Alumni Feature: Lingfeng Shi (Class of 2023)

Lingfeng Shi, a dedicated alumnus from the Class of 2023, is currently excelling in the highly competitive Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Since graduating, Lingfeng has quickly made his mark on campus, most notably by co-founding the Association of Biology and Beyond for Students (ABBS), one of the largest biology-oriented student organizations at UTSC.

His academic drive has also led him to conduct fundamental research in a professional cell biology lab and secure a forthcoming full-time internship at Sanofi Pasteur Limited in Toronto, a world-leading pharmaceutical company.

Future Vision

Looking beyond his undergraduate studies, Lingfeng plans to pursue a PhD degree in either Artificial Intelligence or Bioinformatics in Boston, United States. He is passionate about bridging various disciplines to solve complex biological problems, stating, "I want to utilize the ability to connect various disciplines to tackle complex biological problems, a combination of biology and AI is my passion."

CIA FIRST Impact

Lingfeng credits his preparation at CIA FIRST International School for his smooth transition to university life. He highlights how the school's diverse assessment methods, such as Performance Tasks (PT) and Essential Questions (EQ), mirrored the evaluation systems he encountered in his degree. "This reflects how the university assesses students as well since there isn’t only one correct way to assess a student’s academic performance," he shares.

Furthermore, he notes that the group activities helped him develop "strong interpersonal skills that are crucial for both future academic and professional development." A particularly memorable experience was founding his environmental club, EcoFriends, which received full support from the school. This experience, he says, encouraged him "to not back down when I encounter challenges, knowing there’s always people having my back and help me to achieve the things that I want."

Quote & Advice

When asked for his favorite life philosophy, Lingfeng shares the inspiring quote: “You can’t control the wind but you can adjust your sail.” He explains, "I love this quote because sometimes… honestly it’s always, life turns out unexpectedly, and that is totally okay because you have the control of how to react to it."