Curiosity pays off for BI student

Skyler Jiayi Du, who’s in the final year of the Bachelor of Information program, has a knack for spotting opportunities that align with her academic interests and doesn’t hesitate to pursue them. This year alone, she has secured a spot in an entrepreneurship program in Singapore, a place on an international research team, an appointment to U of T’s Academic Board and a role in a program exploring algorithmic bias. 

“I’m quite good at finding different information,” laughs Du, who, as a result, has a packed agenda for the fall.  

A top item on that agenda is the Centre for Ethics’ Algorithm Bias Project, where Du has been accepted into a program combining practical experience with a year-long seminar examining algorithmic bias in Canada. She first learned about the program in an email last year and kept it on her radar until applications opened again. 

That same approach landed Du a position on the Academic Board of U of T’s Governing Council. After seeing a call for applications, she applied, curious to learn more about how decisions are made at the university. 

“I was interested in how academic policies get made and updated,” Du said. One question particularly close to home is how academic programs evolve. For example, Du wanted to understand the thinking behind changing the two-year BI program, in which she is enrolled, into a new four-year program. 

Du’s curiosity also extends beyond U of T and Toronto. 

Earlier this year, the university nominated her for the National University of Singapore’s Enterprise Summer Program in Entrepreneurship. The 12-day program brought together some 200 participants for lectures, workshops, company visits and a final pitch competition. Du’s team took on a challenge posed by the Singapore technology company, Grab. As a solution, they proposed an AI calendar agent that could synchronize a user’s schedule with real-time traffic conditions. 

Another international item on Du’s calendar is the Reach Alliance, where she has been selected as one of 18 U of T student researchers for the 2026–27 cohort. This research initiative brings together interdisciplinary teams to study programs reaching underserved communities around the world. Du is part of a joint U of T-University College London (UCL) team and will travel to London in November to meet her UCL teammates and attend the Reach Alliance conference. 

The common thread in all these activities is Du’s interest in the intersection of technology and society. “I want to learn more about the effects of AI and how individuals can navigate related challenges and live meaningful lives within a datafied society,” she says. To pursue these interests after she graduates next June, Du is planning on applying to the Faculty of Information’s direct-entry PhD program.