Bo Cheng (BSc '17, Faculty of Science; MMAI '20, Schulich School of Business)

Manager in Data Science, Rogers Communications

It was curiosity that led Bo Cheng to enrol in the specialized honors degree in biophysics at �첥��Ƶ. Now, he’s a manager in data science at Rogers, where he leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve real world problems for millions of people across Canada.

Cheng, who graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science, and went on to achieve a Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence from York’s Schulich School of Business, says his time at the University helped him to grow both personally and professionally. Now, he’s paying that back into his community.

“When I look back at my time at York, I not only learned math and physics, I also learned what it means to take responsibility for my own actions, to grow up,” says Cheng. “Being in the biophysics program was like attending a small and intimate university. You become lifelong friends with your peers and professors, who are like a family that help each other to grow professionally, and personally.”

Cheng participates in AI events where he applies his quantitative skills in AI and machine learning to build solutions for the benefit of society.

In the summer of 2019, he implemented a flood warning application to help Canadians nationwide predict and monitor natural disasters, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada. He helped to promote and drive traffic to underutilized Toronto community stores through the Data for Good initiative. And, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, he collaborated on an app to help elderly people cope with social and physical isolation. The app enables volunteers to assist with daily errands without risking exposure to the virus.

Cheng is the recipient of a Top 30 Under 30 Award from �첥��Ƶ, reserved for alumni who are exemplary leaders in creating positive change and impact, at home and abroad.

“My education at York gave me confidence and served as a great opportunity for my future success,” Cheng says.

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Launched in 2021, the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 list recognizes inspiring young alumni who are working to right the future in a variety of fields, and highlights the many career and life paths made possible with a York degree. These alumni are applying the education, skills and experiences they received at York to meaningful careers and community service endeavours demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the public good.

Our three honourees and their outstanding achievements are highlighted below.

Tarnem Afify (BSc '21) is a scientist, leader, and advocate. While pursuing a bachelor of science in biophysics, she worked as a president’s ambassador at York and an advisor as well as representative of the Canadian Association of Physicists in the International Association of Physics Students. She led by example and aimed to be a role model to encourage and inspire female scientists to break any barriers that impede their progress. Alongside being a research assistant, she founded Future Women in Physics (FWiP). As FWiP’s president for three years she advocated for a diverse and inclusive academic environment in the physics field that permits equal access to opportunities, enhances students’ success, and encourages them to reach their fullest potential. She is looking forward to returning to York again as a master’s student this September to study artificial intelligence. Her goal is to continue learning about ways of applying science to serve our society as well as advocating for the social causes she is passionate about.

Yaakov Green (BSc ’17) is a fifth-year MD/MBA student at Yale University who is dedicated to solving structural issues in healthcare. He recently served as a data, analytics, and research intern for the U.S. Federal COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, where he drafted policy recommendations on national data infrastructure and research priorities for mitigating inequities exacerbated by the pandemic. During his MBA, he worked for McKinsey & Co, where he consulted on health equity strategy for the private sector. At Yale, he has conducted research on social determinants of health, led quality improvement projects within the hospital, and sits on the board of Yale’s innovation center. This year, he will begin medical residency training at Columbia University, specializing in psychiatry.

Sarah Laframboise (BSc ’18) is a scientist and passionate science communicator and advocate for women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). During the final year of her PhD in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa, Sarah co-founded the non-profit Next Generation Women, an online resource for women entering classically male-dominated industries. By increasing the visibility of women in these fields, Sarah hopes to grow the organization to provide girls with mentorship opportunities and leadership training. Sarah adores spreading her love for science with others and communicates this through published pieces and graphic design; she is chair of the Editorial Committee at the Canadian Science Policy Centre, where she has created the last two editions of the Centre’s magazine. Most recently, Sarah founded the Ottawa Science Policy Network at the University of Ottawa with the goal of promoting the use of science and evidence in decision-making, both at the government and university level.

Read the full announcement

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YUSAN Needs You

The purpose of the �첥��Ƶ Science Alumni Network (YUSAN) is to bring �첥��Ƶ graduates with degrees in science and science-related fields together to connect, network, remove the barriers of distance, and to enhance the profile of �첥��Ƶ’s Faculty of Science.

YUSAN has been an amazing opportunity to get together, share experiences, both between recent alumni and some long graduated from decades ago, as well as current undergraduate and graduate students. For current and new graduates networking and communication is one the major keys toward career and personal success and YUSAN has helped with that. You can make YUSAN your own by putting as much or as little time into it as you have.

Volunteer leadership position(s) available. Please contact Joanne Huy at johuy@yorku.ca or (437) 234 - 9324.

Ways to Help Students

Current students can benefit from your valuable experience.  Ways to help:

About YUSAN

What is YUSAN?

The �첥��Ƶ Science Alumni Network was formed by volunteer science alumni in 2015 to bring �첥��Ƶ science graduates together to network, remove the barriers of distance, connect job seekers and employers, enhance the profile of Science at �첥��Ƶ, volunteer if desired, and have fun!  Membership is free, and there is no registration except to sign up to your preferred method of communication shown below. It is open to all York graduates with a science degree, including BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from many different faculties and departments. YUSAN is run by volunteer science alumni.

YUSAN is off to a Great Start

The �첥��Ƶ Science Alumni (YUSAN) was formed in 2015 in part to celebrate 50 years of science at �첥��Ƶ. YUSAN sincerely thanks Bethune College and �첥��Ƶ Community & Alumni Relations for their generosity and support for our Inaugural Dinner Meeting held on November 17, 2015 (). Fifty one people gathered in the Paul Delaney Lounge at Bethune College, enjoyed a great meal, and had a fun and productive networking experience with alumni from fields as diverse as Biology, Kinesiology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Geography, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Space Science, Math, Statistics, Space Engineering and Commerce. The former Dean of Science, Professor Ray Jayawardhana, and the Master of Bethune College, Professor , shared their ideas for how the Science Alumni can interact with �첥��Ƶ. We received valuable feedback from the Alumni for future meetings, and closed the meeting with a free raffle of science-related items, and further networking.

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Welcome home

York Science is home to more than 20,000 alumni who have gone on to become scientists, medical professionals, entrepreneurs and more.

Quick Links

• Annual Reviews

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Alumni Spotlights

• 

  �첥��Ƶ's Top 30 Alumni Under 30

  Three Faculty of Science alumni –
  Anastasia Kalantarova��
  Claire Del Zotto and Oluwatimileyin Aina – were among the outstanding graduates named on �첥��Ƶ’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 list for 2026.

  

  Bo Cheng (BSc '17, MMAI '20)

  It was curiosity that led Bo Cheng to enrol in the specialized honors degree in biophysics at York. Now, as a manager in data science, he leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve real world problems for Canadians.

• 

  Earle Nestmann and Pamela Ohashi Receive �첥��Ƶ Alumni Awards

  The �첥��Ƶ Alumni Awards celebrate alumni who exemplify the values of �첥��Ƶ, have made remarkable contributions to their fields, and have changed the world for the better.

  

  Naz Chaudary: Putting Her Heart into Cancer Research

  Now a researcher at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Naz Chaudary (Hon BSc ‘98, PhD ‘04) looks back fondly at her time at York as being the backbone for her career in academic science.

Stay connected with your alma mater

Learn more about how to get involved, alumni benefits, events and more through �첥��Ƶ’s Alumni & Friends website.

Visit the Alumni & Friends website

�첥��Ƶ Science Alumni Network

The purpose of the �첥��Ƶ Science Alumni Network (YUSAN) is to bring �첥��Ƶ graduates with degrees in science and science-related fields together to connect, network, remove the barriers of distance, and to enhance the profile of �첥��Ƶ’s Faculty of Science.

Learn more about YUSAN

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