[3] Metaxas was educated at the University of Toronto where he was awarded a PhD degree in 1992 under the supervision of Demetri Terzopoulos as part of the Dynamic Graphics Project.

In computer vision, his work pioneered the simultaneous segmentation and fitting of complex objects, statistical model-based tracking, shape representation, learning, sparsity, ASL as well as gesture recognition.

In the area of biomedical applications, Metaxas has developed new methods for material modeling and shape estimation of internal body parts (such as the lungs) using data from MRI, SPAMM and CT scan.

In computer graphics, Metaxas introduced the Navier-Stokes methodology for Fluids, based on which the water scenes in the movie Antz were created in 1998.

For this work, his student Nick Foster won a Technical Achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1999.