Applications are now closed.

Overview

The RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology provide support to members of equity-deserving groups studying at the University of Toronto, including Black and Indigenous students and/or women, interested in a career at the intersection of technology and financial services. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievements and innovative accomplishments.

The awards will support up to six eligible students annually over two years:

  • Each award will be valued at $15,000 per year
  • Renewable for a second year so long as the recipient remains enrolled full-time at U of T and maintains a minimum GPA

Application Process

  • Recipients must be third-year undergraduate students enrolled full-time at the University of Toronto at the time of the award payment (Fall 2024). 
  • Eligible candidates should identify as Black or Indigenous students and/or women enrolled full-time in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, or the Departments of Computer Science, Math or Physics at the Faculty of Arts & Science, UTSC or UTM.
  • Recipients must remain full-time students for the entire academic year (2024-2025) in order to retain the award payment.
  • Third-year students from equity-deserving groups who are in other technology-focused disciplines or who can demonstrate technology-focused experience will also be considered.

Equity-deserving groups at U of T include:

GroupFaculty/Department
Black studentsAll
Indigenous studentsAll
First-generation Canadian studentsAll
Refugee studentsAll
Students registered with Accessibility ServicesAll
Women studentsFaculty of Applied Science and Engineering and/or the
Department of Computer Science, Math or Physics at the Faculty of Arts & Science, UTSC or UTM.

April 15, 2024

Applications open

May 31, 2024
5:00 pm

Deadline to apply

Summer 2024

Adjudication process

Fall 2024

Award recipients announced

All award applications will be reviewed and assessed by an adjudication committee comprising of RBC representatives, entrepreneurship and innovation staff and faculty members, researchers and directors, and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated interest in exploring a future career in technology
  • Experience working on an innovative solution and evidence of an entrepreneurial mindset
  • Academic achievement

Applications are open from April 15 to May 31, 2024.

Click here to begin the application process.

Please direct all questions regarding the RBC Awards or application process to:

Bonnie Ho
Events and Program Coordinator, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
bonniepy.ho@utoronto.ca
Subject line: Questions: RBC Awards

Past Recipients

Harmandeep Kaur Gill

Harmandeep is a third-year student at the University of Toronto interested in computational astrophysics and doing her research on binary black hole mergers. She has been a part of several community clubs and initiatives at U of T, such as United for Literacy, Women in Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics, holding senior leadership positions in Google Developer Student Clubs, U of T Machine Intelligence Student Team and Data Science and Statistics Society. 

Isabella Tang

Isabella is an Industrial Engineering student at the University of Toronto, pursuing minors in Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Business, and Advanced Manufacturing. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges seniors face in managing their health and adhering to medication routines, Isabella co-founded RapidCore, a startup that developed CoreCare, an innovative prescription drug storage device aimed at simplifying medication management for seniors and alleviating the stress on their caregivers. In addition to participating in two research labs within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, she also serves as Vice President of Outreach for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) U of T chapter, where she fosters interest in STEM among young women through events and mentorship. As External Relations Director for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) U of T Chapter, she builds partnerships to support professional growth. Additionally, as director for the University of Toronto Robotics Association (UTRA), she also leads initiatives to advance robotics education and engagement. Through these varied experiences, Isabella is dedicated to driving innovation and creating positive change across multiple fields. She is continually seeking opportunities to make an impact and empower others. 

Jessica Tang

Jessica is a third-year Machine Intelligence student determined to drive positive change. Her curiosity for uncovering parallels between artificial neural networks and human cognition inspires her research in cognitive neuroscience, where she models biological control systems as artificial neural networks. Additionally, at the KITE Research Institute, she is developing a novel pipeline to automate feedback for virtual physical rehabilitation using large language models. Since founding Illuminaite Academy in 2020, Jessica has led a passionate team of 20, attracting hundreds of participants from over 40 cities worldwide, with a mission to demystify computer science for all. 

Riya Mathur

Riya is a third-year Engineering Science student specializing in Robotics at the University of Toronto. Her journey has been marked by a blend of technical and innovative research. She has developed an implantable piezoelectric energy harvester and conducted advanced DFT analysis to enhance lithium-ion battery performance. This year, her team designed a pneumatic waste management system for Bangladesh, demonstrating her ability to address global challenges with creative solutions. Beyond her technical achievements, she is dedicated to mentoring younger engineering students, actively contributing to a design team, and is currently pursuing a front-end developer certification from Meta. Her vision is to harness her expertise in robotics and engineering to create sustainable technologies that significantly impact the world, with a particular focus on advancing healthcare solutions. 

Headshot of Riya Mathur

Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad

Sarvnaz is a third-year Engineering Science student specializing in Machine Intelligence with a passion for healthcare, data science, entrepreneurship, and software development. She has worked at the Mount Sinai Cath Lab, where she developed signal processing algorithms for a non-invasive heart failure monitoring device. Her research abstract was published at the 2024 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. On campus, she serves as the Co-Chair of WISENC, a national conference hosted by Women in Science and Engineering at U of T. She is also the software co-lead for iGEM, a synthetic biology research design team, where her team is generating and validating novel synthetic plasmids using machine learning models. Their research will be presented at the international Jamboree in Paris in October 2024. Sarvnaz aims to innovate for social good in her areas of interest and contribute to building supportive, inclusive environments in STEM. 

Meet the 2023 Award Recipients

Ipek Akyol 

Ipek is an international student at the University of Toronto, with strong interests in human-computer interaction, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. Currently serving as a Director at 180 Degrees Consulting and the University of Toronto Consulting Association, she is working to foster the professional growth of undergraduate students and create social impact through community partnerships. Ipek’s prior experiences at startups have introduced her to the realm of technology-driven social innovation, allowing her to navigate the convergence of technology and business in entrepreneurial endeavours. 

Orrin Dahanaggamaarachchi

Orrin is a 3rd Year Robotics Engineering student seeking to make an impact at the intersection of technology and aerospace. He has experience working in both technical and non-technical environments, as well as leading a variety of teams. This summer, Orrin was selected as a Zenith National Fellow and spent his time working at Rocket Lab, one of the world’s leading aerospace companies. He is continually improving his knowledge of emerging technologies and hopes to use these tools to create a technology-focused startup in the future. 

Helen Li

Helen is passionate about leveraging technology as a force for social good and impact. She has explored the world of technology and innovation at Microsoft, AI4Good Lab, Computational Health and Interaction Lab, Citadel, Jane Street, and more. On campus, she is currently a Women in Science and Engineering executive, Department of Computer Science ambassador, and peer mentor for first-year students in Statistics. 

Avni Tilva 

Avni is a third-year mechanical engineering student specializing in mechatronics and energy and the environment. She enjoys designing and building to turn ideas into reality. This summer, her goal is to do research involving solar energy and materials which may be used for green technology in the future. 

Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou

Kerem is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Toronto with a focus on AI and Engineering Business. His journey started at 15 with a 3D-printed animal prosthetics startup, sparking a passion for tech and community service. Kerem is also a Cansbridge Fellow, one of 20 Canadian students with a $10K scholarship and an eye-opening Asia internship, strengthening his dedication to global problem-solving. 

Mouaid Alim  (2022)

Faculty of Arts and Science 
Program: Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist, Physiology Major and Computer Science Minor
Campus: St. George 
Year: 3rd 

Sana Hashim (2022)

Faculty of Geography, Geomatics and Environment 
Program: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Major and Sustainability and Business & Entrepreneurship Minors 
Campus: UTM 
Year: 3rd 

Yara Nassar (2022)

Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering 
Program: Engineering Science 
Campus: St. George 
Year: 3rd 

Muhammed Yakubu (2022)

Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering 
Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering 
Campus: St. George 
Year: 3rd