The Computational and Data Systems Institute (CDSI) is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2026 BMO Responsible AI Research Awards at the undergraduate level, recognizing the new cohort of the BMO Responsible AI Junior Scholars.
Congratulations to Zain Ahmed, Maya Hilke-Stolle, Denali Tran-Le, and Achyutha Surukanti (clockwise from top left)!
The BMO Responsible AI Research Awards are stewarded by the McGill Collaborative for AI and Society (McCAIS)—CDSI’s flagship strategic initiative—to support undergraduate students conducting research that advances the ethical and socially responsible development and application of artificial intelligence.
Powered by BMO Financial Group and open to students across all McGill faculties, the awards are designed to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to responsible AI research and collaboration across diverse fields of study.
Throughout Summer 2026, the BMO Responsible AI Junior Scholars will conduct research projects under the mentorship of McGill faculty members, contributing to a growing interdisciplinary community focused on responsible AI research and innovation.
2026 BMO Responsible AI Junior Scholars
Achyutha Surukanti (Economics & Psychology, Faculty of Arts)
Evaluating Global Frameworks for the Regulation of AI-Based Medical Devices in Canada
Surukanti's study will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the evolving regulatory frameworks related to AI-based medical devices used in healthcare settings to inform future Canadian policy development.
Denali Tran-Le (Mathematics & Computer Science, Faculty of Science)
System-Level Evaluation of Large Language Models: Studying Relationships Between Evaluators
Tran-Le's project analyzes how different evaluators of Large Language Models (LLMs) agree or disagree, aiming to expose blind spots in evaluation coverage that may allow harms to persist undetected.
Maya Hilke-Stolle (Performance, Schulich School of Music)
Can Machines Move Us? Comparing Listener Perceptions of AI and Human Composition in Classical Music
Hilke-Stolle's project aims to determine how the nature of the composer behind various musical excerpts affects an audience's reaction to predetermined expressive parameters.
Zain Ahmed (Philosophy, Faculty of Arts)
AI Transformation in International Law Firms: Professional Ethics and Governance in Cross-Border Legal Practice
Ahmed's research examines how AI adoption in international law firms transforms professional ethics, regulatory compliance, and access to justice across jurisdictions.
To read the full project descriptions, click here.
Congratulations to this year’s awardees—we look forward to supporting their contributions to the future of responsible AI research.
