Xiaoli Fern

Xiaoli Fern is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Purdue University (2005) and dual degrees (B.S. and M.S.) in Automation and Computer Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2000). Her research focuses on applied machine learning, graph learning, and explainability in AI systems, with applications in microbiome analysis, ecological monitoring, and human-computer interaction.

• Research Expertise: Unsupervised learning, clustering, correlation analysis, outlier detection, and scientific data mining.
• Collaborations: Active involvement in the IGERT Ecosystem Informatics program and interdisciplinary projects with ecologists, roboticists, and biologists.
• Awards: 2011 NSF CAREER Award for early-career excellence in research.

Her recent work includes applying deep learning to microbiome data and developing interactive systems that bridge theory with real-world applications in biology and materials science. She mentors students across all academic levels and emphasizes the importance of collaborative, real-world problem-solving in her research lab.