Faces of Research - Meet David Sherrill

Meet David Sherrill, associate director of Georgia Tech's Institute for Data Engineering Science (IDEaS). 

IDEaS is one of Georgia Tech's 10 interdisciplinary research institutes within the Georgia Tech research enterprise.

What is your field of expertise and why did you choose it? 

I work at the intersection of chemistry, algorithms, and data science.  I loved chemistry in high school and college, but I turned out to be a klutz in the lab.  Fortunately, I discovered graduate programs in theoretical and computational chemistry. 

What makes Georgia Tech research institutes unique?                 

Georgia Tech has deep expertise in many fields, but often the most relevant investigators for an interdisciplinary problem are spread across multiple units.  The Georgia Tech research institutes help connect these researchers. 

What impact is your research having on the world?  

Computer hardware and algorithms keep getting faster, and machine learning provides a whole new set of tools for modeling scientific data.  I am excited to lead a group that creates new algorithms and software that leverage these advances and apply them to chemical problems like drug discovery and crystal engineering. 

What do you like to do in your spare time when you are not working on your research or teaching?  
I frequently take hikes around Atlanta on Saturdays. I also enjoy movies and strategy games.