Top Ontario students pursuing graduate studies in AI receive nearly $2 million in scholarships from Vector
May 2, 2023
May 2, 2023
TORONTO, May 3, 2023 – Today, the Vector Institute announced the 106 winners of the 2023-24 Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence (VSAI). Valued at $17,500, these merit-based scholarships recognize top candidates pursuing studies in either Vector-recognized master’s programs, which provide students with the AI skills and competencies sought by employers, or individual AI study paths in Ontario.
“The Vector Institute is thrilled by the caliber and diversity of this year’s cohort of talented students. The growth in the number and breadth of AI programs also speaks to AI’s increasingly central place in our university curriculum. Programs like the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence are ensuring that Ontario is attracting top talent to enable AI adoption to fuel the province’s economy.”
Melissa Judd
Vector’s Vice President, Research Operations and Academic Partnerships
This year’s recipients are pursuing master’s degrees in a range of programs from engineering to computer science, health informatics, business analytics, and more. The cohort received almost $2 million in total scholarship funding. After graduation, they will join Ontario’s growing pool of workforce-ready AI talent.
The Vector Scholarship in AI attracts top talent to AI master’s programs across Ontario and is part of a suite of programs run by Vector that connects highly skilled talent with companies adopting AI. Since 2018, Ontario companies and organizations have hired more than 850 Vector-affiliated students from AI master’s programs, including VSAI recipients.
“I was ecstatic when I received the email notifying me that I had been selected as a Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence Recipient. This scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is going to open new doors for me and many other recipients.”
Pooja Sharma
Master of Health Informatics (MHI) at the University of Toronto
This sixth round of VSAI recipients will attend 14 universities across Ontario. There have been 567 scholarships awarded since the program launched in 2018, with many scholarship recipients joining newly created AI master’s programs. The goal to graduate 1,000 AI master’s students annually by 2023 has been achieved, with over 1,000 students graduating from Ontario AI master’s programs for the second year in a row.
“This scholarship will not only help me financially but also help me to accelerate and aid my learning as a student. I am sure that this scholarship is going to be a turning point in my career. Moreover, I look forward to joining the Vector community, connecting with fellow AI enthusiasts, and working together to provide AI solutions for real-world problems.”
Mehakdeep Dhothar
Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Ottawa
Scholarship recipients and students enrolled in master’s programs recognized by the Vector Institute attend events and talks that put them face-to-face with top AI researchers, and teams from top Canadian employers, providing unique access to career opportunities. The master’s students are also provided with access to Vector’s Digital Talent Hub, career development and networking events, and AI-specific professional development programming to ensure they are ready to join the workforce.
2024-25 scholarship competition dates will be announced in Fall 2023. Learn more about the Vector Scholarship in AI.
Brock University
MSc in Computer Science
Al Jumaily, Aws
Carleton University
MASc in Civil Engineering
Clarabut, David
MA in Political Economy
Faveri, Benjamin
McMaster University
MSc in Computational Science and Engineering
Khodadad, Mohammad
Ontario Tech University
Master of Information Technology Security (MITS)
Afrin, Sadiya
Master of Information Technology Security (MITS)
Smith, Isabella
Queen’s University
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Field Study in AI
Callanan, Ethan
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Field Study in AI
Grover, Shivam
MASc in Engineering Physics
Austin, Tristan
MSc in Computer Science, Field of Study in AI
Radcliffe, Olivia
MSc in Computer Science, Field of Study in AI
Grigoreva, Veronika
MSc in Computer Science, Field of Study in AI
Keene, Spencer
Queen’s University, Smith School of Business
Master of Financial Innovation & Technology
Espinel, Julian
Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence
Dass, Nicholas
Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence
Li, Jin
Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence
Gill, Shubhnoor
Master of Management Analytics
Gautam, Ritu
Master of Management Analytics
Nguyen, Anh
Toronto Metropolitan University
MSc in Computer Science
Sorrenti, Adam
MASc in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Jaafar, Hussein Ali
University of Guelph
MASc in Computer Engineering, Collaborative Specialization in AI
Quinto, John
Master of Data Science
Bandanadam, Anusha Rani
Master of Data Science
Kadam, Siddhesh Suresh
MSc in Mathematics and Statistics, Collaborative Specialization in AI
Barker, Jenelle
University of Ottawa
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Applied AI Concentration
Paknejad, Mahsa
MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Applied AI Concentration
Dhothar, Mehakdeep
MSc in Computer Science, Applied AI Concentration
Ayyoubzadeh, Seyed Moein
University of Toronto
MASc in Aerospace Studies
Han, James
MASc in Biomedical Engineering
Kurbis, Andrew
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Atz Dick, João
Master of Health Informatics
Elsaid, Dana
Master of Health Informatics
Rehman, Afreen
Master of Health Informatics
Sharma, Pooja
MSc in Applied Computing
Fan, Zhe
MSc in Applied Computing
Hudson, Sinclair
MSc in Applied Computing
Li, Xiang
MSc in Applied Computing
Li, Mingfei
MSc in Applied Computing
Perencsik, Rini
MSc in Applied Computing
Ravi, Pooja
MSc in Computer Science
Lem, Anthony
MSc in Computer Science
McKinney, Lev
MSc in Computer Science
Thomas, Mark
MSc in Computer Science
Wu, Maxx
MSc in Computer Science
Zarghami, Yasamin
MSc in Health Policy, Management & Evaluation
Momtaz Esfahani, Sayyed Mohammad Pourya
University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
Master of Management Analytics
Ehichioya, Fredrick O
Master of Management Analytics
Khanna, Shreya
Master of Management Analytics
Liang, Yiran (Eileen)
Master of Management Analytics
Mao, Xiaoting
Master of Management Analytics
Mehra, Vaibhav
Master of Management Analytics
Raj, Rishik
Master of Management Analytics
Rajkumar, Anuradha
Master of Management Analytics
Yu, Yunfei
University of Waterloo
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Karthikeyan, Akash
MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sivakaran, Thanushon
MASc in Systems Design Engineering
de Loë, Lily
Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Rahnema, Rasa
Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Wojtiw-Quo, Julie
Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Xu, Jessica
MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Odinakachukwu, Chikodili
MMath in Computer Science
Di, Jimmy
University of Windsor
MSc in Computer Science, Concentration in AI
Cherry, Nathan
MSc in Computer Science, Concentration in AI
Khanna, Darpan
MSc in Computer Science, Concentration in AI
Sargolzaei, Saleh
MSc in Computer Science, Concentration in AI
Shaikh, Abdullah Abdul Sattar
Western University
MSc in Computer Science, Collaborative Specialization in AI
Chen, Lianghong
MSc in Computer Science, Collaborative Specialization in AI
Fang, Ruiyi
Master of Data Analytics, Specialization in AI
Mukherjee, Sourya
York University
MSc in Computer Science
Asgarimendejin, Arash
MSc in Computer Science
Mootoo, Xavier
MSc in Computer Science
Salimi, Ahmad
York University, Schulich School of Business
Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence
Singh, Darren
*Please note all recipients have granted us permission to post their names on the Vector website until they have enrolled full-time in their programs. As such, their names will not appear in the above table until their enrollment is confirmed.
Launched in 2017, the Vector Institute works with industry, institutions, start-ups, and governments to build AI talent and drive research excellence in AI to develop and sustain AI-based innovation to foster economic growth and improve the lives of Canadians.
Vector aims to advance AI research, increase adoption in industry and health through programs for talent, commercialization, and application, and lead Canada towards the responsible use of AI. Programs for industry, led by top AI practitioners, offer foundations for applications in products and processes, company-specific guidance, training for professionals, and connections to workforce-ready talent.
Vector is funded by the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, and leading industry sponsors from across multiple sectors of Canadian Industry.
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