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Ben Blaiszik

Globus Labs - AI for Science - Materials Data Facility

Professional Background

Ben Blaiszik is a highly accomplished scientific researcher with over 12 years of dedicated experience in leveraging advanced technologies and methodologies to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in materials science. He has a profound expertise in high-performance computing and big data techniques that have propelled innovations in the field and facilitated the effective design and development of materials. Ben has led cross-disciplinary teams in various projects, showcasing his adeptness in project management and collaborative research efforts.

A significant aspect of Ben's career has been his role as Project Lead at the Materials Data Facility (MDF) and the Data and Learning Hub for Science (DL Hub). Through these initiatives, he has worked to enhance scientific data accessibility and promoted an enriching environment for innovation in materials science. His ability to integrate data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology exemplifies his commitment to advancing scientific inquiry and industrial applications.

Education and Achievements

Ben's educational background is rooted in a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, which he obtained during his Bachelor of Science at Elmhurst College. He continued to expand his knowledge with further studies at St. Bede Academy, and then at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received both his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. He also enhanced his learning experience at the prestigious University of Chicago, an institution known for its rigorous academic environment.

Throughout his extensive career, Ben has excelled not only in research but also in intellectual property development, culminating in the issuance of five patents. His scholarly contributions are evidenced by over 20 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters that serve as valuable resources in the field of materials science. His groundbreaking research has garnered attention from notable media outlets, including the BBC, Wall Street Journal, Popular Science, Business Week, and The Economist, underlining his stature as a thought leader in his area of expertise.

Achievements

Ben is an innovator at heart. He specializes in deep learning for scientific applications and data science solutions tailored for scientific research. His work with self-healing materials and entrepreneurial ventures reflects his passion for technology and startup ecosystems. He co-founded Inscites Research, where he served as President and Founder, further demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and ability to foster new ventures in research and development.

His previous roles include serving as a Research Scientist at Globus - Computation Institute at The University of Chicago and Co-Principal Investigator on the Lab-Wide Research Analytics Platform. His postdoctoral appointments at prestigious institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory and the Beckman Institute further solidified his expertise and commitment to advancing materials science through collaboration, innovative research, and data-driven decision-making. In addition to his role as a Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ben's varied experiences equip him with unique insights into both academic and applied sciences.

Those who work with Ben regard him highly for his professionalism, collaborative spirit, and scientific ingenuity. Within his networks, he is not just a contributor; he is an inspiring leader who motivates others to advance in science and entrepreneurship, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to any initiative he undertakes.

Highlights

Sep 13 · linkedin

Google just announced NotebookLM, a new way to chat with and create audio summaries of your sources. It's amazing, you should try it!

👨‍🍳🤖 To communicate the latest in AI for materials and chemistry research to a broader audience, I cooked up an #AI podcast in about an hour. Check out these 4 examples.

🔹 "From Reactors to Radiotherapy: AI's New Role in Understanding Radiation in Materials" - a promising route to improved radiation shielding and radiation therapy.

📝https://lnkd.in/gzV34r6U André Schleife Logan Ward Ian Foster

🔹"Error Bars and Eureka Moments: ML's Materials Breakthrough". Predicting material properties with confidence, and sharing reusable #ML models to discover new perovskite oxide catalysts.

📝https://lnkd.in/gyMQmtWa  Dane Morgan, Ryan Jacobs et al.

🔹"Decoding Nature's Secrets: LLMs as the Ultimate Lab Assistant" - A reflection on a hackathon event where teams built #LLM applications to help with many aspects of materials and chemistry research, education, automation, and more.

https://lnkd.in/gNnBiZ-J

🔹"Beyond Band-Aids: How Materials are Learning to Heal". Using microcapsule and vasculature to imbue polymers with the ability to self-repair.

📝https://lnkd.in/giPfgQ63 Blaiszik, Nancy Sottos, S. White et al.

https://lnkd.in/gfvHvd73

What were the strengths?

  • Wow, pdf to voice podcast is amazing, and fun 🤩
  • Analogies, even for complex scientific topics are on point
  • Distillation of complex papers into an understandable discussion accessible to non-experts.
  • Currently free
  • Voice and banter quality

What are the limitations?

  • There are places the content seemed to drag/repeat
  • Very minor audio glitches
  • Little control over the prompting, ordering, and topics covered.
  • Voices are not your own or editable
  • Sometimes seemed to miss multiple sources
  • No transcript output

What did this all require? 

  1. Set up a quick AI podcast "Bytes to Breakthroughs: The Data-Driven Future of Science" on Spotify. 
  2. Add data sources to individual NotebookLM notebooks. Add enough context (e.g., the paper and some other light sources). Generate the audio
  3. Create podcast teasers, titles, and with @anthropicAI Claude 
  4. Add AI art to each podcast via Midjourney
  5. Publish the podcast (with a disclaimer of course)

I would estimate ~20 min of effort per podcast.

Full AI podcast series is available here: https://lnkd.in/gqCCfGCc

Try NotebookLM: https://lnkd.in/gmbAUynQ

Aug 19 · linkedin

Calling all scientific researchers: Let's revolutionize how we connect and collaborate! 🚀

One thing I have learned this year is how much I love building community and meeting new people. Online communities hold tremendous opportunity to accelerate research and discovery across domains. In just the last year, through such networks, I've: 📝 Co-authored groundbreaking papers 🤝 Met new friends 💡 Launched funded startups solving real-world problems 🎓 Organized events impacting thousands of researchers

Now, it's your turn! 🗓️ Mark your calendars: In September, I'm hosting events designed to foster unique collaborations in the scientific community, and connect people across the world. More details soon 😎

Ready to expand your research network?

  • Connect with me to stay up to date on the upcoming events,
  • Like and share this post, but most importantly... 🔹🔹 Comment below with your current research focus

Let's push the boundaries of scientific collaboration together! Who knows where your next breakthrough connection might come from? 🌟 #ScientificNetworking

Related Questions

How did Ben Blaiszik leverage high-performance computing in his research initiatives?
What are some notable projects Ben Blaiszik has led at the Materials Data Facility?
Can Ben Blaiszik share insights on the significance of his work in self-healing materials?
How has Ben Blaiszik's education shaped his research career in materials science?
What inspired Ben Blaiszik to co-found Inscites Research and what impact has it had on the scientific community?
Ben Blaiszik
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Location

Downers Grove, Illinois, United States