Arec develops AI systems for subsurface modeling and decision-making, helping translate advances in machine learning into practical tools for sustainable energy and natural resource development. Previously, he worked on financial systems at BlackRock AI Labs, with earlier experience in autonomous driving and aerospace systems. Arec completed his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University, with a minor in Computer Science, as a member of the Stanford Intelligent Systems Lab (SISL), where his research combined probabilistic machine learning, optimization, and control to enable automated decision-making in high-stakes domains like autonomous vehicles and energy systems. Outside of work, he likes to camp, ski, and spend time outdoors.