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Chairman/CEO
Gianni Martire is the Co-Founder and CEO of Applied Physics. He started his career in finance at Merrill Lynch before moving into tech. He sold his Y Combinator-backed startup and has been an Angel investor, fostering the growth of companies like Flexport, Rippling, Cover, Ginkgo Bioworks, Mindbloom, and Zenefits. In 2019, Gianni shifted his focus to physics, aiming to leverage scientific advancements for societal benefit. He co-authored the groundbreaking 2021 paper “Introducing Physical Warp Drives” with Dr. Alexey Bobrick, introducing the first physical warp drive model, establishing Warp Field Mechanics as a serious field of study. With several other breakthrough works and patents, Gianni has positioned Applied Physics at the forefront of cutting-edge research.
Chief Science Officer
Alexey Bobrick is an astrophysicist and theoretical physicist who, with Gianni Martire, developed the pioneering framework for physical warp drives, founding the field of Warp Field Mechanics. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Lund University and earned a silver medal in the International Physics Olympiad. Alexey excels in creating physical models for complex systems and was the founding scientist of the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at Applied Physics. He has authored over 20 publications and two books, establishing himself as a leading figure in applied physics and contributing to our understanding of the universe.
Chief Science Advisor
Avi Loeb, PhD, Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard, began his academic career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He contributed early on to the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative and worked at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study. Since 1993, Loeb has led groundbreaking research in astrophysics at Harvard, focusing on black holes, the early universe, and extraterrestrial life. He has authored more than 1,000 research papers and eight books, noted for his discovery of the “Einstein Planet” Kepler-76b and significant contributions to astrophysics. Loeb is a member of several prestigious academies, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has been recognized with the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award. Currently, he directs The Galileo Project at Harvard, spearheading research on extraterrestrial life. He is also a best-selling author with works like “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth” and “Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars,” exploring the implications of alien life and our cosmic future.
Director of Research
Edward Rietman holds a Ph.D. in physics and multiple degrees in physics, chemistry, materials science, bioinformatics, and philosophy. He spent 18 years at Bell Labs, contributing to solid-state electrolytes, high-Tc superconductivity, neuromorphic hardware, and computer-integrated manufacturing. Ed continues to excel in his research, working at esteemed institutions such as the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he is affiliated with the BINDS Lab. He is the author of six books, over 200 research papers, and holds more than 30 patents. His work spans molecular systems biology of human diseases, hyper-computational systems, and quantum phenomena.
Director of Applied Engineering
Matthew Ellis is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from Florida State University. After six years as an infantryman, he transitioned to academia and worked at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. He then joined Lockheed Martin Space and later SpaceX, where he supported the development of reliability and quality programs for the Falcon 9 and Starship launch and recovery systems. Matt brings engineering and project management expertise to Applied Physics, ensuring our patents meet the highest scientific standards.
Lead Scientist
Shaun Fell earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Astrophysics from Universität Heidelberg in Germany, where he specialized in detecting and constraining vector dark matter models through gravitational wave measurements. His research also included significant contributions to numerical relativity, such as the development of advanced computational toolkits to support his studies. During his M.Sc. at ETH Zürich, Shaun co-authored “Positive Energy Warp Drive from Hidden Geometric Structures” with Professor Lavinia Heisenberg. This seminal paper proposed a warp drive configuration adhering to positive energy constraints, eliminating the need for exotic negative energy sources. This work significantly advanced the feasibility of warp travel within the framework of general relativity, building upon the foundational concepts introduced in 2021 by Applied Physics. With numerous publications across diverse scientific disciplines, Shaun demonstrates an exceptional ability to explore and connect complex areas of physics and technology.
Lead Scientist
Luke Sellers is a Ph.D. student in physics at UCLA, specializing in theoretical astroparticle physics and cosmology. He graduated with high honors from UCSB and deferred his enrollment at UCLA to help found the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL) at Applied Physics. Luke focuses on theoretical and computational research in astrophysics, particle physics, and gravitational physics, significantly advancing our understanding of the universe’s most extreme systems. He currently leads the study on “Searching for Intelligent Life in Gravitational Wave Signals,” developing new mathematical models for gravitational ranging. Luke is also an excellent teacher and communicator, having been nominated for several teaching awards at both UCSB and UCLA.
Lead Scientist
Brandon Melcher earned his Ph.D. in theoretical cosmology from Syracuse University, focusing on the production of dark matter and its cosmological implications. During his graduate studies, he co-founded the Graduate Science Policy group, bridging the gap between science and public policy. After a post-doctoral stint at Northeastern University, Brandon joined Applied Physics to further his research on warp drives. He also serves as an Ethics Observer, ensuring all research and patents meet the highest ethical standards as Applied Physics continues to announce new discoveries.
Senior Scientist
Christopher Helmerich earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where his research focused on measuring gamma rays from thunderstorms. During his internships at NASA, Jacobs, and ExoAnalytic Solutions, he gained extensive experience in software testing and verification, developing Python tools to automate analysis and anomaly detection for flight software tests. He also refined and implemented image-based machine-learning algorithms for satellite classification in Java and Python. Passionate about the intersection of engineering, physics, and software, Christopher is currently focused on developing Warp Factory, a numerical toolkit for warp research, at the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at Applied Physics.
Senior Scientist
Jared Fuchs earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, specializing in high-energy instrumentation and astrophysics. He brings extensive experience in project management, simulation development, and systems engineering from his work on numerous SmallSat projects. As the program manager for the Alabama CubeSat Initiative, Jared helped form the initiative and led several flight proposals and educational programs with universities across Alabama. At the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at Applied Physics, his current focus is on developing Warp Factory, a numerical toolkit for warp research.
Machine Learning Specialist
Michael Andrews, Ph.D., pioneered the use of end-to-end AI and deep learning at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. During his Ph.D. in Physics at Carnegie Mellon University, he worked closely with the teams that discovered the Higgs boson. To understand the properties of the Higgs boson and its potential decay into dark matter, he developed advanced AI systems, setting new standards in the field. He was a trailblazer in applying AI directly to “raw” detector data, a technique known as end-to-end deep learning, which led to numerous breakthroughs in sensitivity and analysis at CERN. For his contributions, he received the 2021 CMS Thesis Award from CERN and the 2021 Guy C. Berry Graduate Research Award from Carnegie Mellon University.
Ethics Officer
Christine Mikolajuk directs the ethics board at Applied Physics, ensuring its pioneering science contributes positively to society. An expert in financial services, business ethics, and regulation, she is currently the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for the London management team at BNY Mellon. Christine began her career at the Boston Consulting Group, followed by roles at State Street Bank and Trust, and in business intelligence and private equity research. Her publications cover topics such as CEO agency and responsibility, and she is an active advocate for US immigration reform. Christine graduated with honors from Harvard College, holds a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford, and has recently embraced motherhood.
Visualization Specialist
Jerry Tessendorf, Ph.D., is a distinguished figure in Physics and Visual Computing. His career highlights include winning an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for his groundbreaking fluid modeling and simulation work in the film industry. The Tessendorf Wave, a key innovation, has been integral to water simulations in major movies like “Titanic” and “Life of Pi.” Dr. Tessendorf’s journey spans impactful roles at Areté Associates, Texas A&M University, Cinesite Digital Studios, Rhythm and Hues, and Clemson University, showcasing his diverse expertise. As a Faculty Fellow at the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, he continues to advance knowledge in physics, computer graphics, and fluid simulation, driving progress in education, visual effects, and remote sensing. Leading the ‘Holodeck’ project at Applied Physics, Dr. Tessendorf is at the forefront of developing technology that greatly surpasses IMAX standards. He also modeled the world’s first warp bubble using the seminal mathematics found in “Introducing Physical Warp Drives,” solidifying his reputation as an innovator and leader in cutting-edge technologies.
Electromagnetics & Nanotechnology Specialist
David Wirth is a U.S. Air Force veteran who earned his Ph.D. in nano-scale engineering of materials at UCSD. He also holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA. David is a U.S. registered Patent Agent and an inventor listed on various interdisciplinary patents and a cited scientific author in solid rocketry, additive manufacturing, and materials engineering. In 2018, he was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in manufacturing. Before his doctoral studies, David served as a commissioned officer at the Air Force Research Lab and founded the successful venture-backed startup, Fabric8Labs. He is the co-founder of Arcflash Labs, where he leads the development of novel high-energy pulsed power supplies for defense and aerospace applications. With a proven track record of success in ambitious R&D projects across various fields, David’s work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets.
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