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Making Sense of Agentic AI:
A Strategic Briefing for Materials & Chemistry R&D Leaders
Live webinar held on September 17, 2025
Overview
Agentic AI is rapidly reshaping scientific research—and it’s set to redefine how materials and chemistry R&D teams discover, develop, and scale new innovations. But for many leaders, it’s also one of the most misunderstood technologies.
Between the hype, technical jargon, and constantly-growing landscape of tools, it’s challenging to know what really matters: What is agentic AI and how does it differ from other AI? How can agentic AI be used in materials and chemistry R&D? What are the key considerations for getting started with agentic AI systems in enterprise research?
In this strategic briefing, Enthought’s scientific computing solution experts will demystify agentic AI—what it is, why it matters, and how to think strategically about adoption, impact, and long-term value in materials and chemistry R&D.
Key Learning Objectives:
- How to cut through the noise and understand the anatomy of agentic AI in a way that’s relevant to R&D
- How to recognize where agentic AI can have a meaningful impact in materials and chemistry R&D, from discovery to development to scale-up
- How to ask the right questions and have an informed working framework to guide internal discussions and decisions
- How to take your next step with clarity, whether you're experimenting, scaling, or shaping a broader AI strategy
This Webinar is For:
This webinar is for anyone with a role in AI, materials informatics, or data initiatives, including:
- R&D Managers
- R&D Directors
- R&D Executives
- R&D Technology/Innovation Officers
- Senior materials scientists and chemists
Speakers:

Michael Connell, EdD
Chief Operating Officer, Enthought Inc.
Connell holds a M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, and a doctorate in Education from Harvard University. He is a learning scientist with a background in robotics, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and education. He is passionate about using data science to solve practical problems, from data mining to predictive modeling to adaptive learning design. Prior to joining Enthought, he was a software design engineer at Microsoft and also served as a teacher at Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and The University of Texas. Connell has served in numerous key roles at Enthought including vice president of organizational change and digital transformation, before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2023.

Michael Heiber, PhD
Director, Professional Services & Customer Success, Materials Informatics, Enthought Inc.
Michael holds a Ph.D. in polymer science from The University of Akron and a B.S. in materials science and engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with expertise in polymers for optoelectronic applications. Michael leads Enthought’s Materials Informatics technical team and supports customers in large-scale MI initiatives. Prior to joining Enthought, he worked as a postdoc, where he developed improved physical models for organic electronic devices that connect the complex materials microstructure to semiconductor device physics. This research was enabled by custom open source software tools for physics-based device simulations, automated experimental measurements, and advanced data analysis.
Enthought helps companies all over the world solve complex data challenges unique to enterprise scientific R&D by leveraging advanced technologies that accelerate innovation and transform the business. We bring an unparalleled blend of expertise and experience in advanced AI/ML techniques, scientific research and data, and business strategy. Enthought is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA with additional offices in Tokyo, Japan; Cambridge, United Kingdom; and Zürich, Switzerland.