Yanfang MO
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Yanfang MO, Ph.D.

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Dr. Yanfang Mo is currently an Assistant Professor with the School of Data Science, Lingnan University (LU). She obtained a PhD degree from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), advised by Prof. Li QIU. She was mentored by Prof. Pravin VARAIYA, during her visit to Univerisity of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). She was a postdoc at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), working with Prof. S. Joe QIN, Prof. Minghua CHEN, and Prof. Lishuai LI. Before joining LU, she served as a VPRDO Research Assistant Professor at ECE, HKUST.

Contact

  • Division of Industrial Data Science, School of Data Science

  • Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

  • Office: Room 105/3, 1/F, Wong Administration Building

  • Telephone: (852) 2616 8137

  • E-mail: yanfangmo at LN.edu.hk

Research Interests

I have dedicated myself to the development of smart cities via principle-based and data-driven approaches. My primary focus lies at the intersection of data science, decision-making, control, and applied mathematics, with their applications to smart grid and intelligent transportation. My interest spans various areas, including data analytics, statistical learning, online and combinatorial optimization, partial order programming, matrix theory, graph theory, game theory, and control theory.

PhD, Mphil, RA, PostDoc, and Visiting Scholar Opportunities

!!! Two PhD Positions Available (2025/26 Intake) !!!

Highly motivated students and postdocs are encouraged to explore opportunities within her group, working on developing smart cities via principle-based and data-driven approaches. Successful Mphil/PhD candidates will be provided with a full scholarship. Exceptional PhD candidates will be nominated for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship. Postdocs can consider applying for the LU Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Scheme (PPRF). If you have the passion, feel free to send your resume along with an explanation of your motivations and aspirations.

I am confident that we can chat and uncover potentials about the topics toward smart cities, including but not limited to

  • Data science for smart cities such as reduced-dimensional dynamic data analytics;

  • Partial order programming (POP), e.g., optimization with majorization-ordered objectives;

  • Resource allocation in smart cities, including online optimization and unmanned traffic management (UTM);

  • Emerging lifestyles for smart cities, like demand-centered service design.

The following qualities will greatly enhance our intellectual journey:

  • Curiosity and self-motivation;

  • Sharing and respecting;

  • Lifelong learning;

  • Dedication.

Selected Publications

  1. Y. Mo and S. J. Qin, "Probabilistic reduced-dimensional vector autoregressive modeling with oblique projections," 1st-round review under Automatica, 2024. [arXiv] [Joe's talk at the USC Marshall School of Business]

  2. Y. Mo, Q. Lin, M. Chen, and S. J. Qin, "Real-time peak-demand minimization with energy storage using competitive ratio," 1st-round review under Automatica, 2024. [arXiv]

  3. X. He, L. Li*, Y. Mo, J. Huang, and S. J. Qin, "A distributed route network planning method with congestion pricing for drone delivery services in cities," Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, vol. 160, no. 104536, 2024. [Link]

  4. Y. Mo*, W. Chen, K. You, and L. Qiu, "Optimal (0,1)-matrix completion with majorization ordered objectives," Automatica, vol. 160, no. 111430, 2024. (Regular Paper) [Link]

  5. Y. Mo*, W. Chen, S. Z. Khong, and L. Qiu, "A structure-tensor approach to integer matrix completion in indivisible resource allocation," IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 67, no. 9, pp. 4541–4554, 2022. (Full Paper) [Link]

  6. Y. Mo, Q. Lin, M. Chen, and S. J. Qin, “Optimal peak-minimizing online algorithms for large-load users with energy storage,” in IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM), 2021. (Best Poster Award) [Link]

  7. Y. Mo*, W. Chen, L. Qiu, and P. Varaiya, "Market implementation of multiple-arrival multiple-deadline differentiated energy services," Automatica, vol. 116, no. 108933, 2020. [Link]

News

  • [06/2024] Our paper “Data-driven approaches for satellite SADA system health monitoring with limited data” has been accepted by CASE 2024.

  • [04/2024] I delivered a talk titled “Majorization-Related Partial Order Programming: Basic Problems, Theory, and Applications” at ZJU Yuquan Campus. [slides]

  • [05/2024] Our paper “iPOP with Majorization Ordered Objectives in Privacy and Security” has been accepted by ASCC 2024.

Selected Honors and Awards

  • IEEE INFOCOM 2021 Best Poster Award

  • Overseas Research Award, HKUST 2017

  • Hong Kong PhD Fellowship 2014/15

  • Chunhui Scholarship, Zhejiang University, 2014

Hobbies

Hiking, basketball, squash …