Hoa Vu

Hoa Vu is an Associate Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science within the College of Sciences at San Diego State University. Her research spans theoretical computer science with a focus on algorithms for large-scale data processing and analysis.

Dr. Vu completed her Ph.D. in Computer Science at UMass, Amherst under the supervision of Andrew McGregor. She subsequently spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at Boston College working with Hsin-Hao Su. Her academic journey reflects a strong foundation in theoretical computer science with practical applications.

Her primary research interests include sketching, streaming, and distributed algorithms, with significant contributions to graph algorithms, approximation algorithms, and parameterized algorithms. Dr. Vu also explores the intersection of machine learning and algorithms with machine learning predictions, developing novel approaches for handling massive datasets efficiently. Her work addresses fundamental challenges in data privacy, network analysis, and computational biology, with applications across multiple domains.

Dr. Vu's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to top-tier venues including SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics, Theoretical Computer Science, PODC, ICDT, and PODS. Her recent work shows an evolving research trajectory that increasingly incorporates machine learning predictions into traditional algorithmic frameworks, while maintaining strong theoretical foundations.

• NSF/TTIC Sub - Theme 3: AI-HARMONY: The National Institute on Strengthening AI for Health, Art, and Market Economy ($200.00)
• Algorithms and Machine Learning in Data Intensive Models ($200,000.00)
• New Aspects of Sketching Algorithms ($596,118.00)

Dr. Vu has served on thesis committees for numerous graduate students across various research topics including numerical semigroups, streaming algorithms, 5G networks, and image classification. She is an active member of the theoretical computer science community, serving on program committees such as ISAAC 2025, and regularly presenting her research at major international conferences.