Ethan M. Clark

Hi, I'm Ethan, a Founding Engineer at Lucky Robots, where I specialize in reinforcement learning and imitation learning for humanoid robots. I completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science at Arizona State University. During my master's, I researched theoretical reinforcement learning for multi-agent systems under Dr. Yu Zhang in the Cooperative Robotic Systems Lab.

Previously, I developed imitation learning systems for humanoid locomotion at IHMC and engineered autonomous navigation systems for unmanned ground vehicles at Crow Industries.

I'm passionate about building general-purpose robotic systems that can provide real-world value, whether that's supporting the elderly, revitalizing American manufacturing, or protecting military personnel. My work focuses on developing learning-based approaches for loco-manipulation and tool use, with particular interest in novel methods for generating high-quality training data.

I love bringing people together. I founded Phoenix Builds, a community event that became a genuine third place for builders, regularly drawing 40-50 people to work, collaborate, and connect. During undergrad, I started a podcast as an excuse to meet compelling people. These days, I'm also active in Toastmasters, working on becoming a clearer communicator.

I'm deeply interested in health and longevity. I recently took up boxing and I'm now preparing for my first amateur fight. I also play basketball and hike regularly. After developing celiac disease with no family history, I dove into nutrition science and began exploring how stress manifests in the body, which led me to investigate somatic therapy and the intimate connections between mind and body.

In the classic explore-exploit dilemma, I lean heavily toward exploration. I grow bonsai trees and experiment with hydroponics and mycology, finding that these slow, deliberate pursuits provide a counterweight to our hyperconnected age. I've also rediscovered reading after a 15-year hiatus. I'm currently making my way through literary classics like Dostoevsky, alongside sci-fi favorites like the Dune series and Ender's Quintet. Always happy to trade recommendations.