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2025 was an inspiring year for the Faculty of Science, defined by groundbreaking research and community spirit. From hosting the 2SLGBTQ+ in STEM Conference to partnering with the Ontario Science Centre to celebrating a series of book releases, our outreach extended far beyond the classroom and local community.

Our researchers pushed the boundaries of discovery by advancing research in cancer treatment, water conservation and AI policy. Our students' achievements placed them on the world stage, and our alumni and supporters continued to drive change in the community.

These achievements reflect a year of deep curiosity, setting a precedent for years to come.

The outstanding accomplishments of 2025 have set the Faculty of Science up for an exciting year ahead. We look forward to welcoming our inaugural cyber science cohort, harnessing breakthrough advances in research, and further expanding our science community.

David Cramb, Dean, Faculty of Science
Dean David Cramb

109

Full-time faculty

4,775

Students

12,904

Active alumni

Table of Contents

Home
Discovery & Innovation
Student Excellence
Community Impact
Friends of FOS
By the Numbers

Discovery & Innovation

Faculty Research

Yeganeh Bahoo

Translating theoretical problems to real-world solutions

"I'm creating that bridge between theory and application to ensure that what I'm developing won't stay on the shelves for years until someone finds a solution."

Anthony Bonato

TMU math professor’s new book brings networks and graph theory to a wider audience

"Networks are still an emerging topic within science, within mathematics, but they're becoming a very powerful lens to reveal a lot of new things."

Michael Kolios

Combining ultrasound waves with nanomedicine to treat cancer in a new way

“It’s an incredibly multidisciplinary effort. It brings together ultrasound physics, chemical synthesis, and tumour and cellular biology, all converging toward clinical application."

Michael Olson

TMU’s Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar is on a mission to find out how cancer cells move

“If we can stop the cancer from spreading, that could also prolong lives.”

Rising Star: Edward Taylor

Using clinical insight to improve patient quality of life

This year, the Faculty of Science welcomed professor Edward Taylor, to the Department of Physics. At TMU, he looks forward to continuing his research in cancer imaging and treatment, exploring tumour behaviour and mentoring students to become strong leaders in medical physics.

Student Excellence

Undergraduate Studies

Kian Karimi

Faculty of Science undergraduates recognized for student excellence

“It felt amazing to have this recognition because of all the work I put into this role.”

Quinn Kiervin Starkey

Undergraduate mathematics student finds her passion and career pathway

"Having professors who are very excited about the things they were teaching and were giving me that invitation in was a really big thing for me."

Osanyem Osadebe

How co-op catapulted this new grad’s career prospects

“What I’ve come to appreciate most about TMU’s computer science program is its emphasis on hands-on learning. It’s not just about theory, you’re expected to apply what you learn."

Alacea Yerxa

Pow Wow dancer brings Indigenous perspectives to science classroom, community

“Something really special about TMU’s Pow Wow is that it exposes a lot of people from many different backgrounds and cultural identities to Indigenous culture and celebrations.”

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Joseph Aladekoyi

PhD student working to protect lakes, rivers and streams from antibiotics and other drugs

"By improving how we manage pharmaceuticals, we can protect aquatic life from unintended exposure to chemicals, ensure cleaner water for future generations, and support sustainable waste management and responsible pharmaceutical use."

Cassandra Ferworn

TMU PhD student wins EU competition, takes AI policy proposal to Brussels

"Policymakers, civil servants, middle managers, they are all making decisions on AI usage. We want them to have all the information, to have a working understanding of the technology and associated risk."

Kalysta Makimoto

Pioneering AI models to better diagnose lung disease in women

“The differences between males and females in health research is not widely investigated for machine learning in COPD. There are so many unknowns that need to be answered."

Patience Obi

Supporting ovarian cancer survival for Black women

Patience Obi is a recipient of the 2025 Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black Scholars for her work that addresses critical gaps in ovarian cancer research, particularly for Black women, who are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Samuel Reano

Preparing for a career in financial risk management

“The question I became curious about during the transition from finishing my undergrad to entering my master's was, ‘Is there a way to measure how risky it is to make a financial decision before it affects everybody?’” 

Community Impact

A year of nationally-recognized science outreach

The Faculty of Science continued to expand its impact throughout 2025 by fostering deep community connections and providing accessible STEM outreach. 

New this year, SciXchange launched youth programming through a partnership with the Ontario Science Centre, organizing DNA labs on TMU campus.

Science Rendezvous at TMU saw an impressive turnout, featuring over 90 dynamic booths and more than a thousand participants on campus. Hosting Soapbox Science at the Word on the Street Festival at David Pecaut Square also led to one of the most engaging years yet, introducing a new "ask-me-anything" format to encourage direct conversations with the public.

A significant highlight was the growth of Indigenous STEAM outreach through Stoodis Science, led by SciXchange’s new Indigenous Knowledge and Science Outreach Coordinator, Kayla Bourdeau. This year, the office organized outreach workshops for Indigenous youth, Truth and Reconciliation Week events and Indigenous Orientation at TMU.

SciXchange’s commitment to excellence was recognized both at TMU and nationally. SciXchange Director Emily Agard was honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal (external link)  for her significant contributions to STEM engagement, and Enrichment & Outreach Coordinator Leigh Paulseth received the Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Staff Award for excellence in community engagement.

Ontario Science Centre

TMU hosts Ontario Science Centre class for high school students

"SciXchange has enjoyed collaborating with the Ontario Science Centre over the years. Their work is so important for the community and aligns with our mission to make science engaging and accessible."

Friends of FOS

Donors

Leacross Foundation & Jet Ice

Donors shaping impactful scientific discoveries

Generous support from the Leacross Foundation and Jet Ice continues to provide opportunities for student and faculty success in science. Biomedical sciences student Fiza Butt shares her experience made possible through the Leacross Women in STEM Summer Research Assistantship Program at iBEST, and Chemistry and Biology professor Stefania Impellizzeri’s team advances groundbreaking research on ice rink optimization and sustainability as the Jet Ice Research Chair in Sustainable Materials Chemistry. 

Alumni

Alex Finlayson, Computer Science BSc ’06

Alex Finlayson propels the next generation

“It was a lot of little things that happened along the way where it was someone giving me a break, and that’s why I want to give back. I want to do the same thing for other people.”

Julia Pia, Chemistry BSc '20

Celebrating the spirit of giving during National Volunteer Week

“Since graduating, I’ve maintained a lot of valuable relationships and connections I made with professors and peers which continue to help me throughout my career, and which continue to provide me opportunities to help other students and alumni.”

Aryan Safakish, Physics PhD '24

Failing forward: From university drop out to PhD

“Not being able to finish university was a massive setback that really made me question myself and my capabilities. The doubt drove my ambition to reset my goals and prove to myself that I was capable.”

Nirojini Sivachandran, Applied Chemistry and Biology BSc ’05

Alumna returns home to TMU and honours mother’s memory

“My mother was so proud. ‘My daughter is a doctor,’ she would say. She took so much pride in that.”

By the Numbers

$8.7M+

External research funding

13,108

Research citations

Jet Ice researcher reaches for a cylinder while collaborating in a lab
SciXchange volunteers taking a selfie at Science Rendezvous

23%

Increase in website visits

Joined the conversation on a new platform:

Bluesky

1,331

Dean's List recipients

25% 

Increase in fundraising revenue 

Panelists at the SciMentorship Networking Event