Elizabeth Reilly

Dr. Elizabeth Reilly is a senior researcher in artificial intelligence (AI) at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). She leads applied research projects and teams at the intersection of AI and climate change, leveraging her applied math background, especially in graph theory, to tackle these challenges. Projects include modeling global greenhouse gas emissions from various economic sectors and assessing vulnerabilities of an increasingly renewable energy grid. Dr. Reilly has also worked on system of systems modeling to predict and prevent cascading failures that might arise from shocks, particularly with regard to food systems.

Dr. Reilly serves as a technical and managerial leader on a team of more than 60 AI engineers, mathematicians, scientists and analysts in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. She recognizes the potential impact that AI and data science have in various scientific disciplines, from climate to materials to brain research. As such, her research interests span several multi-disciplinary areas, from addressing challenges associated with climate change, to learning about the neuron connectivity in the brain to develop better AI.

Dr. Reilly earned a doctorate in mathematics/applied math from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and masters and bachelors degrees from the University of South Carolina, and Wake Forest University, respectively.

APL is a not-for-profit division of JHU that meets critical national challenges through the innovative application of science and technology. Its scientists, engineers, and analysts serve as trusted advisors and technical experts to the US Government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard our nation’s security and advance the frontiers of space. APL maintains independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address current and future national priorities.