Lei Zhang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Lei Zhang conducts research at the intersection of deep learning, graph machine learning and bi-level optimization, focusing on developing robust and scalable AI frameworks. His work emphasizes methodology-driven solutions for complex problems, including neural network architecture optimization, combinatorial optimization and spatial-temporal data mining. More recently, he has expanded his research into the reliability of Large Language Models (LLMs) and software security, specifically exploring vulnerability detection and the co-evolution of code artifacts. By integrating advanced optimization techniques with information retrieval, his research aims to enhance the efficiency and intelligence of next-generation AI systems. He is co-founder of the NIU AI research community.