Date/Time
Date(s) - 14/11/2024
1:30 pm - 2:20 pm

Title: Toward the Cybernetic Design of Molecules and Materials Using Self-driving Laboratories

Date: Thursday November 14, 2024

Time: 1:30-2:20pm

Location: Zoom

Host: Dr. Rodrigo Vargas Hernandez

Abstract: Advanced materials are foundational to nearly every facet of modern life, underpinning transformative innovations across sectors like energy storage, water filtration, medicine, and transportation. However, the design and development of such materials remain labor-intensive and costly, often requiring 10-20 years from initial research to market-ready technologies. Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) represent a paradigm shift, integrating machine learning (ML), automated laboratory systems, and high-performance computing to enable autonomous, data-driven scientific discovery. SDL platforms offer the potential to accelerate the development of new materials by orders of magnitude in both speed and cost. In this talk, I will share insights from my PhD research on developing ML-driven optimization algorithms and orchestration software tailored for SDL experiment planning, highlighting key challenges that must be addressed to fully harness SDLs for rapid materials innovation. I will also introduce Intrepid Labs, a seed-stage pharma/biotech company I co-founded, where we are pioneering the commercialization of self-driving laboratories in the preclinical drug formulation domain.

Biography: Dr. Riley Hickman is a Co-Founder and Director of Research and Development at Intrepid Labs, where he spearheads innovative projects at the intersection of pharmaceutical science, machine learning, and robotics. Riley earned his PhD from the University of Toronto, studying under Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik.

Prior to founding Intrepid, Riley’s research primarily centered on the development of autonomous research platforms. These platforms accelerate the discovery and design of advanced materials and functional molecules, addressing critical societal needs. His work in this area leverages multidisciplinary ideas from computer science, robotics, chemistry and biology to create impactful solutions.

The mission of Intrepid Labs is to fast-track the development of therapeutics with improved properties and performance. Intrepid seeks to revolutionize the design of next-generation drug products by synergizing machine learning, robotics, and decades of pharmaceutical expertise.