Ohad Shamir

(Incoming) Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Faculty member and Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Vector Institute
Professor (on leave), Weizmann Institute of Science

Starting August 2026, I will be a faculty member at the Computer Science Department of the University of Toronto, and also a Canada CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute. In addition, I am a faculty member (currently on leave) at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. In the more distant past, I also held visiting and research positions at Google Research and Microsoft Research. I completed my PhD in 2010 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, advised by Naftali Tishby.

My research focuses on theoretical aspects of machine learning, in areas such as theory of deep learning, the intersection of machine learning and optimization, and learning with information and communication constraints. For more details, it is best is to look at my recent publications.

Note to prospective advisees: I'm currently open to recruiting graduate students and postdocs at the University of Toronto and the Vector Institute, not at the Weizmann Institute. Generally, I'm looking for (1) graduate students with a strong math background who are specifically interested in theoretical research; and (2) postdocs with significant prior research experience in machine learning theory. For graduate applications, please don't email me directly: Instead, apply through the standard CS department programs, mention me as a potential advisor, and I will see your file.