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91��ɫ U welcomes six new Schulich Leaders to campuses for the first time

egamulin — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Students receive a combined $660K in scholarships, looking to give back to the communities that helped foster their success

Toronto, ON, Sept. 26,�� 2025 — 91��ɫ is proud to have welcomed a record six to campus this September, recipients of Canada’s largest, most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship. The students say they are beyond thrilled to receive the generous scholarship that will allow them to focus on their studies at the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91��ɫ without worrying about financial pressures, and give them the skills they need to apply their technical and creative talents towards positive social change.

Selected from a pool of more than 350,000 candidates across Canada, over 1,400 graduating high school students were nominated, with 100 top recipients receiving the coveted award.

91��ɫ welcomed three times as many recipients in 2025 than it typically has in years past. Recipients pursuing an engineering degree will receive $120,000, while those pursuing a science, technology or math degree will receive $100,000.

“Schulich Leader Scholarships enable Canada’s top universities to attract and retain our exceptional STEM talent here at home, empowering them to become the innovators and entrepreneurs our country needs. When these scholars go on to drive prosperity and strengthen our economy, Canada must ensure the right economic conditions exist so they can build their promising futures here. Supporting their entrepreneurial ambition is essential for turning Canadian ingenuity into lasting national success,” says program founder Seymour Schulich.

Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, echoes this excitement: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome six Schulich Leaders to Lassonde this year — the most we’ve ever had. Each of these students brings not only academic strength, but also creativity, resilience and a strong drive to make a difference. At Lassonde, we give our students the space and support to turn bold ideas into real-world impact, and I can’t wait to see how this remarkable group will use this platform to shape the future of engineering, science and society.”

Eleen Aliyeva

is a graduate of Bradford DHS in Bradford ON where she was president of the student council, vice-president and co-founder of the coding club. She originally hails from North 91��ɫ and is entering a computer science program at 91��ɫ this fall.

“From a young age, I always had a fascination with technology, and I always asked myself questions like, ‘how does this work?’ and ‘how is this possible?” says Aliyeva. “As I grew up, I found out how science, engineering, mathematics were behind it all.”

Aliyeva, who also speaks French, hopes she can use her education to help and inspire women in STEM and sees herself creating software that has a positive impact on people, whether that be an app, game, or tool, and is excited to work towards that goal in a community of like-minded students at 91��ɫ. She is grateful to the Schulich Foundation for the scholarship that will relieve her from worrying about financing her education.

Wilamina Both

was born in Toronto and grew up in Maple and Woodbridge. She developed a passion for STEM through her involvement in the gifted program at her school and a bridge-building competition, as well as the travels she undertook while playing hockey with the North 91��ɫ Storm.

“It got me interested from a very young age in maps. Learning about all the different ways to get somewhere, such a giant network, I found it so interesting,” says Both. “Hockey was really the place I first found confidence and leadership skills, as it was really empowering for me as a woman to be in that male-dominated space, and in that sense helped prepare me for a career in engineering.”

Both spent her summer after graduation working as a hockey and skating coach and will continue to play hockey for the Mississauga Hurricanes during her time at 91��ɫ. Having completed the 91��ɫ Region Transportation Youth Ambassador program in her final year at Father Bressani Catholic High School, she plans on studying civil engineering at 91��ɫ with a focus on transportation planning.

Edward Drobnis

describes learning that he would be a Schulich Leader as a “surreal” experience.

“It wasn’t just a scholarship, but also a recognition of my dedication to STEM and my efforts to make it more accessible, especially for underrepresented groups.”

As a graduate of Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, he joined his school robotics and coding clubs in the ninth grade. Last year, he won his first hackathon, and since then, Drobnis has helped with organizing hackathons and fundraising to ensure the events were free and accessible.

Drobnis is enrolled in the Digital Technologies program at 91��ɫ’s new Markham Campus, a unique program where Drobnis will combine fulltime paid work at Shopify while he obtains his four-year degree.

“I find it really cool that you gain experience by working at a real company. And I love the innovation as well as the collaboration and mentorship it provides.”

Herman Isayenka

Originally from Belarus, came to Canada at the age of 2 with his family. He grew up in Newmarket and credits his father for his early interest in STEM.

“My dad was a software engineer for my whole life,” says Isayenka, who also speaks Russian. “When I was seven years old, I began my first coding experience with block codes.”

Isayenka continued learning to program, focusing on learning Python and Java during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later worked on projects collaborating with university students. A graduate of Dr. John M. Denison Secondary School, Isayenka hopes to work on projects involving AI, robotics and computer vision during his engineering studies at 91��ɫ and hopes to apply this to a major societal problem post-graduation.

He describes feeling a mixture of happiness, gratitude and humbleness when learning he would be a recipient of the scholarship.

Rehan Jetha

is from the Ottawa South neighbourhood of Greenboro with parents from Kenya and Tanzania who trace their ethnic heritage back to India. A recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal, Principal’s Award and a writer’s award from his time at Canterbury High School, the engineering student credits much of his success to the Ismaili Muslim community he grew up in that instilled values of volunteerism, getting a strong education and helping the most vulnerable in society.

Growing up in a multi-generational home with his parents and grandparents sparked his early interest in how STEM could be applied to better the lives of people, with Jetha working on a home automation system for his grandparents at 12 years old in order to address some of the mobility issues they were experiencing.

“I was able to teach them simple English phrases to use the home automation service and that made their lives so much easier,” says Jetha, who also speaks French and Kutchi, a language spoken in Gujarat, India where his grandparents are from. “That really hooked me, that human aspect of STEM.”

Anthony Tu

was curious about how things worked from a very young age, taking apart his toys with a screwdriver to understand how they are put together. A graduate of Chaminade College School in North 91��ɫ where he developed a strong interest in robotics, he credits the encouragement and mentorship of his teachers with helping him become a Schulich Leader.

“A lot of teachers pushed me to take opportunities, especially in the STEM field, whether it was robotics or networking,” says Tu, now studying computer science at 91��ɫ. “Without those opportunities, I don't think I would have had as much experience as I have now.”

Tu, who also speaks Cantonese, was attracted to 91��ɫ for the educational opportunities and also the proximity to the community he grew up in. He would like to apply his studies and interest in robotics in a way where he is able to give back.

“I want to give them, not only the same opportunities, but more opportunities to explore future career paths.”

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91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada:

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $200+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators. Through The Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates this year, enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

Media Contact:

Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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Shopify, 91��ɫ partner to offer innovative computer science degree program

roshanp — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 15:13:05 +0000

TORONTO, September 24, 2018��–This fall, 91��ɫ’s is partnering with the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform, Shopify, to bring a new model of experiential learning called to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for the first time.

The unique program embeds students directly into development teams at Shopify through a paid internship opportunity that culminates with a unique Honours Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours BSc) degree. Shopify also pays the students’ tuition for the full four-year program.

“Shopify is one of Canada’s great success stories of innovative entrepreneurship combined with outstanding and visionary leadership, and we are honoured to be their first university partner in the GTA,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, President and�� Vice-Chancellor, 91��ɫ. “The new partnership between 91��ɫ and Shopify reflects the future of education, which will be characterized by greater collaboration across all sectors. Together with a generous financial contribution, our students will have access to skilled Shopify mentors, providing them with rich experiential education opportunities as part of their academic studies.”

Beginning this fall, the first cohort includes eight 91��ɫ Lassonde Computer Science students who will split their time equally between Shopify’s downtown offices and their coursework at Lassonde. The students will work alongside industry mentors and gain critical skills to solve real problems with modern technology.

“We’re excited to announce the expansion of our Dev Degree program to 91��ɫ’s Lassonde School of Engineering,” said Jean-Michel Lemieux, SVP of Engineering at Shopify. “Dev Degree layers personal development and accelerated software skills, industry mentorship and real-world practice on top of an accredited degree. We can’t wait to see what unique problems our first 91��ɫ class will solve."

The initiative is part of the Industry Partnership Stream within the Honours BSc program in computer science at the Lassonde School of Engineering which offers an innovative integration of program learning outcomes and experiential education. Students admitted to the stream will complete the practicum credits in addition to all existing degree requirements for the Computer Science program.

“The future of education, especially in the technology sector, will��include increasingly fluid interactions between workplaces and universities, so it is essential for us to explore new learning opportunities and continually evolve,” says Richard Hornsey, Interim Dean and University Professor, Lassonde School of Engineering.

"Our partnership with Shopify is also an exceptional new opportunity for students to��apply their newly acquired university skills in the workplace and at the same time bring their industrial experience into the classroom.”

Faculty at Lassonde will oversee each student’s rigorous degree coursework. Upon completion of their degree, the students will have 4,500+ hours of paid work experience when they graduate, ��more than double the hours of a traditional co-op, and will have the benefit of industry-leading experts at Shopify.

Quick facts about the Dev Degree Program:

91��ɫ is Shopify’s first GTA university partner to offer and only the second institution offering the program in Canada;
Dev Degree is a four-year accelerated program where students receive their Bachelor of Computer Science degree, which includes academic credits for the work they do on Shopify development teams
Each student is paired with two mentors, a technical mentor and a Life@Shopify mentor, who is a trusted guide to support the student’s well-being;
Women account for 51% of Shopify Dev Degree students, in comparison to the 39% of women university graduates with a STEM degree

91��ɫ��champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 44543,��anayyar@yorku.ca

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The Lassonde School of Engineering announces transformative industry partnership

roshanp — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:09:29 +0000

TORONTO, September 21, 2018 –��91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton and Interim Dean of 91��ɫ’s Lassonde School of Engineering, Richard Hornsey, will announce a partnership with a leading industry partner to bring a new model of experiential learning for undergraduate computer science degree students this fall. It is the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The announcement will take place on Monday, September 24, 2018 at Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence in the Lassonde School of Engineering at the University’s Keele campus.

This partnership will have a significant impact on the future��of��computer science education at the University and will support its mission to shape the next generation of��technology��leaders.

Date: September 24, 2018

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Announcement: 10:00-11:00

Media are invited to take part in interactive displays.

Location: Orientation Room & Eatery, Room 125 Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, 91��ɫ, Toronto

Who: 91��ɫ President Lenton and Richard Hornsey, Interim Dean, Lassonde School of Engineering

��

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world's most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university - our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media contact:

Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 44543,��anayyar@yorku.ca

The post The Lassonde School of Engineering announces transformative industry partnership appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

The Lassonde School of Engineering announces transformative industry partnership

roshanp — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:09:29 +0000

The announcement will take place on Monday, September 24, 2018 at Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence in the Lassonde School of Engineering at the University’s Keele campus.

Date: September 24, 2018

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Announcement: 10:00-11:00

Media are invited to take part in interactive displays.

Location: Orientation Room & Eatery, Room 125 Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, 91��ɫ, Toronto

Who: 91��ɫ President Lenton and Richard Hornsey, Interim Dean, Lassonde School of Engineering

��

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media contact:

Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 44543,��anayyar@yorku.ca

The post The Lassonde School of Engineering announces transformative industry partnership appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

Discovery may revolutionize new drug discoveries, disease research

roshanp — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 15:52:07 +0000

��TORONTO, February 9, 2017 - Research from 91��ɫ’s Lassonde School of Engineering, has found a new set of algorithms that can help determine the 3D structure of proteins to one day find new treatments for a range of diseases including Alzheimer’s, HIV and cancer. The research, published in the current edition of the journal Nature Methods, shows that these new algorithms rapidly generate 3-D structures of viruses, which could revolutionize the development of new drug therapies.

One of the lead researchers on the project, Assistant Professor Marcus Brubaker, at the Lassonde School of Engineering, says that cryo-EM, had previously been a computationally demanding task.

“Collecting data on an electron microscope might take a few hours or maybe a day or two,” says Brubaker. ��“However, processing that data to determine the 3D structure would require weeks or even months of computation time on large, expensive computer clusters. Our work now makes this possible in a few hours on a relatively inexpensive desktop computer.”

Brubaker adds, the dramatic change in processing times not only speeds up the existing process, but will also enable experts to dig even deeper into their data to discover new biology that wouldn't have been practical before.

Drugs work by attaching to specific proteins in order to change the way they work inside the body.�� For a drug to be successful, it must be designed with a specific shape which binds only with the desired proteins while avoiding binding with other proteins which can cause side-effects. Electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) is an experimental technique for measuring the 3D structure of small biological molecules. Cryo-EM uses a transmission electron microscope to take many thousands of low-quality 2D images of frozen protein molecules.

The algorithms, co-developed by U of T PhD student Ali Punjani, could significantly aid in the development of new drugs because they provide a faster, more efficient means of arriving at the correct structure.

“Our developments have also enabled us to determine structures without any prior knowledge opening up an entire new class of molecules that were unable to be studied otherwise," says Brubaker.

“Any symptom or disease in our body has some protein interaction component to it. So whether it’s Alzheimer’s or cancer, our ability to understand what’s happening at the cellular level and then target those behaviours, is really the basis of treatment and diagnosis of disease. To the extent that we’re able to develop tools to allow researchers to study these structures in ways they’ve never been able to before, the impact is boundless in terms of what it could mean for disease research.”

Together, Punjani and Brubaker founded the Toronto-based start-up, Structura Biotechnology Inc. that is developing the algorithms into a new cryo-EM software package called cryoSPARC for use in academic and industrial labs. Structura has received funding and support from U of T’s Innovations and Partnership’s Office (IPO) through the Connaught Innovation Award, U of T’s Early Stage Technologies (UTEST) program, the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), and FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Commercialization Partnerships program at 91��ɫ.

The research was done in collaboration with U of T Professors David Fleet and John Rubinstein with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni.91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media contact:

Anjum Nayyar, Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543

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