Hi, I'm Alex, an engineer

Currently scaling AI-assisted paintings restoration.

Contact me

Partners and angels

We are currently raising and have room for a few more folks.

Upcoming invited talks

  • EDI Global Forum, Naples, Italy: March 18-20, 2026
  • AIC Annual Meeting, Montréal, Canada: April 28-May 2, 2026
  • Digital Innovations in Cultural Heritage Preservation, Paris, France: June 15-16, 2025
  • Gordon Research Conference, Les Diablerets, Switzerland: July 12-17, 2026
  • CRAC, Barcelona, Spain: 19-20 November 2026

My oeuvre

I have made fundamental contributions to semiconductor fabrication, diagnostic devices, art restoration, space propulsion, and other fields.

Some of my research was published. Some of my efforts made headlines:

Art restoration

Ethically masking human-perceivable lacunae with AI-assisted digital inpainting and sub-100 micron laminate membranes.

Free-access Nature article

Simple English: Restoring paintings with stickers.

Semiconductors

Next-gen electron projection lithography with 3d-printed, carbon nanotube-coated convex field emission sources.

Simple English: Making computers by shooting electrons from tiny needles.

Diagnostics

GeneTiger: a point-of-care nucleic acid testing device based on loop-mediated amplification.

Simple English: Less annoying medical tests.

Space Propulsion

Ion thruster neutralization via printed ink circuit traces.

Simple English: Plumbing for satellite engines.

Ionization

Zinc oxide nanowire-based electrospray for homogenous ionization of targets in mass spectrometry.

Simple English: Turning blood into tiny droplets and throwing them near a magnet.

Degrees

MIT

Master's in Mechanical Engineering (June 2023)

PhD in Mechanical Engineering (drop out 2025)

UT Austin

Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering (June 2021)

Bachelor's of Arts in Economics (June 2021)

Note: You will find my last named spelled as either Kashkin and Kachkine. The latter, un-pronounceable legal spelling is due to the French, and I apologize on their behalf.