Dr. Chicheng Zhang, assistant professor Department of Computer Science The University of Arizona received the prestigious National Science Foundation Career Award, supporting groundbreaking work on interactive machine learning.
Unlike traditional machine learning, which relies on static datasets, interactive learning agents collect data through adaptation experiments and are suitable for real-world applications where data collection is costly and secure, such as autonomous driving such as chatbots and human AI systems.
Dr. Chan's ProjectThe title, titled “The Fundamentals of Interactive Machine Learning with Rich Feedback,” aims to tackle some enduring challenges in this field. It enables improved data efficiency, ensure safety, and reuse of data collected by learning systems. His team develops algorithms that not only come with robust theoretical guarantees, but also perform better under real constraints.
“We are grateful to NSF for supporting the research group's efforts to understand and utilize the power of interaction in machine learning,” said Dr. Zhang. “I am also excited about the possibility of translating theoretical insights that will evolve into practical algorithms for real applications, including those of robotics and wireless communications where I have active collaboration.”
The project's research is organized around three main themes: The first focuses on interactive learning, especially for active learning, where the algorithm intelligently selects the data it requests, especially in scenarios involving complex models such as neural networks. The second thrust addresses interactive learning for continuous decision making and develops safer and more reliable ways for AI systems to learn from human demonstrations and interventions. The third attempts to bridge the gap between interactive learning and traditional offline learning by enabling the system to effectively reuse historical data. This is an important step in building AI that will continuously improve over time.
In addition to research, the award supports a wide range of education and outreach planning. Zhang will lead the in-campus lecture series in collaboration with middle school outreach events through the Ambassador Program at the University of Arizona Datalab, Ministry of Computer Science, and mentoring undergraduates through hands-on research experience and curriculum innovation.
“The NSF Career Awards are very competitive and very honorable, “Professor Chang's career award reflects the high respect he achieved as a respected and impactful researcher in the machine learning community.” Dr. Ellen RilloffProfessor Zhang's new research project will develop new ways in interactive machine learning to produce principled, practical cutting edge technologies for training AI systems efficiently. Computer Science Chan's Machine Learning Laboratory The faculty includes educational components and outreach plans to encourage students to pursue careers in artificial intelligence and machine learning. ”
The NSF Career Award is one of the foundation's most prestigious honors and recognizes early career faculty who demonstrate their potential to serve as an academic role model in research and education. Zhang has joined the growth list of University of Arizona and University of Science recipients who drive innovation at the intersection of computing, science and society.
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Learn more about Dr. Chan and his research here.
