Saturday Keynote Speaker: Carla Agurto Rios

Carla Agurto Rios

BIO

Carla Agurto, Ph.D. is an accomplished research scientist specializing in multimodal machine learning and the integration of large language models. With over 15 years of experience, her research focuses on biomarker discovery and the development of scalable machine learning systems that synthesize data from speech, language, imaging, sensors, and time-series analysis.

Dr. Agurto has advanced computational methods to identify digital biomarkers and predictive signals for complex conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, ALS, substance use disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes. Simultaneously, she has spearheaded the creation of machine learning pipelines and cloud-based microservices, effectively translating advanced modeling into reusable and deployable AI infrastructure.

Dr. Agurto holds several patents and has published extensively, demonstrating her commitment to practical and inclusive advancements in computing systems to serve diverse populations.

Talk: Decoding Human Nature: Multimodal AI for Health and the Science of Persistence

This talk explores how multimodal AI can quantify complex and often invisible aspects of human health, including chronic pain, addiction risk, and early motor decline. Through three research case studies, I demonstrate how wearable data, speech analysis, and interpretable deep learning models can serve as digital biomarkers with real clinical impact. Parallel to these technical advancements, I share my personal trajectory from electrical engineering to AI in healthcare. Beyond the algorithms, I discuss the human variables of career growth: proactivity, navigating uncertainty, and the persistence required to thrive in a shifting landscape. Ultimately, this session highlights that while we build systems to understand human health, it is our own persistence that sustains us through uncertainty.