UBC Engineering grad wins Governor General's Silver Medal

UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering student Nomi Danzig is the recipient of the 2025 Governor General’s Silver Medal.  

The medal is awarded to the undergraduate who, in the opinion of the faculty, is the top student of their graduating class. The medal is one of the most prestigious academic honors in Canada. 

Nomi arrived at UBC in 2020 as the only student in the Toronto District School Board to graduate with a 100% average. Her academic excellence continued through university, as she achieved a grade of 100% in a remarkable 10 courses and was the top student of her cohort each year.  

Nomi points to her capstone project course, where she worked on a process to extract a diabetes-treating chemical from tobacco plants, as a notably rewarding experience. The course was “...an opportunity to design a process from beginning to end, utilizing learnings from almost every class we’ve taken,” she said. “I liked being able to make our own design choices in a group of peers, with help from faculty advisors.” 

As an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Vikramaditya Yadav’s BioFoundry lab, Nomi was a conscientious contributor. “[Her] meticulousness and organization spans everything - from the organization of her thoughts, how she plans her work, how she manages her time and experiments, and how she analyzes complex concepts,” remarked Dr. Yadav. Her interest in sustainable engineering and biotechnologies led to co-op terms at STEMCELL Technologies and AGEIAS Engineering Systems. 

After graduation, Nomi will join Anodyne Chemistries, engineering enzymatic processes to convert carbon dioxide into sustainable chemicals. “When one marries [her] level of planning and organization with the brilliance that she possesses, there are no limits for what one can achieve,” said Dr. Yadav.  

Despite her rigorous academic schedule, Nomi still managed to find time to unwind. “Having a gorgeous campus is a great way to pick up your mood, even when school is hard.” She also acknowledges the importance of the people she’s met on campus. “Having people around me who are fun, supportive and challenge me to be a better person is what has made my time here so amazing.”