SENG PhD Research Excellence Awards Recognize Achievements of Dr. Pingchuan Ma, Dr. Haotian Li and Dr. Tianqing Fang

We proudly announces that Dr. Pingchuan Ma has been awarded the prestigious School of Engineering (SENG) PhD Excellent Research Award for the 2024-25 academic year. Dr. Ma, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, completed his PhD under the mentorship of Prof. Shuai Wang. In addition to Dr. Ma, the SENG PhD Research Excellence Award also honored Dr. Haotian Li, who received the Second Runner-up Award under the guidance of Prof. Huamin Qu, and Dr. Tianqing Fang, who was named a Finalist with Prof. Yangqiu Song as his advisor. Their achievements further exemplify the exceptional talent within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Dr. Ma has an impressive background, having been a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and serving as Chief AI Scientist at Myko AI. He also interned at Microsoft Research and co-founded CipherInsight Limited, focusing on privacy-preserving computation with user-friendly cryptographic methods. His influential research has been published in leading databases and conferences, including SIGMOD, VLDB, KDD, ICSE, ISSTA, and ASE, and has been integrated into widely-used products like Microsoft Excel and Power BI.

The SENG PhD Research Excellence Award recognizes outstanding achievements in innovative research. Dr. Ma's contributions during his PhD studies have been deemed exceptional, showcasing his unique research findings and strong academic credentials.

Dr. Ma expressed his gratitude, stating, "I’m deeply honored to receive this award, which reflects not just my work, but the incredible support I’ve had throughout my journey at HKUST. I owe special thanks to my advisor, Prof. Shuai Wang, for being a mentor and a constant source of encouragement." He highlighted his research focus on data privacy, causal reasoning, and responsible AI, emphasizing the importance of bridging research with real-world applications.

Dr. Ma's thesis, "Algorithms, Applications, and Verification of Causal Structure Learning," represents significant advancements in data management and software engineering. His research has not only pushed the boundaries of data science but has also led to practical solutions adopted by major companies.

Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Ma faced challenges, including publication rejections, but persevered with the support of his advisor and peers. His resilience has been rewarded, with multiple grants from NVIDIA, OpenAI, and the Future of Life Institute, as well as recognition as a "Star of Tomorrow" by Microsoft Research Asia.

The SENG PhD Research Excellence Award scheme, established in 2011, honors exceptional contributions by PhD students and graduates. This year, the award is expanded to recognize six individuals annually, reflecting the School's commitment to celebrating research excellence across various fields.

Congratulations to Dr. Pingchuan Ma, Dr. Haotian Li, and Dr. Tianqing Fang for their well-deserved honors, and best wishes for their continued success in research and innovation!

Dr. Ma Pingchuan (center), winner of the HKUST SENG PhD Research Excellence Award 2024-25, was presented the award by Dean of Engineering Prof. Hong K. Lo (right). The award contains a trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of HK$25,000. Dr. Ma’s PhD advisor, Prof. Wang Shuai (left), Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, also received a certificate of appreciation.

Dr. Li Haotian, a 2024 PhD graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, is the Second Runner-Up. He will be presented with a trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of HK$8,000.

Dr. Li Haotian’s PhD advisor Prof. Qu Huamin (left) received a certificate of appreciation presented by Prof. Albert Chung, Associate Dean of Engineering (Research and Graduate Studies) and Chair of the Engineering Research Committee.

(From left) Finalist Dr. Fang Tianqing, a 2024 PhD graduate from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and his PhD advisor Prof. Song Yangqiu, Associate Professor of CSE, were presented with a certificate by Prof. George Yuan, Associate Dean of Engineering (Strategic Planning and Development).