The Many Faces of Compression: Theory and Practice in Federated Optimization Elnur Gasanov, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 28, 10:00 - 12:00 B3, L5, R5209 compression methods communication efficiency proximal algorithms This thesis presents novel compression methods and optimization algorithms aimed at improving communication efficiency in large-scale machine learning systems.
Bridging AI and Spatial Biology to Navigate Biological Landscapes Haoyang Li, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 20, 11:00 - 13:00 B3 L5 R5209; Zoom Meeting 2343423945 AI artificial intelligence Computational biology bioinformatics spatial transcriptomics This thesis presents several studies by proposing AI-driven methods to supply a comprehensive and precise representation of biological landscapes via spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) data.
Towards Privacy-preserving Artificial Intelligence (PAI) for Healthcare and Bioinformatics Juexiao Zhou, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 20, 09:00 - 11:00 B3, L5, Room 5209 privacy-preserving AI Federated learning healthcare applications This thesis presents innovative privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare and bioinformatics, including federated learning for multi-omics, data deletion from deep learning models, and on-device medical analysis with vision LLMs, advancing secure and ethical AI development.
Stochastic Numerics and Statistical Learning: Theory and Applications Workshop 2025 May 18, 09:00 - May 25, 15:30 Auditorium 0215 between B2 & B3 stochastic algorithm statistical learning machine learning Explore the latest in stochastic algorithms, statistical learning and optimization at KAUST’s Stochastic Numerics and Statistical Learning Workshop 2025.
Perturbation Methods in PDE: from Heuristics to Breakthroughs in Regularity Theory - Part 3 Dr. Eduardo Teixeira, Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, University of Central Florida, USA May 15, 16:15 - 17:30 B1 L4 R4102 This mini-course presents a powerful perturbative framework tailored to tackle critical regularity issues in nonlinear diffusion PDE.
FMCW Radar Applications for Automotive and Biomedical Applications Vijith Varma Kotte, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering May 15, 15:00 - 17:00 B1 L3 R3119 deep learning Signal processing MIMO radars sensors This dissertation enhances Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar effectiveness for automotive forward-looking Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging and biomedical vital sign and dehydration monitoring by developing novel methodologies based on advanced signal processing, deep learning, and MIMO radar techniques.
The Signed Translation Transformed Depth: Order, Quantiles, Spread, Skewness, and Quantile Regression for Multivariate Functional Data Emmanuel Ambriz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Statistics May 15, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 multivariate analysis This seminar introduces the Signed Translation transformed Depth (STtD), a novel interpretable ordering method for multivariate functional data, which enables enhanced distributional analysis, the definition of descriptive tools, and a flexible vine copula-based quantile regression framework.
Data–Driven Mining of Causal Disease Relations to Enhance Disease Centric Predictions Sumyyah Toonsi, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 15, 10:00 - 11:00 B4 L5 R5209 This thesis develops a framework to extract and leverage inter-disease causal relations from biomedical literature, thereby advancing disease-centric predictions, enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms, and demonstrating the potential for causal knowledge-guided therapeutic discovery.
Perturbation Methods in PDE: from Heuristics to Breakthroughs in Regularity Theory - Part 2 Dr. Eduardo Teixeira, Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, University of Central Florida, USA May 14, 16:15 - 17:30 B1 L3 R3119 This mini-course presents a powerful perturbative framework tailored to tackle critical regularity issues in nonlinear diffusion PDE.
Signal Alignment: a Practical Way to Communicate Under Unpredictable Interference Nikolaos Sidiropoulos, Louis T. Rader Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, USA May 14, 13:30 - 14:30 B1 L3 R3119 wireless communication This talk introduces a practical method for reliable wireless communication amidst interference by using packet repetition and multi-antenna reception to achieve signal alignment, enabling packet recovery through geometric subspace intersection even against adversarial jammers.
The Internet of Fiber-Optic Things and Smart Sensing Juan Manuel Marin Mosquera, Ph.D. Candidate (former), Electrical and Computer Engineering May 14, 10:00 - 11:30 B1 L3 R3119 This dissertation introduces the Internet of Fiber-Optic Things (IoFOT)—a new concept where a single optical fiber handles data, power, and smart sensing simultaneously. Demonstrated applications include pipeline monitoring and marine life tracking, paving the way for the development of a worldwide smart observation network.
Nonlocal Degenerate PDEs: Bridging Free Boundary Problems and Critical-point Models Eduardo Teixeira, Graduate Director & Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Central Florida May 13, 16:00 - 17:00 Building 1, Level 3, Room 3426 nonlocal degeneracies local extrema models regularity estimates This talk explores a new class of PDEs featuring nonlocal degeneracies. Our framework unifies two classical scenarios — free boundary problems and critical-point degenerate PDEs; both are recast as local extrema models in our formulation.
Error Feedback for Communication-Efficient First and Second-Order Distributed Optimization: Theory and Practical Implementation Konstantin Burlachenko, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 12, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 Federated learning software development This seminar will discuss advancements in Federated Learning, including theoretical improvements to the Error Feedback method (EF21) for communication-efficient distributed training and the development of significantly more practical and efficient implementations of the Federated Newton Learn (FedNL) algorithm.
Carrier- and Trap-Resolved Photo-Hall Effect: Unlocking the 145-Year-Old Secret in Hall Effect Oki Gunawan, Research Staff Member, IBM Research, USA May 12, 10:00 - 11:00 B5 L5 R5209 advanced semiconductors This seminar introduces the "carrier and trap resolved photo-Hall effect," a novel technique extending the classic Hall effect via a simple hyperbola equation to reveal majority/minority carrier properties and trap dynamics, unifying multiple physical excitations for enhanced semiconductor characterization.
Topological Phenomena in Artificial Materials Xiujuan Zhang, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University May 12, 10:00 - 11:00 B1 L3 R3119 topological phenomena artificial materials This talk will cover the design and realization of novel topological states and effects in acoustic artificial materials, focusing on higher-order topological states, non-Hermitian physics, and acoustic spin- and orbital angular momentum-related topological phenomena.
Xiujuan Zhang, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University
Perturbation Methods in PDE: from Heuristics to Breakthroughs in Regularity Theory - Part 1 Dr. Eduardo Teixeira, Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, University of Central Florida, USA May 11, 16:15 - 17:30 B1 L3 R3119 This mini-course presents a powerful perturbative framework tailored to tackle critical regularity issues in nonlinear diffusion PDE.
Structuring Sound and Vibration by Metasurfaces Badreddine Assouar, Professor, Director of Research at French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Lorraine, France May 11, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 This seminar provides an overview of recent research on acoustic and elastic metasurfaces and metamaterials, covering their fundamentals, applications in wave and vibration control, including low-frequency absorption, BIC physics, and phonic skyrmions.
Optimization Methods and Software for Federated Learning Konstantin Burlachenko, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 8, 19:00 - 21:00 B5 L5 R5209 This dissertation identifies five key challenges in Federated Learning (FL), including data and device heterogeneity, communication issues, privacy concerns, and software implementations. More broadly, our work serves as a guide for researchers navigating the complexities of translating theoretical methods into efficient real-world implementations, while also offering insights into the reverse process of adapting practical implementation aspects back into theoretical algorithm design.
Spatiotemporal Machine Learning for Real-world Complex Systems: Enhancing Smart Transportation with Robust AI ZIyue Li, Assistant Professor, Information Systems Department, University of Cologne, Germany May 8, 13:00 - 14:00 B1 L4 R4214 This seminar introduces advanced machine learning approaches, including tensor methods for modeling high-dimensional mobility data and deep learning techniques designed to handle data corruptions, aiming to improve the reliability of spatiotemporal analytics for smarter transportation systems.
Vecchia Approximations of Gaussian Processes on GPUs for Scalable Spatial Modeling and Computer Model Emulation Qilong Pan, Ph.D. Student, Statistics May 8, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 machine learning Geospatial Data GPU Computing This seminar introduces GPU-accelerated Vecchia approximations to overcome Gaussian Process computational limits, enabling scalable applications for large geospatial datasets and high-dimensional computer model emulations.
Modeling and Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Storage in Geological Layers Shuai Lu, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 8, 12:00 - 14:00 B2 L5 R5220 This dissertation advances large-scale simulation of carbon dioxide storage by developing a novel mathematical model and numerical schemes, which are validated by benchmark and real-world cases.
High-Mobility Back-End-of-Line Compatible Indium Oxide Thin-Film Transistors for Monolithic 3D Integration Na Xiao, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering May 6, 16:00 - 18:00 B2 L5 R5209 advanced semiconductors thin-film transistors This dissertation develops strategies for fabricating high-performance, low-temperature processed indium oxide thin-film transistors for monolithic 3D integration, achieving record mobility and stability through optimized annealing, passivation, and channel engineering techniques.
Current and Future Challenges and Solutions in AI & HPC System and Thermal Management Dr. Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Senior Fellow & Chief Architect, AMD Member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering Life Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada Fellow & Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Life Fellow, ASME May 6, 13:00 - 17:00 B4 L5 R5209 Led by expert Dr. Gamal Refai Ahmed, this course explores innovative thermal management and packaging solutions for AI and HPC systems, addressing current and future challenges with cutting-edge techniques and next-generation design principles.
Data Centric Engineering: Hype or Transformation and Engineering the Future? Mark Girolami, Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering University of Cambridge, United Kingdom May 6, 12:00 - 13:00 B 2/3 L0 R 0215 This talk will highlight the role of recent advances in the Data Sciences and related Artificial Intelligence technologies and how they are transforming the study and practice of the natural, physical, and engineering sciences.
The 2025 Iberian Blackout: Anatomy of a Grid Collapse Charalambos (Harrys) Konstantinou, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering May 6, 09:00 - 11:00 B9 L2 R2322 renewable energy resilience power grid This talk provides a data-informed timeline of the April 28 Iberian blackout, examining how system conditions and possible instabilities may have shaped the cascade of events.
A Statistical Construction of the Finite Element Method Mark Girolami, Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering University of Cambridge, United Kingdom May 5, 12:00 - 13:00 B 2/3 L0 R 0215 This talk will present a formal statistical construction and mathematical analysis of the FEM which systematically blends both mathematical description with observational data and provides both small and large scale examples from 3D printed structures to working rail bridges currently operated by the United Kingdom Network Rail.
First-Order Mean-Field Games with Entry-Exit Flow Constraints and Contact-Set Conditions AbdulRahman Alharbi, Ph.D. Student, Applied Mathematics and Computational Science May 4, 12:30 - 14:30 B9 L4 R4225; Zoom Meeting 95071981979 mean-field models free boundary problems This dissertation develops and rigorously analyzes first-order mean-field game models incorporating novel mixed boundary conditions to realistically represent population dynamics in bounded domains by eliminating unrealistic entry phenomena that are typically induced by standard Dirichlet conditions.
AI for Chips and Chips for AI Mehdi Saligane, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brown University, USA May 4, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 artificial intelligence AI semiconductors innovation LLM This seminar presents a unified "AI for Chips & Chips for AI" approach, demonstrating how AI enhances semiconductor design while specialized silicon accelerates AI computation, creating a rapid innovation cycle.
Relations between Decision Trees and Decision Rule Systems Kerven Durdymyradov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Computer Science May 4, 11:00 - 13:00 B5 L5 R5220 decision trees machine learning This thesis investigates the complex transformation of decision rule systems into decision trees, establishing bounds on tree depth, developing polynomial-time path-finding algorithms and an optimal dynamic programming algorithm for minimum depth, and analyzing time-space complexity trade-offs for trees over infinite binary information systems.
Autonomy at the Edge of Capabilities: Uncertain Environments, Limited Resources, Difficult Missions Melkior Ornik, Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign May 4, 10:30 - 11:30 B5 L5 R5209 This seminar introduces a planning strategy for complex autonomous systems that integrates machine learning with structure-driven abstraction and mission decomposition to achieve computationally tractable, scalable, and high-performing policies despite environmental and agent constraints.
On Complexity of Decision Trees for Decision Tables from Closed Classes Azimkhon Ostonov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Computer Science May 4, 09:00 - 11:00 B5 L5 R5220 decision trees machine learning This thesis considers classes of decision tables closed under operations of removal of attributes (columns) and changing of decisions and study for the tables from these classes relationships among the minimum complexity of deterministic and nondeterministic decision trees and the complexity of the set of attributes attached to columns of the table, while also analyzing the algorithms for constructing decision trees for these decision tables.
Future of Semiconductors Forum 2025 | KAUST May 4, 08:00 - May 5, 17:00 Building 20 semiconductor advanced semiconductors smart health photonics Join global leaders at KAUST to shape the next era of semiconductor technologies.
Towards Trustworthy News Recommendation Systems Manal A. Alshehri, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science May 1, 17:00 - 19:00 B3 L5 R5209 machine learning artificial intelligence personalized recommendations Generative Adversarial Networks This thesis enhances the trustworthiness of news recommendation systems by addressing the cold start problem for new users/items, enabling efficient user data removal for privacy, and mitigating multi-dimensional filter bubbles to improve diversity.
Retraction Maps, Feedback Linearization and Nonholonomic Integrators Ravi Banavar, Professor, Systems and Control Engineering, IIT Bombay May 1, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 This talk will introduce the utility of retraction maps on Riemannian manifolds to two applications in applied mechanics and control.
Efficient Antenna-on-Chip with Optimized Artificial Magnetic Conductor Performance for 6G mm-Wave Applications Yiyang Yu, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 30, 15:30 - 17:30 B3 L5 R5209 Electrically Small Antenna Design antenna design on-chip antennas 6g wireless systems This dissertation introduces innovative Artificial Magnetic Conductor structures and a reconfigurable superstrate to overcome profile thickness, illumination efficiency, and radiation pattern limitations in CMOS-integrated Antennas-on-Chip, thereby enhancing their performance and versatility for future 6G wireless communication systems.
Control and Estimation Designs Using Model-Based and Model-Free Approaches for Water Quality Monitoring in Process Systems Fahad Aljehani, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 30, 10:00 - 12:00 B1 L4 R4214 machine learning algorithm optimal control Control Theory Reinforcement Learning This dissertation develops and evaluates advanced control and estimation strategies to address complex dynamics and measurement limitations in water-related applications, specifically optimizing fish growth in aquaculture and estimating bacterial concentration in wastewater treatment plants.
Design and Process Development of Graphene-Based Geometric Diodes for Enhanced Performance Heng Wang, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 29, 14:00 - 16:00 B2 L5 R5220 Thz rectennas Graphene geometric diodes semiconductors nano devices artificial intelligence This thesis advances graphene geometric diodes (GGDs) by addressing fabrication, performance, and design challenges using innovative nanofabrication techniques and artificial intelligence-enhanced computational methodologies.
On Singular Equations Modeling Electrostatic MEMS Katerina Nik, Assistant Professor, Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Apr 28, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 MEMS free boundary problems This talk introduces mathematical models for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), focusing on the existence and behavior of solutions to equations describing the MEMS device's instability due to electrostatic forces that can lead to singularities in the mathematical equations.
Harnessing Multi-modal AI and Machine Learning for Next-Generation 6G Networks Asmaa Abdallah, Research Scientist, Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 27, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 LLM machine learning 6G wireless communication Digital signal processing This seminar explores how multi-modal AI and large language models can optimize future 6G wireless networks by integrating diverse data sources to enhance reliability, efficiency, and overall performance.
Metasurface Based Optical Metrology Systems: Design, Fabrication, and Implementations Arturo Burguete Lopez, Ph.D. Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 27, 11:00 - 13:00 B3 L5 R5209 Metasurfaces integrated optics This dissertation introduces a framework to advance optical metasurfaces from individual components to integrated optical instruments, it presents demonstrations of metrology techniques that combine machine learning and nanophotonic technologies for remote sensing that outperform methods based on conventional optics, thus advancing the next generation of optical instrumentation.
Linear Solvers for Large-Scale Bayesian Modeling Lisa Gaedke-Merzhäuser, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Statistics Apr 24, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 In this talk we explore what it means to perform Bayesian inference and introduce the methodology of integrated nested Laplace approximations (INLA).
Advancing Security Red-Teaming in Cyber-Physical Systems via AI-Driven Side-Channel Analysis Tao Ni, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Apr 23, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L3 R3223 cybersecurity IoT cyber-physical systems This talk will systematically reveal security and privacy vulnerabilities in cyber-physical systems by characterizing contactless side-channel attacks on various components and proposing effective defense methods using hardware-software co-design and AI-driven techniques, while also outlining future research directions for developing secure and privacy-preserving CPS platforms.
Bridging the Digital Divide Gap: Next-G Approach Towards Connecting the Unconnected Fahad Salem Alqurashi, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering Apr 21, 13:00 - 14:30 B 4/5, L0, R0215 This dissertation investigates next-generation technologies, including hybrid free-space optics (FSO) and radio frequency (RF) communication systems, to bridge the digital divide in underserved remote areas, addressing multifaceted constraints like economic viability, technical feasibility, and socio-economic inequalities, with a focus on real-world applications.
The Earliest Arrival of Quantum Utility David Keyes, Professor, Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Apr 21, 12:00 - 13:00 B9, L2, R2325 The earliest advantageous uses of quantum computing will take the form of a quantum processing unit (QPU) attached to a traditional supercomputer. Supercomputers of the not too distant future will have thousands of GPUs and thousands of CPUs as today, along with one or more QPUs with thousands of qubits.
Towards Full Information Transformation in Deep Learning: A Study in Neural Machine Translation and Vision on Next-Generation Language Foundation Models Dr. Liang Ding Apr 20, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L3 R3223 This seminar will present LLM advancements to address alignment and efficiency challenges in neural machine translation, aiming to balance decoding speed and translation quality towards building sufficient, efficient, and trustworthy next-generation language models for diverse real-world applications.
Adaptive Unbound Resilient Electronics for Organic and Reconfigurable Architectures Realizing Fully Flexible 3D-IC Systems for Extreme, Evolving, and Embedded Environments Muhammad Hussain, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, United States Apr 20, 12:00 - 13:00 B2 L5 R5220 This talk reviews recent advances across flexible electronics, dissolvable packaging, liquid metal-enabled systems, NFC-powered devices, wearable sensors, and swarm-capable microsystems.
GaN-based VCSELs and Future of Semiconductor Lasers Tatsushi Hamaguchi, Professor, Innovation Center for Semiconductor and Digital Future Apr 20, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 This lecture covers the history, breakthroughs, and future of nitride-based blue and green surface-emitting lasers, from both industry and academic viewpoints.
Homogenization and Wave Functional Materials Ying Wu, Program Chair, Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Apr 17, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L2 R2325 Wave functional materials Homogenization In this talk, I will give a brief review on the progress from on homogenization and its impact on achieving unusual wave functional materials, such as zero-index materials in which the effective refractive index is vanishing.
Towards Safe, Factual, and Empathetic Human-AI Interaction Yuxia Wang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Natural Language Processing department, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Apr 16, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 L3 R3223 This talk will explore the challenges of evaluating and improving LLM factuality, safety, and cultural sensitivity, addressing questions about hallucination rates, retrieval-augmented generation efficacy, fact-checking limitations, regional policy alignment, and the necessity of machine-generated content detection.
Frequency-Domain Description of Semiconductor Mode-Lock Lasers Weng Chow, Single Photon Sources, Sandia National Laboratories, United States Apr 16, 10:30 - 11:30 B9 L2 R2322 This talk presents a frequency-based theoretical framework utilizing multimode laser theory to explain the diverse dynamical behaviors of semiconductor mode-lock lasers by analyzing mode competition and multiwave mixing through a generalized Alder's equation, with direct connection to the semiconductor bandstructure.
