Après TFS - Robin Yeo '09
Check out our newest edition of Après TFS, where we catch up with Robin Yeo, a class of 2009 grad and a biological data scientist.
TFS: Please describe the path you took after TFS.
ROBIN YEO: I graduated from TFS in 2009 and then went to MIT, where I studied biological engineering and math. My start in biomedical research actually came through a TFS parent, Dr. Rob Rottapel. I worked in his lab at the University of Toronto during my senior year and university summers, and continued research throughout my time at MIT, almost every term in a few different labs.
TFS: What does a typical day look like for you?
ROBIN YEO: Once my wife and I move to Vancouver this fall, we’ll probably be looking for careers in the same space. Thinking back on my last three years at Epic Bio, my day changed a lot once I was promoted to manage the team. Management is very different from being a data scientist.
As a biological data scientist, I used Python and R to analyze massive complex biological datasets. Often, months of lab experiments resulted in a single three-gigabyte DNA sequencing file. Our job was to turn that into biological insights, evaluating different therapeutic peptides, identifying which worked best and exploring why.
I really loved my job. Leaving had nothing to do with the work itself; it was fascinating and fulfilling. We just realized we didn’t want to regret not traveling.
TFS: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
ROBIN YEO: When I was working as a data scientist, the most satisfying part was putting on my headphones and programming for hours, uninterrupted. Getting into a flow state, thinking deeply about data and exploring it was rewarding. For the right kind of person, data science is fun—and it’s an exciting field with all the developments happening now with AI. You’re often handed a dataset from the experimental biologist you’re working with, and your job is to ask questions, perform exploratory data analysis, apply bioinformatic methods, and see what insights emerge.
TFS: How did your experience at TFS help you get to where you are now?
ROBIN YEO: Firstly, and my 18-year-old self would roll his eyes at this, the IB really is a great program. When you’re in it, it’s demanding. But once I got to MIT, I felt like I had a head start compared to some of my peers. Especially in higher-level IB courses, the rigor was equal to, if not above, my freshman classes. In hindsight, I’m very grateful for it.
Another big piece was getting my first lab experience through TFS. I met Dr. Rob Rottapel at a TFS event, and he took me on as an intern during my senior year. I worked in his lab three days a week, then returned for two summers during my MIT undergrad. That opportunity set me on the path toward scientific research. He even came to my wedding, and I still catch up with him whenever I’m back in Toronto.
Finally, leadership and public speaking. At TFS, I was in debate club, student council, prefect roles, and served as head boy. At the time, it just felt like school life, but those experiences gave me confidence that paid off years later when managing teams and speaking in high-stakes settings.
TFS: How has French language and bilingualism impacted your career?
ROBIN YEO: I think bilingualism strengthens the brain. I didn’t often use French while living in California, but as I travel through South America, I find I can understand about 80% of Spanish because of the shared roots with French. It also came in handy when traveling through some countries in Southeast Asia like Cambodia and Vietnam. That’s been incredibly useful.
Back
ROBIN YEO: I graduated from TFS in 2009 and then went to MIT, where I studied biological engineering and math. My start in biomedical research actually came through a TFS parent, Dr. Rob Rottapel. I worked in his lab at the University of Toronto during my senior year and university summers, and continued research throughout my time at MIT, almost every term in a few different labs.
After MIT, I worked as a research technician at Harvard School of Public Health in the longevity field, which led me to a PhD in Genetics at Stanford. My thesis focused on neural stem cells and epigenetics in brain aging. I graduated in 2020, right in the middle of COVID, did a brief postdoc, then started working.
I joined Epic Bio, a small biotech startup developing a novel gene-editing therapy for a rare form of muscular dystrophy, FSHD. I started as a biological data scientist and eventually led the department, managing two PhD scientists and a software engineer. Coming from academic labs, learning to manage people and projects was a huge learning experience.
About 15 months ago, my wife and I left our jobs to travel, something we’ve talked about doing since our twenties. She grew up partly in Cambodia with her family doing humanitarian work, and I’ve always loved traveling too. After saving for years, we finally made it happen. We road-tripped across the U.S. and Canada, spent over six months in Southeast and East Asia, and we’re now in South America for three months, starting in Peru before heading to Bolivia and Chile.
It’s been amazing to finally live out this dream together while reflecting on all the experiences—from TFS to MIT, Stanford, biotech and beyond—that made this life possible.
TFS: What does a typical day look like for you?
ROBIN YEO: Once my wife and I move to Vancouver this fall, we’ll probably be looking for careers in the same space. Thinking back on my last three years at Epic Bio, my day changed a lot once I was promoted to manage the team. Management is very different from being a data scientist.
A typical day was split roughly three ways. About a quarter was independent, creative thinking—catching up on research, reading publications, and exploring new methodologies. Another quarter was spent in meetings, strategizing with other lab teams, brainstorming, and experimental design. The rest was programming.
As a biological data scientist, I used Python and R to analyze massive complex biological datasets. Often, months of lab experiments resulted in a single three-gigabyte DNA sequencing file. Our job was to turn that into biological insights, evaluating different therapeutic peptides, identifying which worked best and exploring why.
I really loved my job. Leaving had nothing to do with the work itself; it was fascinating and fulfilling. We just realized we didn’t want to regret not traveling.
TFS: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
ROBIN YEO: When I was working as a data scientist, the most satisfying part was putting on my headphones and programming for hours, uninterrupted. Getting into a flow state, thinking deeply about data and exploring it was rewarding. For the right kind of person, data science is fun—and it’s an exciting field with all the developments happening now with AI. You’re often handed a dataset from the experimental biologist you’re working with, and your job is to ask questions, perform exploratory data analysis, apply bioinformatic methods, and see what insights emerge.
But over time, what I enjoyed most was managing a team. I liked the responsibility, the higher-level strategic thinking, and the chance to frequently interface with the CEO and chief medical officer. Since we were a small company, at most 50 people, I also got to take on things I wasn’t formally trained in, like exploring biostatistical endpoints for clinical trials. It was a steep learning curve, but I loved it. Leading a team and learning on the fly became the most satisfying part of the job.
TFS: How did your experience at TFS help you get to where you are now?
ROBIN YEO: Firstly, and my 18-year-old self would roll his eyes at this, the IB really is a great program. When you’re in it, it’s demanding. But once I got to MIT, I felt like I had a head start compared to some of my peers. Especially in higher-level IB courses, the rigor was equal to, if not above, my freshman classes. In hindsight, I’m very grateful for it.
Another big piece was getting my first lab experience through TFS. I met Dr. Rob Rottapel at a TFS event, and he took me on as an intern during my senior year. I worked in his lab three days a week, then returned for two summers during my MIT undergrad. That opportunity set me on the path toward scientific research. He even came to my wedding, and I still catch up with him whenever I’m back in Toronto.
Finally, leadership and public speaking. At TFS, I was in debate club, student council, prefect roles, and served as head boy. At the time, it just felt like school life, but those experiences gave me confidence that paid off years later when managing teams and speaking in high-stakes settings.
TFS: How has French language and bilingualism impacted your career?
ROBIN YEO: I think bilingualism strengthens the brain. I didn’t often use French while living in California, but as I travel through South America, I find I can understand about 80% of Spanish because of the shared roots with French. It also came in handy when traveling through some countries in Southeast Asia like Cambodia and Vietnam. That’s been incredibly useful.
I’m still a strong proponent of bilingualism and look forward to moving back to Canada, where French will play a bigger role.
TFS: What skills or lessons from TFS do you find yourself applying most often in your work?
ROBIN YEO: One lesson is the value of hard work. The IB requires discipline and long hours, and that mindset stuck with me through MIT and beyond.
Another is public speaking. At TFS, I had many chances to practice public speaking, whether as a prefect, head boy, or speaking at assemblies. I didn’t realize how useful that would be until my PhD, where presenting your data is a constant. Many of my peers dreaded it. For me, those early experiences at TFS made it feel more natural and gave me a real advantage.
TFS: What was your most memorable experience at TFS?
ROBIN YEO: Well, I was at TFS from ages 3 to 18, so that’s a long time and a lot of memories. The truth is, I don’t have one single “most memorable” experience—it’s really the people. My best friend today is someone I met in pre-kindergarten at three years old, and I still see him every time I’m back in Toronto. Most of my closest friends are from TFS, and my class still has a group chat where people are always talking, going to each other’s parties, and keeping in touch. I think that’s part of what makes TFS special. Not just the education, but the deep bonds and lifelong connections it fosters.
TFS: What advice would you give to current students?
ROBIN YEO: Take advantage of the opportunities that TFS provides. You’ll make it through the IB; it’s tough, but you’ll get there. Choose your higher-level courses carefully, balancing passion with realism. Some are more demanding than others, and your choices affect your work-life balance.
TFS: What do you wish you had known while at TFS that could have better prepared you for life after graduation?
ROBIN YEO: I wish I’d understood earlier how important soft skills are. Especially in STEM, the focus is on hard skills—math, science, coding—but communication, teamwork and leadership are just as critical. TFS gave me a head start through debate club, student council and prefect roles. Those experiences built confidence in public speaking and interpersonal skills, which later made a huge difference.
So my advice is: don’t underestimate those skills. They’ll shape your career and your relationships more than you might expect.
ROBIN YEO: One lesson is the value of hard work. The IB requires discipline and long hours, and that mindset stuck with me through MIT and beyond.
Another is public speaking. At TFS, I had many chances to practice public speaking, whether as a prefect, head boy, or speaking at assemblies. I didn’t realize how useful that would be until my PhD, where presenting your data is a constant. Many of my peers dreaded it. For me, those early experiences at TFS made it feel more natural and gave me a real advantage.
TFS: What was your most memorable experience at TFS?
ROBIN YEO: Well, I was at TFS from ages 3 to 18, so that’s a long time and a lot of memories. The truth is, I don’t have one single “most memorable” experience—it’s really the people. My best friend today is someone I met in pre-kindergarten at three years old, and I still see him every time I’m back in Toronto. Most of my closest friends are from TFS, and my class still has a group chat where people are always talking, going to each other’s parties, and keeping in touch. I think that’s part of what makes TFS special. Not just the education, but the deep bonds and lifelong connections it fosters.
TFS: What advice would you give to current students?
ROBIN YEO: Take advantage of the opportunities that TFS provides. You’ll make it through the IB; it’s tough, but you’ll get there. Choose your higher-level courses carefully, balancing passion with realism. Some are more demanding than others, and your choices affect your work-life balance.
Beyond academics, lean into the relationships at TFS. The bonds you form with classmates and teachers are unique, and once university starts, everyone scatters. It’s a special time—make the most of it.
TFS: What do you wish you had known while at TFS that could have better prepared you for life after graduation?
ROBIN YEO: I wish I’d understood earlier how important soft skills are. Especially in STEM, the focus is on hard skills—math, science, coding—but communication, teamwork and leadership are just as critical. TFS gave me a head start through debate club, student council and prefect roles. Those experiences built confidence in public speaking and interpersonal skills, which later made a huge difference.
At Epic Bio, when I eventually had to hire for my own team, I realized I’d rather work with a great scientist who could communicate and collaborate than with a brilliant scientist who couldn’t. That was eye-opening.
So my advice is: don’t underestimate those skills. They’ll shape your career and your relationships more than you might expect.
