York University graduate students from the Schulich School of Business and Lassonde School of Engineering joined the ranks of Ontario's top artificial intelligence (AI) talent, earning the prestigious Vector Scholarships in Artificial Intelligence worth $17,500 each.
The merit-based scholarships, announced May 8 by the Vector Institute, were awarded to 120 graduate students across Ontario for the 2025-26 academic year, with York students representing four of the University's recognized AI master's programs.
“Ontario post-secondary students are producing ground-breaking artificial intelligence research that is actively shaping our province as a leader in emerging technology,” says Nolan Quinn, minister of colleges, universities, research excellence and security. “This scholarship will further equip our top graduate students with the tools they need to continue making innovative discoveries that build a more dynamic and resilient economy for Ontario.”
York University recipients – Joyce Ayoson, Raphael Dolores, Delaram Fartoot, Luca Filippelli, Nadia Hakime, Apoorva Jishtu, Omkumar Patel, Vrushti Trivedi, Ryan Wu and Ashkan Zarkhah – are pursuing advanced AI studies in business analytics, AI management, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science, contributing to Ontario's expanding AI talent pipeline.
The scholarship provides more than financial support. Recipients gain access to networking events with leading researchers and industry professionals in the field, along with Vector's Digital Talent Hub that connects AI specialists with potential employers.
This connection to industry has proven valuable for past recipients such as York University alum Daniel Kur, who earned a master’s of business analytics from Schulich in 2020 and was a Vector recipient in 2019.
"The Vector Scholarship in AI was the critical bridge that legitimized my transition from finance to AI, giving me credibility in a competitive field," says Kur, who is now a senior machine learning scientist at Theoriq.
York University students will join recipients from 14 other Ontario universities when the scholarship period begins this fall. The Vector Institute will announce nomination dates for the 2026-27 scholarship cycle later this year.
About the recipients
Joyce Ayoson – Master of management in AI, Schulich School of Business
Ayoson grew up in Nigeria and immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of 14. That transition sparked her deep interest in systems and structures, especially in how technology shapes experiences, choices and the future. She earned a BA in economics and psychology from the University of Manitoba.
Her area of focus is on econometrics, psychometrics and AI ethics. Ayoson's undergraduate thesis explored how informed consent affects the perception of AI tools among students, which inspired her to look more closely at the relationship between law, ethics and emerging technology. Her goal is to work in AI ethics and eventually as a technology lawyer.
"Receiving the Vector Scholarship has definitely helped alleviate financial stress, but more importantly, it feels like a vote of confidence in my commitment to shape the future of responsible AI,” Ayoson says. “It’s encouraging to know that this work matters and is being supported. I believe that if we build technology with care and intention, it can be a force for good that benefits everyone.”
Rafael Dolores – MSc in computer science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Dolores is a graduate student conducting database research in the Data and AI lab. Motivated by the continuous digitization of the world, his work aims to support the growing scale and complexity of data by enhancing the capabilities of storage systems. He applies machine learning to teach these systems to recognize their own usage patterns and automatically reconfigure their internal parameters to create optimal settings for storing, locating and delivering data at maximum efficiency during peak traffic.
Prior to his master’s, Dolores gained industry experience at IBM and Amazon where he worked on real-world problems involving database tuning, machine learning and large-scale system optimization. At IBM, he contributed to developing an AI-powered tuning system and at Amazon, he contributed to infrastructure supporting speech technologies. Now, he is excited to combine those insights with academic research to push the boundaries of what modern storage systems can do autonomously.
“Receiving the Vector Scholarship is an incredible honour,” Dolores says. “It places me into a world-class environment where I can collaborate alongside leading field experts and learn from their insights and experiences. With this support, I am confident that I can build a good foundation for my future, especially if I continue my studies into a PhD.”
Delaram Fartoot – MSc in computer science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Fartoot recently earned a bachelor of science in computer science from the University of Tehran. Throughout undergraduate studies, Fartoot developed a strong passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence – particularly in exploring how these technologies can be applied to solve real-world problems. This knowledge was deepened by engaging with the theoretical aspects through coursework and through internships providing hands-on experience.
Now pursuing graduate studies in computer science at York, Fartoot’s research focuses on integrating large language models (LLMs) with decision-making frameworks to enhance the performance and safety of connected and autonomous vehicles within vehicular networks.
“Receiving the Vector AI Scholarship is both an honour and a meaningful milestone in my academic journey,” says Fartoot. “It gives me the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community of researchers and professionals who are shaping the future of AI. Being connected with leaders in the field and industry experts will broaden my perspective and inspire new approaches to problem solving. Additionally, the financial support brings peace of mind, allowing me to focus fully on my research and academic goals.”
Luca Filippelli – MASc in electrical and computer engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering
Filippelli is an incoming master’s of science candidate for electrical and computer engineering. He is set to graduate from York University with a bachelor of science in computer engineering in June 2025.
Filippelli’s main interest in artificial intelligence stems from the concepts and values learned during his undergraduate degree, coupled with AI’s potential to optimize tasks. During his master’s studies, Filippelli plans to research the capability of artificial intelligence in enhancing software engineering tasks.
“This scholarship will provide further opportunities, especially through mentorship, to grow into a career in artificial intelligence,” says Filippelli.
Nadia Hakime – Master of management in AI, Schulich School of Business
Hakime has earned a master’s of business administration from the Royal Military College and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from York.
Professionally, she serves as an imagery technician at the Canadian Forces College, where she captures and produces high-quality visual content for senior military leadership, diplomats and government officials. Her area of study focuses on the ethical and strategic application of AI in public sector communications and defense operations. She is particularly interested in how intelligent systems can enhance decision making, optimize information workflows and support secure, mission-critical environments in both government and military institutions.
"Receiving the Vector Institute Scholarship fills me with gratitude and excitement as I pursue my passion for AI,” Hakime says. “This generous support will empower me to focus on groundbreaking research, collaborate with brilliant minds and contribute meaningfully to the future of artificial intelligence."
Apoorva Jishtu – Master of business analytics, Schulich School of Business
Jishtu has an academic background in economics, as well as professional experience as a consultant.
Channeling a passion for leveraging data-driven insights to support evidence-based decision-making, she has worked on projects spanning strategy consulting, market analysis and financial services.
“Receiving the Vector Scholarship is both an honour and a powerful motivator,” Jishtu says. “It reaffirms my commitment to using data science to create impactful, equitable solutions, and I’m excited to grow alongside a community of brilliant and purpose-driven minds.”
Omkumar Patel – MSc in computer science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Patel, an incoming graduate student, holds a BTech in computer engineering from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, India.
It was during undergraduate studies, says Patel, where his interest in artificial intelligence and natural language processing grew through his experience with research, internships and personal projects.
"I am blessed to receive the Vector Scholarship in Al," says Patel. "It fuels my karmic alignment to democratize access to knowledge by leveraging AI to build an equitable future for humanity."
Vrushti Trivedi – Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence, Schulich School of Business
Trivedi completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and business with a computer science minor at the University of Waterloo, where she also pursued a thesis in cognitive neuroscience.
Trivedi currently works as a business consultant at BMO Financial Group, where she helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world business needs. She is passionate about exploring neural networks and building AI agents, and her academic and professional journey reflect a strong interest in understanding both how people think and how intelligent systems can support better decision making in impactful, responsible ways.
“I am truly honoured to receive the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence,” says Trivedi. “This recognition affirms the value of my interdisciplinary journey and motivates me to continue pushing boundaries at the intersection of human insight and intelligent systems. I am excited to contribute to the future of AI in a way that is thoughtful, impactful and grounded in real-world application.”
Ryan Wu – MSc in computer science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Wu earned an honours bachelor of science in computer science from York University. He is a software developer who has experience in object-oriented programming, database data structure, with a deep interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Wu’s master’s research focuses on artificial intelligence fairness, generative AI and natural language processing (NLP). Through his graduate studies at Lassonde, he aims to develop more ethical and responsible AI systems.
"Receiving the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence is a milestone in my academic journey,” says Wu. “It not only recognizes my dedication to AI research but also marks the beginning of a new chapter in my pursuit of responsible and impactful machine learning. This support empowers me to deepen my work at the intersection of fairness and large language models, and contribute meaningfully to Canada's AI ecosystem."
Ashkan Zarkhah – MSc in computer science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Zarkhah earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Tehran. He has completed several research projects in machine learning through several post-secondary courses and research internships.
Deeply interested in artificial intelligence and how it can be used to enhance people's daily lives, Zarkhah looks forward to advancing his studies. He will join York University in the computer science master's program, and will work under Professor Hina Tabassum while investigating large language model (LLM) applications in networked systems.
"This scholarship is very meaningful to me,” says Zarkhah. “Being a member of the Vector AI community will provide valuable support as I focus on my research and academic goals."
Visit the Vector Institute website for more details.