Why did CMU create a masters program in Automated Science?

The increasing availability of automated scientific instruments, the growing awareness that the complexity of fields such as chemistry or biology are increasingly beyond the ability of humans to understand, and the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence all set the stage for a new era in scientific research that is centered on “self-driving instruments.”  As a leader in artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary science, we recognize the importance of these developments and are uniquely positioned to train a new generation of students who will help build this future.  We anticipate that those students will either use the skills developed in the program to directly take jobs in industry or research laboratories, or will further develop them through Ph.D. studies.