CHEN, Yifanمشاهده پروفایل
استادیار
Yifan Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and affiliate faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Hong Kong Baptist University's Faculty of Science. He joined HKBU in Fall 2023 after completing his PhD in Statistics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2023 under the guidance of Prof. Yun Yang. His educational background includes: B.S. in Statistics from Fudan University (2018), advised by Prof. Juan Shen and Prof. Chenghong Zhang Ph.D. in Statistics from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2023), advised by Prof. Yun Yang Dr. Chen's research focuses on developing efficient algorithms for machine learning, with particular emphasis on non-parametric models and neural networks featuring intensive matrix operations. His work bridges statistical theory with practical computational challenges in modern machine learning systems, especially those involving Transformers (language models) and Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). He approaches machine learning from both theoretical and applied perspectives, seeking to understand statistical structures while addressing real-world computational constraints. His publication record shows consistent output in top-tier venues including ICML, NeurIPS, KDD, and EMNLP, with recent work spanning graph coarsening, optimal transport, efficient language model fine-tuning, and causal inference. His research demonstrates strong mathematical foundations combined with practical applications in AI systems. Among his notable achievements: NSFC Young Scientists Fund (2025) GDSTC General Program funding (2024) RGC Early Career Scheme proposal grant (2024) ICML 2023 Grant Award ($1,500) Dr. Chen actively mentors students through his research group, supervising PhD students and visiting research assistants. He has successfully guided students who have gone on to PhD programs at institutions including Institute of Science Tokyo, HKU, Fudan, and NUS. His teaching includes COMP 7070 Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, which covers core machine learning concepts for AI application research, and COMP 2027 Applied Linear Algebra for Computing. His research group focuses on efficient machine learning algorithms, with current projects spanning graph neural networks, optimal transport, language model efficiency, and causal inference. He collaborates with researchers from institutions including UIUC, Fudan University, and industry labs like Amazon Alexa AI.

