PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Tegan Maharaj

Tegan Maharaj is an AI researcher whose work connects deep learning and responsible AI with ecological applications and AI safety. She completed an MSc thesis on biological realism in neural networks in 2015 and coauthored a video-understanding study in 2016; she holds a PhD in computer engineering from Polytechnique Montréal. At the University of Toronto, she became a Schwartz Reisman faculty fellow in 2022 and coauthored a 2023 paper on managing extreme AI risks. By April 2025, she had returned to Montréal as an assistant professor at HEC Montréal and a core academic member of Mila; she presented research on responsible AI there and served as an ICML publications chair in 2025. In July 2026, she coauthored a global AI safety research agenda, and as of October 2026 she is an assistant professor at HEC Montréal and a core academic member at Mila.

Works
36
Citations
4,249
h-index
14

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2015

    Biological realism in neural networks

    In November 2015, she completes an MSc thesis at Bishop’s University on practical applications of biological realism in artificial neural networks. Her bachelor’s degree combines biology and computer science.

  2. 2016

    Video question answering

    In 2016, she coauthors a dataset and model study for video understanding through fill-in-the-blank question answering. The work addresses the shortage of video data across many domains.

  3. 2022–2024

    A Schwartz Reisman fellowship

    In 2022, she becomes a Schwartz Reisman Institute faculty fellow for the 2022–24 cohort at the University of Toronto. Her fellowship project aims to develop methods for risk estimation and impact assessment for new policy frameworks.

  4. 2023

    Managing extreme AI risks

    In 2023, she coauthors “Managing extreme AI risks amid rapid progress,” a consensus paper on risks from advanced AI. Its plan combines technical research and development with proactive, adaptive governance.

  5. April 2025

    Professor at HEC and Mila

    By April 2025, she is an assistant professor at HEC Montréal and a core academic member at Mila, after four years as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. At Mila Techaide on April 17, 2025, she presents a talk on responsible AI and risk in complex systems; she also runs Mila’s ERRATA lab on ecological risk and responsible AI.

  6. 2025

    ICML publications chair

    At ICML 2025, she serves as a publications chair alongside Felix Berkenkamp.

  7. July 2026

    A global AI safety agenda

    In July 2026, she coauthors “The 2026 Singapore Consensus on Global AI Safety Research Priorities.” The consensus sets research priorities for AI safety, including societal resilience and risks from autonomous agents.

  8. As of October 2026

    Assistant professor at HEC Montréal

    As of October 2026, she is an assistant professor in machine learning in HEC Montréal’s Department of Decision Science and a core academic member at Mila. Her research includes deep learning, machine learning theory, multimodal learning, representation learning, responsible AI, and ecological applications. She holds a PhD in computer engineering from Polytechnique Montréal and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bishop’s University; in fall 2026 she teaches MATH 20616, Introduction to Machine Learning, and MATH 70630A, Responsible AI, in winter 2026.

Career

  1. NowHEC MontréalAssistant Professor
  2. NowMilaCore academic member
  3. Until 2025University of TorontoAssistant Professor

Education

  1. 2015Bishop’s UniversityMSc
  2. Bishop’s UniversityBachelor’s degree
  3. Polytechnique MontréalPhD

From the biography.

Checked career sources: forum.mutek.org, mila.quebec, mila.quebec.

Sources and credits

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  1. MSc Theses | Bishop's University ubishops.ca. Checked 26 October 2026.
  2. Tegan Maharaj | HEC Montréal hec.ca. Checked 26 October 2026.
  3. A dataset and exploration of models for understanding video data through fill-in-the-blank question-answering arxiv.org. Checked 26 October 2026.
  4. Schwartz Reisman Institute announces new fellowship recipients for 2022 srinstitute.utoronto.ca. Checked 26 October 2026.
  5. Managing extreme AI risks amid rapid progress arxiv.org. Checked 26 October 2026.
  6. Tegan Maharaj | MUTEK Forum forum.mutek.org. Checked 26 October 2026.
  7. Mila Techaide 2025 | Mila mila.quebec. Checked 26 October 2026.
  8. ICML 2025 Committees icml.cc. Checked 26 October 2026.
  9. The 2026 Singapore Consensus on Global AI Safety Research Priorities arxiv.org. Checked 26 October 2026.
  10. Tegan Maharaj | Mila mila.quebec. Checked 26 October 2026.