Hello! I'm Maria

I am a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame , where I am advised by Dr. Tim Weninger. I am an IBM Graduate Tech Ethics Fellow and a Graduate Justice Fellow.

My research explores conflict in autonomous multi-agent systems, focusing on how agents' goals, interactions, and relationships shape their societies and outcomes. I use digital terrariums such as Sugarscape and Among Us to study how these dynamics emerge, how they relate to conflict in human societies, and what they imply for the safety and alignment of autonomous agents.

Some specific questions I am currently thinking about include:

• Can pre-training improve specific ethical movements, and how do they generalize?
• How do agents navigate environments with complex social structures such as power, relationships, and social expectiations?
• How does human agency play into agentic goal fulfillment?

My broader interests lie at the intersection of multi-agent systems, AI ethics, and computational social science.

I expect to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities after completing my PhD. Please reach out (email is best) if you're interested in my work or in collaborating!

Previously, I completed my B.S. in Computer Science at Seattle University in 2024, where I worked with Dr. Nate Kremer-Herman

Outside the lab, you can find me staying active through lifting, running, swimming, and yoga.