything changed. At 29, Bujaki learned he had stage two testicular cancer.
“The two weeks in between learning the results and visiting a urologist were some of the most stressful times in my life.” says Bujaki.
“I really wasn’t able to get any work or research done because I just kept thinking: these things that I’m working on, am I going to be able to finish them?”
Often called a young-man’s cancer, testicular cancer led Bujaki through two surgeries and nine weeks of chemotherapy.
And life didn’t slow down. Five weeks into chemotherapy, his first daughter was born.
“I remember sitting in the oncology room waiting to see the doctor with my wife who was very obviously pregnant,” says Bujaki. “The doctor walked in and said, ‘Oh, that’s a heck of a time for all this.’”
Bujaki stepped away from his research and work to focus on recovery. After months of treatment and follow-up tests, he was cleared of cancer.
“Because I received so much support from the department and I had such a wonderful supervisor, there wasn’t a question of if I was going to continue the research,” says Bujaki.
He encourages young men to take action when something feels off.
“Unfortunately, bad things can happen to people at any time,” he says. “This is one of the more treatable cancers if you’re able to catch it early.”
Now a father of two, Bujaki looks forward to crossing the graduation stage.
“Convocation will be a really meaningful opportunity to celebrate what I’ve made it through and what I’ve been able to do,” says Bujaki. “To have my family and my daughters in the audience – I’m really looking forward to it.”
For more Spring Convocation 2026 graduate stories, click here.