Leo McKee-Reid
Computer Science & Math
San Francisco
About
The AGI arms race poses an existential risk to humanity, and AI safety research is not keeping up.
I’m currently building and exploring in the space of agentic automation to scale AI safety research.
I previously worked on automating scientific discovery with ML and interp, LLM deception evals research, AIS field building, computational neuroscience, and engineering for orbital rockets.
Experience
Founder – AI Safety Startup
(Aug 2025 – Current)
Applied ML Researcher – Leap Labs
(Oct 2024 – July 2025)
– Lead the scientific application of an automated ML and AI interpretability engine — automating scientific discovery in any domain.
– leap-labs.com
AI Safety Researcher (Evals) – LASR Labs
(July 2024 – Sept 2024)
– Researcher and lead team member on a project evaluating the capability of frontier LLMs to develop deceptive strategies through in-context reinforcement learning.
– Supervised by Mikita Balesni.
– lasrlabs.org
AI Safety Researcher – AI Safety Camp
(Jan 2024 – April 2024)
– Working on 2 AI Safety Camp projects: “Out-of-context learning interpretability” and “How promising is automating alignment research?”.
– Acting as team coordinator in addition to researcher.
– aisafety.camp
President – UVic AI
(July 2022 – Dec 2023)
– AI student club/community at the University of Victoria that works on ML projects, organizes events and competitions, hosts an AI safety reading group, and runs frequent technical ML workshops.
– Hosted over 20 technical ML workshops and events, with a range of 20 to 150 attendees.
– CUCAI Conference Paper
– uvicai.ca
– Photo gallery (more on our website)
Deep Learning Intern – Tremblay Lab, Division of Medical Science, University of Victoria
(Sep 2021 – Sept 2022)
– Trained deep learning networks to identify and segment features in electron microscopy images, then stitch together many layers of images into 3D geometry for topological analysis.
– In collaboration with the Biophotonics Core at the Salk Institute.
– neuroimmuneplasticity.ca
AI Safety Researcher – AI Safety Camp
(Jan 2022 – Jun 2022)
– Explored technical solutions to problems surrounding AI deception and human dogmatism within training datasets
– aisafety.camp
Computational Neuroscience Intern – Salk Institute for Biological Studies
(Sep 2019 – May 2020)
– Research and scientific programming in Python, C, and C++
– Collaboration on the latest version of the neurobiological simulation software (MCell) at the Computational Neurobiology Lab
– Research contribution for a public lecture series on science, technology, and ethics
– salk.edu
– Photo gallery
Editor and Author – Martlet Newspaper
(Sep 2018 – Aug 2019)
– Copy editing, interviewing, and writing for an independent newspaper based on UVic campus
Production Design Engineer – Rocket Lab
(Feb 2017 – Feb 2018)
– Composite department design engineer for a private orbital rocket company
– Design, procurement, and construction management of jigs, fixtures, molds, and large shop structures
– Project coordination to increase build repeatability and time and cost efficiency
– rocketlabusa.com
– Photo gallery
Composite Builder – Rocket Lab
(Jan 2017 – Feb 2017)
– Manufacturing of composite flight components and molds
– Research and development activities
Aircraft Design Intern – Nebula UAS
(Jul 2016 – Dec 2016)
– CAD modelling of complex UAVs
– Design and assembly of a vertical take-off and landing UAV prototype
– Procurement and supplier communications
Dynamometer Project Lead – Center for Aerospace Research
(Apr 2016 – Aug 2016)
– Led a team of 4 students in the design and manufacturing of a custom dynamometer for testing thrust, torque, speed, and power efficiencies of drone propellers, motors, and other flight electronics
– Mechanical and electrical systems design
– uvic-cfar.com
– Photo gallery
Aerostructure Lead – UVic Rocketry
(May 2016 – Jan 2017)
– University rocket team, launched to 11,000 ft in international competition, placing 3rd
– Responsible for all composite and most structural components (carbon tubes, nosecone, fins, internal structures, etc.)
– onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/rocketry
– Photo gallery
Mechanical Engineer Intern – LineSpect
(Jul 2015 – Sep 2015)
– Built composite multicopter airframes for the purpose of autonomous transmission towers inspection
– Designed and machined MDF molds using a CNC
– Calibrated and tested flight electronics (ESC, accelerometer, GPS, transmitter, compass)
– Photo gallery
Languages and Software
Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, C, C++, Java, MATLAB.
Blender, CellBlender, SolidWorks.
Education
Computer Science and Math BSc – University of Victoria
(Sep 2018 – Dec 2023)
– Strategic Framework Experiential Learning Award
– Internship Distinction
Mechanical Engineering Technology – Camosun College
(Sep 2014 – Dec 2016)
– Dean’s Honor Roll in Science/Engineering (top 15% GPA)
Online Courses
– Machine Learning – Coursera
– Synapses, Neurons and Brains – Coursera
– Learn Advanced C++ Programming – Udemy
– C++ Tutorial for Complete Beginners – Udemy
– Learning How to Learn – Coursera
Leo McKee-Reid 