We are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Nat Trask, our newest faculty member, to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. With a background steeped in a decade of impactful work at Sandia National Laboratories, Trask’s focus at Penn revolves around the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence and autonomous scientific discovery.
His primary objective is the seamless integration of contemporary machine learning principles into conventional physics-based models, fostering a symbiotic relationship between tradition and innovation. As Trask transitions into the academic sphere, he plans to offer a course on data-driven modeling, underscoring the fusion of machine learning methodologies with established finite element models.
In a fun twist, Trask shared that if he could time travel, he’d love to witness the engineering marvels of the late 1800s. Specifically, he expressed an interest in observing Joseph Fourier’s groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for modern mathematics, particularly in relation to heat transfer and engineering.