Lisa Strug is a Professor in the Departments of Statistical Sciences, Computer Science and the Division of Biostatistics, and the Director of CANSSI Ontario, at the University of Toronto. She is also the Associate Director of The Centre for Applied Genomics and a Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children.
Professor Strug is a statistical geneticist and her research focuses on the development of novel statistical approaches to analyze and integrate multi-omics data to identify genetic contributors to complex human disease.
Dr. Helen Lasthiotakis is the Director, Operations and Strategy at the Data Sciences Institute, University of Toronto. At DSI, she is responsible for the development and management of strategic plans and partnerships, the development of thematic and collaborative research strategies, and oversight of the DSI’s fellowship, training and event programs, and strategic communications plans.
Dr. Lasthiotakis has held senior roles at U of T, including in the offices of the Vice-President Research & Strategic Initiatives, the Office of the Provost, the Dean’s Office in the Faculty of Arts & Science, as well as the Nortel Institute in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. She holds her Masters in Science in Geology, and her PhD in Higher Education Leadership & Policy.
Mark supports DSI grants and awards, playing a pivotal role in the promotion and support of DSI research initiatives.
Mark has worked in research project management and awards for the past six years. He has managed relationships with external partners, as well as drafted sections of grants, data transfer agreements, and supported High-Performance Computing data projects. He received a Ph.D. in History at York University.
Wisam provides research software development and analysis support for data science projects.
Wisam has experience building software utilizing an array of programming languages, technologies and software frameworks. He received his degree in software engineering from McGill.
Sara is responsible for leading the research and communications initiatives at DSI, overseeing a range of responsibilities including news writing, website maintenance and updates, social media management, and communication needs.
With over 7 years of experience in marketing and communications, Sara has worked in various sectors including academia, government, non-profits, and businesses. She holds a degree in Political Science from York University and a post-graduate certificate in Digital Marketing Management from the University of Toronto. Sara brings a versatile skill set that includes writing, video editing, graphic design, social media, and website design.
Sumaiya is responsible for identifying, developing, and working with private sector, community and global organizations to launch research and education partnerships.
Sumaiya has experience building collaborations between industry and academia having worked as the Business Development Advisor in a joint role with Mitacs and the University of Waterloo. She has worked with non-profits, government organizations, and private companies to implement water projects in rural areas of East Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada. Sumaiya holds a Bachelor of Business & Commerce, a Master’s in International Business from Monash University, and a Master’s in Development Practice from the University of Waterloo.
Conor provides research software development and analysis support for data science projects.
Conor has built research support applications for a variety of institutions, including Southern Methodist University, The University of Pennsylvania, and The Hospital for Sick Children. He has a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Regina is responsible for providing frontline support for DSI, managing inquiries, scheduling, and coordinating all DSI events.
Regina brings customer service expertise from the university, government, and retail sectors. She holds a Music degree from Anyang University, Korea, and has played as a cellist in an orchestra. Regina has been a member of the UofT community working with the Office of the Vice-President International and the A&S Department of Geography and Planning.
Jennie is the primary point of contact for prospective learners seeking our DSI Data Science and Machine Learning Certificates.
Jennie is a dedicated professional with experience in the non-profit sector as a program coordinator. She has successfully managed and coordinated various organizational aspects, including marketing, scheduling, events, fundraising, and partner outreach. With a master’s degree in environmental studies from Queen’s University and research assistant experience in various labs, Jennie possesses a solid foundation in analytical skills and knowledge.
Jennie is responsible for overseeing the delivery of cohort program activities for the DSI’s SUDS, Postdoctoral and Doctoral Student Fellows, as well as the DSI’s not-for-credit offerings.
Jennie is a dedicated professional with experience in the non-profit sector as a program coordinator. She has successfully managed and coordinated various organizational aspects, including marketing, scheduling, events, fundraising, and partner outreach. With a master’s degree in environmental studies from Queen’s University and research assistant experience in various labs, Jennie possesses a solid foundation in analytical skills and knowledge.
Curis is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the DSI Data Science and Machine Learning Certificates.
With over 15 years of leadership experience in the community, non-profit, higher education and tech sectors, Curtis is dedicated to developing people to realize their fullest potential through education, learning, and development. A passionate and equity-focused educator, Curtis has helped teams and organizations build and scale learning programs at all stages of development including needs assessment, design, implementation and evaluation.
Prior to joining the DSI, Curtis held positions across three divisions at the University of Toronto. Most recently, Curtis worked as a Program Manager for Dev Degree at Shopify – a talent development program designed to diversify the software developer talent pool, while accelerating early talent time to impact. Curtis holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
Daniel provides research software development and analysis support for the Data Science and Machine Learning Certificates.
Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics from the University of Toronto. As a Teaching Assistant at the university, he developed innovative auto-marking systems and educational materials. His professional journey includes a role as a Software Developer at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where he worked on meteorological tools. At Amazon, he excelled as a Software Developer Engineer, focusing on customer-facing solutions, feature development, and providing on-call support. His diverse experience across the public sector and major tech companies underscores his commitment to impactful and innovative software development.
