May 13, 2026 - Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute is proud to announce the 17 recipients of the fourth edition of its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarships Program. These students were chosen for their exceptional academic achievements, impactful research, and proactive dedication to fostering equity and inclusion both within the AI ecosystem and their local communities.
Twelve recipients were awarded in the Women in AI category, which recognizes researchers demonstrating academic excellence and leadership, particularly those committed to building a more inclusive environment for women in the field of artificial intelligence.
Five recipients were selected in the EDI in Research category for their high-level academic performance and research that directly integrates EDI principles—whether through its core methodology, its specific focus, or its potential for positive social impact.
The program provides annual support of $8,000 for PhD candidates and $5,000 for Master’s students, reflecting Mila’s ongoing mission to support talent and foster an inclusive, equitable research environment.
We congratulate this year’s recipients and thank all applicants for their dedication, insight, and contributions to advancing equity in AI.
We proudly present the researchers whose achievements and contributions have earned them recognition this year:
Category 1: Women in AI
- Shira Abramovich, PhD, McGill
- Sadhana Anand, Masters (M.Sc) - Research, Université de Montréal
- Yuyan Chen, PhD, McGill
- Kailin Chu, Masters (M.Sc) - Research (Prospective student), McGill
- Elham Daneshmand, PhD, McGill
- Carlotta Hoelzle, PhD (Prospective student), McGill
- Julia Kaltenborn, PhD, McGill
- Yiyun Liu, Professional Masters (M.Sc) in machine learning, Université de Montréal
- Yukti Makhija, PhD, Université de Montréal
- Yasaman Sabbagh Ziarani, PhD, McGill
- Nour Hesham Mohamed Shaheen, Masters (M.Sc) - Research, Polytechnique Montréal
- Xi (Nicole) Zhang, PhD, McGill
Category 2: EDI in Research
- Nilly Bozorgzad, Masters (M.Sc) - Research, HEC Montréal
- Cléa Chataigner, PhD, McGill
- Chris Emezue, PhD, Université de Montréal
- Aditi Khandelwal, PhD, McGill
- Peyampalli Shravan Nayak, PhD, Université de Montréal
