Maikel Leon | Artificial Intelligence | Research Excellence Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maikel Leon | Artificial Intelligence | Research Excellence Award

University of Miami, United States

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maikel Leon is an accomplished academic and AI specialist with a Ph.D. in Computer Science focused on artificial intelligence applied to transportation from Hasselt University, Belgium, and summa cum laude degrees from the Central University of Las Villas, Cuba. Since 2015, he has been a faculty member at the Department of Business Technology, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, teaching and coordinating a wide range of courses in business analytics, programming, machine learning, databases, and artificial intelligence for business. His academic career spans institutions in the United States and Cuba, reflecting strong international teaching and research experience. Dr. Leon is an active reviewer and program committee member for leading journals and conferences, including IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems and FLAIRS. He has received prestigious honors such as the Best Paper Award at the IEEE ICTAI Conference and the Cuban National Academy of Sciences Award for outstanding research. Beyond academia, he is a frequent media commentator on AI, a certified professional in generative AI and cloud technologies, and a leader in innovative teaching, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration initiatives.

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Shengchao Liu | Computer Science | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Shengchao Liu | Computer Science | Research Excellence Award

The Chinese University | Hong Kong

Shengchao Liu is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, whose research lies at the intersection of machine learning, geometry, and scientific discovery. His work focuses on developing foundation models and physics-inspired learning frameworks for molecules, proteins, and materials, with the long-term goal of accelerating discovery in chemistry, biology, and materials science. By integrating multi-modal data, symmetry principles, and domain knowledge, his research bridges theoretical advances in AI with real-world experimental impact. A central theme of Dr. Liu’s research is geometric and symmetry-informed representation learning. He has pioneered group-equivariant and manifold-constrained generative models that respect the underlying physical laws of molecular and material systems. His contributions include SE(3)-invariant pretraining methods, group-symmetric stochastic differential equation models, and rigid flow matching techniques, which have significantly improved the fidelity and interpretability of molecular generation and dynamics modeling. These methods form a unifying framework for learning across molecules, proteins, and crystalline materials, as demonstrated in his influential works at ICLR, ICML, NeurIPS, and AISTATS. Dr. Liu’s work is deeply collaborative and interdisciplinary. He has worked closely with leading researchers across academia and industry, including Mila, UC Berkeley, NVIDIA Research, and national laboratories. As a Principal Investigator, he has led NERSC-supported projects on foundation models for material discovery, leveraging large-scale GPU resources to push the frontier of generative AI for science. His research has also contributed widely used open-source resources, including geometric graph learning benchmarks and toolkits adopted by the broader AI-for-science community.

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Featured Publications


Pre-training Molecular Graph Representation with 3D Geometry

– International Conference on Learning Representations , 2021 | Cited by 574


N-Gram Graph: Simple Unsupervised Representation for Graphs, with Applications to Molecules

– Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 2019 | Cited by 295


A text-guided protein design framework

– Nature Machine Intelligence, 2025 | Cited by 225

 

Kun He | Computer Science | Research Excellence Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Kun He | Computer Science | Research Excellence Award 

Renmin University | China

Dr. Kun He is an accomplished computer scientist and currently serves as an Associate Professor at Renmin University of China (since January 2023). His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in theoretical computer science, backed by extensive research experience across leading Chinese institutions. Before joining Renmin University, he worked at the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), first as an Assistant Researcher (2021–2022) and later as an Associate Researcher (2022). He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Shenzhen University between 2019 and 2021. Dr. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from ICT, CAS in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Xiaoming Sun. He also holds a Master’s degree from ICT, CAS and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Wuhan University. His research centers on the theory of computing, with particular emphasis on probabilistic methods, sampling algorithms, quantum computing, combinatorial structures, and theoretical machine learning. His work has significantly advanced algorithmic techniques related to the Lovász Local Lemma (LLL), Holant problems, and random constraint satisfaction. Over the years, Dr. He has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing the impact and quality of his research. These include the New Hundred Stars of ICT (2021), the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award of the China Computer Federation (2020), the Special Award for the President of CAS (2019), and the National Scholarship of China (2018). These honors highlight his early and sustained contributions to theoretical computer science. Dr. He has published extensively in top-tier venues such as SODA, STOC, FOCS, ITCS, and Random Structures & Algorithms. His notable works include breakthroughs on the Moser–Tardos algorithm, deterministic counting versions of the Lovász Local Lemma, sampling solutions to random CNF formulas, and quantum extensions of classical combinatorial frameworks. Several of his papers have been widely cited and recognized, including a top-downloaded publication in Random Structures & Algorithms (2020). Recently, his research continues to push theoretical boundaries, with upcoming papers on the phase transition of the Sinkhorn–Knopp algorithm and efficient approximation schemes for Holant problems. Dr. He also actively works on emerging topics involving perfect sampling and permutation constraints within the Lopsided LLL regime, with multiple manuscripts currently under submission. With strong expertise, a prolific publication record, and multiple high-impact contributions, Dr. Kun He stands as a leading figure in modern theoretical computer science.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

He, K., Li, L., Liu, X., Wang, Y., & Xia, M. (2025). Variable version Lovász Local Lemma: A tale of two boundaries. Information and Computation, 105386.

He, K. (2025). Phase transition of the Sinkhorn-Knopp algorithm. arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.09711.

He, K., Li, Z., Qiu, G., & Zhang, C. (2025). FPTAS for Holant problems with log-concave signatures. In Proceedings of the 2025 Annual ACM–SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA).

He, K., Qiu, G., & Sun, X. (2024). Sampling permutations satisfying constraints within the lopsided local lemma regime. arXiv preprint arXiv:2411.02750.

He, K., Qiu, G., & Sun, X. (2024). Sampling permutations satisfying constraints within and beyond the local lemma regime. arXiv e-prints, arXiv:2411.02750.

He, K., Li, Q., & Sun, X. (2023). Moser-Tardos algorithm: Beyond Shearer’s bound. In Proceedings of the 2023 Annual ACM–SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA).

He, K., Wang, C., & Yin, Y. (2023). Deterministic counting Lovász Local Lemma beyond linear programming. In Proceedings of the 2023 Annual ACM–SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA).

He, K., Wu, K., & Yang, K. (2023). Improved bounds for sampling solutions of random CNF formulas. In Proceedings of the 2023 Annual ACM–SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA).

He, K., Wang, C., & Yin, Y. (2022). Sampling Lovász Local Lemma for general constraint satisfaction solutions in near-linear time. In 2022 IEEE 63rd Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (FOCS).

Dr. David Hua | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. David Hua | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Ball State University, United States.

Dr. David M. Hua is an Associate Professor at the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, Ball State University. With a rich academic background and over two decades of teaching, Dr. Hua has become a pivotal figure in the intersection of technology education, cybersecurity, and higher education. He is recognized for mentoring student-led innovation and his contribution to emerging tech curricula including offensive security, private cloud infrastructure, and sustainability in IT.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Hua earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education in 2010 from Ball State University, where he also completed an MBA in Information Systems (2000) and a B.S. in Psychological Science (1991). This diverse academic foundation reflects his commitment to both technical expertise and educational leadership.

💼 Experience

Since July 20, 1998, Dr. Hua has served at Ball State University, advancing to the role of Associate Professor. He began as an Assistant Professor in 2000. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels with courses ranging from cybersecurity and network configuration to cloud technologies. Beyond Ball State, his engagements with other institutions and organizations have broadened his interdisciplinary impact on both students and faculty.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Hua’s research interests lie at the crossroads of cybersecurity, AI in mental health surveillance, sustainable IT practices, and technology integration in higher education. He is especially passionate about leveraging machine learning to support mental health outcomes and empower student innovation through data-driven methodologies.

🏆 Awards & Mentorship

Dr. Hua has been an active mentor in various student projects, honors theses, and national competitions like the National Cyber League. He’s also served on several doctoral committees, contributing to dissertations in educational leadership and adult learning. His efforts have earned him recognition as a dedicated mentor, innovator, and academic leader.

📚 Publication

AI-Driven Mental Health Surveillance: Identifying Suicidal Ideation Through Machine Learning Techniques
📅 2025 | Big Data and Cognitive Computing
🧾 Cited by: 3 articles (as of early 2025)
👉 DOI: 10.3390/bdcc9010016

Prof. Dr. Chih-Hsien Hsia | Image Processing | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Chih-Hsien Hsia | Image Processing | Best Researcher Award

National Ilan University, Taiwan.

Chih-Hsien Hsia is a distinguished professor and researcher in computer science, specializing in DSP IC Design, Computer Vision, Image Processing, and Cognitive Engineering. He holds dual Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Science from National Cheng Kung University and Electrical & Computer Engineering from Tamkang University, Taiwan. Currently, he serves as a Distinguished Professor at National Ilan University and holds key positions in AI research, industry collaborations, and professional organizations. His contributions to AI, image processing, and intelligent systems have earned him prestigious awards and widespread recognition.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Prof. Dr. Chih-Hsien Hsia holds dual Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Science from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and Electrical & Computer Engineering from Tamkang University, Taiwan. His expertise spans multiple engineering disciplines, with a strong focus on cutting-edge technological advancements and interdisciplinary research.

💼 Experience

Prof. Dr. Chih-Hsien Hsia is a Distinguished Professor at National Ilan University (2024 – Present) and serves as the Executive Director of the AI Promotion Office at the same institution. He is also the Director of the AIoX Research Center at National Ilan University (2024 – Present).

Beyond his role at NIU, he has been an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Chaoyang University of Technology since 2022 and a Board Member of the Chinese Society of Consumer Electronics since 2018. Additionally, he holds the position of Vice Chair of the IEEE Taipei Chapter Signal Processing Society (2024 – Present).

Previously, he served as a Professor at National Ilan University (2020 – 2024) and was the Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science at NIU from 2021 to 2024. His leadership and research contributions have significantly advanced AI, signal processing, and computer science education.

🔬 Research Interests

🖥 DSP IC Design

📷 Computer Vision & Image Processing

🧠 Cognitive Engineering

🏆 Awards & Honors

🥇 Taiwan International Science Fair (2025) – First Prize in Computer Science & Engineering

🏅 Best Paper Awards at IEEE Eurasia Conference on IoT, IET International Conference, National Defense Technology Academic Conference (2024)

🌟 World's Top 2% Scientists (2022)

🎖 Outstanding Young Scholar Award – Computer Society of the Republic of China (2018, 2020)

📚 Notable Publications

Finger Vein Recognition Based on Vision Transformer with Feature Decoupling for Online Payment Applications
IEEE Access, 2025 | DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3552075
Contributors: Liang-Ying Ke, Yi-Chen Lin, Chih-Hsien Hsia

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Sensing and Image Processing
Sensors, 2025-03-18 | DOI: 10.3390/s25061870
Contributors: Jing Chen, Miaohui Wang, Chih-Hsien Hsia

An Edge-Cloud Collaborative Scalp Inspection System Based on Robust Representation Learning
IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, 2024 | DOI: 10.1109/TCE.2024.3474911
Contributors: Sin-Ye Jhong, Guan-Ting Li, Chih-Hsien Hsia

Tucker Decomposition and Log-Gabor Feature-Based Quality Assessment for the Screen Content Videos
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2024 | DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2024.3381267
Contributors: Hailiang Huang, Huanqiang Zeng, Jing Chen, Junhui Hou, Chih-Hsien Hsia, Kai-Kuang Ma

Width-Adaptive CNN: Fast CU Partition Prediction for VVC Screen Content Coding
IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, 2024 | DOI: 10.1109/TMM.2024.3410116
Contributors: Chao Jiao, Huanqiang Zeng, Jing Chen, Chih-Hsien Hsia, Tianlei Wang, Kai-Kuang Ma