Yang P. Liu is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University 's Department of Computer Science . He received his PhD from Stanford University under the supervision of Aaron Sidford and previously studied at MIT . Fields of Interest : Graph Algorithms, Optimization, High-Dimensional Geometry, Additive Combinatorics, Theoretical Computer Science. His research focuses on algorithmic design and analysis for graph problems, optimization, and combinatorics, with applications in machine learning and complexity theory. Recent work includes advancements in parallel repetition games , combinatorial lines , and dynamic graph algorithms . In 2024, his research spanned FOCS , STOC , and RANDOM conferences, addressing problems in k-CSPs , min-cost flow , and hypergraph sparsification . Earlier contributions (2023) included deterministic flow algorithms and spectral hypergraph techniques. Scientific Awards : NDSEG Fellowship (2018-2021), Google PhD Fellowship (2022-2023), FOCS Best Paper (2022), STOC Best Student Paper (2022), FOCS Best Student Paper (2021). He teaches CS 15-759 , a graduate course on convex optimization theory and applications, covering gradient descent, interior point methods, and algorithmic sparsification techniques.
Ian Goldberg is a Professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science , University of Waterloo, Canada. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Privacy Enhancing Technologies and leads the Cryptography, Security, and Privacy (CrySP) group . He is affiliated with the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute and the Institute for Quantum Computing . Research Focus: Security, privacy, and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) for the Internet, including Off-the-Record (OTR) Messaging , censorship resistance , private information retrieval , and zero-knowledge proofs . Recent Publications: His work addresses metadata protection , deniable authentication , and secure multi-party computation , with applications to anonymous communication and censorship resistance. Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Privacy Enhancing Technologies Students: He advises current and former PhD/Master’s students in projects like Lox , PRSONA , Walkie-Talkie , and SkypeMorph . Notable advisees include Sajin Sasy (Privacy-Preserving Communications), Justin Tracey (PETs Development), and Tao Wang (Website Fingerprinting Defenses). Labs & Teams: Goldberg is a core member of the CrySP group and contributes to the Tor Project and Off-the-Record Messaging open-source initiatives. His research bridges theoretical and applied cryptography, with deployments in real-world systems like Tor and PIR protocols.
Ming Hu is a Professor and University of Toronto Distinguished Professor of Business Operations and Analytics at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He serves as Area Coordinator for the Operations Management & Statistics Area and holds editorial leadership roles including Editor-in-Chief of Naval Research Logistics and Associate Editor for multiple top journals. MS in Applied Mathematics, Brown University (2003) PhD in Operations Research, Columbia University (2009) His research focuses on sharing economy , social operations , and platform economics , examining how operational decisions can maximize societal benefit. Key areas include crowdfunding , two-sided markets , crowdsourcing , and group buying , with applications to DEI , sustainability , and AI-empowered operations . Recent work analyzes spatial operations in delivery systems, algorithmic fairness , and climate change adaptation in agricultural supply chains. His publications span top journals like Management Science and Operations Research , covering topics from blockchain traceability to quantum-inspired optimization . Scientific recognitions include: Wickham Skinner Early-Career Research Award (2016) Best Operations Management Paper in Management Science (2017) 2018 Poets & Quants Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors As an Amazon Scholar (2022–) and Chair of Chain Analytics Institute (2023–), he bridges academic research with industry applications in AI-driven logistics and sustainable operations.
Tim Conley is Professor and Chair at the Department of Economics, University of Western Ontario. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (1996). His research focuses on applied econometrics with emphasis on spatial dependence, cross-sectional analysis, and empirical industrial organization. His primary research interests include methodological development in econometrics, particularly around dependence modeling in cross-sectional data and spatial analysis techniques. He has made significant contributions to understanding technology adoption in developing economies and detection of collusion in market mechanisms. Professor Conley's publications demonstrate consistent focus on developing robust statistical methods for economic applications, with recent work emphasizing practical applications in policy evaluation and market analysis. His methodological innovations have been implemented in statistical software packages used by researchers worldwide.
Mark Crowley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with a cross-appointment in the Cheriton School of Computer Science. He is a member of the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute (WAII) and the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI), and serves as National Secretary of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Association (CAIAC). His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia, where he worked in the Laboratory for Computational Intelligence, and a B.A. in Computer Science from York University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon State University working with Tom Dietterich's machine learning group. Crowley's research focuses on developing dependable and transparent algorithms to augment human decision-making in complex domains with multiple agents, spatial structure, or uncertainty. His work spans Reinforcement Learning , Deep Learning , Ensemble Methods , and Manifold Learning . He frequently collaborates with researchers in applied fields including Computational Sustainability, Sustainable Forest Management, Autonomous Driving, Medical Imaging, and Material Design. His research is motivated by both theoretical opportunities and real-world challenges such as forest fire management, automotive applications, and medical imaging. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on addressing challenges in reinforcement learning, particularly around observation costs, multi-agent systems, and causal representation learning. His work on ChemGymRL provides a significant contribution to digital chemistry and material design through reinforcement learning frameworks. The textbook Elements of Dimensionality Reduction and Manifold Learning represents a major contribution to the theoretical foundations of machine learning. Crowley actively supervises graduate students, with recent thesis completions including Shayan Shirahmadi Gale Bagi (PhD, Feb 2025) and Oleksandra Nahorna (MASc, Dec 2024). His lab, UWECEML (Waterloo ECE Machine Learning Lab), focuses on developing new algorithms at the intersection of Machine Learning, Optimization, and Probabilistic Modeling. He teaches courses including ECE 457C (Reinforcement Learning), ECE 657A (Data & Knowledge Modelling & Analysis), and ECE 457B (Fundamentals of Computational Intelligence). His blog Computationally Thinking explores AI, machine learning, and the societal impact of these technologies.
Dr. Tarek Sayed is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Department of Civil Engineering within the Faculty of Applied Science. He specializes in Transportation Engineering, focusing on road safety analysis, traffic operations, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). He serves as the Director of the Bureau of Intelligent Transportation Systems and Freight Security (BITSAFS-Engineering) and Editor of the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering . His research addresses three core areas: improving road safety evaluation techniques, enhancing safety through traffic operations and highway design analysis, and advancing ITS technologies. Notable contributions include frameworks for safety-audits of infrastructure projects like the Sea to Sky Highway and methodologies for evaluating transit signal priority systems in Vancouver. He has authored/co-authored over 250 publications and supervised 60 graduate students. Key Roles: Professor, BITSAFS Director, Journal Editor Awards: Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Wilbur Smith Award, Sandford Fleming Award, Prince Michael International Road Safety Award Consulting: Global projects in traffic safety and ITS for agencies like ICBC, FHWA, and Ashghal His research integrates Bayesian statistical methods, extreme value theory, and machine learning to model traffic conflicts, pedestrian behavior, and safety interventions. Current projects include real-time safety optimization using autonomous vehicle data and analyzing shared space interactions between cyclists and pedestrians. Dr. Sayed chairs national/international committees, including the U.S. Transportation Research Board’s safety data committee. His work bridges academia and practice, influencing policy and infrastructure investment decisions worldwide.
David Duvenaud is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto , holding a Canada Research Chair in Generative Models and a Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society . He is cross-appointed to the Department of Computer Science and Department of Statistical Sciences . A Sloan Research Fellow and founding member of the Vector Institute , his work bridges deep probabilistic models , AI safety , and scientific computing . PhD in Machine Learning (University of Cambridge, 2014) Postdoc in Hyperparameter Optimization (Harvard University, 2016) Co-founded Invenia (energy forecasting company) His research spans foundational Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (NeurIPS 2018 Best Paper) and Automatic Chemical Design (ACS Central Science 2018) to recent work on AGI governance (2025) and AI safety (2024). Key contributions include stochastic variational inference , implicit differentiation frameworks , and antisymmetrization layers for quantum Monte Carlo. Recent publications (2024-2025) focus on systemic existential risks from AI , many-shot jailbreaking attacks , and epistemic uncertainty quantification . His group trains energy-based models with scalable MCMC samplers and develops invertible neural architectures (e.g., Residual Flows NeurIPS 2019). He also explores human-AI alignment through LLM Processes (NeurIPS 2024) and Sycophancy in Language Models (ICLR 2024). Canada Research Chair (2025) NSERC Grant (2025) Sloan Research Fellow (2021) Schwartz Reisman Chair (2021) Best Paper Award (NeurIPS 2018) Distinguished Paper Award (ICFP 2021) His students include James Requeima , Jesse Bettencourt , and Raymond Douglas . He teaches courses on Statistical Methods for Machine Learning and Differentiable Inference . Current work (2025) investigates systemic human disempowerment through incremental AI capabilities and sabotage risk mitigation via hyperparameter-aware evaluations.
Peter Selinger is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Dalhousie University , with a cross-appointment in Computer Science. He specializes in mathematical methods in computer science, particularly quantum computing and combinatorial game theory . His work on quantum programming languages like Quipper and foundational research in category theory has garnered international recognition. Education : Ph.D. in Mathematics (University of Pennsylvania, 1997), undergraduate studies in Mathematics (Technische Universität Darmstadt). Research Interests span quantum computing, category theory, and combinatorial game theory. He has pioneered formalisms for quantum programming languages, developed categorical models for quantum mechanics, and analyzed game-theoretic structures in games like Hex. His recent work includes linear dependent type theory , quantum circuit synthesis , and combinatorial game classification . Publications demonstrate expertise in quantum programming languages, categorical semantics, and game theory. Key trends include Hamiltonian simulation , Clifford+T circuits , and monotone game realization . Scientific Honors include the Killam Professorship (2017–2022), Faculty of Science Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023), and fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and German National Scholarship Foundation . Students he has supervised include PhD graduates Xiaoning Bian , Francisco Rios , and Neil J. Ross , along with MSc students like Fahimeh Bayeh and Seth Greylyn . He has advised 16 postdoctoral researchers.
Dr. Angela Siegel is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean, Academic Outreach in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. She is actively involved in both academic leadership and research. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics (Combinatorial Game Theory), Dalhousie University, 2011 M.Sc. in Mathematics, Dalhousie University, 2005 B.Sc. in Mathematics & Marine Geophysics, 1997 Her research focuses on combinatorial game theory, graph theory, discrete mathematics, and number theory, with a strong emphasis on computer science education and inclusive teaching . She investigates the challenges students face when transitioning into computer science programs, aiming to improve pedagogical approaches and support systems. Her work bridges theoretical mathematics and practical educational innovation. The recent publications highlight a dual focus: theoretical contributions to combinatorial games (e.g., partizan games, placement games, geography variants) and applied research in computing education, particularly student transition and inclusive practices. Her interdisciplinary work spans mathematics, computer science, and educational theory. Scientific Awards: Dr. Siegel has supervised and collaborated with students and researchers on topics including student transition into higher education computing, LEGO-based pedagogy, and workplace readiness. While no specific grants are listed, her repeated presentations and publications suggest active research funding and scholarly engagement. She has contributed to major conference proceedings and book volumes such as Games of No Chance . She is associated with research teams focused on combinatorial games and computer science education innovation, often collaborating with scholars like Richard Nowakowski, Neil McKay, and Mark Zarb. Her work in inclusive teaching and student support reflects a commitment to building accessible and equitable learning environments in computing.
David Landriault is a Professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and a Canada Research Chair in Risk Theory. His research focuses on Actuarial Science, Quantitative Risk Management, Applied Probability, and Stochastic Processes, particularly in ruin theory, drawdown analysis, and stochastic control for insurance and finance applications. Education: PhD in Mathematics (2005), MSc in Mathematics (2003), BSc in Actuarial Science (2002) from Laval University. Affiliations: University of Waterloo (postdoctoral fellowship, 2006); Canada Research Chair in Risk Theory. Research Interests Risk and Ruin Theory Stochastic Control in Insurance and Finance Drawdown and Occupation Time Analysis Regime-Switching Models Reinsurance Design and Optimization Time-Dependent Risk Models Scientific Awards Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (F.C.I.A.), 2009 Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (F.S.A.), 2006
Shai Ben-David is a Professor and University Research Chair at the Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo. He is affiliated with the Cheriton School of Computer Science and can be reached at shai@uwaterloo.ca . His office is located in DC 2643. Education: Ph.D., Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (1987) M.Sc., Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel (1979) B.Sc., Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel (1978) Research interests focus on foundational aspects of machine learning theory, including unsupervised learning (clustering), domain adaptation, fairness, interpretability, and alternative approaches to worst-case computational complexity. He also explores logic applications in computer science theory. His research trends emphasize theoretical challenges in machine learning, particularly clustering, fairness in representations, and the interplay between computational feasibility and learnability. He investigates how unlabeled data and sample compression techniques impact learning robustness and efficiency. No scientific awards are listed. His advising record shows no formal advisees listed here. Grants and funding details are not provided in the text. He has contributed to organizing events like the Dagstuhl Seminar on Foundations of Unsupervised Learning (2017) and co-edited MFCS 2016 proceedings. His work addresses both theoretical questions and practical gaps in ML implementation.
Baris Fidan is a Professor in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with cross appointments in System Design Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA. His research focuses on cooperative/adaptive control, autonomous systems, multi-agent networks, and vehicular control applications. He leads the Cooperative & Adaptive Mechatronic Systems (CAMS) Lab, which develops control strategies for autonomous vehicles, robotic systems, and intelligent transportation. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2003) Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bilkent University (1998) Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronic Engineering & Mathematics, Middle East Technical University (1996) Research Interests: His work spans adaptive control theory, sensor networks, multi-agent coordination, autonomous vehicle networks, and biomedical systems control. He emphasizes practical applications in intelligent transportation, robotic navigation, and distributed system optimization. Grants & Projects: He has led major grants including NSERC Discovery Programs on cooperative mechatronic systems and 3D autonomous vehicle coordination. Industrial projects include autonomous driving strategies, vehicle control optimization, and high-precision gear manufacturing technologies. Labs/Teams: Directs the CAMS Lab, which collaborates on projects involving distributed motion planning, sensor localization, and autonomous vehicle networks. Current projects address challenges in urban autonomous driving, cooperative robotic systems, and resilient sensor networks.
Chaitanya Swamy is a Professor and University Research Chair in the Department of Combinatorics & Optimization at the University of Waterloo, Canada. His primary affiliation is within the Faculty of Mathematics, and he holds positions in both the Department of Combinatorics & Optimization and the School of Computer Science. He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University under the supervision of David Shmoys, followed by postdoctoral research at Caltech's Center for the Mathematics of Information. Swamy’s research focuses on algorithms, particularly in combinatorial optimization, approximation algorithms, algorithmic game theory, stochastic optimization, network design, scheduling, and online algorithms. His work spans theoretical contributions and practical applications, including algorithm design for facility location, network routing, and mechanism design. He has contributed to foundational results in approximation algorithms, such as the development of primal-dual methods and LP-rounding techniques. Swamy has held significant editorial roles, including as an associate editor for Discrete Optimization and SIAM Journal on Computing . He has organized major conferences like CanaDAM 2021 and sessions at ISMP 2018. His teaching record includes courses on combinatorial optimization, scheduling, and algorithmic game theory. He has advised numerous Ph.D. and Master’s students, many of whom have gone on to prestigious academic and industry positions. Swamy’s research has been recognized through awards for his students, including the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal. He actively contributes to the academic community through committee work for conferences like STOC, APPROX, and SODA, and his publications reflect a deep engagement with both theoretical and applied aspects of algorithms and optimization.
Dr. Jillianne Code is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Education, Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, directing the ALIVE Research Lab. Her work focuses on learner agency, educational technologies, and social media's impact on student success. Specializes in immersive virtual environments for assessment Researches self-regulated learning and formative feedback Investigates health education through digital interventions Her recent publications examine pandemic-era educational transitions, digital literacy in teacher training, and cognitive tools in virtual reality. She has received Outstanding Paper Awards for her work on immersive assessment. Dr. Code leads research projects on learning analytics, student engagement in digital spaces, and technology education sustainability. Her work bridges educational theory with practical interventions through digital badges, mobile health applications, and 3D learning environments.
Chris J. Maddison is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, holding joint appointments in the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Statistical Sciences. He is also a CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute and a member of the ELLIS Society. Maddison earned his DPhil from the University of Oxford and previously worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind and a member at the Institute for Advanced Study. His research focuses on advancing machine learning methodologies, particularly in leveraging data’s natural structure for efficient learning, with applications in drug discovery, causal inference, and AI safety. Education: DPhil in Computer Science, University of Oxford His research interests span machine learning, AI safety, reinforcement learning, and the integration of logical reasoning into large language models. Maddison has contributed to foundational work on gradient estimation techniques and was a key member of the AlphaGo project. He actively explores how statistical structures in real-world data influence AI capabilities. Recent publications emphasize evaluating conversational agents, mitigating AI safety risks, and enhancing logical reasoning in LLMs. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, such as code generation and multi-agent systems. Awards: NeurIPS Best Paper Award (2014), Open Philanthropy AI Fellowship Maddison advises multiple PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, fostering collaborations across academia and industry. His former advisees now hold roles at institutions like OpenAI, Stanford, and Magic AI. He teaches advanced courses in machine learning and statistical methods, including CSC 2541 (Large Models) and STA 314 (Machine Learning). Maddison is affiliated with the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, extending his impact to societal implications of AI. His lab’s interdisciplinary approach combines algorithmic innovation with real-world problem-solving.
