Hi there, I’m Tianyu Liu! I will be joining the College of AI at Tsinghua University (THU) in the spring semester of 2027 as a tenure-track assistant professor. I am now inviting talented individuals to join my research group! I earned dual bachelor’s degrees from Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) through a joint program in 2022, and I received my Ph.D. from Yale University in 2026 under the supervision of Prof. Hongyu Zhao (My committee members include Prof. Yuval Kluger and Prof. Rex Ying). Throughout my undergraduate and doctoral studies, I was fortunate to receive strong support from my advisors and established deep connections with many outstanding collaborators. These collaborations have resulted in the publication of numerous papers in top-tier journals in the field (such as the Nature and Cell series) as well as papers at leading ML conferences (Oral and Spotlight presentations). I have also served as a reviewer for several prestigious journals and as an area chair/reviewer for multiple conferences. Overall, I have received notable awards in the field, gained recognition from my peers, and contributed to the advancement of AI4Science. For more details, please visit my personal website!

Research Interests🤖

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tsinghua University for this recognition! I am currently building a team focused on cutting-edge problems in AI for Science (Biology, Chemistry, Healthcare, etc.), including but not limited to AI-based agents serving as AI co-scientists or scientists (e.g., SAGA, Hygieia, etc.), multimodal AI (e.g., scELMo, spEMO, UNICORN, etc.), training at various stages of large-scale foundation models (pre-training, mid-training, and post-training; e.g., TeamPath, BAITSAO, etc.), and data-driven computational biology and bioinformatics (e.g., spVelo, dGTEx, etc.). My research interests are always grounded in specific scientific problems, and I utilize advanced technological methods to provide solutions. By collaborating with experts such as physicians and biologists, we can rapidly apply the productivity gains enabled by AI to address challenges that were previously difficult to tackle. At the same time, I aim to leverage scientific knowledge to correct existing biases and potential vulnerabilities in AI, thereby achieving a logical closed loop between the application of prior knowledge and the discovery of new insights.

Admissions Information 📚

I am eager to work alongside talented students like you to tackle key challenges in using AI to accelerate scientific discovery and disease diagnosis and treatment, and to make a tangible impact! I am currently seeking to admit two PhD students per year (For 26-27 cycle, we select students from the pool of CAI. For future opportunties, please stay tuned for information regarding recuirment policies. International students are also welcome to apply. Additionally, CollegeAI operates a rotation system, and I welcome current students to contact me. I can offer you a full scholarship and a supportive research environment, and I will fully assist you in applying for relevant scholarships and answer any questions you may have regarding the application process. Students interested in collaborating with me at an early stage (Research Assistants, Postdocs, Visiting Scholars, joint PhD students, etc.) are also welcome to contact me. Together, we can explore research directions that interest both of us, coordinate the timing of your joining, and work together to solve problems!

About the School 🏫

Led by Professor Andrew Yao, a recipient of the Turing Award—the highest honor in computer science—and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the School of Artificial Intelligence at Tsinghua University is dedicated to cutting-edge innovation in AI research and the cultivation of top-tier talent. Its mission is to achieve major breakthroughs in the core foundations, underlying architectures, and future computing paradigms of artificial intelligence, and to establish a world-class hub for attracting and nurturing leading AI talent. Therefore, in my view, CollegeAI is an ideal place for research (great location—Beijing, one of my favoritest cities; abundant resources—plenty of GPUs and multiple affiliated hospitals; strong momentum—robust support from both the national government and the university). You’ll have the opportunity to work with the best and brightest on the most valuable projects—a rare opportunity for young scholars!

You probably have a lot of questions🤔

Q: Is this researcher’s field of study exciting, or is it just a gimmick/hype?

A: My research focuses primarily on AI science and foundational model training, with the goal of leveraging large models and multimodal data to advance scientific discoveries, particularly in biomedicine. Applications in this area include elucidating disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and precision medicine. Given current trends, this field has strong demand and growth potential in both General AI and the scientific community. Leading companies like Google and Microsoft have dedicated teams researching this area, and several outstanding startups (such as Phylo and Isomorphic Labs) have chosen to focus on using AI to tackle biological problems like disease research. Therefore, there is no need to worry. Overall, the evaluation of scientific research places greater emphasis on outcomes and translation. As long as we produce impactful work, there is no need to worry about career prospects or opportunities.

Q: This researcher’s research direction sounds promising. Do you have any resources to offer me?

A: AI research naturally requires sufficient computing power. I will provide you with stable research funding, ample computing resources (such as GPU clusters and access to model APIs), and interesting research topics. Additionally, I will support your applications for internships and visiting opportunities at leading AI institutions and labs (such as Shenzhen Hetao College, Beijing Zhongguancun College, and Shanghai AI Lab), as well as support your attendance of international conferences to foster your professional growth.

Q: What kind of person is this professor?

A: I focus my energy on conducting excellent research and leading my team effectively. With that in mind, I aim to foster a relaxed and vibrant team atmosphere where students and faculty—as well as students among themselves—can get along harmoniously and even support one another in the future. Meeting you is a matter of fate, and I sincerely hope that the students in my group will continue to thrive. I am also willing to provide whatever assistance I can. As for my character, my collaborators and the interns I’ve supervised will be able to offer a more objective assessment, and I welcome you to contact them for their input.

Q: With AI having such a huge impact right now, I’m really worried about the future. What should I do?

A: The people least likely to be replaced by AI are often the ones asking this very question. As AI professionals, we have easier access to cutting-edge developments in the field, which allows us to adapt more quickly. In the future, I hope to work with my team to build a platform and ecosystem for “AI for Science” and “Science for AI,” addressing real-world scientific problems and achieving breakthroughs, thereby carving out our own unique niche in AI research (this is actually quite a challenging task—it’s not something you can solve just by raising a few claws). I will also fully support you in successfully completing your degree and achieving your life goals as soon as possible. Whether you choose industry or academia, I can offer whatever assistance I can, including recommending outstanding students for internships or full-time positions at cutting-edge tech companies (ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, etc.) or for visits to overseas universities and research institutions (Stanford, Yale, Harvard, MIT, Broad Institute, etc.). I firmly believe: your success is my success!

Admission Requirements 🧑‍🎓

When it comes to recruiting students, I believe a "match" is the most important factor of all (See examples! Not matched🥲 and Matched😋). I hope you have a passion for life, are of good character, and possess a curiosity to explore the unknown. You should be willing to dedicate your time and energy to advancing AI and related scientific fields, and be eager to put our ideas into practice. Additionally, I hope you possess some of the following qualities, as they will make our collaboration more enjoyable:

1.    You are interested in my research areas, or are willing to learn more and explore them.

2.    A background in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, electrical/electronics engineering, automation, bioinformatics, or related fields, with a solid foundation (even though “vibe coding” is common nowadays, a problem-solving mindset remains crucial! Additionally, strong foundational knowledge will give you a better chance of passing the committee’s initial screening), along with excellent English language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

3. For postdoctoral applicants: You should be about to receive or have already received your Ph.D., and have a standout piece of work that you can share with me for review. You might also want to check opportunities in Shanghai QiZhi Institute/Xiongan Institute.

4. For Ph.D. students, RAs, and visiting scholars: I will give priority to candidates whose publications or research experience align most closely with my research interests.

Final Remarks 😄

To those of you who are still interested in me after reading this lengthy message, please feel free to send your CV, a brief description of your research interests (a paragraph or one page), your representative work (it’s okay if you don’t have any—I didn’t at first either), and what you consider to be your greatest strength (be confident—you’re outstanding) to my email (superyalecbb@gmail.com). I recommend using the following subject line: THU Application for [Position] – [Your Name]. I will respond as soon as possible. To those of you who are still on the fence, I want to say: there is no “right” choice, but together we can make the choice right! I hope we can build friendships while tackling research challenges, explore and grow together, and become the best team possible! Thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing you on campus!

Additionl information

[1] THU Website: https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/

[2] CollegeAI Overview: https://collegeai.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/About_Us/Message_From_Dean.htm

[3] Graduate Programs: https://collegeai.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/Graduate/Graduate_Programs.htm

[4] IIIS Overview: https://iiis.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/