Arts & Science alum Thenuka Thanabalasingam is leveraging the biomedical and technical skills she gained at U of T to accelerate the discovery of life-saving pharmaceuticals.
Opportunities in academic research and networking first led her to a fulfilling role with BenchSci, a Toronto-based biotechnology startup that combined her passions for medicine and machine learning.
“I had my career at BenchSci because another U of T alum took an interest and helped me find opportunities,” says Thanabalasingam, who earned her honours bachelor of science degree in 2017 as a member of Innis College.
As lead data product owner, Thanabalasingam tapped into her research experiences at U of T with the human biology, molecular genetics and microbiology programs, ensuring clients’ applications were powered by the most relevant data to support drug discovery.
Recently, she brought her skills and experiences to a product owner role at Sanofi, an AI-powered biopharma company that has one of the largest vaccine manufacturing and research sites in the world located in Toronto.
“There is a high level of academic rigor at U of T, with distinguished professors and remarkable peers. That attitude of committing yourself to an elevated standard of excellence is something deeply rooted in what I do.”
Thanabalasingam recalls a pivotal moment from a third-year course taught by her mentor, Professor Lisa Robinson, now dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
“I remember my first time seeing a white blood cell stained with fluorescent dye under the microscope and documenting its activity — that was super cool,” says Thanabalasingam. “The opportunity to participate in novel research so early in my career was a huge driving force to continue with academics.”
After graduation, Thanabalasingam pursued her master’s degree with U of T’s Institute of Medical Science, where, under the supervision of Professor Haibo Zhang, she delved into using reprogrammed stem cells to regenerate lung tissue.
Following graduate school, Thanabalasingam’s research credentials caught the eye of BenchSci founders who recognized how her work could translate into success for their team.
“Don't limit yourself to just what you know on paper,” says Thanabalasingam. “Your degree has value even if it's not directly related to what you do, because it gives you all those soft skills — critical thinking, the ability to learn. That's such a big capability.”
She shares that message as a guest speaker and mentor for current U of T students.
Invited to attend an A&S backpack 2 Briefcase industry night earlier this year, Thanabalasingam was intrigued by the opportunity to connect with undergraduates intent on forging a similar career path.
“There's real gratification in helping younger students navigate challenges I wish I'd had guidance on, passing along knowledge to make their journey easier,” she says.
“I couldn't have done this alone, so I pay it forward. Every time I engage with students, I'm genuinely inspired by their thoughtful questions and perspectives.”