Cynthia Liem

Cynthia Liem is an Associate Professor at the Multimedia Computing Group of Delft University of Technology, uniquely bridging classical music and computer science. Her interdisciplinary career includes dual master’s degrees in classical piano performance and computer science, as well as a PhD in Music Information Retrieval (MIR). She focuses on making information accessible while addressing systemic blind spots in AI, data quality, and annotation practices, with applications in classical music, library domains, and fair hiring. Liem also advocates for ethical AI through public debates, notably analyzing algorithmic bias in the childcare benefits scandal.

• Key Roles: Associate Professor (TU Delft), Co-founder of ICT Next Generation (ICTng)
• Expertise: Music Information Retrieval, Responsible Artificial Intelligence, Data Validity

Research Interests: Liem’s work examines how AI systems can better accommodate nuanced domains like classical music, where traditional metadata frameworks (e.g., artist, album) fail to capture multi-movement compositions and interpretive differences. She extends this to broader societal challenges, including fair data-driven decision-making and reducing translational barriers between technical and non-technical disciplines.

• Scientific Awards: Google Scholarship for PhD Research

Advisory & Societal Impact: Liem actively engages in public discourse on algorithmic accountability and co-founded ICTng to amplify junior ICT academics' voices in national policy discussions. Her career reflects a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical technology design.