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  • Dec
    11

    CS Seminar: Bridging Computation and Matter: Programming Intelligence into Physical Systems (Danli Luo)

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    10:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    Thursday / CS Seminar
    December 11 / 10:00 AM
    In Person / Mudd 3514

    Speaker
    Danli Luo, University of Washington

    Title: Bridging Computation and Matter: Programming Intelligence into Physical Systems

    Abstract:
    Scientific discovery faces an asymmetry: machine learning models can predict thousands of novel materials in seconds, simulations can systematically explore vast design spaces, yet physical validation requires months of manual experimentation. While software is programmable and rapidly iterable, physical experimentation remains fragmented across specialized, infrastructure-heavy labs and tacit expertise. This gap raises a central question: how can physical experimentation match the programmability of software? My research addresses this by bridging computation and matter through programmable materials, fabrication systems, and laboratory infrastructure that introduce software-like adaptability into materials, biological processes, and experimental workflows. I pursue this vision through three interconnected research thrusts: materials that encode intelligent behaviors without electronics; fabrication platforms that harness biological growth as a controllable manufacturing process; and modular automation systems that transform experiments into self-optimizing workflows. In this talk, I will present systems ranging from self-burying seed carriers to mycelium-based bio-fabrication platforms to modular lab automation frameworks that learn from execution and optimize protocols in real time, illustrating a pathway toward democratizing experimental access, accelerating materials discovery, and bridging the programmability gap between software and physical reality.

    Bio: Danli Luo is a PhD candidate in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, with an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research reimagines scientific instrumentation by embedding programmability and physical intelligence directly into materials, biological processes, and experimental workflows. Drawing from human-computer interaction, robotics, and bio-inspired design, she develops materially intelligent instruments, adaptive fabrication platforms, and autonomous laboratory systems used by restoration ecologists, materials scientists, synthetic biologists, chefs, and educators. Her work has been published in Nature, Science Advances, RSC Advances, CHI, and UIST, featured on the cover of Nature, exhibited at the London Design Biennale, and licensed by Fortune 500 companies. Danli’s honors include MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35, Heidelberg Laureate Forum Young Researcher, and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention.

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    TIME Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Dec
    15

    MS in Information Technology (MSIT) Online Information Session

    MS in Information Technology (MSIT) Program

    12:00 PM

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Monday, December 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

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    CONTACT Svetlana Korzeniowski    msit@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR MS in Information Technology (MSIT) Program

  • Jan
    5

    CS Seminar: Ari Holtzman

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, January 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Jan
    12

    CS Seminar: Rana Hanocka

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, January 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Jan
    14

    CS Seminar: Heng Ji

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Jan
    28

    Public Lecture Series

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    4:00 PM

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Jan
    29

    Bagel Thursday

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    9:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Feb
    2

    CS Seminar

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, February 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Feb
    25

    CS Seminar

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Feb
    26

    Bagel Thursday

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    9:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)