Image
Stephen Baek to Teach Physics and Deep Neural Networks in India
Associate Professor of Data Science Stephen Baek is heading to India to teach a two-week course on physics-based deep learning techniques, showing how AI can solve real-world engineering and applied physics problems through hands-on coding and interactive lessons.
India’s Ministry of Education invited Baek to participate in the prestigious Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) program. As part of this initiative, Baek will deliver this month a two-week lecture series titled Physics-Aware Deep Learning. This newly developed course is tailored for students and researchers in engineering, applied sciences, and physics, aiming to teach data science and deep learning according to the scientific demands of these disciplines.
Professor Baek’s course will cover fundamental and advanced topics in deep learning, including deep neural networks, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), neural operators, physics-aware recurrent convolutions (PARC), and generative diffusion models. The curriculum will include both lectures and hands-on lab sessions, where students will develop physics-aware deep learning algorithms using Python. This practical approach will equip students with the necessary skills to apply deep learning techniques to complex physical and engineering problems.
"I'm honored and excited about this great opportunity to meet and interact with Indian students, researchers, and academics,” said Baek. “Hopefully, this will lead to the dissemination of some of the most recent breakthroughs in data science and new global scientific collaborations between UVA Data Science and Indian researchers."
GIAN is designed to leverage the expertise of eminent international faculty, scientists, and entrepreneurs to enrich India's higher education system. By engaging top global talent, GIAN aims to enhance India's academic resources, accelerate educational reforms, and elevate the country's scientific and technological standing on the world stage.
The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur (IIITDM Jabalpur) will host the in-person lectures, which are open to students across India. Founded in 2005, IIITDM Jabalpur specializes in information technology-enabled design and manufacturing education. In 2014 under Indian Parliament, it became the Institute of National Importance, further solidifying its role in advancing India's technological and engineering education.
Joining Baek are Drs. Pritee Khanna and Puneet Tandon, faculty members at IIITDM Jabalpur, who will co-teach select sections of the course.
Baek is an applied geometer, scientist, and entrepreneur who studies the space of shapes using machine learning with applications including applied physics, materials science, sports biomechanics, and medicine. Before joining the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science in 2021, he was an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa, where he founded the Visual Intelligence Laboratory. His research focuses on geometric data analysis, deep learning, and data-driven design.
