Clay Williams

I consider myself to be both a scientist and a technologist. In this brief introduction, I’ll describe what those two terms mean to me, and give some background on where I’ve worked and the variety of topics on which I’ve worked.

As a scientist, I’ve sought to explore and understand the behavior of computational and physical systems. I have a PhD in computer science, where my research focused on using computation to both model (via numerical simulation) and explain (via AI) the behavior of the immune system in different scenarios. This required that I develop expertise in both the biological and computer sciences, as well as fairly deep skills in physics and mathematics. The common foundation that underlies these different branches of science is complexity, with a focus on the study of complex adaptive systems.  These are systems in which a large number of independent agents interact and adapt, giving rise to interesting emergent behaviors.  Examples include the global economy, the immune system, social networks, and insect communities.  

As a technologist, I’ve sought to apply my expertise in computation and computer science to solve real-world problems and benefit people. I currently work at Greenphire, leading teams that create software that makes it easier for people to participate in clinical trials. Before joining Greenphire, I founded and served as CEO of a digital health company, Medaptive Health, whose technology was purchased by Greenphire in 2021. Prior to starting Medaptive Health, I was a Research Staff Member at the IBM Watson Research Center where I worked on a wide variety of topics, including software validation, computer-supported collaborative software development, simulation-based project management, and the impact of social, mobile, and analytics on business.