Waterloo.AI is proud to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Sirisha Rambhatla and Dr. Amir-Hossein Karimi as the newly reimagined Val O’Donovan Chair holders in Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
These prestigious roles reflect the Faculty of Engineering’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence and its transformative impact across disciplines. Beginning September 1, 2025, Dr. Rambhatla and Dr. Karimi will each lead research programs aligned with critical areas in AI:
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Dr. Sirisha Rambhatla (right side, image below) – Val O’Donovan Chair in Efficient, Safe, and Adaptive AI
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Dr. Amir-Hossein Karimi (left side, image below) – Val O’Donovan Chair in Trustworthy AI
Both faculty members are active affiliates of Waterloo.AI, contributing to the Institute’s interdisciplinary mission of advancing responsible and impactful AI research.
Advancing AI with Real-World Impact
The Val O’Donovan Chair, originally established in 2000 to support innovation in engineering research and education, has been reimagined to align with today’s most pressing technological priorities. The updated structure includes two Chair appointments focused on core AI challenges—trust, efficiency, safety, and adaptability.
Each Chair comes with $100,000 in annual research support for a five-year term, renewable for a further three years. Funding will support ambitious research programs, interdisciplinary collaborations, and hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduate students.
Dr. Rambhatla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Science and Engineering, with cross-appointments in Systems Design Engineering and the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. Her research focuses on machine learning to aid critical decision making in real-world applications in healthcare, aviation, and manufacturing.
Dr. Karimi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research spans trustworthy and explainable machine learning, causal inference, algorithmic recourse, and human-machine collaboration.
A Milestone for Engineering and AI at Waterloo
The appointments were announced by Dr. Hassan Baaj, Associate Dean of Research and External Partnerships, Faculty of Engineering, who noted the significance of the Chair’s evolution in response to global shifts in technology and education.
This recognition highlights the University of Waterloo’s commitment to leading in responsible, interdisciplinary AI research—and the role of Waterloo.AI faculty in shaping that future.
Congratulations to Dr. Rambhatla and Dr. Karimi on this achievement. We look forward to supporting their continued leadership at the forefront of AI research.