Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
University of Toronto
| bahar[@]cs[.]toronto[.]edu | |
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Bahar Aameri (She/Her)
I am an Assistant Professor (CLTA), Teaching Stream in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. My work combines teaching, outreach, and research, with a strong commitment to inclusive education.
I co-direct the PRISM program, which prepares students -- particularly those from marginalized communities -- for higher education in computer science. I am also a co-PI on a Google exploreCSR award that supports the development of a high-school outreach program for women and non-binary students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
My teaching spans courses from first-year computer science through graduate-level artificial intelligence. My research focuses on logic-based approaches to AI and ontology design, exploring how formal methods can help build robust and trustworthy intelligent systems. I particularly enjoy collaborative projects that bridge academia and industry. Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Semantic Technologies Lab, where I worked on projects funded by RBC and Autodesk.
Teaching
I have taught a wide range of computer science courses, from introductory programming and theoretical foundations to advanced artificial intelligence. My goal is to create accessible and engaging learning experiences that help students succeed at all levels. A list of courses I have taught and a sample syllabus for each can be found below.
Sample syllabus (Fall 2024)
Sample syllabus (Winter 2025)
Sample syllabus (Winter 2024)
Sample syllabus
Sample syllabus
Sample syllabus
Outreach & Leadership
My outreach and leadership activities focus on creating more inclusive pathways into computer science. Through these initiatives, I contribute to programs that support students from historically marginalized backgrounds in pursuing higher education and careers in computing.
Research
My research focuses on logic-based approaches to artificial intelligence, ontology design, and their applications in diverse domains. More recently, I have become interested in neuro-symbolic AI, which combines the strengths of symbolic reasoning with machine learning. I enjoy collaborating across academia and industry, including projects in health, engineering, and data science.
My publications appear in leading venues. Selected publications are listed below; a full list can be found on my Google Scholar profile.
- Aameri, B., Poveda-Villalon, M., Sanfilippo, E. M., Terkaj, W. (2024). Special Issue on Semantic Web for Industrial Engineering. Semantic Web Journal.
- Aameri, B., Gruninger, M. (2023). Reducible Theories and Amalgamations of Models. ACM TOCL.
- Aameri, B., Gruninger, M. (2020). Location Ontologies based on Mereotopological Pluralism. Applied Ontology.
- Aameri, B., Gruninger, M. (2019). A Representation Theorem for Change through Composition of Activities. ACM TOCL.
- Aameri, B., Cheong, H., Beck, J. Ch. (2019) Towards an Ontology for Generative Design of Mechanical Assemblies, Applied Ontology.
- Gruninger, M., Aameri, B., Chui, C., Hahmann, T., Ru, Y. (2018) Foundational Ontologies for Units of Measure, Conference on Formal Ontology in Information Systems (FOIS 2018). (Distinguished Paper Award)
Student Supervision
I regularly supervise undergraduate students on research and implementation projects. These projects have spanned topics in Knowledge Representation & Reasoning, Machine Learning, and Data Science, with applications in health, engineering, and the natural sciences. A full list of students and projects I have supervised can be found in my CV.
Service
- Guest Editor: Special Issue on Semantic Web for Industrial Engineering, Semantic Web Journal (2022-24).
- Program Committee:
- Workshop on Foundational Ontology (FOUST), 2021 to 2024.
- Formal Ontologies Meet Industry (FOMI), 2021 to present.
- Linked Data in Architecture and Construction (LDAC), 2022.
- Journal Reviewer: Applied Ontology, 2018 to 2025.
- Conference Reviewer: Principles of Knowledge Representation & Reason. (KR 2016) Logic in Computer Science (LICS 2018).
Personal
I used to be an Assisstant Coach at Richmond Hill Soccer Club for U14 teams. During my spare time, I enjoy coordinating and playing in a Co-Ed soccer team, building 3D wooden puzzles, read, and playing the piano.