Ming Li

{{Short description|Canadian computer scientist, University of Waterloo}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Ming Li

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| field = Mathematics, Computer science, Bioinformatics

| work_institution = University of Waterloo
University of California at Santa Barbara
York University
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| alma_mater = Wayne State University
Cornell University

| doctoral_advisor = Juris Hartmanis

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| thesis_title = Lower Bounds in Computational Complexity

| thesis_year = 1985

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Ming Li is a Canadian computer scientist, known for his contributions to Kolmogorov complexity, bioinformatics, machine learning theory, and analysis of algorithms.M. Li and P. Vitanyi, Inductive reasoning and Kolmogorov complexity. Journal of Computer and System Sciences, (special issue for Structure’89) 44:2(1992), 343-384. Li is currently a university professor at the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo.{{cite web|url=https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/about/people/mli|title=Profile of Ming Li|date=8 February 2017}} He holds a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics. In addition to academic achievements, his research has led to the founding of two independent companies.

Education

Li received a Master of Science degree (Computer Science) from Wayne State University in 1980 and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Computer Science) under the supervision of Juris Hartmanis, from Cornell University in 1985. His post-doctoral research was conducted at Harvard University under the supervision of Leslie Valiant.{{mathgenealogy|id=94793|name=Ming Li}}

Career

Paul Vitanyi and Li pioneered Kolmogorov complexity theory[http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Applications_of_algorithmic_information_theory M. Li, P. M. B. Vitányi, "Applications of Algorithmic Information Theory", Scholarpedia, 2(5):2658; 2007] and applications, and co-authored the textbook An Introduction to Kolmogorov Complexity and Its Applications.[https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Kolmogorov-Complexity-Applications-Computer/dp/0387339981/ref=dp_ob_title_bk= M. Li and P. M. B.Vitányi, An Introduction to Kolmogorov Complexity and its Applications, Springer, New York, 1993 (1st Ed.), 1997 (2nd ed.), 2008 (3rd ed.)]

In 2000, Li founded Bioinformatics Solutions Inc, a biomedical software company, for tandem mass spectrometry protein characterization. Originally developed to identify novel peptides through de novo peptide sequencing, the technology has been adapted to address antibody characterization. Other products have included protein structure prediction, general purpose homology searching, and next generation sequencing glyco-peptide research.

In 2013, Li co-founded RSVP Technologies Inc, an artificial intelligence company. Utilizing deep neural networks, and natural language processing, RSVP Technologies has created software to automatically listen and respond to questions in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. The software has been applied on voice-control navigation systems, personal tour guide applications, robotics, and other intelligent electronics.{{cite web | url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5712720-ask-computer-a-question-computer-answers/ | title=Ask computer a question, computer answers | date=8 July 2015 | publisher=The Record | accessdate=28 October 2016}}

Awards and honours

  • 1996 - E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, NSERC{{Cite web|url=http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Steacie-Steacie/Profiles-Profils_eng.asp?ID=1072|title = Government of Canada announces talented and diverse group of new and renewed Canada Research Chairs|date = 28 June 2016}}
  • 1997 - Award of Merit, FCCP{{Cite web|url=http://fccpontario.com/education-foundation/award-of-merit/award-recipients/|title = Award Recipients – FCCP}}
  • 2001 - Killam Research Fellowship, Canada Council for the Arts{{Cite web |url=http://killamprogram.canadacouncil.ca/~/media/images/cumulative%20list/2016/killam%20research%20fellowships%20past%20recipients%20-%20by%20year.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-08-15 |archive-date=2017-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313235050/http://killamprogram.canadacouncil.ca/~/media/images/cumulative%20list/2016/killam%20research%20fellowships%20past%20recipients%20-%20by%20year.pdf |url-status=dead }}
  • 2002 - Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics, Tier I{{Cite web|url=http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileID=748|title = Canada Research Chairs|date = 29 November 2012}}
  • 2006 - Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Pioneer Awardhttps://uwaterloo.ca/math50/international-honours-and-awards {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
  • 2006 - Fellow, Association for Computing Machinery
  • 2006 - Fellow, Royal Society of Canada{{Cite web|url=http://rsc-src.ca/en/fellows|title = Fellows | the Royal Society of Canada}}
  • 2009 - Premier’s Discovery Award (Innovation Leadership){{Cite web|url=https://news.ontario.ca/mris/en/2009/05/premiers-discovery-awards.html|title = Ontario Newsroom}}
  • 2010 - Killam Prize
  • 2021 - Fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology.{{cite web |title=March 02, 2021: ISCB Congratulates and Introduces the 2021 Class of Fellows! |url=https://www.iscb.org/iscb-news-items/4626-2021-march02-iscb-congratulates-introduces-2021-class-fellows |website=www.iscb.org |access-date=17 June 2022}}

References

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