Graduation Spotlight: Yanna Ding

Yanna Ding

Computer Science Major

Math Major

Trinity College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

I chose U of T because of its global academic impact. U of T has cultivated countless outstanding people who are changing the world in academia and industry. I admired their contribution and yearned to study in such an environment full of excellent people.

What inspired you to study computer science?

I have used a computer as a black box since I was in elementary school. I enjoyed the convenience brought by the computer without knowing its interior design. The intelligent computer systems and subtle algorithms have made a wealth of learning resources one search away. Besides study, I also love watching Pixar and Disney animation powered by computer graphics techniques. As computers became indispensable in my life, I decided to study computer science to uncover its mystery.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

The first-year linear algebra course introduced me to the elegance of mathematical reasoning. In the beginning, I seemed to follow the instructor in lecture. But when it came to solving problems myself, I didn’t know where to start.

To bridge my knowledge gaps, I spent more time reflecting on course materials after class. I asked myself questions such as: How did the proofs leverage the provided assumptions or conditions? How to associate a problem with its related knowledge? How to organize a formal mathematical proof? These questions wandered in my mind until I made sense of the theories and proofs.

In addition to self-studying, I reached out to my classmates and the instructor to exchange ideas, which helped me gain even more insights. The challenging problems designed by our instructor eventually helped me think through subtle relations among different concepts. This experience made me more confident in the face of challenges and difficulties during my life.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

I participated in extra-curricular events, such as the club fair and Backpack to Briefcase, through the Blue Crew organization and the CLN website. I built more connections and experienced U of T’s inclusive culture through these opportunities.

U of T provides ample opportunity for research. Thanks to this encouraging environment, I had the luck to collaborate with Professor Ishtiaque Ahmed and Professor Priyank Chandra and started my research journey. This rewarding experience further inspired me to pursue higher education in computer science.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

I recall moments sitting at a table near a glass window in the Robarts library. It was pleasant to read books in the afternoon when sunshine penetrated the window and fell on the page I was staring at.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

If I could go back, I would remind myself to be more proactive in life. Don’t hesitate to move outside of your comfort zone or change the status quo. Besides putting effort into coursework, making decisions such as choosing courses and applying for internships or research opportunities are equally essential.

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

Through undergraduate studies, I learned to have a beginner’s mindset, which I will keep reinforcing in the future. With a beginner’s mind, I embrace mistakes and quickly learn from setbacks.

What’s next for you?

I am going to pursue a PhD in Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I am determined to transform what I learned into applications in real life.

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Learn more about Yanna’s research in this provided description:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased stigma, prejudice, and hate against people of East Asian descent around the world. In particular, those individuals perceived to be from China or to a Chinese heritage are frequently targeted on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Our project sought to enhance understanding of the prevalence and impact of stigma, fear, discrimination, violence, and misinformation worldwide. We have collected and maintained a dataset of 650+ million tweets, which constituted the largest known dataset on this topic. We devised a consistent procedure to label the stigma degree of a tweet. Using the manual labels, we trained and compared multiple machine learning models measuring the stigma embedded in tweets. In addition to sentiment analysis, we utilized geolocation data to visualize the global distribution of online stigma and adopted network analysis to exploit retweet and follower information. We are working to integrate these results into applications such as network plugins to help improve the social media environment.

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This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Phillip Christoffersen

Phillip Christoffersen

Computer Science Specialist, AI Focus

Statistics Major

Mathematics Minor

Trinity College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

Ever since high school, I have had my eyes set on a career in academia, so I wanted to enrol in a program that would provide a strong foundation for a wide range of fields that interested me: computer science, mathematics, statistics, economics, and music composition, among others. In my view, building up that broad foundation is a primary function of an undergraduate degree, so U of T felt like a natural next step after high school.

What inspired you to study computer science?

Seeing the results of advances in computation across a wide array of fields, particularly in artificial intelligence and data science, had already piqued my interest before I set foot on campus. However, what really sold me on the field were the introductory computer science classes, which contextualized the discipline and gave me a better sense of its theory and practice, as well as an appreciation for the breadth of ideas and approaches that comprise it. Since then, I’ve been hooked, particularly (but not exclusively) to topics in artificial intelligence, statistical learning, and theoretical computer science.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

My professors. Given my interest in an academic career, I have always been interested in how a great teacher gives a lecture, runs a course, or explains a concept. It is a hard thing to get right, and every great professor will inject their own personality and manner into course content, however technical or objective it is. I have also been deeply influenced by the established and lively research community in computer science at U of T, often consisting of those very same professors, making the content covered in coursework (particularly upper-year courses) seem all the more current and relevant.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

One way that I got involved was, funnily enough, through more coursework: specifically, I have worked as a teaching assistant at U of T since my second year, having worked in MAT137 (“Calculus with Proofs”) for several years, and in CSC263 (“Data Structures and Analysis”) this past term. More recently, I have been increasingly active in the research community at U of T, working primarily in the lab of Professor Sheila McIlraith on a variety of theoretical and practical problems in artificial intelligence. More informally, I have always made sure to surround myself with the most interesting peers I knew of, both inside and outside of computer science, and we would always have the most fascinating conversations during our breaks.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

Probably one of the long study sessions that invariably came with midterm season, although it’s hard to pick one. I always gained so much insight from discussing ideas with peers, and from the lively (sometimes downright passionate) debates that would ensue when our views would clash. Many of my closest friendships were forged after a long night struggling with challenging ideas. Common struggle is probably one of the best conversation starters out there.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

“Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know: better still, seek it out.” Pretty much every time that I have made a mistake of significance in my life, it was on the basis of false knowledge, due to either overconfidence or the fear of being wrong. It is a common problem, and I’ve seen it a lot as a student and a teaching assistant, but it is a bad approach to learning and can be very damaging.

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

My previous answer, seeking out what you don’t know, definitely also applies here. Another lesson I will take from U of T is equally simple: most of what is worthwhile in life can only come with hard work. And this doesn’t apply just to academics or your career: keeping up good personal relationships, maintaining your own sense of purpose, and educating yourself about the state of the world, requires active upkeep and constant effort, and success today at any such task doesn’t mean success tomorrow.

What’s next for you?

I’m very excited to say that I will be starting a doctoral program in computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, starting this coming fall. I hope to continue my exploration of topics at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and theory, and to refine my own ideas and research agenda in the academic sphere.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Tina Li

Tina Li

Computer Science Specialist, AI Focus

Statistics Major

Victoria College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

I chose U of T for its rich student body, city life experience, and undergraduate research opportunities. For whatever interests I had, I would never worry about finding students or clubs that share my passion. The downtown college experience is so convenient that I can quickly grab lunch and bubble tea after classes. U of T also dedicates plenty of research scholarships to undergraduate students that I could take advantage of and prepare myself for graduate studies.

What inspired you to study computer science?

I realized how technology had largely impacted our daily lives. For me, daily life would be very different without mobile applications like maps and calendar. So I wanted to study computer science and be a part of this transformative force. I wanted to create helpful tools myself and make a positive, real-world impact.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

Professor Ishtiaque Ahmed helped me find my research interests, supervised my research and directed me to a clearer academic path. I met Professor Ishtiaque through a research scholarship application at the end of my second year. Since then, I have worked with Professor Ishtiaque and his PhD student at the DGP Lab. Under his mentorship, I realized my passion for using technology to tackle social challenges, gained the complete research experience, and decided to pursue graduate studies in the area of human-centered technologies.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

Outside of my coursework, I worked as a Computer Science student ambassador, a director of events for Women in Computer Science (WiCS), and also a peer mentor for U of T first-year and second-year learning communities (FLC/SLC). Additionally, I was dedicated to volunteering, and worked as a project leader for U of T’s Alternative Reading Week (ARW) for two years. Through these experiences, I felt a lot more connected to the U of T community and helped foster a more welcoming environment by supporting and understanding other students.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

My favourite U of T memory goes back to my first year of residence life at Victoria College’s Annesley Hall. The Vic College orientation really kicked off my college life, and living in residence helped me make my first friends at U of T.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

I would tell myself not to be afraid to take on new opportunities and try new things. You might not enjoy everything you try, but regardless, it’s also good to know what you don’t like early on.

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

During undergrad, I learned to never create limits and boundaries for myself. Computer science is full of possibilities and can be applied to so many different fields like finance, health care, and education. I want to remind myself to stay open-minded, be creative, understand the real needs of people, and build technology that will provide intelligent solutions to all kinds of urgent issues.

What’s next for you?

I will be starting my master’s in computer science at Stanford University this fall. I am looking forward to continuing my studies in computer science and enjoying the nice weather in California!

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Aniket Kali

Aniket Kali

Computer Science Specialist

University College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

I was chatting with a friend recently about related things. One thing she said stuck out: times and spaces like these, far removed from what we are used to but full of different people and supportive of different interests, can allow us to grow to the fullest sense of ourselves. I can't say this is exactly the reason I chose U of T in particular (nor were the reasons as clearly formulated back then), but the feeling on the whole made me apply to places very different to where I grew up. Otherwise, I was just quite fortunate many other things worked out.

What inspired you to study computer science?

It's funny — I actually applied to university with the intent I would never do anything math-y again. There were a number of happy coincidences that made me switch, most of all Professor Heap's offering of CSC148, among others. I do enjoy the kinds of problem solving and questions in computer science, and its relevance in other fields and interests, but I'm not so sure I would end up here if the die were rolled again.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I've been quite fortunate to get to know a handful of professors who have been deeply supportive both in and out of academics. I was also lucky to build friendships of great depth, and meet people who seriously influenced the way I think about myself and society. It's hard to point to any one person or event that single-handledly shaped my education, though — much more the sum.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

I spent a lot of time in mental health and environmentalist circles while I was here. These taught me lots about how we can push for positive change, but also the limits of institutions like the university as they are. I've met a number of people who I would have no chance of knowing otherwise, whose care and consideration for others and the world around them are a constant inspiration.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

There are many, and it's difficult to single out just one, but the common themes were support and solidarity from friends and others beyond what I expected.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

I wish I'd tried out more things — both academic and personal — sooner. Nearly every time I've explored something new, there's been value to it. This is advice much easier to give than take, especially without foresight, so all I would reasonably be able to tell my past self is to follow certain instincts more. There are barriers for many, but college and university can still be an unusually free and open place within society.

What’s next for you?

I'm still figuring it out! I'd like to keep doing research in computational linguistics down the road, maybe down into academia, but there are some other interests I want to explore, too.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Murad Akhundov

Murad Akhundov

Computer Science Specialist

University College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

It was a combination of several different factors. I already knew that I wanted to study computer science before coming here, and U of T seemed like a great place for that. I liked how the university offered a lot of different opportunities in academic research and Toronto is a major hub for the tech industry. I was also very keen on moving to a big city, so a downtown Toronto campus was a big plus.

What inspired you to study computer science?

I love solving puzzles/logic problems and building things, so I figured I would like programming. I also took a computer science course in high school. I really enjoyed it and got inspired to study CS further. Looking back, I definitely made the right choice.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I found the first couple of theoretical computer science courses were very important. I already knew how to code before coming to university, but the theoretical side of CS was entirely new to me. The courses really taught me how to think differently, and how to communicate my reasoning in a very logical, precise and clear way. I think it is great that you get to take these courses very early on at U of T — this is not the case at all schools, unfortunately.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

I worked for about two years with Professor Marsha Chechik's lab. It was a really great learning experience to get involved with academic research. My work ended up winning a student research competition, and we are publishing a paper on it, which has been very rewarding. I would definitely recommend all undergrads to try to get involved with research, even if they are not planning on going to grad school.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

I kind of regret not taking more courses from other departments outside of math and computer science. I am very interested in geography and urban issues, and I feel like I might have missed an opportunity there. I also wish that I had gotten involved with research a bit sooner. It can be a bit overwhelming at first as there is no easy matching system, but it is well worth it.

What’s next for you?

I joined Okta Toronto as a Software Engineer about a month ago. I interned there last summer and it's great to be back!

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Danya Lette

Danya Lette

Computer Science Specialist

Victoria College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

I grew up in Toronto, so U of T was an obvious choice for me. I'm very lucky that the school in my backyard is also a top-notch research university!

What inspired you to study computer science?

I have a pretty eclectic background. I have a previous degree in philosophy — although I started that degree thinking I would surely become a physicist — and I've also consistently been involved in various art projects. I didn't consider myself a "computer person" at all, despite having done some programming for art projects. Over time, I learned more programming and eventually started working as a web developer. As I learned, I accumulated a lot more questions than answers. I also started to realize that many topics that had interested me in the past were, in fact, part of computer science. Going back to school to study computer science became an inevitability. Curiosity is a powerful motivator.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I am very grateful for all the computer science faculty members who were able to convince me that you can learn how to learn, you can learn how to study, you can learn how to take tests, you can learn how to communicate effectively — soft skills are skills, not ingrained personality traits. These lessons carried me through my degree and gave me the confidence to take on a lot of really rewarding challenges.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

In my second year, I started volunteering as an editor at the Review of Undergraduate Computer Science (RUCS), a journal that publishes undergraduate research in computer science at U of T. I partly got involved in RUCS because I was interested in pursuing research, but I wasn't exactly sure how to do so. In my experience at RUCS, I realized that it wasn't just me — many of my peers were also interested but confused or demotivated. It was very hard to find out about research opportunities, get advice, and successfully navigate the bureaucracy. So, through RUCS, I started several initiatives to remedy some of these issues, including the Undergraduate Research Guide, the UGSRP Meet n Greet / NSERC info session, and the Research-a-Thon.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

One memory that stands out for me is watching a group of my classmates stand at a whiteboard together, laughing and shouting while trying to solve an unsolved problem in theoretical computer science. They were not bothered by the fact that it is unlikely for a group of undergrads to solve that problem. They were focused on the problem, sharing creative suggestions that drew on material they had learned in different courses and in different research areas. I like this memory because it shows how creative science and math can be, how much you can accomplish when you work together, and how much fun that process can be.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

I would just tell myself, "You can do it!"

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

Collaboration is both fun and an awesomely powerful tool.

What’s next for you?

In September, I'll be starting a master's in computer science at U of T with Professor Azadeh Farzan. I'll be doing research in programming languages, with a focus on automated formal verification and program synthesis.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

Graduation Spotlight: Ben Prystawski

Ben Prystawski

Computer Science Specialist, AI Focus

Cognitive Science Major

Trinity College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

In high school, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to study in university, so I chose U of T because it has strong departments across the board. The general first year in Arts and Science let me take a wide variety of courses, confident in the knowledge that U of T would have a good program in whatever I chose.

What inspired you to study computer science?

I enjoyed math in high school and liked to program and tinker with computers, but at the same time I was interested in other subjects like linguistics, philosophy, economics, and psychology. I ended up deciding to study computer science because it mixes well with other fields. You can put the word "computational" in front of lots of other disciplines, like linguistics, biology, or neuroscience, and get a cool interdisciplinary field. Ultimately, I decided to combine my computer science specialist with a cognitive science major, which let me explore applications of computational ideas to questions about the language and the mind.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I've had the great fortune of doing research with three fantastic professors at U of T: Yang Xu, Joseph Williams, and Daphna Buchsbaum. I learned a ton from them, both specific concepts in computer science and cognitive science and general advice for navigating my career and further learning. These professors had a major influence on my decision to pursue a career in academia and helped me get into graduate school.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

I got involved with the Computer Science Student Union (CSSU), where I was a general council member in my second year and director of academic events in my third year. I also worked with U of T AI, helping to put together an extracurricular course that teaches the basics of AI and machine learning to first and second-year students. These groups were really fun to be a part of and I met a lot of great people through them.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

Some of my favourite U of T memories are from exploring Toronto with my friends. There are tons of great restaurants, parks, and museums within walking distance of campus. I especially enjoyed trying new cuisines and visiting places like Allan Gardens and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

I would advise myself to focus my attention on whatever I'm doing. I spent most of my first and second years trying to do schoolwork and entertainment at the same time, like trying to work while listening to a podcast, without really accomplishing either of them. It's really easy to spend hours at a library scrolling through social media with a textbook open and convince yourself that you've studied. I've learned that it's much more fulfilling and enjoyable to spend 8 hours doing truly focused work then 4 hours having fun rather than 12 hours in this weird half-working half-relaxing state.

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

How easy something is to measure has very little to do with its importance. Earlier in my degree, I was too narrowly focused on easily measurable variables like my grades. Grades were definitely important for me, but harder-to-measure aspects of my degree, like the people I met and the subtle shifts in the ways I think about the world, were probably at least as important. Moving forward, I am trying to pay attention to parts of my life that are hard to quantify and make sure I don't neglect them.

What’s next for you?

I will start my PhD in Psychology at Stanford in September! My research will be on computational modelling of language.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.