CASUS Institute Seminar
Quantum-inspired AI strategies for molecular innovation
CASUS Institute Seminar, Dr. Leonardo Medrano Sandonas, Postdoctoral Researcher, Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology
Abstract of the talk// The growing demand for sustainable solutions to societal challenges has driven significant research efforts to integrate machine learning (ML) techniques into computational physics and chemistry. As ML becomes more prevalent in interdisciplinary research, the amount of comprehensive quantum-mechanical (QM) property data generated in recent years to train reliable predictive models has significantly increased. Recently, Leonardo and colleagues introduced high-fidelity electronic-structure data for both small and large drug-like molecules in equilibrium and non-equilibrium states. These datasets have been instrumental in advancing QM-based ML interatomic potentials (e.g., SO3LR model) and improving semi-empirical methods (e.g., EquiDTB model, thereby enabling accurate and efficient (bio)molecular simulations. In particular, recent efforts have focused on parameterizing transferable ML interatomic potentials with QM accuracy to explore the complex conformational space of RNA systems. Beyond these advances, the availability of QM structural and property data has also been key to developing novel molecular representations that enhance the accuracy and interpretability of ML models for predicting biological properties such as toxicity and lipophilicity of large drug-like molecules. In his talk, Leonardo will discuss recent developments in these areas.
CV// Leonardo is currently a research associate at the Technische Universität Dresden. He was born in Lima (Peru) and obtained his degrees (Bachelor and Master) in Physics at the National University of San Marcos in his home country. He completed his doctorate at TU Dresden in 2018 as a scholarship holder of the International Max Planck Research School and the DAAD. From 2019 to 2024, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg, where he developed quantum-based computational methods to study the dynamics of (bio)molecular systems and explore chemical property spaces. Particularly important are his contributions to the computational study of non-evolutionary biological molecules using machine learning techniques. In addition to his theoretical work, he is actively involved in multidisciplinary projects with partners from academia and industry to address current challenges in physics, chemistry and materials design. He was recently recognized by RSC Digital Discovery as an Emerging Investigator in the field of machine learning and by the committee of the UNESCO IYQ 2025 as member of the prestigious group QUANTUM 100.
Leonardo Sandonas will be talking live in Görlitz. However, as the event is organized in a hybrid format that includes a videoconferencing tool by Zoom Inc., people not present in Görlitz and interested in the topic have the chance to also join the talk. Please ask for the login details via contact@casus.science.
CASUS – Center for Advanced Systems Understanding, Conrad-Schiedt-Str. 20, D-02826 Görlitz, Deutschland
11 February 2026, 2 pm