Celebrating two outstanding computer science graduates
The Faculty of Science celebrated two outstanding computer science co-op students whose accomplishments earned them the top honours at this spring's convocation.
Sana Mahmood received the prestigious TMU Gold Medal for her academic achievements and leadership, maintaining a 4.12 CGPA while pioneering AI research in neuro-oncology. Selected for the iBEST Women in STEM research assistantship program and for a Vector Scholarship, she developed award-winning deep learning models to predict brain cancer progression, presenting her findings at national and international conferences, while serving as a Lead TA for over 400 students and co-organizing TMU’s inaugural TerraHacks hackathon.
Teodor Cirstoiu was recognized with the Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal for attaining the highest academic standing upon completing his bachelor's degree at TMU, graduating with a remarkable CGPA of 4.31. Throughout his undergraduate journey, Cirstoiu juggled his studies alongside his role as Vice President of the Computer Science Student Union, working as a Teaching Assistant, and acting as a student volunteer for the university.
Read about their journeys at TMU:
Sana Mahmood, TMU Gold Medal
Sana Mahmood with TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi and Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang. Photo Credit: Harry Choi
Receiving the TMU Gold Medal is an immense honour, one that I share with the friends, family and mentors who have helped me get to this point. This honour is a testament to what the pursuit of passion can yield.
During my time at TMU, I was lucky enough to have a diverse range of experiences that helped me figure out the right career path for me, thanks in part to the ample opportunities available to students. Of these experiences, pursuing research was what stuck with me the most, and I was able to dive deep with multiple projects, presenting at local, regional and national conferences. TMU's focus on ensuring students gain practical experience was what allowed me to pursue my passion for research, and for that, I'll be forever grateful.
Moreover, I would not have been able to seek out these opportunities if it were not for my family. Between supporting me through the ups and downs of undergrad, ensuring I make it to exams on time, and allowing me to chase my dreams, I share this medal and everything I accomplished with my family.
My proudest accomplishment at TMU was presenting a 20-minute talk on my research at the 2025 Unity Health Toronto Cancer Research Symposium. It was incredibly humbling to discuss my work on the same podium as graduate student trainees and senior researchers.
Preparing the talk presented me with the challenge of effective science communication. Given that my work resides at the intersection of deep learning and brain cancer treatment planning, I needed to distill my technical methodology into simple terms that anyone with a biomedical or computer science background could understand.
The talk went extremely well, and I was able to engage in insightful discussions at the symposium about my work. I would not have been able to take on this challenge without the support of my supervisors, Dr. Elodie Lugez and Dr. Nathan Churchill, and my lab mates, who provided constructive feedback along the way.
I am excited to continue pursuing research through the Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) program at the University of Toronto this fall. I hope to pursue a career in industry as an AI researcher, combining what I love most about research, academia and industry. I would not have been able to find a career at the intersection of these three areas had it not been for the co-op placements, research assistantships and academic curriculum I experienced at TMU.
Teodor Cirstoiu, Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal
Teodor Cirstoiu with TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi and Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang. Photo Credit: Harry Choi
First and foremost, this medal represents academic recognition. But to me, it also validates the sacrifices behind the grades. It stands for the late-night study sessions, the academic hurdles, and the constant juggling act between academics and extracurriculars. Entering university during the pandemic meant adapting from online learning back to in-person classrooms on top of the transition from high school. Many of us faced these same challenges, and I am very proud to have persevered through them with my peers. The Governor General's Academic Silver Medal is a testament to that hard work.
If there is one thing I’ve learned at TMU, it’s that university is entirely what you make it out to be. It can either result in just a piece of paper or be the most transformative experience of your life. I chose to pursue the latter. Over the course of my undergraduate degree, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Vice President of the Computer Science Course Union (external link) , working as a Teaching Assistant, and acting as a student volunteer for the university. Simultaneously, I conducted research in three distinct labs: the Autonomous Robotics and Continuum Systems (ARCS) Lab (robotics), the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (external link) (cybersecurity), and the Geometric Computing Lab (computational geometry). On top of all this, I balanced professional work as a co-op student while also pursuing a minor in Criminology. I wanted to maximize every opportunity, and I am incredibly proud to graduate knowing I left no regrets behind.
Following graduation, I will be pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Toronto, specializing in computer graphics and neural rendering. I love working on applied topics, so my main goal is to enter research and development (R&D) at a rendering or semiconductor company where I can apply my skills to real-world challenges. My time at TMU didn't just teach me technical skills; it taught me how to learn and adapt effectively. It provided an opportunity to build an invaluable professional network and proved to me that I can thrive under pressure. No matter what the future holds, TMU has built an irreplaceable foundation for my success.