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Dr Leishi Zhang

Reader in Computing & Research Supervisor

School of Engineering, Technology and Design

I joined CCCU in October 2021 as Reader and computing research lead.

Dr Leishi Zhang is a reader in computing. She joined CCCU in 2021 as computing research lead and programme director of postgraduate research in computing. Her research interests include information visualization, machine learning, visual analytics, and human-centred AI/machine learning.

Dr Zhang received her PhD at the Centre of Intelligent Data Analysis, Brunel University, for her work on DNA Microarray Gene Expression Time Series Data Modelling and Visualization (funded by EPSRC, 2003-7).

She worked as postdoctoral research associate at University of Kent on the EPSRC funded project Visualization with Euler Diagrams (2007-10) and postdoctoral research fellow at University of Konstanz, Germany, on the DFG funded project Explorative Analysis and Visualization of Large Information Spaces (2010-13).

Dr Zhang joined Middlesex University in 2013 as lecturer (2013-15) and later was promoted to senior lecture (2015-21). At Middlesex she was investigator of several research projects including the EU FP7 VALCRI project (2013-18, as CI) that received the Commercialization Award of the European Commission Security Innovation Award 2022, the DSTL funded Patterns of Life Visualization Experiment Project (2014-15, as CI), and the Big Data Visualization Project funded by CGI (2014-15, as PI).

Research interests & Supervison

Do you want to do a research degree? Are you interested in Engineering or related topics? Then I would be pleased to hear from you.

My background is in data mining, AI, and information visualization.

My research interest is in combining machine learning and interactive visualization techniques to support the analysis of large complex data, including 

  • Human centred explainable Al
  • Algorithmic transparency
  • Visual analytics on high-dimensional data
  • Time series data modelling and visualization
  • Visualizing complex set relations in data. 

(Below is a list of publications since 2020, full list can be found here)

Journal

Book Chapter

Conference and Workshop

Research Projects

  • Advancing IoT Security and Privacy: Federated Learning Strategies for Smart Environments. Researcher(s): Mr Victor Obarafor. Supervisor(s): Dr Mandy Qi, Dr Leishi Zhang. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Investigating the security issues of IoT devices using machine learning techniques. Researcher(s): Miss Badeea Al Sukhni. Supervisor(s): Dr Soumya Manna, Dr Leishi Zhang. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Towards a Sustainable and Circular Economy: Harnessing Immersive Technologies and AI for Eco-Innovations, Pro-Ecological Transformation, and CSR-Driven Initiatives in the Southeast of England. Researcher(s): Ms Gabriela Matei. Supervisor(s): Professor Abdullahi Ahmed, Dr Leishi Zhang, Dr Scott Turner. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Trustworthy AI for Ambient Assisted Living. Researcher(s): Mrs MERLIN KASIRAJAN. Supervisor(s): Dr Hannan Azhar, Dr Scott Turner, Dr Leishi Zhang. [Postgraduate Research Project]

I am a programme committee member of a number of international conferences and reviewed papers for journals and conferences including IEEE TVCG, IEEE SMCC, and Neurocomputing. I also reviewed grand proposals for EPSRC.