Current Students

First-year student to highlight U of T Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:14:23 +0000

First-year student to highlight U of T Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:14

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Vera Allue, a first-year U of T Mississauga student from Spain, is heading to the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Megan Easton

Topic

Our Community

Climate Change

International Students

Sustainability

U of T Mississauga

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

“What’s happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it’s an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community”

When Vera Allue learned that she would represent the ��Ƶ Mississauga at COP29 in Azerbaijan, it reaffirmed her belief that she made the right choice as an international student dedicated to climate action.

A first-year student from Spain, Allue says she didn’t realize the scale of U of T’s leadership in sustainability until she came to the university.

“I knew everything here was very modern, and I noticed all the small but important ways that the campus promotes sustainability in areas like waste management and food services – but I didn’t know about the systems and infrastructure behind it,” says Allue, who is pursuing a double major in economics and political science with a minor in environmental law and policy.

“Then I read UTM’s [Climate Positive Plan] to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2043.”

The plan, which includes a commitment – adopted by all three campuses – to become climate-positive by 2050, is one of several initiatives that Allue will spread the word about at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, beginning Nov. 11 and ending Nov. 22.

She’s also going to showcase U of T Mississauga’s local strategies to address climate change, in addition to its array of educational and research programs on environmental issues – efforts that have contributed to U of T being named the most sustainable university in the world in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

“What’s happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it’s an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community,” says Allue, who also looks forward to sharing her learnings from the conference with the U of T Mississauga community when she returns.

For Allue, attending the pre-eminent global gathering on climate change is a culmination of her efforts to engage with and raise awareness about climate issues.

When she was only 15 years old, she started a recycling and wastewater project in her hometown of Soria in northern Spain. “I wanted to educate my peers about what they could do, because climate action is often perceived as something that belongs to powerful stakeholders,” she says.

Allue has also been involved with several international organizations that encourage youth to participate in politics and civil society, with a strong focus on environmental issues: she’s currently a European Union (EU) Young European Ambassador and a member of the European Youth Energy Network, which she will also represent at COP29.

Vera Allue started a recycling and wastewater management project in her community when she was 15 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

During her short time at U of T, Allue has gotten involved in several sustainability initiatives, including the UTM Sustainability Ambassador program and the Student Association for Geography, Geomatics and the Environment (SAGE).

She says the support she has received from U of T Mississauga’s Sustainability Office in attending COP29 is proof of the university’s steadfast belief in students’ potential to effect change.

“What I'm really looking forward to is bringing to COP29 the sense of belonging and pride that I feel in UTM’s climate action,” says Allue.

“When I first started contributing to the environmental field, I felt like my voice was barely heard. Now I feel so much optimism because I’ve found spaces like UTM that actively encourage young people to speak up and participate.”

Math grad says U of T taught him to 'learn how to learn'

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:15:18 +0000

Math grad says U of T taught him to 'learn how to learn'

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/06/2024 - 15:15

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Sean Fridkin, who earned a bachelor's in math and computer science, counts University Professor Emeritus and Nobel Prize-winner ��Ƶ among his inspirations (supplied image)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Mathematics

Trinity College

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Sean Fridkin, 18, completed his high school and undergraduate studies in a total of four years

Some might view mathematics as an abstract discipline, but Sean Fridkin sees it as way to understand the world and solve problems – and he’s getting an early start.

Fridkin recently crossed the stage in the ��Ƶ’s Convocation Hall to receive his honours bachelor of science in mathematics with a specialist in computer science, completing his high school and undergraduate studies in a total of four years.

Born in Israel, Fridkin spent most of his childhood and formative years in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ont., where he managed to complete high school in two years after qualifying for a gifted students’ program.

He says he wanted to attend U of T because it’s the top university in Canada. “U of T has the best faculty by far,” he said, citing among his inspirations University Professor Emeritus and Nobel Prize winner ��Ƶ, “and you have opportunities to learn and take a bunch of different courses.

"It’s also a very prestigious program, so in terms of job prospects, it’s really good. Plus, the people are great ... it’s a great place to learn, grow and network.”

Fridkin spoke to U of T News about his interest in math and computer science, plans for the future and thoughts on how students can get the most out of their undergraduate years:

How did you become interested in mathematics and computer science?

I think math is about trying to understand the world. All around, you have things going on, things happening, and math is seeing the patterns and getting a deeper understanding for what’s going on. That’s always interested me. I think it interests most people – they just don’t know that it’s called math and there’s a language for it.

The way I did my math major is I took a bunch of courses in different fields, but the main thing that unifies them is they teach you to think about the world in different ways. You have classes about the closeness of objects, analysis, topology, you’ve got to think about different types of infinities … You expand the way in which you think, and that interested me more than any specific path within mathematics.

In terms of computer science, I really like numerical methods, where you try to approximate – given some data – and interpolate with models to predict real things. I find machine learning numerical methods really fun.

What was your approach to learning while at U of T?

The number one goal for me in university was to learn how to learn – and learn how to think about new things and discover new ways of thinking. That’s the thing U of T gave me. You get the opportunity to talk to lots of different people, lots of different perspectives and learn from professors who are very experienced in the field and often have a unique way of thinking about different problems.

Also, with the assignments, you have to push yourself and that’s what I enjoyed about it. It was a little different from high school, where an assignment might take you 30 minutes. Here, for some of the math classes, I would have to initially spend maybe a couple of days on one assignment. And I learned a lot from that. I think it’s going to impact me, not only as I go further in my career, but also in life.

What are your plans for your career and education going forward?

I’m looking for computer science roles. I want to learn from interesting people and work on interesting problems. That’s the main goal. I don’t have any specific field that I’m going for within computer science – just interesting problems and people who I know I’ll be able to learn from and who I admire and respect.

I really enjoy learning, but I think most learning can be done informally, on your own or with good people at a company. But certainly, if there’s something interesting that I want to learn more about and that I can’t do on my own, I would 100 per cent go back to school.

Long term, I want to transition to something in the machine learning world.

What would be your advice to students starting university?

I think the actual coursework is secondary to what you do in university. You should learn how to approach new problems ... For me, since I was going into math and computer science, I read a little bit of math stuff and I mostly worked on brain teaser problems. That helped me much more than any domain knowledge in any of the fields.

As soon as you build that thought process in your head – as soon as that becomes your natural way of thinking – everything becomes so much easier.

For this U of T grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:08:09 +0000

For this U of T grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/05/2024 - 11:08

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Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne graduated with an honours bachelor of science in psychology from U of T Scarborough after a tumultuous start to her post-secondary education (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

International Students

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne spent three years pursuing an illegitimate degree in Sri Lanka, before starting over at U of T Scarborough

Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne was only two months away from completing an undergraduate program in Sri Lanka when she found out that the degree she’d spent years working towards wasn’t accredited.

Wijeyeratne had studied at an institution affiliated with a British university and was told that she would earn a degree from that university – but when she visited the U.K. and toured the campus, she found out that wasn’t the case.

A devastated Wijeyeratne dropped out of the program, but soon turned her energy towards starting over with her undergraduate studies, applying to the ��Ƶ Scarborough’s Arts & Science Co-op program.

On Oct. 29, eight years after she first set out in pursuit of post-secondary education in Sri Lanka, Wijeyeratne crossed the stage at Convocation Hall, graduating with an honours bachelor of science in psychology.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘How did you restart?’ I think so many of us are capable of so much more in terms of resilience,” said Wijeyeratne, now 27. “When we are faced with a situation, you don't just give up, you want to fight, you want to try again.

“It was hard, but I didn't see giving up as an option.”

It’s an ethos that Wijeyeratne espoused throughout her time at U of T. Although the setback in Sri Lanka was behind here when she arrived in Canada, there were more challenges lying in wait.

Starting her U of T studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wijeyeratne had to do the first month of her studies remotely from Sri Lanka. When she finally got to Canada, she spent two weeks in quarantine in a Toronto hotel, and then, right when she was allowed to leave, her grandfather died.

Wijeyeratne had to miss the funeral, as there was no way for her to make it to Sri Lanka on time, and she would have had to quarantine again upon her return to Canada. She couldn’t see her family for two years due to ever-changing travel restrictions and the fear of being trapped outside of Canada.

Despite being alone in Canada, Wijeyeratne threw herself into academics as well as extra-curricular opportunities, albeit on her computer screen. Once vaccines became available and restrictions eased, she got to work reviving multiple campus groups, including as vice-president and, eventually, president of the UTSC Glee Club. She was also finally able to welcome her parents to Canada.

A self-described arts kid – she hails from a family of prominent performers in Sri Lanka’s musical theatre scene - Wijeyeratne nevertheless developed a love of biology, clinical medicine and health care at U of T.

An avid musician, Wijeyeratne hails from a family of musical theatre performers in Sri Lanka (supplied image)

She volunteered in several labs and completed a co-op placement at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the lab of senior scientist Jeffrey Meyer, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of psychiatry. Her work led to her being listed as a co-author in the first study to find a natural supplement that reduces post-partum depression.

She also completed a work-study position as a research assistant in the TEMPO Lab, headed by Assistant Professor Laura Cirelli – who also supervised her undergraduate thesis – and went on to work as a lab coordinator there. The lab combines several of Wijeyeratne’s interests: it’s dedicated to investigating the psychological impact that music has on babies and children.

With Cirelli’s encouragement, Wijeyeratne presented her thesis – an investigation into how grandparents connect with their grandchildren over Zoom – at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition conference in Banff, Alta. in July.

“One of the most rewarding parts of being a professor at U of T Scarborough is working with and getting to know passionate students like Rashmi,” Cirelli says. “It was especially inspiring to see Rashmi shine at the conference this summer. She presented with clarity and pride.”

For her part, Wijeyeratne says being a member of the TEMPO Lab and getting mentored by Cirelli was “life-changing.”

Outside the research realm, Wijeyeratne also found time to pick up hands-on skills, working her way up U of T Scarborough’s Emergency Medical Response Group to become a trained emergency first responder.

She's now looking forward to her next chapter: working as a research analyst in CAMH’s emergency department starting in November.

“It's been such a non-traditional trajectory towards getting here,” Wijeyeratne says. “But my proudest achievement is being able to make my family proud. I’m so grateful for their love and support and I would not be where I am without them.”

U of T doctorate in hand, school psychologist returns to her practice with a fresh outlook

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 19:05:01 +0000

U of T doctorate in hand, school psychologist returns to her practice with a fresh outlook

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/31/2024 - 15:05

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Maaike Canrinus says her doctoral research at U of T is directly linked to her practice as a school and clinical psychologist in private practice (photo courtesy Riverwise Psychology Services)

Topic

Subheadline

Maaike Canrinus is among the first cohort of graduates from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)'s doctor of education in school psychology program

Maaike Canrinus was an experienced school and clinical psychologist when she founded Riverwise Psychological Services – a clinic that provides services for children and adolescents in Barrie and Muskoka, Ont. – in 2019. But like many business owners, nothing could prepare her for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I honestly didn't know what was going to happen to the practice," Canrinus said as she recalled how business slowed down in the early period of the pandemic. "I had never even been on a Zoom call with a client before.”

But while she grappled with the challenges facing her practice, Canrinus also spotted an exciting opportunity on the horizon: the newly-launched doctor of education (EdD) in school psychology program at the ��Ƶ’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Having put off doctoral studies for several years to prioritize her career and family, Canrinus decided to take the leap and enrolled in the first cohort of the program.

“Running a practice, having a family and doing school was definitely a lot to manage, but the fact that this program was designed for people working in the field already made it doable for me,” she says.

On Wednesday, Canrinus crossed the stage at Convocation Hall to receive her EdD in school psychology. Her doctoral research explored how psychologists can improve their practice of giving feedback to families around psycho-educational assessments – something that’s hugely relevant to her practice at Riverwise.

“[My degree] is directly linked to what I'm doing all of the time, and it has given me new ideas and different perspectives about how to engage in the practice of giving feedback to families,” she says. “It also has given me ideas about how I can support others, supervise others and train other clinicians to do this better.”

Canrinus explains that many clinicians experience a gap in training when it comes to how to provide feedback on psycho-educational assessments in a meaningful and supportive way. “We get a lot of training on how to do assessments, how to do testing, how to synthesize and formulate diagnoses... but we'd never really get a ton of training on how to actually conduct the [feedback] meeting,” she says.

To explore the issue, Canrinus completed a case study by interviewing psychologists in Ontario about how they developed the skills and capacity to provide feedback to caregivers. Her research identified three key themes: feedback must be tailored to the unique needs of each parent or caregiver; delivery of feedback requires navigating complex emotional landscapes and supporting parent and caregiver emotions; and finally, mastering the art and science of feedback is a multi-faceted and career-long process.

A major takeaway is that there needs to be dedicated training for budding school psychologists in the realm of feedback delivery. “Given that assessments are a cornerstone of school psychology practice, and effective feedback can provide significant benefits to children and families, we owe it to both clinicians and clients to prioritize this training,” she says.

To that end, Canrinus has already taken the lead by offering a training session to graduate students taking a course on clinical supervision, taught by Archie Kwan, assistant professor, teaching stream and director of clinical training for the EdD in school psychology program.

“I look forward to further opportunities to connect with and train others in this critical area,” she says.

Canrinus also regularly sought out discussions with her mentor Susan Graham-Clay, a school psychologist practising in Barrie, on everything from ethical dilemmas to challenging case conceptualizations and considerations when supervising other clinicians.

Graham-Clay praised Canrinus for pursuing innovative avenues in her practice, such as collaborating with First Nations communities, running treatment groups for children and experimenting with different psychological report formats to make them more user-friendly. “It is indeed exciting to see such an accomplished early-career psychologist excel in serving the needs of children and youth in our community,” Graham-Clay says.

For her part, Canrinus credits OISE for crafting a program that serves the needs of practitioners like herself. “A program like this is so much more accessible for people in different locations, in different stages of life,” she says. “I love that, [I’m] so grateful for that.”

She says she’s also grateful for the close bond shared among peers in her cohort. “As a group, we provided so much support to each other – from the very beginning right through to the very, very end for me,” she says. “They are hugely supportive and amazing.”

Avoid comparisons, focus on your own journey: A new grad’s advice to first-year students

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:53:05 +0000

Avoid comparisons, focus on your own journey: A new grad’s advice to first-year students

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:53

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Abidur Rahman visiting Pragser Wildsee Lake in Italy where, as an undergraduate, he completed an internship at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (supplied image)

David Goldberg

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2024

Faculty of Arts & Science

Molecular Genetics

Trinity College

Subheadline

Abidur Rahman, who earned an honours bachelor of science in molecular genetics, says it's important to stay focused on your own journey

Abidur Rahman, a recent honours graduate in molecular genetics at the ��Ƶ, has already made impressive strides.

He earned a prestigious fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Germany, interned at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Italy, collaborated with biotech startups and mentored several students – all while volunteering as a community advisor at Trinity College.

Rahman credits his success to the boundless opportunities offered by U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science. “The amount of research opportunities, internships and collaborations you have access to is unparalleled,” says Rahman, who also found time to volunteer as a community advisor at Trinity College.

“You don’t get the same magnitude of possibilities at other universities.”

Now pursuing a master of science in genetic counselling at U of T, Rahman reflected on his U of T journey thus far and shared some of his insights and tips for current and future students:

What drew you to molecular genetics?

When I came to U of T, I was planning to major in neuroscience and psychology. It wasn’t until my second year when I took a course with Naomi Levy-Strumpf, an assistant professor, teaching stream in the human biology program, that I became fascinated with the complexity of genetics and how it can be used to tell the stories of entire generations.

What motivated you to volunteer with Trinity College?

My family moved from Bangladesh when I was a teenager, and being a first-generation immigrant, I felt lost when I started university. That’s why I wanted to give back. As a community advisor, I connected students with resources and clubs, like the Trinity College Multicultural Society, and created social programming that addressed mental health.

U of T has so many opportunities; it can also be like a maze. My goal was to help students find their way, just like my mentors helped me.

Can you tell us about your research fellowship at the Max Planck Institute?

I spent this past summer in Göttingen, Germany, working on bio-engineered heart muscle cells. My project focused on observing them in low-oxygen conditions, simulating what happens during a stroke. This research has the potential for real-world applications, like developing treatments for heart disease. The work makes you feel as though you’re on the cusp of something that could help thousands of patients, and that’s what excited me the most.

What are your plans after graduation?

I’m currently pursuing my master of science in genetic counselling, which is a clinical and professional program focusing on patient counselling and calculating genetic risks. My research project will examine how racialized families perceive the clinical utility of genetic testing. Most studies are based on individuals of European ancestry and that affects how well genetic testing works for people from other backgrounds.

I’m still exploring my future career path, but I can envision myself working in healthcare. During my undergraduate studies, I also had the opportunity to collaborate with several biotech startups, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Additionally, Toronto offers a wealth of opportunities in both fields, making it an exciting place to build a career.

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

Don’t be in a rush to figure everything out. In my first semester, I was so focused on the future, but university isn’t just an academic endeavor, it’s also about personal growth and professional development. Take the time to enjoy your courses and build relationships with your professors.

My other critical piece of advice is to never compare yourself to others because, as the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy. I remember feeling behind because I was still relatively new to Canada, and I didn’t have the same high school experience as some of my peers. Stay focused on your journey and don’t stress about what other people are doing.

U of T grad discovers a passion for accessibility research and design

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 18:28:58 +0000

U of T grad discovers a passion for accessibility research and design

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 10/28/2024 - 14:28

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Alexander Parent (seated in blue shirt) helps adapt toys for children with disabilities at a Dis/Usability workshop held in the Faculty of Information’s Makerspace

Topic

Faculty of Information

Subheadline

Alexander Parent, who has a mild form of cerebral palsy that affects the right side of his body, focused on design and critical disability studies

The first in his family to attend university, Alexander Parent felt like he had already exceeded expectations before pursuing a master’s degree in user experience design at the ��Ƶ – then he fell in love with his research.

With a mild form of cerebral palsy that affects the right side of his body, Parent focused on design and critical disability studies – including designing adaptive toys for children with disabilities.

He says his work in the field emphasizes the importance of understanding end users.

“I feel like designing technology in a vacuum isn’t beneficial,” says Parent, who will receive his degree this week during U of T’s fall convocation and is now pursuing a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at New York University. “And it potentially can be dangerous and risky if you don’t talk with communities and others to understand what technology you need to make for those people.

“A big discussion in our field is learning how to do this in partnership, in a co-design way, rather than how it’s been done historically.”

Alexander Parent (supplied image)

On the design side, Parent’s focus has been “do-it-yourself assistive devices” and conducting research work with “people as partners and co-designers” – an approach he studied in an accessibility and inclusive design course taught by Priyank Chandra, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Information who is the director of the STREET Lab.

Parent worked to put theory into practice. He helped organize a workshop – put on by the STREET Lab and a student-run Accessibility Interests Working Group that he chaired – on how to modify toys for children with disabilities using 3D-printed parts. It took advantage of resources in the Faculty of Information’s Makerspace and was carried out in partnership with Makers Making Change, an organization that 3D prints assistive devices for people with disabilities.

“I'm really proud of that event because a bunch of people not only got to learn skills, in terms of how to make things, but also to have critical conversations about why this is important,” says Parent, who also earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T.

The event proved popular, leading to two subsequent workshops.

Students worked to create remote control cars that could be operated by children who might not have the strength or fine motor skills to use the small buttons found on most controllers.

Their solution? Much larger buttons that enabled kids to operate the cars with a whole hand, elbow or another body part. The modified toys, achieved through a combination of 3D-printed parts and rewired electronics, were ultimately donated to ErinoakKids, the treatment and development centre that Parent attended as a child.

Meanwhile, Chandra had suggested Parent check out the work of New York University’s Amy Hurst, a pioneer in working collaboratively with people with disabilities in makerspaces.

“It was the ideal fit for the kind of work I want to do in the future,” says Parent, who contacted Hurst to discuss his research and mentioned that he would be referencing her work in his thesis.

He ultimately decided to submit an application to pursue his PhD with Hurst.

“We got on a phone call and [Hurst] said that not only would I be welcomed at New York University, but they're giving me a fellowship to go study there,” Parent said last spring. “So, I'm the first one in my family to get an undergraduate degree, and now a master's degree, and one day, a PhD from NYU.

“I'm still blown away.”

Parent is coming home from New York to attend his convocation ceremony – and to maintain his U of T connections and build a network of accessibility professionals, which now includes an Instagram account for the student-run Accessibility Interests Working Group that he once chaired.

“We need to continue to have the discussions that we began even after we've graduated,” says Parent. “What we do as designers matters and who we involve as equals in the process matters.”

PhD student aims to improve the robotic tools used by neurosurgeons

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:14:27 +0000

PhD student aims to improve the robotic tools used by neurosurgeons

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 10/18/2024 - 13:14

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Kejah Bascon, a PhD student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, is one of the 2024 recipients of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships (photo by Safa Jinje)

Safa Jinje

Topic

Our Community

department of mechanical and industrial engineering

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

“I’ve aspired to be a neurosurgeon since childhood, and since then, my ambitions have expanded”

Kejah Bascon’s path to pursuing a PhD in engineering at the ��Ƶ – where she aims to design better neurosurgical tools – had many twists and turns.

Born and raised in Ottawa, she spent much of her primary and secondary education in homeschooling before enrolling in a public high school for her final year to help simplify her transition to university.

“I had wanted to study biomedical engineering for my undergraduate degree, but I worked a lot during high school to support myself – and so I wasn’t able to manage all the prerequisites with my circumstances,” Bascon says.

“I was quite hard on myself, but I knew I would find a way to make it work.”

Bascon ultimately completed her undergraduate degree in cognitive psychology at Carleton University, where she also minored in neuroscience. She then spent three months in medical school abroad before returning to Ottawa to complete her master’s degree in neuroscience.

“I’ve aspired to be a neurosurgeon since childhood, and since then, my ambitions have expanded to include applying engineering to neurosurgical practice to innovate surgical tools and technologies,” she says.

“I realized that my path wasn’t going to be as linear as I thought when I first fell in love with the brain and the responsibility of holding a person’s whole consciousness in one’s hands.”

Bascon is one of the 2024 recipients of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships, which provide financial support, mentorship, training and networking opportunities to reduce systemic barriers for entry into academia for members of underrepresented groups.

While Bascon is still planning the direction of her PhD research, she aims to make robotic surgical tools more user-friendly for neurosurgeons by employing engineering principles and a human factors approach.

Improving robotic-assisted neurosurgical tools such as the endoscope can help reduce the cognitive load on neurosurgeons and prevent musculoskeletal injuries following repeated long surgical procedures.

Bascon will be working under the supervision of Myrtede Alfred, an assistant professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering, to achieve her research goals.

“I never had a Black TA or a Black professor before coming to U of T,” says Bascon, “and now I get to benefit from mentorship and leadership from a Black woman.

“It has only been a few weeks, but I already feel so much support for my academic journey from Professor Alfred.”

As an IBET fellow, Bascon says she is especially looking forward to taking advantage of all the opportunities to gain professional development, expand her academic and professional network and give back her time as a mentor.

“I’m beyond thankful to receive this support for my PhD journey,” she says. “I hope I can offer an example for others like me, who are from low-income, underrepresented communities, who may have trouble seeing themselves on a university campus.

“I was once in that position too – of not having the right representation. If I can set an example for others, I want to show that this is what an engineer can look like, and this is what an engineer’s background can look like.”

U of T researcher tracks 1,000 years of sea ice

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:18:44 +0000

U of T researcher tracks 1,000 years of sea ice

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 10/15/2024 - 13:18

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Minoli Dias, a PhD student at U of T Mississauga, examines coralline algae, which live for approximately 1,500 years and grow in annual layers, to construct a record of changes in sea ice cover over time (photo by Natasha Leclerc)

Topic

Research & Innovation

Sustainability

U of T Mississauga

Subheadline

Minoli Dias says the baseline data she and her fellow researchers are constructing could "inform model projections that predict what future conditions will look like”

Minoli Dias’s interest in sea ice began in an unlikely place: polar bear poop.

She was studying microplastics in polar bear feces and intestinal tracts as part of a research project during her undergraduate years at Queen’s University.

“It was a smelly job, but it was really interesting,” says Dias, who is now a PhD student in the department of Earth sciences at U of T Mississauga.

Her early work revealed some troubling trends: for instance, declining sea ice levels meant that certain species of polar bears were being driven inland – with garbage and landfills increasingly serving as their food sources. At the same time, members of northern communities, particularly the Inuit, had noted in their own experiences, observations and research that declining sea ice levels had impacted access to essential needs – such as transportation, food security through hunting, and other culturally important activities.

It wasn't long before Dias decided she wanted to pursue sea ice research – and ultimately chose to study at U of T Mississauga after speaking with Jochen Halfar, a paleoclimate and paleontology professor and researcher in U of T Mississauga’s Climate Geology Research Group. “UTM gave him a wonderful lab, and we have incredible facilities. But his research and his passion for the work was what really drew me,” she says.

Now part of Halfar’s research group studying changes in sea ice cover in northern Labrador, Dias and her co-researchers are developing sea-ice cover records for the past 1,000 years off the coast of Nunatsiavut and are examining coralline algae as part of their research.

Minoli Dias's view from the research vessel off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (photo by Minoli Dias)

Dias says that coralline algae live for approximately 1,500 years and they grow in annual layers (like tree rings). The growth, she explains, is dependent on light. When the algae have more light, meaning there’s less sea ice in the water, they grow a lot thicker. When they have less light, meaning there’s more sea ice cover, the layers grow thinner. By examining these variations and growth over time along with chemical tracers, the research team can essentially watch the sea ice cover change.

Dias conducted field work in the community of Agvituk (Hopedale), N.L. this past summer. The lab also explored multiple sites in Greenland, Norway, Nunavut and the Labrador coast.

“If we can create a network of these types of ocean reconstructions, we’ll be able to have this baseline data going back several centuries that can then hopefully inform model projections that predict what future conditions will look like,” she says.

Since joining the lab, Dias says she has had some incredible experiences – including a recent opportunity to work with members of the Hopedale community.

“We’re not the experts. We don’t live there. It’s the people who live along the coast – and actually live the change and see the change – who are the experts,” she says. “When you speak to community members, they have a clear understanding of how changes occurred over time, and what is the importance of sea ice to these ecosystems.”

Once she completes her PhD, Dias hopes to continue pursuing climate research by either working directly with impacted communities or working to address the effects of pollution or climate change.

Dias says she feels inspired by the many women scientists who came before her, including her female professors who have served as role models in what traditionally has been a male-dominated field.

“They paved the way for us to be able to do the work that we do, and to do it in relative comfort,” she says. “Having these women to look up to is what makes it possible for me to do the type of work that I do, and I hope I can make a similar contribution and pay it forward to the women that are coming after me.”

U of T ranked 21st globally in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:23:26 +0000

U of T ranked 21st globally in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 10/11/2024 - 10:23

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(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Times Higher Education

Subheadline

Among public universities, U of T ranked third in North America and 10th in the world

The ��Ƶ has once again secured its position as a leading global institution in higher education, maintaining its rank of 21^st in the world in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In addition to being the top-ranked university in Canada, U of T ranked third among public universities in North America and 10^th among public universities globally – again, the same as the previous year.

It also ranked 16^th overall in Times Higher Education’s “research environment” pillar.

“This closely watched international ranking underscores the ��Ƶ’s excellence in research and teaching in an increasingly competitive sector,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“It also reflects the ongoing impact of the university’s scholars and researchers, whose contributions draw exceptional students and faculty from around the world to our three campuses.”

In the 2025 edition of its annual ranking, Times Higher Education evaluated 2,092 research-intensive universities from 115 countries and territories. That’s 185 new entries when compared to last year.

The ranking assesses schools across five broad pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook. It draws from data sources that include 157 million citations, 18 million research publications and survey responses from more than 93,000 scholars worldwide.

The top five universities in the ranking this year were: University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Princeton University and University of Cambridge.

Other Canadian schools in the top 100 were: University of British Columbia (41^st) and McGill University (45^th).

Overall, U of T continues to be the highest-ranked Canadian university and one of the top-ranked public universities in the five most closely watched international rankings: Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.

Congratulations pour in for ��Ƶ after Nobel win

mattimar — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 19:43:16 +0000

Congratulations pour in for ��Ƶ after Nobel win

mattimar Tue, 10/08/2024 - 15:43

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(Photo by Johnny Guatto/��Ƶ)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

University Health Network

Vector Institute

Subheadline

“You always knew when Geoff had a new idea. The excitement, the joy radiated out of his office down the hall. The air was buzzing with possibility"

Reactions to ��Ƶ’s Nobel Prize win began almost immediately after it was announced Tuesday morning.

Known as the “godfather of AI,” the University Professor Emeritus of computer science at the ��Ƶ shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with John J. Hopfield of Princeton University for groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for machine learning using artificial neural networks.

U of T’s ��Ƶ and Princeton’s John J. Hopfield are pictured during the announcement for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics (photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

At U of T, students, faculty and staff gathered at an event hosted by the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, which Hinton joined as a professor in 1987.

Those in attendance described a revered and beloved figure, citing Hinton’s determination, playful approach to research and excitement for new ideas.

"I really don’t think there’s anyone more deserving of this recognition," said Chris Maddison, assistant professor in U of T’s departments of computer science and statistical sciences, and one of Hinton’s former students.

"Geoff was a fantastic adviser. He worked really, really hard to remove the barriers for his students and he was laser focused on ideas and building his own understanding."

Hinton also received congratulations from universities and other research organizations around the world, including the Royal Society, the Alan Turing Institute and Cambridge University, Hinton’s alma mater.

Meanwhile, friends, colleagues and leaders in politics and business took to social media to express their congratulations for Hinton’s remarkable achievement.

Here’s a snapshot of what some of them said:

From left: Melanie Woodin, Chris Maddison, Nick Frosst, Kevin Swersky and Eyal de Lara (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“Congratulations to ��Ƶ on this fantastic recognition which is a testament to the importance of supporting basic research and the long journey that can lead to profound discoveries like deep learning that forever change our world. Hinton's phenomenal work has seeded new and innovative research by his former students and many around the world who are using AI to solve global challenges in areas like medicine and climate change.“

– Leah Cowen, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives at U of T

“I would say his approach to science has stuck with me. Everything I know about how to do science, I mostly learned from him. It's his curiosity and playfulness ... that has been most impactful. I would also say his thoughtfulness, thinking about the consequence of the technology and how it affects society is something that we have taken seriously at Cohere as well.”

– Nick Frosst, U of T alumnus and co-founder of Cohere

“You always knew when Geoff had a new idea. The excitement, the joy radiated out of his office down the hall. The air was buzzing with possibility. He was famous for bursting into a room and pronouncing that, he now finally, after all these years, understood how the brain worked. Above all, he understood that research was a human endeavor. Research is really hard. It becomes personal. It's intertwined with tragedies and compromises. I saw him go through some of his own when I was a student in the group, and I went through my own. I remember when I was going through some health challenges, I went to him and I said, 'Geoff, sometimes it's really hard to go on.’ And he looked at me and he said, ’But we're not going to let that slow us down, will we?’"

– Chris Maddison, assistant professor in U of T’s departments of computer science and statistical sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science

U of T is the only computer science department with a Nobel Prize winner, says Professor Michael Brudno (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate an award for somebody who has made huge contributions – obviously in AI broadly, [and] to this department. No other computer science department can say that they have a Nobel Laureate. But I think beyond that, it really goes back to show how the birthplace of modern AI is Toronto, how this is the place where it all started and how it's upon us as the AI faculty in this department to continue this legacy.”

– Michael Brudno, professor in U of T’s department of computer science, acting vice-dean, graduate education in Faculty of Arts & Science, a chief data scientist at University Health Network and a faculty member at the Vector Institute

��Ƶ shares a laugh with fellow AI researcher Raquel Urtasun, left, at the Vector Institute’s opening in 2017 (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

"Geoff is the most influential person in AI, and our field would certainly not be the same without his immense contributions. He is also a tremendous educator, and has mentored many students and postdocs who have gone on to become very influential in the field of AI. Geoff cares deeply about the Toronto and Canadian ecosystem and was the driving force in the formation of the Vector Institute, which we co-founded together. Through our time as colleagues at the ��Ƶ, I've deeply admired his commitment to the advancement of AI for good. This recognition is well-deserved and acknowledges his decades of work leading AI innovation and building the foundation for the AI revolution that is happening today.”

– Raquel Urtasun, professor in U of T’s department of computer science, faculty member and co-founder at the Vector Institute, founder and CEO of Waabi

“I was the first to call Geoff Hinton “Godfather of Deep Learning,” which later became “Godfather of AI.” Thrilled to see him win the Nobel prize together with John Hopfield for AI. Congrats @geoffreyhinton.”

– Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, founder GoogleBrain, former chief scientist at Baidu

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with ��Ƶ at a 2019 event (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

“Dr. Hinton is a stalwart in his field. Celebrated as one of the ‘Godfathers of AI’, he brings decades of leading expertise in AI research as a Professor Emeritus at the ��Ƶ’s Department of Computer Science, and the current Chief Scientific Advisor at the Vector Institute in Toronto – one of our three national AI institutes. Dr. Hinton is also an outspoken advocate for the responsible development and adoption of AI, educating the world about the benefits and challenges this technology poses.

“Canada is at the forefront of AI technology thanks to trailblazers like Dr. Hinton. His curiosity for discovery and contributions to innovation will inspire generations to come. On behalf of all Canadians, I congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.”

– Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

A.M. Turing Award winners Yann LeCun, left, Yoshua Bengio, middle, and ��Ƶ at an AI summit in Montreal (photo courtesy of RE•WORK)

"@HopfieldJohn and @geoffreyhinton, along with collaborators, have created a beautiful and insightful bridge between physics and AI. They invented neural networks that were not only inspired by the brain, but also by central notions in physics such as energy, temperature, system dynamics, energy barriers, the role of randomness and noise, connecting the local properties, e.g., of atoms or neurons, to global ones like entropy and attractors. And they went beyond the physics to show how these ideas could give rise to memory, learning and generative models; concepts which are still at the forefront of modern AI research. Their ideas inspired me so profoundly that I decided to choose learning in neural networks for my own research as a graduate student. They motivated me to look for abstract principles that could be as simple as the laws of physics, but could explain biological as well as artificial intelligence. I'm truly delighted for them and for our field."

– Yoshua Bengio, professor at Université de Montréal and co-winner of the A.M Turing Award with ��Ƶ and Yann LeCun

“It was the first thing I saw in the morning. I opened my phone, and it was the headline of The New York Times and I was like, ‘Yes!’ I was very excited. I saw his perseverance – he always goes with what he believes, not what the flow is – and it's quite inspirational for me. That’s what I look for, especially in the health care area. I want to do something meaningful, something big.”

–Tina Behrouzi, second year PhD student in U of T’s department of computer science

��Ƶ poses with graduate students Ilya Sutskever, left, and Alex Krizhevsky, right, in 2013 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“Congratulations to @geoffreyhinton for winning the Nobel Prize in physics!!”

– Ilya Sutskever, U of T alumnus, co-founder of OpenAI and co-founder and chief scientist at Safe Superintelligence

“Going to Geoff’s office was always fun. Normally when you go to a supervisor's office, you give them a progress update. You go through what your latest results are, you talk about a couple of your ideas and you get some feedback. Going to Geoff’s office was a completely different story. He would be telling you what his latest idea was. He would show you his latest results. And his whole thing was just that he was really excited about it, and his hope was to inspire you enough to start running with it.”

– Kevin Swersky, U of T alumnus and research scientist at Google DeepMind

“[Hinton's] pioneering research at the ��Ƶ not only revolutionized the field of AI but has also been instrumental in establishing Canada as a global powerhouse in AI research and innovation."

– Tony Gaffney, president and CEO of the Vector Institute

Fei-Fei Li and ��Ƶ speak at a 2023 event in Toronto (photo by Polina Teif)

“This is beyond exciting! #AI’s far reaching impact is just beginning.”

– Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science at Stanford University and co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute

“Congratulations to @geoffreyhinton, University Professor Emeritus at@UofT, on winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics! Widely regarded as the “godfather of AI,” Hinton’s pioneering work in artificial neural networks has transformed the global AI landscape. Dr. Hinton’s achievement highlights the best of #Ontario’s world-class talent and thriving AI ecosystem, driving innovation and shaping the future of critical #technology!

– Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s minister of economic development, job creation and trade

"On behalf of the Department and the University, we are very proud to acknowledge Geoff's global achievements and this international recognition. His contributions to machine learning and artificial intelligence have benefited virtually every discipline in science, engineering, social sciences and medicine. As we celebrate the department’s 60th anniversary, this award embodies six decades of impact and innovation in computer science and technology.”

– Eyal de Lara, professor and chair of U of T’s department of computer science, Faculty of Arts & Science

“Heartfelt congratulations to Geoff Hinton @geoffreyhinton on winning the Nobel Prize! What an incredible honor! I feel deeply privileged to have had the opportunity to be your PhD student, work with you, and learn from you.”

– Russ Salakhutdinov, professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University

Hinton approached his research with an “almost childlike playfulness,” says Graduate student Ujan Sen (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“Waking up today, seeing that news, just motivates me even more and reaffirms the decision that coming to U of T was the absolutely the best decision I could have taken. I think one of the people who had previously worked with him mentioned something along the lines of: Geoff didn't really care too much about pedigree. He cared about ideas, regardless if you have a master's or PhD. And the way he approached his research and the almost childlike playfulness and innocence he had with sort of getting to the answer is something that I really resonate with.”

– Ujan Sen, master’s student in U of T’s department of computer science, Faculty of Arts & Science

"I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. ��Ƶ on winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics. His groundbreaking work in machine learning has made Canada world-renowned in the field of AI. He is a true inspiration for the next generation of Canadian researchers!"

– François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and industry

“I’m originally a chemist. It was a surprising thing for me that a Nobel Prize is being awarded to a computer scientist. This is a big moment for computer science. I think it will bring recognition to physics-based approaches and core thinking.

“I think it’s great that some universities like U of T are willing to believe in crazy ideas. People need to encourage outside-the-box thinking.”

– Ella Rajaonson, PhD student in the Matter Lab with U of T professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik

“Congratulations!”

– Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto

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U of T ranked 21st globally in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

Congratulations pour in for ������Ƶ after Nobel win

Congratulations pour in for ��Ƶ after Nobel win