Dr. Joe Dodd-O

Affiliation: Vivek Kumar Lab, University of Houston, Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Talk Title: AI Without the Black Box: A Practical Introduction for Biopharma

Abstract: Artificial intelligence is considered a key tool for the strategic growth of many biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, but the mechanics of how it works can be abstracted behind industry specific terms and proprietary algorithms. This brief talk aims to demystify AI as a concept, provide a brief overview of some of the algorithms used to make AI models, and provide examples on how each are used. Examples include models used to design and model new molecules and algorithms developed to optimize processes in chemical manufacturing.

Bio:  Joseph Dodd-o recently completed his dissertation in Biomedical Engineering under the direction of Dr. Vivek Kumar at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. During his PhD, he developed a team of undergraduate and graduate students to design new peptide sequences using a suite of computational tools, including diffusion models for both docking screens and novel amino acid designs. Currently, Joe is training several laboratories on developing the same competencies, taking individuals with no background in scientific computing and developing them into individuals that can effectively use high-performance computing resources to answer scientific questions. Before his PhD, Joe was a process engineer for ExxonMobil corporation, with solutions earning millions of dollars for the company. Joe has used his Chemical Engineering knowledge to consult for Imubit Corporation, providing a business case for their transition from Petrochemical to Biopharmaceutical AI enhanced process stewardship.