Faculty Interview: Meet Dr. Ting Hu

Summary

The speaker, with a background in computer science and computational biology, specializes in machine learning and AI algorithms for biomedicine. They emphasize the need for transparent, interpretable AI in healthcare to avoid potentially fatal biases. With a PhD in computer science and postdoctoral experience in bioinformatics, they discuss their journey from theoretical algorithm design to practical biomedical applications. Passionate about science, they highlight the importance of persistence, self-management, and lifelong learning in research. The speaker also enjoys traveling, storytelling, and is inspired by their young children’s learning process, which they see as a potential influence for AI research.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has a background in computer science and computational biology, specializing in machine learning and AI for biomedicine.
• 😀 The School of Computing at Queen's University provides a supportive environment, and the speaker appreciates the opportunities to work with motivated students.
• 😀 Queen's University is known for its unique culture, central location, and strong reputation, which attracts talented students.
• 😀 The speaker is interested in creating next-generation machine learning and AI algorithms that are interpretable and transparent for biomedicine.
• 😀 While machine learning is widely used in fields like commerce and finance, its application in biomedicine has been limited due to the lack of explainability in decision-making algorithms.
• 😀 For biomedicine, it's crucial to understand the mechanisms behind machine learning decisions, as errors or biases can have severe consequences.
• 😀 The speaker aims to enhance the design of machine learning algorithms to make them more reliable and transparent in biomedicine.
• 😀 AI and machine learning are expected to evolve over the next decade, with more specialized algorithms for various applications, especially in biomedical fields.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of collaboration between algorithm experts and domain experts for advancing AI in biomedical computing.
• 😀 Evolutionary computing, an AI technique inspired by natural evolution, played a major role in the speaker’s research journey, which evolved from theoretical algorithm design to practical biomedical applications.
• 😀 Passion for science, the ability to work hard, self-management skills, and persistence are essential qualities for a successful career in research and computing.
• 😀 Computing is a transformative tool that pushes forward science and technology, enabling knowledge discovery and making the world a better place.
• 😀 The speaker views computing as a powerful tool that can turn ideas into reality and shape the future, drawing a parallel to the role of a computing sidekick in superhero movies.
• 😀 Traveling and learning about other cultures are important to the speaker, as well as engaging with stories that teach valuable lessons in storytelling, which is a key skill for scientists.
• 😀 The speaker’s two young boys are a source of inspiration and joy, offering insights into human learning and intelligence that may inform AI research.

Q & A

What is the speaker's area of expertise?

The speaker specializes in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm development, specifically their applications in biomedicine.

What does the speaker appreciate about Queen's University?

The speaker appreciates the supportive environment at the School of Computing, the university's unique culture, central location, and reputation, which attract motivated students. They also value the ongoing expansion phase of the School of Computing.

What is the speaker's main goal in AI and machine learning research?

The speaker's main goal is to design next-generation machine learning and AI algorithms that are more interpretable and transparent, especially for applications in biomedicine.

Why is transparency and interpretability important in AI for biomedicine?

In biomedicine, understanding the decision-making process is critical because biased or erroneous decisions could have fatal consequences. Thus, transparency and interpretability are key to ensure that AI algorithms can be trusted and their decisions understood.

How does the speaker view the future of AI and machine learning?

The speaker believes that AI will see a wider variety of specialized algorithms tailored to different application problems in the next ten years. They emphasize the need for collaboration between algorithm experts and domain experts for more reliable and transparent AI.

What is evolutionary computing, and how does it relate to the speaker's work?

Evolutionary computing is an AI technique inspired by natural evolution and is used to solve complex problems. The speaker has specialized in this technique, which became a foundation for their transition to biomedical computing during their postdoctoral research.

What does the speaker find rewarding in their research?

The speaker finds it rewarding to contribute to finding cures and early prevention methods for complex diseases like cancer, as well as to advance the field of biomedical computing through AI and machine learning.

What qualities does the speaker believe are important for a researcher?

The speaker believes that passion for science and research, the ability to enjoy learning new skills, good time and emotional management, persistence in the face of self-doubt, and the ability to solve problems are key qualities for a researcher.

How does computing impact daily life, according to the speaker?

The speaker notes that computing is ubiquitous, influencing many daily activities and devices. They highlight how computing drives technological progress and shapes the future by making ideas a reality, and also by enabling advancements in science and technology.

How does the speaker relate computing to superhero movies?

The speaker compares computing to the 'sidekick' in superhero movies—the often unseen but critical character who enables the superheroes to succeed. This comparison highlights the importance of computing in modern society and its essential role in technological advancements.

What hobbies does the speaker enjoy, and how do they connect to their work?

The speaker enjoys traveling to learn about other cultures, reading stories, and watching movies that tell good stories. They emphasize the importance of storytelling in science, as researchers must communicate their work in engaging ways. They also mention their two young children, finding inspiration in observing their learning process, which may offer insights for AI research.