Dr. Chun-Ming (Tim) Lai is a distinguished figure in the realm of computer security and social media research, with a focus on practical applications. His expertise lies in the development of information security(ethical hacking) and the identification of misinformation on platforms like Facebook. Presently, he holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Cloud Innovation School at Tunghai University, a role supported by Amazon Web Services.

Dr. Lai's academic journey culminated in earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Davis in June 2019, under the mentorship of Professor Shyhtsun Felix Wu. Known for his fervor for interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Lai frequently engages in research integrating other disciplines, particularly utilizing data analysis to corroborate social science theories. He is a staunch believer in the synergy of social science and computer science, advocating for the creation of systems that are not only secure but also resonate more profoundly with human values.

His primary research aim is to contribute to the evolution of information technology in ways that emphasize equitable distribution and trust. Dr. Lai's scholarly output includes over 10 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 30 papers presented at prestigious conferences such as KDD, ICLR, CNSM, and ASONAM. His research endeavors have received support from both academic and industrial entities. Additionally, he is an active participant in the academic community, serving as a reviewer for various journals and conferences, including ICWSM, IEEE Access, and ASONAM.

In his native culture, Dr. Lai is known by his Chinese name, 賴俊鳴.

Beyond academia, Dr. Lai has a penchant for travel, adeptly navigating the world of points and miles. He also indulges in golf as an amateur player and has a keen interest in oenology, certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

The Secure Social Computing Lab is composed of master's students and project students, with approximately 20 members in total. The lab primarily focuses on cutting-edge applications in information security and artificial intelligence.

Our approach involves using information systems to address practical industry problems. Our main projects are categorized into research-based and practical implementations.

Research-based topics include:

1. Blockchain combined with IoT for monitoring carbon emissions using smart contracts.
2. Applying multimodal artificial intelligence models to track memes and trace the origins of rumors.
3. Utilizing large language models to read threat intelligence and generate defense rules.

Practical implementation topics include:

1. Smart warehousing.
2. AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) systems.
3. Setting up CTFd (Capture The Flag daemon) for cybersecurity competitions and data analysis. Students are also encouraged to develop their own research topics.

The lab maintains a liberal atmosphere with American-style management. We offer snacks and beverages, and hold group meetings approximately every 1-2 weeks. Master's students meet weekly to discuss research papers.