Congratulations to five incoming Data Science master’s students who are the recipients of the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence. In addition to two students who wish to remain anonymous, the awardees include Jerry Bao, Kacie Philippo, and Yujie Wen.
The Vector Institute gives $17,500 entrance scholarship to “exceptional candidates pursuing a master’s program” in AI research in Ontario. The Institute was founded in 2017 with the purpose of driving “excellence and leadership in Canada’s knowledge, creation, and use of artificial intelligence.” Since its inception in 2018, they have awarded more than 550 scholarships.
Jerry Bao, Master’s of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence program
BSc Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Toronto
I’m truly grateful to have so many people believing in me, and this scholarship is a tangible culmination of that. I’d like to thank my friends, family, professors, and supervisors for being so supportive and understanding and for seeing the potential in me. I will do my best to live up to all your expectations!
I chose MDSAI because of UWaterloo’s strong reputation, the selectivity of the program, its industry connections, and the distinguished faculty. I come from a primarily academic background, and MDSAI co-op seems like the perfect bridge to make the transition to industry data science. While the program is coursework and co-op based, I am interested in medical-related fields like biostatistics, medical imaging, and healthcare operations research.
Kacie Philippo, Master’s of Math in Data Science program
BSc Computer Science and Mathematics, Brock University
Winning this scholarship makes me feel incredibly grateful and inspired. It not only supports my education but also allows me to focus more deeply on my research. I’m especially thankful to Dr. William Marshall at Brock University for encouraging me to pursue graduate studies and supporting me throughout my undergrad, and to Dr. Lukasz Golab for welcoming me to his lab at Waterloo. I’m also deeply appreciative of the Vector Institute for this opportunity.
At Waterloo, I hope to research how generative AI is influencing the student co-op experience – from how students apply for positions, to their satisfaction during work terms, and even their long-term career outcomes. My goal is to understand both the benefits and challenges of AI in this context and to provide insights that help students succeed as they enter an AI-integrated workforce.
I chose Waterloo’s Data Science program because of its large and active co-op community, which offers valuable data for this research, and because of Dr. Golab’s expertise in educational data mining and related fields.
Yujie Wen, Master’s of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence program
BSc Computer Science, University of Alberta
It’s a tremendous honour to receive this scholarship. It not only recognizes the work I’ve done so far but also provides meaningful financial support as I continue my studies. I’m truly excited to be part of this talented community and to contribute meaningfully to the future of this program. I’d like to thank my professors, mentors, and internship supervisors for their guidance and encouragement, as well as my family and friends for their unwavering support.
At Waterloo, I’m excited to explore applied machine learning and AI system development at scale. I chose the MDSAI program for its strong mix of theoretical depth and real-world application, as well as its ties to the Vector Institute and industry co-op opportunities.