Computer Science Teaching Assistant Excellence Laureates

I am currently a Master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Calgary, where I am researching in the area of computer graphics. My work focuses on modeling flowers and plants. I enjoy the challenges of recreating patterns mathematically. 

During my time at the university, I have had the opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant for several courses. This experience has been rewarding, as it has allowed me to support students in their learning while also deepening my own understanding of computer science concepts. 

Outside of my studies, I enjoy music, theater, and chess.

Research Interests: Computer Graphics, and mathematically modeling flower heads

Education: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc in Computer Science

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 251: Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science I
CPSC 331: Data Structures Algorithms and Their Analysis 
CPSC 413: Design and Analysis of Algorithms 1 

Contact: 
niloufar.ashayeri@ucalgary.ca    
www.linkedin.com/in/niloufar-ashayeri-3a57607a

My name is Farhan Aslam, I am a recipient of double Gold Medals as a Software Engineering graduate and holds Departmental Research Award from University of Calgary. I have worked with TELUS on an extended reality application for improving quality of experience and also had the privilege of mentoring undergrad students on industrial projects, an experience that has strengthened my passion for teaching.

I regard Teaching Assistantship as a prestigious and impactful opportunity to shape minds and contribute to both academic and personal growth. Hence, I always strive to connect with students, spark their interests through my work, and incorporate real-world scenarios in my teaching.

My research interests lie in Extended Reality (XR), Artificial Intelligence and Affordability. I enjoy exploring creativity by blending colors and science to design unique experiences. One of my works includes a Voice-Augmented Virtual Reality Interface which leverages natural language as primary mode of interaction in 3D environments offering more accessibility and interactivity.

Currently, I am working on a platform that empowers users to achieve greater value and aims to make affordability a reality for more consumers.

Aside from the above, I love to design, paint and occasionally manage to stretch my vocals at Open Mic.    

Research Interests: Extended Reality (XR), Artificial Intelligence and Affordability.

Education:  MSc in Computer Science (current), BSc in Software Engineering    

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 217: Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I
CPSC 231: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I
CPSC 233: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors II
CPSC 457: Principles of Operating Systems
SENG 511: Software Project Management

Contact: 
farhan.aslam2@ucalgary.ca
www.linkedin.com/in/faranaslam    

I am an MSc student at the Department of Computer Science supervised by Dr. Frank Maurer. My research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction in Virtual Reality environments.

The year 2024 at the University of Calgary has been nothing less than fulfilling: surrounded by curious undergraduates in my TA classes, amazing peers at the Department of Computer Science, and inspiring academicians who stand at the leading edge of research and teaching.

Additionally, the growing entrepreneurial resources and research-driven innovation at the University of Calgary have allowed me to be a researcher, teacher, learner, and friend. My interest in reading, running, and hiking around beautiful Alberta also grew profoundly in my MSc.

In the future, I hope I can give back all the guidance, support, and opportunity I have received from the amazing people at the University of Calgary.    

Research Interests: Human-Computer Interaction, Virtual Reality, and Large Language Models

Education: MSc in Computer Science (current), BSc in Computer Science and Engineering (First Division with Honours)

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 217: Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I
SENG 513: Web-Based Systems

Contact: 
naman.bhoj1@ucalgary.ca    

I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Calgary, specializing in Computer Graphics. My work also involves contributions to machine learning, computer vision, and data science. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Tehran. My research focuses on generating synthetic data using procedural models of plants to support machine learning and computer vision applications. Additionally, I’m a passionate Linux enthusiast and spent three years working on a Linux distribution for a company I was part of.    

Research Interests: Computer Graphics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Data Science

Education: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc in Computer Engineering

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 231: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I 
CPSC 233: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors II
DATA 201: Thinking with Data 
DATA 601: Working with Data and Visualization

Contact:
amirsalar.darvishpou@ucalgary.ca    
www.linkedin.com/in/salar-darvish

Chris received his bachelor's degree in mechatronics engineering from the University of Waterloo but has pivoted to more mathematical and theoretical work having received a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Calgary. His current research is focused on information security and cryptography with his master’s thesis focused on secure multi-party computation.

Chris has always had a passion for helping others learn. Beyond TA’ing for various security courses throughout his master’s degree, Chris has also worked as an instructor for the International Professional Programs for Continuing Education.    

Research interests: Information Security and Cryptography    

Education: MSc in Computer Science; BASc Hons Mechatronics Engineering with Minor in Mathematics

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 525: Principles of Computer Security 
ISEC 651: Topics in Security and Privacy
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Bootcamp

Contact: 
christopher.jiang@ucalgary.ca    

I am a thesis-based MSc. Computer Science student working in the Electronic Security & Privacy, Research & Innovation (ESPRI) Lab under Dr. Joel Reardon. I completed my BSc Hons. in Computer Science at the University of Calgary in 2023. During the first year of my MSc., I had the privilege to serve as TA for CPSC251 and Head TA for CPSC329. My past research includes investigating data collection and tracking on Canadian election campaign websites and analyzing NHL player and puck tracking data as a Undergraduate Research Fellowship research assistant at the University of Waterloo. My professional experience includes student roles at Cenovus Energy and Suncor. Currently, my research investigates internet privacy, focusing on the collection of hashed user data by third parties.    

Research Interests: Information Security, and Sports Analytics

Education: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc. Hons in Computer Science

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 251: Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science I
CPSC 329: Explorations in Information Security and Privacy  

Contact:
tin.le@ucalgary.ca    
www.linkedin.com/in/tin-nghu-le  

I’m a Master’s student in Computer Science, focusing on genomic large language models (LLMs) to advance genomics research. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Victoria, a beautiful island campus in Canada, where my passion for computational biology began.

Outside of research, I enjoy speed skating and golf to stay active and balanced. Cheers!    

Research interests: Genomic large language models

Education: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc in Computer Science

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 217: Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I
CPSC 251: Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science I
CPSC 471: Data Base Management Systems
CPSC 571: Design and Implementation of Database Systems

Contact:
qiaowang.li@ucalgary.ca    
profiles.ucalgary.ca/qiaowang-li    

I find joy in seeing the look of accomplishment on someone's face after they learn something new, so I applied to the PhD program directly after my undergrad with the long-term goal of becoming a professor. I intend to develop my teaching skills by applying to TA positions that will challenge me to expand the kind of content I can teach. During my undergrad, I had TA positions for theory courses because that was what I felt most comfortable teaching. However, I also want to be able to teach people other content. Fall 2024 was my first semester of my PhD, and I had a TA position for CPSC 329: Introduction to Information Security. I learned new skills to teach about security, and I hope the students found value in my tutorials. In Winter 2025, I have a TA position for CPSC 383: Explorations in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning which I am excited for. I am grateful for the mentorship I have received from the professors I work with, and I look forward to everything I get to learn in the future.    

Research Interests: Programming language development, Concurrent programming, and Category theory

Education: PhD in Computer Science (current); BSc Honours in Computer Science

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 329: Explorations in Information Security and Privacy  
CPSC 383: Explorations in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 
CPSC 413: Design and Analysis of Algorithms I 
CPSC 449: Programming Paradigms

Contact: 
alexanna.little@ucalgary.ca
www.linkedin.com/in/alexanna-little-70508172

Karly Ross is a graduate student in computational media design with an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics. Karly’s work  computational. creative, and otherwise— ponders data absences and orientations while attending to physical mobility in urban space.

Karly has been tutoring people in secondary and tertiary mathematics for over a decade including work at the Colleges of the Rockies and values the process both through research and teaching practice of helping people make sense of their world.     

Research interests: Data Literacy, Community Centred Data Practices, Data Visualization, Data Production, Epistemology and Axiology of Data, Data and Cities, and Data Justice

Educaton:  MSc. in Computational Media Design (current); BSc in Applied Mathematics     

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 583  Introduction to Information Visualization 
Data 221  Introduction to Data Science
Data 601  Working with Data and Visualization

Contact:
karly.ross@ucalgary.ca    

I am a thesis-based master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Calgary, working within the iLab research group. My bachelor's degree was in Robotics and Mechatronics from Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan). I also engage in digital arts, which is sometimes incorporated into my technical pursuits.

My research focuses on tactile sensing, particularly through optical and vibrational methods, to explore how machines perceive and interact with the world. At the core of my research lay the ideas and concepts about how the world around us works and how we perceive it. I believe that these insights serve as inspiration for developing innovative solutions that connect technology with real-world applications.

By combining my technical expertise and interdisciplinary interests, I aim to contribute to advancing sensory technologies while fostering a deeper understanding of perception and interaction.    

Research interests: Tactile sensing—particularly optical and vibrational methods—and exploring the intersections of perception, art, and engineering to understand and enhance human-machine interaction.

Educaton:  MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc in Robotics and Mechatronics    

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 217: Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I 
CPSC 231: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I 
CPSC 481: Human-Computer Interaction I

Contact:
danissa.sandykbay1@ucalgary.ca    
linkedin.com/in/danissa-sandykbayeva    

I completed my Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Computer Science at the University of Calgary and am currently pursuing a Master’s degree under Dr. Frank Maurer in the Serious XR Lab. My research interests lie at the intersection of technology, medicine, and interactive systems. As an undergraduate, I worked on integrating traditional medical imaging applications with mixed reality tools, and my current research is investigating how interactive lenses to enhance user experiences in immersive digital environments.

I am passionate about understanding pain points in workflows and designing intuitive, user-friendly solutions. My work in Human-Computer Interaction focuses on designing user-centered interfaces, which I approach through hands-on user research and physical or digital prototype development.

Teaching and mentorship are equally important to me. I aim to create engaging lessons that leave a lasting impact and equip students with concepts they can carry into their academic and professional journeys. As my academic career progresses, I hope to expand my opportunities for teaching and mentorship, contributing to both student growth and the broader field.    

Research interests: Serious Extended Reality Applications, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Medical Imaging Visualization, and Interactive Digital Lenses.

Educaton: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc (Hons) in Computer Science; Information Computer Technologist (ICT) Diploma - SAIT    

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 217: Introduction to Computer Science for Multidisciplinary Studies I 
CPSC 231: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I

Contact:
brody.wells@ucalgary.ca    
www.linkedin.com/in/brody-wells

As a second-year MSc student in Computer Science at the University of Calgary, I have found immense satisfaction in bridging the gap between complex technical concepts and student understanding. My academic journey, from studying Data Science at HKUST to pursuing Computational Neuroscience under Prof. Ryo Suzuki's guidance, has equipped me with a unique perspective that I bring to my teaching assistant role. I aim to foster an engaging learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring challenging concepts. I believe that effective teaching goes beyond merely presenting information – it's about creating connections and inspiring curiosity. When I'm not in the lab or classroom, you'll often find me playing Nintendo's games.     

I obtained my bachelor's degree in Data Science and Technology from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2022. And I'm currently a master's student in Computer Science with a specialization in Computational Neuroscience at UofC.    

Research interests: Human-Computer Interaction (focus on Mixed Reality and Human-Robot Interaction), Computational Systems (how they shape human perception and behavior), and developing technologies that enhance human capabilities through both system design and cognitive approaches

Educaton: MSc in Computer Science (current); BSc in Data Science and Technology

Previous, current or upcoming TA courses: 
CPSC 233: Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors II    
DATA 201: Thinking with Data
SCIE 398: Communication in CPSC

Contact:
nandi.zhang@ucalgary.ca    
nandi-zhang.github.io