Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Generative AI Lab

Tsung-Lu Michael Lee
https://generative-ai-lab.mystrikingly.com/

Research Field

Smart Computing (Information)

Introduction

Dr. Tsung-Lu Michael Lee is a visionary researcher and educator at the forefront of artificial intelligence and its applications in healthcare and bioinformatics. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Dr. Lee leads the cutting-edge Generative AI Lab, where he and his team are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with large language models and AI-driven biomedical research.

With a Ph.D. from National Cheng Kung University and extensive international experience, including research at the prestigious Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Dr. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective to his work. His research interests span a wide range of exciting fields, including generative AI, deep learning, medical image recognition, and mixed reality applications.

Dr. Lee's publication record speaks to his innovative approach and impactful research. He has contributed to high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Gastroenterology, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research, tackling complex challenges in cancer research, protein interaction prediction, and machine learning for medical imaging. His work on using histopathology images to predict multi-omics aberrations in colorectal cancer patients, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the potential of AI to revolutionize personalized medicine.

As a mentor, Dr. Lee offers interns the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects at the intersection of AI and healthcare. Current research in his lab includes developing advanced large language models, creating AI chatbots for healthcare applications, and applying deep learning techniques to medical image analysis. Interns will have the chance to contribute to projects that have real-world impact, potentially improving patient outcomes and advancing our understanding of complex diseases.

Dr. Lee's commitment to education is evident in his development of multiple Ministry of Education-certified digital learning courses in subjects like machine learning, mobile UI design, and computer networks. This dedication to teaching ensures that interns will receive top-notch guidance and support throughout their research experience.

Furthermore, Dr. Lee's extensive network of collaborations with leading institutions and his active participation in international conferences provide interns with valuable opportunities for professional growth and exposure to the global research community.

Joining Dr. Lee's lab as part of the IIPP offers a unique chance to be at the cutting edge of AI research in healthcare, working with state-of-the-art technologies and contributing to projects that have the potential to transform medical practice and improve lives. Under his mentorship, interns will develop not only technical skills but also the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities essential for success in the rapidly evolving field of AI and bioinformatics.

The Generative AI Lab, led by Dr. Tsung-Lu Michael Lee at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, is at the forefront of exploring cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies and their diverse applications, with a particular focus on healthcare and bioinformatics. Our research spans several key areas:

Generative AI and Conversational Agents:
Building on Dr. Lee's expertise in AI and healthcare, students engage with state-of-the-art large language models to develop AI chatbots and conversational interfaces tailored for medical applications. Key focus areas include:
* Developing AI-powered medical assistants for patient care and clinical decision support
* Creating educational chatbots for medical training and patient education
* Exploring the potential of generative AI in biomedical literature mining and knowledge synthesis
* Evaluating and ensuring the safety and reliability of AI-generated medical content

Large Language Model Development:
Leveraging Dr. Lee's experience in bioinformatics and systems biology, the lab focuses on training domain-specific large language models for specialized medical and biological applications. This includes:
* Developing models for analyzing electronic health records and clinical notes
* Creating language models capable of understanding and generating complex biomedical texts
* Exploring multi-modal models that can integrate text, image, and genomic data

AI Frameworks and Biomedical Applications:
The lab utilizes popular AI/deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch to build and deploy models using real-world biomedical datasets. Projects may include:
* Developing AI models for early disease detection and prognosis prediction
* Creating AI-powered tools for drug discovery and repurposing
* Designing AI systems for personalized treatment recommendations

Deep Learning and Transfer Learning in Medical Imaging:
Building on Dr. Lee's work in medical image recognition, the lab explores advanced deep learning concepts, including:
* Developing novel architectures for analyzing various medical imaging modalities (e.g., histopathology, radiology)
* Applying transfer learning techniques to improve performance on limited medical datasets
* Creating interpretable AI models for assisting medical professionals in image-based diagnoses

Mixed Reality in Healthcare:
Students work on cutting-edge mixed reality applications in medical training and patient care, using platforms like Unity and devices such as Microsoft HoloLens. Projects may include:
* Developing AR/VR systems for surgical planning and training
* Creating immersive patient education experiences
* Designing mixed reality interfaces for telemedicine and remote patient monitoring

IoT and Computer Vision for Smart Healthcare:
Integrating Dr. Lee's experience with IoT and image recognition, the lab develops intelligent healthcare systems using Raspberry Pi and related hardware. Focus areas include:
* Creating smart monitoring systems for patient care and medical facilities
* Developing computer vision applications for automated medical image analysis
* Designing IoT-based solutions for remote patient monitoring and chronic disease management

Through these diverse research areas, the Generative AI Lab offers students a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects at the intersection of AI and healthcare, with the potential to make significant impacts on medical practice and patient care.


Research Topics

These research topics leverage Dr. Lee's background in bioinformatics, systems biology, and medical informatics while exploring cutting-edge applications of generative AI in healthcare. They offer exciting opportunities for students to work on projects with significant potential impact on patient care and medical research.


Few-Shot Learning for Medical Dialog Systems
* Rapidly adapting LLMs to new medical specialties and rare diseases with limited data
* Developing prompting strategies for clinical decision support in low-resource settings
* Benchmarking few-shot capabilities across diverse medical dialog tasks (e.g., symptom assessment, treatment recommendations)

Multimodal Generative AI Models for Medical Applications
* Integrating medical imaging, clinical notes, and genomic data for comprehensive diagnosis
* Generating detailed medical reports from multimodal inputs (e.g., radiology images, lab results)
* Aligning representations across various medical data modalities for improved patient profiling

AI-Human Collaboration in Healthcare
* Designing interfaces for seamless collaboration between AI systems and healthcare professionals
* Augmenting clinical decision-making with LLM-powered insights and evidence synthesis
* Addressing ethical considerations and building trust in AI-assisted medical practice

Generative AI for Medical Education and Skill Acquisition
* Developing customized tutoring systems for medical students and continuing education
* AI-assisted generation of case studies, exam questions, and learning materials
* Assessing the impact of generative AI literacy on medical education outcomes

Biomedical Knowledge Graph Construction and Reasoning
* Leveraging generative AI to extract and synthesize knowledge from biomedical literature
* Developing models for automated hypothesis generation in biomedical research
* Creating explainable AI systems for drug discovery and repurposing

Personalized Medicine through Generative AI
* Developing models for patient-specific treatment recommendation based on multi-omics data
* Generating personalized health plans and interventions using LLMs
* Exploring the potential of generative AI in precision diagnostics and prognostics

Privacy-Preserving Generative AI for Healthcare
* Developing techniques for training generative models on sensitive medical data
* Exploring federated learning approaches for collaborative model development across institutions
* Ensuring patient privacy and data protection in AI-powered healthcare applications

Temporal Modeling in Healthcare using Generative AI
* Predicting disease progression and treatment outcomes using time-series medical data
* Developing models for early detection of health deterioration in chronic diseases
* Generating synthetic longitudinal patient data for research and model training

 


Honor

These honors and invited speaker engagements reflect Prof. Lee's expertise in AI, medical informatics, and education, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field and nurturing the next generation of researchers and practitioners. His recent recognitions and international speaking engagements underscore his significant contributions to the application of AI and mixed reality in healthcare, positioning him as a leading expert in this rapidly evolving field.
 

Honors and Awards

- AMIA 2024 Informatics Summit Scientific Program Committee Award [Reviewer] (Awarded: March 21, 2024)
  Recognized for outstanding contributions as a reviewer for the AMIA 2024 Informatics Summit

- Excellence Award, Ministry of Economic Affairs Industrial Development Bureau (2020)
  AI Smart Application Next Generation Talent Training Program Problem-Solving Competition (Category: Data Analytics)
  Prize: NT$650,000

- Ministry of Education Digital Learning Course Certifications (2019-2020)
  Received certifications for multiple courses:
  - Machine Learning (2020)
  - Mobile UI Design (2020)
  - Mobile App Development (2019)
  - Computer Networks (2019)

- Reviewer for prestigious conferences and summits:
  - AMIA 2023 Informatics Summit
  - AMIA 2021 Informatics Summit
  - 18th International Conference on Innovation, Management, and Knowledge Community (iCIMS) 2024

Invited Speaker Engagements

1. International Conference on New Era of Smart Healthcare (August 30, 2024)
   - Topic: "AIxMR empowerment for smart healthcare: Applying LLM for Innovative hospital health education and optimized home care"
   - Organizers: Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (Kaohsiung & Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Innovation and Smart Medicine Center (Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital)

2. STUST x ARISE (Nanyang Technological University - NTU Singapore) Online Seminar (August 30, 2024)
   - Topic: "Generative AI and AR in Healthcare"
   - In collaboration with Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education (ARISE), NTU Singapore

3. Public Service Training for Tainan City (July 16 & 17, 2024)
   - Topic: "How Nvidia started the wave of Generative AI"
   - Hosted by: Bureau of Civil Affairs, Tainan City Government

4. STUST Invited Talk (July 16, 2024)
   - Topic: "Generative artificial intelligence and smart display applications"

5. NCKU EE Invited Talk (May 30, 2024)
   - Topic: "Generative AI in Biomedical Informatics and Healthcare"


Educational Background

Prof. Lee's educational journey reflects a unique blend of computer science, bioinformatics, and biomedical expertise. This interdisciplinary background has been instrumental in his current research, applying cutting-edge AI techniques to healthcare and biological problems. His training spans from foundational computer science and biochemistry to advanced computational biology and systems biology approaches in cancer research.
 

Educational Background

Ph.D. in Computer Science and Information Engineering (2004 - 2009)
National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Dissertation: "Systems Biology Approach in Human Cancer Protein Interaction Prediction and Its Application to Cancer Gene Expression Network Analysis"
- Focus: Applied computational methods to cancer research, bridging computer science and biology

M.S. in Computer and Information Science and Engineering (2000 - 2004)
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Thesis: "BAXQL_BLAST: An Enhanced BLAST Bioinformatics Homology Search Tool with Batch and SQL Support"
- Specialization: Bioinformatics tool development, enhancing biological sequence analysis capabilities

Dual Bachelor's Degrees (1995 - 2000)
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
1.  B.S. in Computer Science
2. B.A. in Biochemistry, Pre-Medicine


2 Vacancies

Job Description

Working Environment
- Fast-paced, research-oriented atmosphere
- Collaborative team environment
- Flexible working arrangements
- Regular team meetings and technical discussions
- Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge AI research and development

Contract Details
- Duration: 3 months
- Full-time position
- Potential for contract extension based on project needs and performance
- Competitive compensation based on experience

Additional Information
- Start date: Immediate
- Location: Remote/Hybrid/On-site (specify based on requirements)
- Regular progress reviews and feedback sessions
- Opportunity to work on state-of-the-art AI technologies
- Mentorship from experienced AI researchers and engineers

Application Process
Interested candidates should submit:
- Detailed resume/CV
- Cover letter
- Portfolio of relevant projects or research papers
- References from previous technical positions or academic advisors

Preferred Intern Education Level

PhD or MS or BS

Skill sets or Qualities

Technical Skills
- Languages: Python (required)
- Frameworks: PyTorch and/or TensorFlow
- Tools: Git, Docker, Linux
- Cloud Platforms: GCP
- MLOps: MLflow, Weights & Biases, or similar
- Distributed Computing: Horovod, DeepSpeed, or similar

2 Vacancies

Job Description

The Research Scientist will be responsible for designing and conducting innovative research in LLM development, with a focus on:

  • Leading research projects to improve LLM capabilities, efficiency, and reliability
  • Developing novel architectures and training methodologies for language models
  • Investigating and addressing challenges in LLM alignment, safety, and ethics
  • Publishing research findings in top-tier conferences and journals
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement research findings into production systems
  • Mentoring junior researchers and contributing to the team's technical vision

Preferred Intern Education Level

M.S or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field, or equivalent research experience

Skill sets or Qualities

  • Extensive experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow and deep learning frameworks
  • Proven track record in developing and training large-scale language models
  • Strong programming skills in Python and experience with distributed computing
  • Excellence in mathematical and statistical modeling
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research