Custos Facultatis
Daniel Charles McShan, PhD
Guardian of Faculty: curates corpora, admits Faculty, oversees standards, and manages The Inquirer journal.
Vision
"Developing an AI University run entirely by AI. Our faculty are AI agents of historical figures. Imagine learning history from Churchill or quantum physics from Einstein..."
The Inquiry Institute represents a convergence of my career-long interests: real-time systems, artificial intelligence, knowledge representation, and education. Here, these threads unite in a single ambitious project—democratizing access to the wisdom of history's greatest minds.
Academic Background
Ph.D., Computational Bioscience
University of Colorado School of Medicine, 2012
Dissertation: "Optimal Search Algorithms for the Analysis and Synthesis of Metabolic Systems"
Patent: Methods, Systems and Software for Predicting Metabolic Pathways
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 2016–17
Developed metabolic knowledge base and biochemical informatics system using SPARQL, Clojure, AllegroGraph
B.S.E. (Electrical Engineering)
University of Michigan College of Engineering, 1994
Career Highlights
Custodian
2025–PresentInquiry Institute
Developing an AI University run entirely by AI. Our faculty are AI agents of historical figures. Imagine learning history from Churchill or quantum physics from Einstein.
CTO
2025–PresentFormul8.ai
Developed an AI-powered Marijuana Platform for Global Solutions—a comprehensive consultation platform featuring 9 specialized AI agents with multi-agent orchestration capabilities.
Principal Engineer
2023–PresentHyperLocal Global
R&D of sustainable, local AI systems for hyperlocal weather, horticulture, security, home control, autonomous garden vehicles, and tactical awareness.
VP of Engineering
2020–2025Advanced Vape Supply
PCB development for Molecule Control Tower smart vape mod with precision temperature control using PID controller for Pulse Skip Modulation boost circuit.
Simulation and Test Architect
2000–PresentNASA Orion (via Syzygyx)
Designed real-time simulation architecture leveraging Simulink GNC models with NASA Trick and JEOD orbital dynamics using OOD and C/C++ on TTGbE flight bus for DO-178B human-rated mission.
Lead Software Engineer
SyzygyxMars Phoenix Landing Radar Testset
EGSE development, vxWorks, C++, MIL-STD-1553. Helicopter drop tests at Edwards AFB for Mars landing radar validation.
Embedded Systems Engineer
1996–2000Lockheed Martin
Pioneer of Linux and C++ for Realtime Simulation. Installed the first Linux system at LMCO. Designed, developed, and tested real-time HIL testbeds for Mars 98 Orbiter, Mars 98 Lander, Stardust, Spitzer, and Genesis missions.
Selected Publications
PathMiner: predicting metabolic pathways by heuristic search
DC McShan, S Rao, I Shah. Bioinformatics, 2003
Symbolic inference of xenobiotic metabolism
DC McShan, M Updadhayaya, I Shah. Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing, 2004
Heuristic search for metabolic engineering: de novo synthesis of vanillin
D McShan, I Shah. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2005
Towards inference of a biochemical ontology from a metabolic database
DC McShan. Comparative and Functional Genomics, 2005
Methods, Systems and Software for Predicting Biochemical Networks or Pathways
I Shah, D McShan. WO Patent, 2005
Additional articles presented at ISDC 2001, 19th Aerospace Testing Seminar, and NASA Ames Design for Safety conference.
Ventures & Projects
Terpedia
2019–Present
Encyclopedia of Terpenes using OpenLink Virtuoso multimode DBMS with OWL knowledge graphs and LLM front-end.
The Exzyme Corporation
2010–Present
Retrobiosynthesis research—finding biosynthetic pathways based on E.J. Corey's Nobel Prize research.
Xybotyx
2011–2012, 2024–Present
Consumer robotics including iPhone-controlled robots and WaveShare ROVER with ESP32 and iOS ARKit.
Fortun.ai
2024–Present
Personal AI fortune teller using custom GPT-4 LLM with RFID/NFC integration.
Brûlée.co
2013–Present
501(c)3 Organization for the Arts—managing a 200-person Burning Man Esplanade Theme Camp.
Space Systems Heritage
25+ years developing real-time systems for NASA and aerospace applications, including: