Kevin G. Yager

Kevin G. Yager serves as the Interim Director for the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy scientific user facility supporting over 700 researchers annually from universities, industry, and national laboratories worldwide. He also leads the AI-Accelerated Nanoscience group where he pioneers the integration of artificial intelligence with materials science research.

• Institution: Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Center: Center for Functional Nanomaterials
• Group: AI-Accelerated Nanoscience
• Position: Interim Director & Group Leader

Dr. Yager earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from McGill University in 2006 following a B.Sc. in Chemistry with a minor in Computer Science. After postdoctoral research at NIST, he joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2010, becoming Group Leader of the Electronic Nanomaterials Group in 2016. His academic journey uniquely combines chemistry, physics, and computer science, providing the foundation for his interdisciplinary research approach.

Dr. Yager's research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and materials science. He is currently developing AI agents for scientific discovery, conceptualized as a "science exocortex"—an AI expansion to a researcher's cognition and volition. His longstanding interests include non-equilibrium self-assembly of block copolymers, where he has demonstrated techniques to induce these materials to form nanostructures beyond equilibrium configurations. He has made significant contributions to x-ray scattering techniques, particularly in leveraging machine learning for autonomous scientific experiments and data analysis.

His publication record shows a clear progression toward increasingly sophisticated AI applications in materials science. The most recent articles demonstrate how AI is being integrated throughout the scientific process, from autonomous experimentation systems to domain-specific knowledge management tools. His work spans computer science, materials science, and physics, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to accelerating scientific discovery.

• Major Research Themes:
• AI/ML for Scientific Discovery
• Autonomous Experimentation Systems
• Non-equilibrium Self-Assembly Processes
• Block Copolymer Nanomaterials Engineering
• Advanced X-ray Scattering Techniques
• Science Workflow Automation

Dr. Yager manages the CFN x-ray scattering user program and collaborates extensively with the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) on synchrotron beamline research. His leadership of a major DOE user facility positions him at the forefront of national efforts to integrate artificial intelligence with traditional scientific methodologies, potentially transforming how scientific discovery is conducted across multiple disciplines.