Biography:
Zachary W. Ulissi joined Meta’s Fundamental AI Research lab in 2023 to work on AI for chemistry and climate applications and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is particularly excited about how AI and machine learning methods can enhance various quantum chemistry simulations, leading to improved materials and catalysts. In 2024, Ulissi serves as an adjunct professor of chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Prior to 2023, he was an assistant and then associate professor at CMU, and in 2023, he was on leave from his position. He joined CMU in 2017 after earning his PhD at MIT and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. His PhD research at MIT, conducted under the supervision of Michael Strano and Richard Braatz, focused on applying systems engineering methods to understanding selective nanoscale carbon nanotube devices and sensors. At Stanford, he worked with Jens Nørskov, using machine learning techniques to simplify complex catalyst reaction networks, particularly for the electrochemical reduction of N₂ and CO₂ to fuels. At CMU, he continued these efforts, employing machine learning and predictive methods to model, understand, and design nanoscale interfaces to guide detailed molecular simulations. Outside of his professional work, Ulissi enjoys outdoor activities and was previously a competitive cyclist, though he now primarily takes bike trips for leisure. He also has a passion for cooking and traveling. He lives with his toddler, Enzo, and a large, friendly dog named Laika. (Source)
