Alumni Spotlight - Christopher Collins
Christopher Collins, B.Sc. (Hons),’01, has won the Adel S.
Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award, the highest graduate
scholarship available from the University of Toronto.
A Computer Science doctoral candidate at the U of T, Christopher is combining his varied academic interests to conduct award-winning research. His focus is on information visualization and linguistics to develop “interactive graphical visualizations of the structure of language.”
According to the U of T website, Mr. Collins’ language maps can serve as “an enhanced dictionary, thesaurus and resource for computational linguists, and may eventually be used as a teaching aid to help people learn English.”
Of his undergraduate experience at Memorial, Christopher says it was an ideal preparation for graduate studies. "The small class sizes and close interaction with professors at Memorial helped me explore and refine my varied interests in computer science and chemistry. Memorial has a culture of engagement,” he said. “My professors regularly took the time to discuss their research with interested undergraduates. Because of this, and through the MUCEP program, I gained several years of research experience while still an undergraduate. There are many wonderful things about the University of Toronto, but I often long for the more personal culture at Memorial; maybe someday I'll return as a professor," he mused.
Dedicated to improving university education and acting as an advocate for equity and social justice, Christopher has served in various leadership and extra-curricular roles. While an undergraduate at Memorial Christopher was a member of the Faculty of Science Council, the University Senate, and coordinator of LGBT MUN.
While at the U of T, he has served as president of the Graduate Students' Union and is currently a member of the University Affairs Board, the Positive Space Committee, and chairs the Hart House (U of T's student centre) Board of Stewards. His energy and hard work in and out of the classroom have also helped him earn several awards and scholarships.
As for the future he has his sights set firmly on academia— with an ambition to become a professor known for interdisciplinary research innovation and leadership in the advancement of teaching and education.
A Computer Science doctoral candidate at the U of T, Christopher is combining his varied academic interests to conduct award-winning research. His focus is on information visualization and linguistics to develop “interactive graphical visualizations of the structure of language.”
According to the U of T website, Mr. Collins’ language maps can serve as “an enhanced dictionary, thesaurus and resource for computational linguists, and may eventually be used as a teaching aid to help people learn English.”
Of his undergraduate experience at Memorial, Christopher says it was an ideal preparation for graduate studies. "The small class sizes and close interaction with professors at Memorial helped me explore and refine my varied interests in computer science and chemistry. Memorial has a culture of engagement,” he said. “My professors regularly took the time to discuss their research with interested undergraduates. Because of this, and through the MUCEP program, I gained several years of research experience while still an undergraduate. There are many wonderful things about the University of Toronto, but I often long for the more personal culture at Memorial; maybe someday I'll return as a professor," he mused.
Dedicated to improving university education and acting as an advocate for equity and social justice, Christopher has served in various leadership and extra-curricular roles. While an undergraduate at Memorial Christopher was a member of the Faculty of Science Council, the University Senate, and coordinator of LGBT MUN.
While at the U of T, he has served as president of the Graduate Students' Union and is currently a member of the University Affairs Board, the Positive Space Committee, and chairs the Hart House (U of T's student centre) Board of Stewards. His energy and hard work in and out of the classroom have also helped him earn several awards and scholarships.
As for the future he has his sights set firmly on academia— with an ambition to become a professor known for interdisciplinary research innovation and leadership in the advancement of teaching and education.