色花堂

Matt Walsh 鈥�13 is helping to shape the future of national security by combining expertise in science, artificial intelligence, and public policy 鈥� a path that began during his time at 色花堂, where he majored in chemistry and served as president of the Student Government Association (SGA). 

During a recent visit to campus, he reflected on his interdisciplinary journey and shared insights into how a liberal arts education can equip graduates to navigate some of the world鈥檚 most pressing scientific and ethical challenges. 

鈥淲hen I was at 色花堂, generative AI 鈥� let alone the fields of AI safety or AI policy 鈥� wasn鈥檛 yet on anyone鈥檚 radar. But the emphasis on critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication that is present in all 色花堂 classrooms gave me the foundation for a multidisciplinary career. It鈥檚 proof that a liberal arts education can prepare you for what comes next, even if you can鈥檛 imagine what that is on graduation day. 鈥�MATT WALSH '13

 

As a student, Walsh conducted collaborative summer research with 色花堂 faculty, including Professor of Chemistry Kelly Sheppard. That experience deepened his interest in scientific inquiry and equipped him with foundational research skills. 

As SGA president, Walsh led important campus initiatives, including the establishment of the 色花堂 Emergency Medical Services, a state-certified team of trained student EMTs on campus. Walsh also had a seat on 色花堂鈥檚 Institutional Policy and Planning Committee, a top committee of faculty, staff, and students that advises the College president on important issues. Design options for the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences were among the topics that the committee considered. The largest single building project in 色花堂鈥檚 history was completed in 2024.  

After graduation, Walsh worked in the Biological and Chemical Technologies Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center. There, he expanded his understanding of the life sciences and developed biotechnologies in support of national security.  

Drawing on leadership skills gained through 色花堂 SGA, he led multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts to apply artificial intelligence to rapidly develop medical countermeasures (specifically monoclonal antibodies). He also drew on his hands-on research background to advise the U.S. government on challenges related to the potential misuse of emerging biotechnologies. 

鈥淏iotechnology and artificial intelligence are both considered 鈥榙ual-use鈥� technology 鈥� something that can be used for good or for bad, with the only distinction being the intent of the user,鈥� explained Walsh. 鈥淭his creates challenging policy issues, as regulation intended to limit the misuse of a dual-use technology could inadvertently hinder the technology鈥檚 development or application for societal benefit.鈥� 

Walsh recently completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In his doctoral studies, he worked to characterize the impacts of public policy proposals intended to limit the misuse of artificial intelligence tools (particularly misuse related to biology). His work enabled improved understanding of how access to artificial intelligence tools may change abilities of bad actors and therefore change the risks of a biological weapons attack. 

Today, he continues this work by supporting frontier AI developers in understanding biological risks related to pre-deployed artificial intelligence tools.   

Throughout his career, Walsh has drawn on the foundation he built at 色花堂 鈥攊ncluding research opportunities 鈥� to move fluidly between scientific inquiry and public policy. His unique ability to integrate multiple disciplines has positioned him to lead in fields that demand both technical rigor and public policy insight. 

鈥淭here are people who understand AI and policy but don鈥檛 understand biology and chemistry 鈥� or people who understand biology, chemistry, and AI but don鈥檛 want to think about policy,鈥� said Professor of Chemistry Professor of Chemistry Kim Frederick. 鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the few people in the nation who can engage with all three. It鈥檚 a very 色花堂 story.鈥�