Carlos Soto

Carlos Xavier Soto is an AI and robotics researcher in the AI Department (AID). He leads the AI Theory and Security (ATS) research group, as well as an AI Robotics lab called SEAL (the Scientific Embodied Agents Lab). He works on novel and applied AI/ML techniques with impacts in diverse scientific and security problems, as well as robotics and Embodied AI developments that accelerate scientific workflows and experimental operations. His work with a wide variety of collaborators has addressed challenging research problems in plant genomics, nuclear data pipelines, structural biology, drug discovery, medical isotope production, radiation detection, beamline operations, nuclear security, and more. He has also worked extensively on policy and strategy initiatives, such as inter-laboratory data management, autonomous laboratories, and thoughtful deployments of generative and agentic AI. Carlos earned his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, where he studied computer engineering and conducted research in robotics and human-robot interaction for search and rescue. He is active in mentorship, outreach, and engagement activities with various communities and stakeholders, and takes pride in effective communication of complex ideas.  Prior to 2016, his name was Jesus Suarez. Outside of work, Carlos is passionate about nature, film, technology, and shared  knowledge.