Prof. Ali Hassanali on Curiosity, AI in Science, Perseverance & Career Advice for Young Scientists

Decoding Phase Transitions - the DPT Podcast || Ep.10 Guest: Prof. Ali Hassanali In this episode of the DPT Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ali Hassanali, Senior Research Scientist in the Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics (CMSP) section at ICTP Trieste, Italy and faculty member at the Statistical and Biological Physics (SBP) section at SISSA, Italy. Ali’s story spans continents — from his childhood in Africa, to studying mathematics and computer science at Purdue University, USA to earning a PhD in Physical Chemistry at The Ohio State University, followed by postdoctoral training with the renowned Prof. Michele Parrinello at ETH Zürich and the University of Lugano, Switzerland. In this conversation, we discuss: ✨ Why water still mystifies science ✨ How to build a strong academic network ✨ Winning major grants (ERC, Horizon 2020) ✨ Why he never had a Plan B ✨ The future of AI in scientific research ✨ His advice for young researchers and more. This episode is a deep dive into how one builds a meaningful scientific life — through exploration, humility, and the courage to keep following the questions that matter most. 🎙️ About The Guest: Dr. Ali Hassanali is a Senior Research Scientist in the Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics (CMSP) section at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, and a faculty member in the Statistical and Biological Physics (SBP) section at SISSA. His academic path began with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mathematics from Purdue University, followed by a PhD in Physical Chemistry from The Ohio State University, where his fascination with water and molecular systems took shape. He later worked as a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Michele Parrinello at ETH Zürich and the University of Lugano, developing expertise in computational chemistry, quantum effects, and hydrogen bonding. Ali’s research explores the fundamental mysteries of water, proton transfer, and quantum effects in biological systems Major Awards & Grants ERC Consolidator Grant Horizon 2020 Award (Artificial Photosynthesis) ERC Proof of Concept Grant for CUSHOP Using AI to design eco-friendly, skin-safe UV-absorbing molecules for next-gen sunscreens website: https://www.ictp.it/member/ali-hassanali#biography Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qSyBReYAAAAJ&hl=en 🔗 Resources & Links: ICTP, Trieste, Italy: https://www.ictp.it Perdue University, USA: https://www.purdue.edu Ohio State university, USA: https://www.osu.edu Sherwin Singer: https://chemistry.osu.edu/people/singer.2 Michele Parrinello: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Parrinello Sandro Scandolo: https://www.ictp.it/member/sandro-scandolo#biography Erio Tosatti: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erio_Tosatti ✨ If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe. Follow the DPT Podcast for more stories that explore the intersections of science, identity, and purpose — and the human stories behind academic journeys. 📌 **Chapters are below, but I recommend watching/listening the full journey for the complete context. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:42 – Why water still needs research 10:05 – Childhood in Africa 17:33 – Schooling, mentors & early influences 19:14 – Role of parents in shaping curiosity 22:26 – Moving from Africa to the US: challenges 25:17 – How 9/11 affected his experience 27:47 – Advice for young (African) students 36:24 – Studying Math & Computer Science at Purdue University 41:05 – Feeling like a “small fish in a big pond” 44:38 – Falling in love with pure mathematics 48:50 – Turning toward other sciences 53:12 – Why he never had a Plan B 55:18 – Choosing the right grad school for a PhD 57:49 – The PhD interview process 59:05 – Inside the PhD journey 01:05:33 – Biggest challenge during his PhD 01:08:30 – His PhD research question 01:10:44 – Strategy for postdoctoral search 01:19:27 – His postdoctoral research 01:26:47 – How to build a strong academic network 01:31:30 – Securing a permanent academic position 01:41:26 – His vision for African science 01:44:32 – Secrets to securing research funding 01:56:17 – His vision for AI in scientific research 01:59:35 – Fun facts about him 02:03:41 – His biggest challenge & advice to his younger self 02:08:24 – Final thoughts The DPT Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, and Amazon Music. 👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas (Host): YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd #DPTPodcast #ScientificCareers #AcademicJourney #PhDJourney #AIInResearch #WaterScience #ComputationalChemistry #AfricanScience #CuriosityOverFear #SciencePodcast #STEMStories #ResearchInnovation #MachineLearningForScience #GlobalScience #ResilienceInScience