Max Shad

About

Max Shad is the Senior Director of AI/ML Research Engineering at the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University. In this role, he leads the computational program of the Kempner Institute, ensuring the provision of advanced Research Computing (RC) tools/services and expert Research Software Engineering (RSE) support. He works to leverage High-Performance Computing (HPC), particularly in Machine Learning (ML) and AI research, to facilitate pioneering discoveries in AI, ML, and computational biology. In addition, his role at the Kempner Institute involves strategic planning for AI HPC cluster compute/storage hardware and networking, collaborating closely with teams at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research Computing (FASRC) at Harvard and the Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC).

Prior to his current position, Max served as the Director of Engineering and Associate Director for Research Software Engineering at Harvard, where he led the establishment of Harvard’s first RSE team. His work has significantly advanced RSE, focusing on designing, building, and maintaining research software and data services in various domains (neuroscience, life sciences, medical sciences, engineering, computer science, applied math, astrophysics, business, public health, and design). With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (focusing on computational science and HPC) and a graduate certificate in Data Science and ML from Harvard, his research interests include AI/ML, complex fluids, HPC, and innovative big data analytics. As an active member in the RSE and HPC communities, Max has chaired several conferences and initiated the New England RSE regional group, advocating for idea exchange and collaboration among local RSE groups. Max is a member of the Research Computing and Data (RCD) Council at Harvard University.