Openings

We warmly welcome outstanding candidates to join our team, including postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. students, research assistants, and visiting students. Applicants from mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, medicine, biology, and related fields are encouraged to apply. While technical skills can be systematically developed, the primary driver of excellent research is genuine curiosity and sustained passion. For each candidate, we will tailor a research project aligned with your interests, background, and strengths.

Ph.D. Students

We plan to admit 2–3 Ph.D. students for Fall 2026 entry.

• Bachelor-to-Ph.D.: Publications are not required, but you should have completed at least one end-to-end research project and be able to clearly articulate your role and contributions. English proficiency: CET-6 > 480; TOEFL > 90; IELTS > 6.0.
• Master-to-Ph.D.: Track records at top venues in AI or computational biology are preferred; arXiv or “under review” manuscripts are also acceptable. Please highlight 1–2 representative works; I will focus on the quality and your research taste.
• Strong plus (any of the following):
  1. Experience with spatial biology or related biomedical data and completed projects;
  2. Solid mathematical foundation (e.g., math/physics major or awards in related competitions);
  3. Strong programming skills, with open-source projects or a technical blog;
  4. Strong letters from prior advisors or industry mentors.

For your information, please see the Call for Applications from Westlake University.

Visiting Students

Designed for undergraduates and master’s students intending to apply for a Ph.D. in our lab. Prior research closely aligned with our topics is preferred. The visit should be at least three months, during which you will conduct a focused short-term project (e.g., graduation project) or contribute to an ongoing project.

Research Assistants

Intended for students in a gap year or those who have secured a Ph.D. offer but have not yet enrolled. The visit should be at least six months. The role is research-oriented: you may independently complete a project or collaborate with the team on active research.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Candidates should be able to drive high-level research independently, with at least 1–2 publications at top AI or computational biology venues. Interdisciplinary experience is highly valued, especially combining methods from different domains to tackle real-world problems. Please highlight 1–2 representative works.

Resources and Mentoring

• Compute: Westlake University provides large-scale GPU clusters (A100/V100/A800/H800) with ongoing expansion; the lab will also maintain a dedicated in-house cluster.
• Mentoring: During onboarding, we offer full-stack, hands-on mentoring—from idea refinement and experimental design to writing and submission. After your first publication, mentoring will shift toward a hands-off style to encourage independent ideation, project leadership, and mentoring of junior students, with the goal of developing you into a self-sufficient researcher.
• Internships and Exchanges: Senior students are encouraged to pursue research internships or overseas exchanges. I will assist with referrals and collaborations to secure cutting-edge projects at top universities or companies. Alignment with your main research line is required so momentum continues upon return. Outstanding Ph.D. students may have opportunities for joint training with Prof. Xin Gao (Chair of Computer Science; Director of the Smart Health Initiative) at KAUST.
• Academic Engagement: We encourage deep collaborations with related groups, support attendance at top conferences (reimbursable), organize regular research sharing and hot-topic discussions, and host invited talks by leading scholars.
• Day-to-Day Support: Administrative assistance is provided to minimize paperwork and reimbursement burden, allowing you to focus on research.

How to Apply

Please email lihy@westlake.edu.cn (subject: University + Your Name + PhD/Postdoc/Visiting/RA Application) and complete the Google Form. Attach your CV, research statement, and any additional materials that demonstrate your capabilities.