Bahareh Tolooshams is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering). She is an expert in AI-driven inverse problem solving, using generative models and representation learning to tackle challenges across science and engineering. Her research is focused on developing efficient and interpretable deep learning methods by framing them as inverse problems—estimating a cause from observed data. Toloosham’s research also explores the intersection of AI and neuroscience, and she is a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (NMHI). 

Blair Attard-Frost is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Political Science). Her research focuses on the governance of artificial intelligence, with a particular interest in AI governance in Canada and trans feminist perspectives in AI. In addition to academic research, Attard-Frost has educated students, professionals, executives, public servants, and others about AI policy & ethics.

Carrie Demmans Epp is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Computing Science). Her research uses human-centred learning technologies to create more effective and accessible learning experiences. Drawing on her background in computer science and language education, she designs and evaluates intelligent tutoring systems and other educational technologies. Her work is guided by the goal of helping students overcome language and confidence barriers to achieve professional and academic success. 

Terence Blaskovits is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Chemistry). His research is at the intersection of machine learning and computational chemistry. He focuses on the data-driven design of novel molecules and materials for applications in energy, optics, and catalysis, such as solar cells and LEDs. His work uses computational techniques and ML to discover and create novel compounds with unique excited-state characteristics. 

Quinn Lee is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Psychology) and leads The Navigation & Memory Systems Lab (NMS Lab) at the U of A. He is a behavioural and systems neuroscientist interested in how our brains construct and remember the world around us to inform intelligent behaviour. His research focuses on understanding how the brain organizes and represents space, memory, and experience. His work aims to uncover the neural basis of long-term and spatial navigation. 

Russell Dinnage is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Biological Sciences). His research focuses on the area of organismal biology, deciphering how living beings interact with one another and how this has been shaped by evolution. He is working on building foundational AI models that can understand and learn from living systems, intending to preserve irreplaceable species and their evolutionary history.

Tian Tian is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering). His research leverages machine learning to accelerate multiscale simulations for materials science. Tian is currently developing frameworks and open-source tools to explore complex material systems for renewable energy applications efficiently. His work aims to tackle the vast configuration spaces in material science by leveraging graph neural networks and transfer learning.