Dr. Po-Yen Chen
 

Dr. Po-Yen Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also affiliated with the Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) and the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM). Dr. Chen received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU) and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Following his doctoral studies, he was awarded the Hibbitt Early Career Fellowship and served as an independent research fellow at Brown University for two years. Prior to joining UMD, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for 2.5 years.

His research focuses on integrating machine learning (ML)-enabled predictive and generative modeling with robotics-automated experimentation and simulation tools to accelerate the discovery and optimization of high-performance and sustainable materials. By leveraging ML-driven predictions, he addresses longstanding challenges in multi-component formulation and multi-property optimization in materials science – eliminating the need for trial-and-error experimentation and surpassing the limitations of traditional one-factor-at-a-time approaches.

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This robotics- and ML-integrated workflow accelerates the innovation and optimization of functional materials with programmable properties. It addresses critical challenges such as plastic pollution, resource depletion, and the need for high-performance, sustainable materials. These AI/ML-discovered functional materials have broad potential in applications ranging from soft electronics and conductive aerogels to smart soft robotics and next-generation sustainable technologies. Additionally, his research leverages model interpretation techniques and simulation tools to efficiently uncover complex composition–structure–functionality relationships, enabling the rational design of materials with precisely tailored properties.