Award-Winning Data Scientist Joins China After Decades in the US

Renowned Statistician Joins Westlake University in Zhejiang, China

A prominent data scientist, known for his groundbreaking work in machine learning and big data analysis, has made a significant move from the United States to Zhejiang province in eastern China. She Yiyuan, an award-winning statistician, has taken up a full-time position as a chair professor at Westlake University, marking a major shift in his academic career.

Previously, She spent nearly two decades teaching at Florida State University, where he contributed significantly to the field of statistics. At Westlake University, he will be involved in research at the School of Science and the Institute for Theoretical Sciences. His appointment was announced through a social media post by the university in July, highlighting his esteemed status in the academic community.

She has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Career Award from the US National Science Foundation, which is one of the most prestigious honors for early-career scholars. He is also a fellow of several leading statistical organizations, such as the American Statistical Association and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.

The statistician’s decision to join Westlake University is expected to strengthen China’s standing in high-tech sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and medical sciences, especially as the country continues to compete with Western nations in these fields. Statistics, as a foundational discipline in data science, plays a crucial role in areas such as machine learning and AI. It serves as a vital support system across various domains, including natural sciences, engineering, technology, and social sciences.

Westlake University emphasizes that She’s research focuses on high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, optimization techniques, big data analysis, and robust statistics. His work takes a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating theories and methods from statistics, mathematics, and computer science.

According to the university, She’s research has introduced new methods for machine learning to identify patterns in complex data. Additionally, his work has provided effective tools and innovative approaches for data analysis in fields such as biomedicine and economics.

Large language models (LLMs), which are the backbone of generative AI, are advanced machine learning models with a vast number of parameters. These models can process and generate human-like text, code, and other data types. However, the sheer scale of parameters in these models now surpasses human cognitive capacity. To address this challenge, She has been exploring the intrinsic relationships within data, aiming to make complex and chaotic data more interpretable using advanced algorithms.

She completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Peking University, where he studied mathematics and computer science. He later moved to the United States, earning his doctorate from Stanford University in 2008. He began his faculty career at Florida State University, eventually being promoted to full professor in 2018.

This trend of high-profile mathematicians returning to China after long careers in the US is growing. Recently, mathematician Yitang Zhang left the US to become a full-time professor at Sun Yat-sen University in southern China. He has been appointed to the university’s new Institute of Advanced Studies Hong Kong and will reside and work in the Greater Bay Area.

Another example is Shen Zhongwei, who previously served as a distinguished professor at the University of Kentucky. He recently joined Westlake University as a chair professor of mathematics. Shen earned his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1989 and started teaching at the University of Kentucky in 1995.

These developments reflect a broader movement of talent returning to China, contributing to its growing influence in global scientific and technological advancements. As institutions like Westlake University continue to attract top researchers, they are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of innovation in the region.