Daphne Koller

Daphne Koller's career integrates technology and education, a synthesis she began as a professor in the computer science department at Stanford University. She co-founded Coursera, an online learning platform, and later, Engageli, a startup aiming to enhance the digital classroom experience. These ventures have garnered her recognition from Fast Company as one of the Most Creative People in Business, and from Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI for 2024. In 2016, she transitioned to Calico, before founding Insitro, a drug discovery startup that harnesses machine learning and genomics.

Koller's commitment to her field extends beyond academia and entrepreneurship. She has contributed to the understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning through her research, including the book "Probabilistic Graphical Models: Principles and Techniques," which she co-authored with Nir Friedman. She also contributed a chapter to the 2018 book "Architects of Intelligence: The Truth About AI from the People Building it" by Martin Ford. Koller's work and influence have been recognized by Newsweek, Time, Forbes, and The New York Times.

Awards and fellowships have underscored the impact of Koller's work. She received the MacArthur Fellowship in 2004 and the ACM Prize in Computing in 2003. She was also honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Koller is a Fellow of several esteemed organizations, including the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the International Society for Computational Biology, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2023 and is a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering.