Prof Ryan Urbanowicz
Assistant Professor of Computational Biomedicine
Position: Assistant Professor of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Specialization: Human-Interpretable Machine Learning, Automated Machine Learning, Data Mining, Scalable Informatics
Affiliation: Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Biography
Dr. Ryan Urbanowicz is an Assistant Professor of Computational Biomedicine at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center as well as Associate Executive Director of the National AI-Campus Program and Director of Cedars AI-Campus Training Program. His lab's research focuses on the development and biomedical application of human-interpretable machine learning methods, automation through artificial intelligence, data mining that adheres to best practices, and scalable informatics methodologies that avoid analytical assumptions.
Key Research Areas
- Human-interpretable machine learning methods
- Automated machine learning (AutoML)
- Data mining best practices
- Scalable informatics methodologies
- Biomedical applications of machine learning
- Software development for machine learning tools
Research Focus
Professor Urbanowicz's research focuses on developing machine learning methods that are both powerful and human-interpretable. His work emphasizes the importance of creating algorithms that can be understood and trusted by domain experts, particularly in biomedical applications where interpretability is crucial for clinical adoption.
His approach to automation through artificial intelligence aims to streamline complex analytical processes while maintaining transparency and avoiding hidden analytical assumptions that could compromise results.
Software Development
His research group has developed a variety of software packages including:
- Novel machine learning algorithms
- Automated machine learning tools
- Data simulators
These tools are designed to make advanced machine learning techniques more accessible to researchers and practitioners while maintaining rigor and reproducibility.
Leadership Roles
- Assistant Professor of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Associate Executive Director, National AI-Campus Program
- Director, Cedars AI-Campus Training Program
Educational Contributions
Professor Urbanowicz is an invested educator, with a variety of educational videos and lectures available on his YouTube channel (The URBS-Lab). This commitment to education extends beyond traditional academic settings, making complex machine learning concepts accessible to a broader audience.
His leadership in the Cedars AI-Campus Training Program demonstrates his dedication to developing the next generation of AI researchers and practitioners in biomedical applications.
Methodological Approach
A distinguishing feature of Professor Urbanowicz's work is his emphasis on methodologies that avoid analytical assumptions. This approach ensures that findings are robust and not artifacts of predefined analytical constraints, leading to more reliable and generalizable results in biomedical research.