Christopher Collison
Professor
Christopher Collison
Professor
Education
BS, Ph.D., Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
Bio
My research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence, particularly large language models and autonomous agents, to challenges in chemistry and chemistry education. My most recent project delves into using voxel-based representations within fine-tuned convolutional neural networks. This approach aims to accurately predict the free energy of solvation, a critical factor dependent on the 3D conformations of molecules. This work is instrumental in advancing drug development, particularly in predicting ligand-protein docking, a key process in pharmaceutical research.
My foundational training as a physical and materials chemist, with specialized expertise in photoactive materials, has provided me with a deep understanding of molecular behavior and interactions. In the last decade I concentrated on organic photovoltaics, where I explored the impact of small molecule packing and the role of aggregation in charge transport and photoinduced charge generation at donor-acceptor interfaces. Additionally, my work with photoactive self-healing polymers further reinforced my ability to analyze and manipulate complex materials.
This extensive background in chemistry and materials science now informs and enhances my application of AI-driven methodologies, allowing for more sophisticated models and predictions in molecular chemistry and materials research.