Kurgan, a professor in the VCU College of Engineering, is a data scientist whose development of bioinformatics AI tools helps researchers pursue treatments for cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease.
The National Academy of Artificial Intelligence recently inductedLukasz Kurgan, Ph.D., the Dean Robert J. Mattauch Chair of the Department of Computer Science in the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering, as a member for his contributions to AI research, education and innovation. Kurgan’s work in bioinformatics has led him to develop cutting-edge AI tools used by fellow researchers worldwide.
“It feels surreal to be listed among so many pioneers and distinguished AI scholars and developers,” Kurgan said. “This recognition belongs to me just as much as to my current and former students, collaborators and colleagues who worked with me, supported me and guided me throughout my career. Moments like this energize me to keep pushing to raise the bar even higher.”
Kurgan is a data scientist who specializes in developing and applying AI-powered tools for analyzing protein structure, intrinsic disorder and function. The tools developed by his research lab help thousands of structural biologists, biophysicists, bioinformaticians and biochemists model biological systems to understand molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes and to develop treatments for conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease. The National Science Foundation recently renewed funding for Kurgan’s research on intrinsically disordered proteins.
As an NAAI member, Kurgan plans to build connections that support his interdisciplinary research.
“I plan to use my NAAI membership to network with the broader AI community, beyond my collaborators and colleagues in the bioinformatics area, and to popularize the tools and inventions that we developed and continue to develop in the Department of Computer Science at the VCU College of Engineering,” Kurgan said.
This story was originally published on the College of Engineering website.
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