Mark Bedaywi
Computer Science Specialist with focuses in Artificial Intelligence and Theory of Computing
Mathematics Major
Victoria College
Mark Bedaywi knew he always wanted to be a computer scientist, inspired by many of his role models.
“Growing up, reading and watching biographies of scientists that romanticized their work, especially The Imitation Game, played a large role in my decision to pursue computer science research,” explains Bedaywi. “But it was really the culmination of many small events before entering U of T, starting with having had great math teachers early on and ending with competing in math contests and joining the coding club at my high school.”
Focusing his studies on artificial intelligence and the theory of computing, Bedaywi developed research interests in creating systems with privacy, robustness, fairness and safety guarantees. His research potential was recognized by the Computing Research Association which named him a finalist in the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Awards.
“The theory of computing and its emphasis on creative, mathematical problem-solving attracted me from the very beginning. I discovered AI was interesting after taking a few courses at U of T and through my research. I realized that such problems felt important and that I enjoyed thinking about them. The abundance of fundamental unsolved problems in both will certainly keep me interested for a lifetime.”
Outside of the classroom, he was president of the Computer Science Undergraduate Theory Society (now the Undergraduate Computer Science Colloquium), hosting biweekly undergraduate talks and helping math and computer science students connect over shared interests.
“My time at U of T was fantastic,” says Bedaywi. “I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with incredibly smart and interesting people — both professors and students. And, of course, I’ve learned a whole bunch. An undergraduate degree is not without its challenges, but U of T is one of the best places for an undergraduate wanting to build a career in science.”
Interested in the subfield of AI safety, Bedaywi is headed to the University of California, Berkeley to pursue a PhD in computer science, with plans to focus his dissertation and career on “identifying and solving harms our systems can cause.”
As he sets his sights on the next chapter of his education, his advice to incoming undergraduates is to connect with their professors.
“Especially those coming in with the goal of going to graduate school, do not be afraid to meet with your professors and potentially ask them to supervise your research project,” encourages Bedaywi. “This is even more true when you are in your first or second year. When you are deciding whether to enrol in a course, remember that the ability to connect with its professor may be more important than the course content itself.”