David Watkins

David Watkins is a seasoned professional in the field of computer science and robotics, currently serving as Research Lead at RAI Institute since December 2022, focusing on foundation model research and large-scale training infrastructure. Prior experience includes roles as Research Fellow at U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, where contributions were made in drone and robotic navigation, and as Staff Software Engineer at RightHand Robotics, Inc. David co-founded Odefi Inc., a startup aimed at enhancing liquidity for the MakerDAO network. Academic credentials include a PhD in Computer Science from Columbia University, coupled with extensive experience as a research assistant and teaching assistant in various computer science courses. Previous summer analyst positions at Goldman Sachs further complement David's diverse skill set in technology and research.