Distinguished Professor Jie Lu
Enter Distinguished Professor Jie Lu, an expert in data-driven prediction and data-driven decision-making in fast-changing environments. As the Director of the UTS Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the largest AI centre in Australia, Lu works at the precipice of the information age.
“We’re in a big data era. Every organisation has a huge amount of data available, but only a few use it well to support decision making,” says Lu.
“My work on fuzzy transfer learning for prediction and concept drift detection for adaptive decision support systems will shape the ways that organisations use data to make decisions in complex and uncertain situations. The applications will benefit large and complex corporations and positively impact the economy and society.”
Effective decision making delivers direct benefits to industry and the community by increasing economic activity and helping organisations to manage risk. And its potential for impact is widespread – Lu has applied her expertise in industry collaborations across a wide range of sectors, from garment production to telecommunications, energy and education, to name a few.
Recent projects include a partnership with Optus, Australia’s second-largest telecommunications company, to develop and implement two intelligent recommender systems. These tools help clients choose the most appropriate Optus products and services for their needs, as well as supporting Optus to drive sales and customer retention strategies.
Lu has also provided policy support to the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, developing algorithms that have been successfully implemented into nuclear safeguard evaluation software. She is currently developing data-driven decision models to optimise product transport for a dairy logistics company in the country.
Jie’s research in data-driven decision-making has had a strong impact on the field of data science and subsequently the function of organisations – both public and private institutions. The capacity for Jie’s research to positively benefit society and the economy is tremendous.
— Mary O’Kane, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
Such is the profile of her work that Lu was shortlisted for the Excellence in Data Science award at the 2017 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, one of the most prestigious science awards in the country. The award recognises an individual or team conducting breakthrough research or significant impact in the field of data science.
Her achievements are all the more impressive given the comparative rarity of women working at senior levels in STEMM. She says that UTS provides fertile ground for women pursuing research excellence, and that a suite of initiatives within the Faculty of Engineering and IT are part of a widespread effort to address gender inequality in traditional STEMM fields.
“We have implemented initiatives such as seeding grants, workshops, seminars, and visiting programs to support female researchers at various stages in their career progression,” she says.
For Lu, engaging with the critical challenges of our time is nothing new. Outside the lab, as the Associate Dean for Research Excellence, she’s developing a UTS Research Excellence Framework that will further cement UTS’s reputation as a leader in national and international research communities.
Research team
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Laureate Fellow, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
