Meet the Fall-Winter 2023-24 Team

Ruth Rodrigues – Qualitative Data Archivist Team Lead

Ruth (she/her) is a graduate student completing a Masters of Education in Social Justice Education at OISE. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Critical Equity Studies at the University of Toronto. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, Ruth aims to further develop her qualitative research skills while working with the Innovation Hub in their mission to improve student accessibility and inclusion. Some of Ruth’s other interests include animal welfare and developmental policy.

Cagla Akgul – Qualitative Data Archivist

Cagla is a third-year undergraduate student double majoring in Economics and International Relations. As one of the Qualitative Data Archivists, she is excited to learn about methods of handling qualitative data while making a positive impact on UofT students' lives with regards to accessibility and inclusion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling, and playing the piano and the cello.

Faith Dong – Qualitative Data Archivist

Faith (she/her) is an incoming Master of Information student, and has an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from UofT. As a qualitative data archivist at the Innovation Hub, she aims to uncover valuable insights from students' experiences at the university. Outside of school and work, she loves hiking, playing stardew valley, and rewatching her favourite movies.

Kalaishiga Kalaichelvan – Qualitative Data Archivist

Kalaishiga Kalaichelvan (she/her) is a third-year student pursuing a double major in Sociology & Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. As a dedicated qualitative data archivist, she strives to leverage her research experience in tandem with her commitment to promoting equity and inclusion, with the aim of enriching the student experience at UofT. Beyond school and work, Kalaishiga finds beauty, comfort, and inspiration in movies, music, and books.

Katrina Soong – Qualitative Data Archivist

Katrina is a third-year undergraduate student doing a double major in Philosophy and English and a minor in History. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, she is hoping to apply her skills in research, specifically from History to better understand student experiences. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, reading, photography and spending time with her friends.

Ivy Cao – Qualitative Data Archivist

Ivy (she/her) is a graduate student completing a Master of Information in User Experience Design at iSchool. She completed her undergraduate degree last year in Interactive Multimedia and Design at Carleton University. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, Ivy aims to further develop her qualitative research skills and make positive impacts while working with the Innovation Hub in their mission to improve student accessibility and inclusion. Some of Ivy’s other interests include leisure swimming and video editing.

Star Li – Qualitative Data Archivist

Star Li is a 4th year undergrad studying statistics, economics and computer science. Star is passionate about leveraging data and technology to make positive changes. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, she is hoping to explore innovation hub’s empathy-based approach and data-driven problem solving techniques with the aim of improving overall student experience. Outside of study and work, Star enjoys jazz dance classes and video games.

Yunika Liu – Qualitative Data Archivist

Yunika (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Criminology and Psychology. She is excited about the opportunities this role brings to engage with and contribute to campus initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and figure skating.

Mike He – Digital Communications Coordinator

Mike (He/him) recently completed his Master of Information degree with a concentration in User Experience Design at U of T. Additionally, holding a BS in Psychology, Mike is passionate about delivering human-centred and accessible digital solutions. As the Digital Communications Coordinator, he ensures the quality of graphic design materials, manages the Innovation Hub’s website and offers support for training, project management and administration. Aside from work, you can find Mike enjoying singing and exploring food and nature.

Ava Hawkins – Blog Editor & Digital Content Writer

Ava Hawkins (she/her) is an international, third-year, undergraduate student majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology. In her studies she has learned how important a human-centered approach is to create a welcoming and successful academic and work environment. Ava works as a digital content writer and blog editor at the Innovation Hub. She aims to help improve student accessibility to events on campus and information that will help them achieve their goals.

Lois Lee – Blog Editor & Digital Content Writer

Lois (she/her) is a second year Master of Information student, specializing in User Experience Design and Archives & Records Management. She also completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and English at UofT. Drawing on her previous experience in student publications, Lois hopes to collaboratively curate a vibrant and diverse stream of stories for the Innovation Hub's blog this year. Outside of school and work, she enjoys painting, (discreetly) writing poetry, and watching films.

Britney Doopan – Photographer

Britney is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience with a double minor in Psychology and French. With a dad who worked as a wedding videographer and photographer, she was exposed to cameras at a young age. Through this, she developed an appreciation for capturing special moments and people in time and using photography as a means of communication. She is an enthusiastic member of the Innovation Hub and looks forward to capturing the people, life, and spirit around campus.

Diana Radenko – Digital Storyteller

Diana is an undergraduate student majoring in Book and Media Studies. In her role as Digital Storyteller, she strives to promote the need for clear communication and accessible information for her fellow students. During her free time, she can be found sketching or exploring the campus for new and exciting places to study.

Grace Yip – Digital Storyteller

Grace is a first-year Master of Information student specializing in user experience design. With a background in design and entrepreneurship, Grace is passionate about translating human needs into simple yet meaningful solutions at the iHub. In her free time, she enjoys trying out multiplayer games and spending time with her friends and family.

Isha Sharma – Digital Storyteller

Isha is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Technology of Architecture Specialist and a minor in energy and environmental science. Her aspirations to become a Data Visualiser and Ui/Ux designer led her to the Innovation Hub communications team. Isha is passionate about accessible design, community volunteering and anthropological research, which she aims to work on while making a difference in the student community at the University of Toronto. During her free time, Isha enjoys swimming, baking, painting, and spending time with her loved ones!

Tehseen Sarwar – Digital Storyteller

Tehseen is going into her fourth year specializing in Architecture and majoring in Environmental Studies. As an architecture student, Tehseen understands the importance of relaying important information visually, and wishes to use her skills to excel in her position as a digital storyteller. Tehseen is passionate about helping undergraduate students navigate and optimize their university experience as much as possible, especially as many undergraduate students including herself started university remotely. Outside of school and work, Tehseen enjoys watching movies, reading, and drawing.

Julie (Hồng Ân) Nguyen – Digital Storyteller

Julie (or Hồng Ân) is a senior-year student in the Bachelor of Information program at the iSchool, University of Toronto. She is also a multilingual explorer who is passionate about improving digital well-being by bringing inclusion and accessibility into her design. Joining the Innovation Hub as a Digital Storyteller, Julie is hoping to greatly improve the UofT students' experience through crafted designs and stories.

Cheryl Nong – Research Coordinator

Cheryl recently completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in psychology and neuroscience at UofT. As both a scientist and a storyteller, she's always been interested in the intersections of lived experience and empirical research. After working in student organizations throughout undergrad to make the university community more accessible, inclusive, and fun, she's now excited to bring her experience in mentorship and community engagement to support the Innovation Hub team as Research Coordinator. Outside of the Innovation Hub, you can find her writing, listening to music, and experimenting in the kitchen, sometimes all at once.

Dania El-Ayoubi – Community Animator & Design Researcher

Dania is a Master of Global Affairs student with the Munk School, specializing in Innovation Policy. She has professional experience in community engagement where her work was informed collaboratively by voices of those with lived experience to take local action. As a Community Animator & Design Researcher, Dania is thrilled to channel her passion for community empowerment into the Innovation Hub. A fun fact about Dania is that her favourite food is ice cream (yes, even in the winter)!

Hailing Zhang – Community Animator & Design Researcher

Hailing Zhang (she/her) is a Master of Information student specializing in user experience design. As an empathetic UX researcher and designer, she translates insights into design decisions for user-centred solutions. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces and has joined iHub to connect with others and contribute to impactful experiences. Beyond work, Hailing enjoys exploring the world through travel.

Maggie Wang – Community Animator & Design Researcher

Maggie is a second-year undergraduate student studying international relations, public policy, and chemistry. She enjoys integrating the arts and sciences to better understand and improve her community, and hopes to create an improved student experience at UofT as a Design Researcher. When off campus, she enjoys snowboarding, cooking, and exploring Toronto.

Sunnie Gong – Community Animator & Design Researcher

Sunnie is a first-year Master of Education student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE. She is interested in exploring the use of human-centric design approaches to create learning environments that are engaging and accommodating of diverse learning approaches. Sunnie is excited bring this energy to the iHub and collaborate with fellow students to build a community that is welcoming and inclusive to all. Outside of school you can often find her coaxing friends into playing board games, rock climbing, or with her nose in a book.

Yuhuang Lin – Community Animator & Design Researcher

Yuhuang Lin is a 2nd-year master's student in User Experience Design at the University of Toronto, specializing in user testing and research. They are a design researcher and community animator in the Innovation Hub, passionate about creating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community space for the Innovation Hub. Yuhuang thrives in collaborative team projects and enjoys sports and fitness for a balanced lifestyle. Their goal is to become an empathetic UX designer, optimizing products for seamless user experiences.

Nicolas Martinez Gonzalez – Design Researcher

Nicolas is a fourth-year student pursuing a management specialist with a focus in Data Science. He is interested in the intersection between design thinking, entrepreneurship and social impact. In addition to working at the Innovation Hub, Nicolas spends his time collaborating with Building Roots, a food bank in Moss Park, managing the University of Toronto Economics Club and working with startups.

Hailey Shim – Design Researcher

Hailey currently in my third year at the University of Toronto, majoring in Statistics and Economics with a minor in Computer Science. Hailey really passionate about employing empathy-driven research methodologies. Collaborating with fellow student researchers to improve our campus environment is something Hailey am eagerly looking forward to!

Eesha Fahad – Design Researcher

Eesha is a third-year student studying Peace, Conflict & Justice and Criminology & Sociolegal Studies. She will be contributing to the Community Animation Team as a Design Researcher. Her interest in design research stems from the various courses she has taken throughout her undergraduate degree that focused on community and empathy-based research methodologies. She aims to improve the UofT community’s experiences by connecting with people to centre their voices to build inclusive spaces. During her free time, Eesha enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and exploring new spots around the city.

Amelia Di Meo – Design Research Team Lead

Amelia recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Health Science Degree in Translational Research where she also received an Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in Neuroscience and Physiology. In between degrees, Amelia worked as a clinical research assistant, where she was introduced to design-thinking and qualitative research. Amelia is very excited to join the Innovation Hub as a Design Research Team Lead, and is looking forward to working together with the team to identify student needs and improve life on campus. In her free time, Amelia can be found rock climbing, playing piano and guitar.

Annika Yang – Design Researcher

Annika Yang is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Industrial Engineering. She is eager to explore how engineering design principles create real interpersonal impact: particularly how technical knowledge can be applied to more nebulous, humanitarian issues. She thoroughly resonates with the iHub's focus on empathy-centric design. Outside of school, Annika enjoys creative writing, music-making, and mulling over number puzzles.

Jenny Phung – Design Researcher

Jenny is a third-year student currently pursuing a major in Global Health, Book and Media Studies and a minor in English. As a design researcher, she aims to create a safe and inclusive space and improve campus life for students. Jenny is excited to apply an empathy-based research approach and work with the Innovation Hub. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, watching movies and shows, and spending time with her family and friends.

Thaksha Krishnagumar – Design Researcher

Thaksha (she/her/hers) is a first-year Master of Information student specializing in User Experience Design. Coming from a background in Mathematics and Linguistics, she leverages cognitive diversity to understand the variability of experiences. As a Design Researcher for the Commuter Student Spaces Project at the Innovation Hub, she wants to advocate for students by letting their voices lead the way for innovative design solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys watching tv shows and listening to music.

Vivian Zhao – Design Researcher

Vivian is a student from the faculty of information iSchool at UofT! Currently she is  studying Bachelor of Information. She has various areas of interest. She loves learning different languages. She loves outdoor activities as well as camping, bonfire, hiking, motorcycles, you name it!  SHe  actually has a canoe! Besides that, She is really good at cooking! Vivian is very energetic, open-minded, outgoing person. Looking forward to learning and gaining great rewarding learning experience with Innovation hub!

Hannah Katherine – Design Research Team Lead

Hannah (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student specializing in Literature and Critical theory. She is double minoring in French, and Creative Expressions in Society, as well as completing a certificate in Sustainability. As a design researcher, Hannah is excited to working with fellow students to help improve connectivity and accessibility in the U of T community. During her free time, Hannah likes to explore the city and natural environments with her camera – she especially loves taking lots of pictures of mischievous squirrels.

Grace Tsaousidis – Design Researcher

Grace is an undergraduate student pursuing a double major in anthropology and political science and a minor in urban studies. She will be joining Innovation Hub as a design researcher.
Grace strives to work with communities to create positive and lasting change. Her research philosophy is influenced by her education in anthropology. She uses reflexivity and empathy to conduct equity-centred design research. Grace is a lifelong athlete and feels most at home by water.

June Zhang – Design Researcher

June (she/her) is a second-year student in Master of Information, UXD concentration. She is a design researcher in the project 'International Students First 48-Hours'. Before UfT, she did her degree in digital anthropology in UCL, with ethnography about gender, sensation and cybersex in VR. She'd love to transfer her research passion as an anthropologist into design principles that support our student community. June enjoys videogames, street photography, and changing hair colours. Currently, she is in tangerine orange!

William Wu – Design Researcher

William is a fourth-year student pursuing a management degree with a focus on innovation and strategy. He aim to use design thinking and human-centered design to create effective and sustainable solutions.

Melissa Cui – Design Researcher

Melissa is a fourth year undergrad student studying economics and psychology. Started her university life amidst the pandemic, Melissa realized that there was something missing in her campus experience. As a design researcher, she decided to bring some fun and inclusivity by joining the Community Animation Team at the Innovation Hub. She's all about making the iHub more exciting and equitable for everyone! In the free time, Melissa can be found traveling, reading and writing stories include fanfics.

Lidiia Tulenkova – Research Lead and Program Coordinator

Lidiia is a leader and a creative strategist with an intrapreneurial mindset and extensive experience in project management. With a degree in Sociocultural Anthropology and Material Culture, and she is currently executing the quality assurance and consultation process at the Innovation Hub, overseeing a team of design researchers and their team leads. Using design thinking methodologies in various projects and implementing a people-focused approach and creativity in problem-solving, Lidiia led a national team organizing an educational conference on social justice and filming a short documentary, founded the first museum club curating exhibitions and multi-media initiatives, worked on a film set, and became a published anthropologist.

Eliz Shimshek – Team Coordinator

Eliz (she/her) recently received her Honours Bachelor of Science in neuroscience, psychology, and physiology, and has started her PhD in Cognitive Psychology at UofT. She has recently joined the Innovation hub as an A&S UTQAP Team Coordinator. She has always been interested in working with large groups of students in order to influence positive change in student experiences and Arts & Science programs. In her free time, Eliz enjoys learning new languages and content creation.

Yannie Mork – Team Coordinator

Yannie is a third-year student double majoring in Ethics, Society and Law and Sociology. She has participated in a few qualitative research projects before landing on the Innovation Hub's position and she is very excited to bring her research experience to the Hub and help make the student community better. Being a sociology student, Yannie has learnt a lot about different research approaches and she really likes how the Innovative Hub focuses on taking an ethnographic and empathy-based approach. Outside of class and work, Yannie likes playing basketball and working out at the gym.

Emaan Tariq – Design Researcher

Emaan is a third-year student studying Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology with a French minor. Fueled by curiosity and empathy, she is excited to understand the experiences of fellow students as a Design Researcher. Emaan strives to learn about people's individual stories and the issues they face which inspires her interest in human-centred research and design. Outside of school, you can find her at a cafe people-watching and sketching or indulging in a good book.

Chris Liu – Design Researcher

Tianyu (Chris, he/him) is a first-year Master of Education student at OISE, specializing in Educational Leadership and Policy. As a Design Researcher at the Innovation Hub, he's excited to blend academic theory with practical applications. Committed to human-centered design, he aims to create equitable educational solutions. He looks forward to contributing to the Innovation Hub and learning from the rich experiences of his teammates.

Marcus Chen – Design Researcher

Marcus (He/Him) is a graduate student at the Faculty of Information, specializing in User Experience (UX) Design. With his prior experiences in digital marketing and UX, he is excited to apply his passion for empathy-based user research and analytics to improve the learning experiences at the institution. Marcus hopes to make the learning experiences more effective, accessible and inclusive. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, spending time in nature and exploring new places in the city.

Mariya Grynevych – Design Researcher

Mariya is a second-year student who's pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Economics with a focus on Data Analytics. In her role as a Design Researcher for UTQAP, Mariya is eager to connect with people and use her skills and knowledge to make students' experiences even better, as she deeply resonates with human-centred approach. When she's not in academic zone, you can often find her enjoying the great outdoors or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

Muthu Ram Kumar Avichi – Design Researcher

Olya Jaworsky – Design Researcher

Olya is a Master of Information student specializing in User Experience Design. With a background in Psychology, she takes delight in human-centric research and always leads with a curious mind. At the iHub, she looks forward to translating insights into improved experiences for students. In her spare time, Olya can be found cooking something delicious, bouldering, listening to music, daydreaming, or watching tv shows and movies.

Emily Martin – Design Researcher

I am a second-year undergraduate student in Life Sciences pursuing a double major in Nutritional Sciences and Biology, as well as a minor in Psychology. As a Design Researcher for the UTQAP, I am passionate about biological research, as well as improving the student experience to maximize equity, community, and inclusivity. I love learning from various perspectives and connecting with the community to do so. In my free time, I love to figure skate, sew, and play piano!

Hiren Jain – Design Researcher

Hiren, a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto's Rotman Commerce program, specializes in management with a minor in Economics. He is deeply passionate about the Innovation Hub's mission and is excited to apply empathy-based interview techniques to better understand and address the unique needs of fellow students. Hiren also enjoys travelling, always ready to explore and visit different parts of the world, immersing himself in diverse cultures

Adya Agarwal – Design Researcher

Adya (she/her) is a second-year student at Rotman Commerce, University of Toronto, specialising in Management with a focus in Strategy and Innovation and a minor in Economics. Being an inquisitive entrepreneur and researcher, Adya wishes to improve student life at campus while working as a Design Researcher at the Innovation Hub. You can find her tasting different cuisines and exploring new cafes and restaurants when she’s not at work.

Victoria Lê – Design Researcher

Victoria Lê, a third-year undergraduate at Rotman Commerce, is driven by her deep appreciation for cultural diversity, stemming from her international background. Having transitioned from Vietnam to Canada, she is passionately committed to enhancing the student experience. Her Marketing experience honed her research and problem-solving skills, which she's excited to apply to the program. In her free time, you will find Victoria exploring Toronto's food and coffeeshops, alongside journaling.

Elize Khan – Design Researcher

Elize is a first-year Master of Information student, specializing in User Experience Design (UXD). Her background in Criminology & Sociology allows her to leverage valuable research experience into creating human-centred solutions. As a Design Researcher, she would like to play a role in ensuring that student's experiences are enhanced and ultimately memorable. In her free time, she enjoys reading lots of books, watching films & TV shows and spending time outdoors!

Helner Costa Tiago – Design Researcher

Helner, is a final-year student majoring in Psychological Health Sciences with minors in Biology and Sociology, and he approaches research with a keen interest in the biopsychosocial model and a strive toward nuance. He is dedicated to uplifting the voices of marginalized youth, demonstrated through his work with Black youth in the TDSB. Beyond academics, Helner is a big music and film enthusiast. His journey embodies a commitment to holistic understanding and advocacy.

Noga Shachak – Design Researcher

Noga Shachak is a third year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Arts and Science, studying political science, English, and Sexual Diversity Studies. They are an incoming design researcher with the UTQAP, and are excited to put their theoretical research knowledge into practice, while keeping an eye towards equity and accessibility. When they're not at work or school, Noga enjoys creative writing and hiking with their dog.

Ellie Ho Huang – Design Researcher

Ellie (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in IRHR (Industrial Relations and Human Resources) and Sociology. As a dedicated design researcher, Ellie is committed to honing her research skills while collaborating with the Innovation Hub to enhance the academic experience for both students and faculty members. She finds joy in exploring the city through long walks, immersing herself in music, and engaging in cultural exploration and meeting new people.

Mark Chen – Design Researcher

Mark Chen is currently a second-year student in the Rotman Commerce program. He has recently joined the team at the Innovation Hub as a Design Researcher and is eager to learn more about design research and analysis. In his free time, you can see him playing badminton, ultimate frisbee or simply enjoying a new spot in Chinatown!

Mikhail Lobo – Design Researcher

Mikhail Lobo, after graduating Bachelor of Science in Global Health and minors in Bioethics and Physiology, is now pursuing a Master of Science in Translational Research at U of T. His interests include food insecurity, mental health, and the relationship between sedentarism and non-communicable diseases. He has applied human-centered design to address food insecurity and other accessibility issues in the Toronto community. Mikhail enjoys reading, creating videos, and sports like dragon boat.

Zara Daudjee – Design Researcher

Zara is a second year undergraduate student specializing in Sociocultural Anthropology and double minoring in Literature and Critical Theory and Philosophy. She is a design researcher for the A&S UTQAP in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. She has a strong interest in improving communities for the people within them, and is delighted that this role will allow her to work alongside others to implement positive change. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and drinking bubble tea.

Dominik Kucz – Design Researcher

Dominik Kucz is a third-year student majoring in Computational Cognition. As a design research assistant, he strives to improve the student experience and build up student communities in academic life, and outside. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, playing sports, sipping on tea, and occasionally developing and playing games.

Hira Qureshi – Design Researcher

Hira is a first year PhD student in the Higher Education program at OISE. Her research interests include exploring how admission practices and policies cater for equitable access for underrepresented communities. She is excited to join as a Design Researcher, and learning more about how to create a better campus for all students. During her free time, she enjoys reading books, solving puzzles and exploring new coffee shops around the city.

Kaitlyn Rowsell – Design Researcher

Kaitlyn is a second year undergraduate student studying Health & Disease and Immunology and exploring her interest in visual communication through Visual Studies courses. As a strong proponent of interdisciplinary approaches to research and innovation, she has a keen interest in biomedical communications and other innovative methods of transmitting information and knowledge. In her spare time, Kaitlyn enjoys learning medical illustration, going to the gym, and experimenting with new recipes.

Nyah Vasudeva – Design Researcher

Hey everyone, the name is Nyah and she is currently a second year at University of Toronto! Currently she is majoring in Sociology and Specializing in Urban Geography! The reason as to why she is participating here is because she wants to help ensure a better and comfortable place at the University as well as give out amazing advice proven by research! One thing she really enjoys is working out as well as cooking a lot! Nyah also has an interest with video games and loves meeting new people!

Tiffany Tan – Design Researcher

Tiffany (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student specializing in architecture and minoring in forest conservation. As an incoming design researcher, she is excited to apply her knowledge in human-centred design to her work at UTQAP! You can often find Tiffany exploring study spaces around campus. Friends know they can count on her to know the best spots! She enjoys reading, fashion, solving puzzles, and trying new food around the city during her free time.

Ameerah Atif – Design Researcher

Ameerah is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Statistics. As a Design Researcher, Ameerah is excited to combine her psychology background with design thinking to enhance the campus experience for the U of T community. Beyond school and work, she's an avid artist, often immersed in drawing and painting or indulging in a good book.

Christina Lu – Design Researcher

Christina is currently in her first year of the Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Program. She recently completed her Bachelor's degree in City Studies and Economics at UTSC. Christina has a strong desire to design programs that help people thrive professionally, socially and academically. She's thrilled to join the IHub to learn more about the design thinking approach and to gain hands-on experience in qualitative research. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and binge-watching films.

Lara Devotto Pimenta – Design Researcher

Lara (she/her) is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Public Policy and International Relations. She completed a Foundations One program, where she gained experience in qualitative research and empathy-based interviewing through projects in Kensington Market and with NGOs in the GTA. As a Design Researcher, she's eager to apply human-centered design thinking to help enhance campus life. In her free time, Lara enjoys traveling, cooking with friends, and watching comedic TV shows.

Sara Jani – Design Researcher

Sara Jani (she/they) is a recent graduate from the neuroscience specialist programme, and is now starting her PhD. Through her involvement with different student organisations during her undergrad, Sara developed a passion for helping others find inclusive spaces and a sense of community, and hopes to continue doing that during graduate school. Outside of work, you can find Sara watching TV shows or listening to podcasts while crocheting knickknacks for her apartment.

Jackie Shen – Quantitative Data Analyst

Jackie, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, is currently studying Information Systems & Design and UX Design. She is passionate about crafting interdisciplinary, data-driven solutions that inspire and drive positive changes. Her research is guided by a strong belief in the transformative power of data, which reveals user needs and fuels innovative solutions. Outside of her studies, Jackie enjoys journaling, yoga, and sharing time with her hairless cat, Botox.

Jefferson Ni – Quantitative Data Analyst

Jefferson (he/him) is a graduate student at the Faculty of Information, specializing in Data Science and Information Systems & Design. Before enrolling in UofT, he garnered experience in the financial industry and honed skills in data analysis. He’s eager to collaborate with a dynamic group passionate about developing user-focused services. Outside of his data endeavors, Jefferson is an enthusiast of sports like tennis, badminton, and table tennis. He also enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and photography.

Pranav Kanasal – Quantitative Data Analyst

Pranav is a third year student at UofT studying Mathematics and Statistics. Previously a design researcher at the Innovation hub, he is excited to learn new skills and see how data analytics and design thinking work with each other. In his free time, he likes to travel and read.

Elwin Varughese – Design Research Team Lead

Elwin taught in a low income private school as a Teach for India fellow and completed the fellowship in 2018. After, he did Master of Arts in Education from India, focusing on research in understanding school leadership in challenging contexts. Currently, he’s doing his Masters in Education in the area of Educational Leadership and Policy. In his free time, he loves to read graphic novels, draw comic strips and play video games.

Antik Dey – Design Researcher

Antik Dey is currently a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy student at OISE. At the Innovation Hub, Antik will work as a Design Researcher, enhancing the experiences of students who are parents. Antik’s extensive background as an educator has inspired him to further explore design thinking as a way to create a more inclusive learning environment for U of T students. A fun fact about Antik is that he recently became a father to a beautiful baby girl.

Arooj Khan – Design Researcher

Arooj is currently pursuing a Master's of Education in Adult Education and Community Development at OISE. As a student parent herself, she understands the unique challenges that student parents face while striving for academic success. Motivated by her own journey, she is driven by a desire to make higher education more accessible and accommodating for student parents, ensuring that their voices are heard, their challenges are acknowledged, and their successes are celebrated.

Maxine Ramos – Design Researcher

Maxine (she/they) is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Information at UofT iSchool. Her academic focus lies in the field of User Experience Design, with a particular interest in User Research. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, Maxine is eager to develop and apply her qualitative research skills. She is committed to promoting accessibility and inclusivity for all students and aims to create welcoming spaces for them. In her free time, Maxine enjoys reading, listening to music, and going thrifting.

Sofi Martin – Design Research Team Lead

Sofi (she/her) is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Master of Information program in User Experience Design. She is thrilled to be joining the Innovation Hub as a Design Research Team Lead. Sofi is excited to leverage the power of design thinking to improve student life on campus and in particular, create meaningful and memorable opportunities for students to fully engage with Sport and Rec facilities and services. Sofi enjoys going to spin classes, playing badminton and watching reality tv!

Ayra Hasany – Design Researcher

Ayra is a third-year undergraduate student studying Kinesiology and Physical Education at UofT. As a current student, she is enthusiastic about finding bridges within the multitude of students to create a greater sense of community. Outside of school, Ayra enjoys spending her time listening to new music, reading, and with friends.

Larry Afun – Design Researcher

Larry is a third-year Physiology and Immunology at the University of Toronto. He enjoys using design thinking principles to help implement the things that mean the most to students' everyday experience at the University. Being a strong believer in empiricism, he believes design thinking will ultimately be the best way to address most student concerns and he looks forward to doing just that. In his spare time, he likes to read philosophy and weightlift.

Lauren Law – Design Researcher

Lauren (she/her) is a Master of Information student in UX Design at U of T. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science and The Study of Religion, she's eager to apply this unique perspective in her role as a Design Researcher. Passionate about crafting intuitive user experiences, she's excited to bridge academic insights with real-world application. Outside of her studies, Lauren can be found embracing sustainable fashion through sewing and mending clothing, or indulging in some dim sum any chance she can get.

Stella Kim – Design Researcher

Stella (she/her) is a first year Master of Information student studying User Experience Design. As a Design Researcher for the Co-Creating the Future of Sport & Rec project, she is passionate about harnessing empathy and insights from user experience research to drive human-centred design decisions. Outside of school and work, Stella enjoys trying out new cafes and restaurants and visiting museums.