Jiyoo Noh, a Grade 12 student with a passion for biomedical and neural engineering, is a trailblazer in STEM who exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership. Born in South Korea and immigrating to Canada at the age of four, Jiyoo has built her success through determination, resourcefulness, and a commitment to making science accessible to others.

Her journey into STEM has been marked by self-directed learning and perseverance. From teaching herself advanced coursework and cold emailing professors to secure neuroscience research opportunities, to saving for programs like Shad Canada, Jiyoo has demonstrated her ability to “create something out of nothing.” As co-leader of her school’s STEM Club, she expanded membership threefold, organized design challenges, and launched school-wide campaigns during Women’s History Month to spotlight female scientists. She also spearheaded a networking event that connected students with women in STEM fields and led outreach workshops to introduce STEM to elementary school students.

Motivated by her own experience recovering from a concussion in Grade 9, Jiyoo developed a deep interest in neuroscience and a passion for addressing invisible health conditions. She founded Brain & You, an initiative that has reached more than 250 students with interactive workshops on brain health, concussion awareness, and neuroscience education. Through these workshops, Jiyoo has created engaging activities such as neuroscience Jeopardy and brain health plans, inspiring young learners to protect and value their brains.

Beyond her STEM work, Jiyoo is deeply involved in her community as a mentor and role model. She volunteers with her church’s children’s ministry, leads groups of young students, and works as a swim instructor, teaching both skills and life lessons. In all of her roles, she emphasizes empathy, representation, and empowerment, believing in the ripple effect of inspiring the next generation.

Jiyoo aspires to pursue biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto, specializing in neural interfaces and brain-computer technologies. Her long-term goal is to found a start-up that develops affordable neural interface technologies, ensuring accessibility for vulnerable populations and raising awareness about neurological disorders. She envisions combining innovation with advocacy to dismantle barriers in healthcare and empower those living with invisible conditions.

A determined innovator and compassionate leader, Jiyoo Noh is dedicated to making the invisible visible — one breakthrough, one student, and one community at a time.