# Lichuan Xiang | 向力川--- ## Education ### Ph.D. in Computer Science (2019-2024) **University of Warwick, United Kingdom** - Research Focus: Efficient Neural Architecture Search and Pruning - Thesis: *Efficient Automated Neural Architecture Design* - Supervised by: [Prof. Hongkai Wen](https://hongkaiw.github.io/) - Examiner: External [Prof. Tian He](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hc1m_BQAAAAJ&hl=en), Internal [Prof. Victor Sanchez](https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/dcs/people/victor_sanchez/) ### M.Sc. in Computer Science (2017-2018) **University of Warwick, United Kingdom** - Thesis: *Transfer Learning and CNN in Human Pose Estimation* - Graduated with Merit - Supervised by: [Prof. Hongkai Wen](https://hongkaiw.github.io/) ### B.Eng. in Digital Media Technology (2012-2016) **Huaqiao University, China** - GPA: 84.1/100 (Top 4 in class) - Thesis: *Human Action Estimation based on RGBD Camera using HOPC Features* ## Professional Experience ### Founding Research Scientist (Full-time) (2024.04-Present) **Collov.ai, Beijing** - Lead Project Indoor 3D space reconstruction from Single Image: related to depth estimation, object recognition and segmentation, point-cloud analysis, camera estimation tasks. - Lead Diffusion Image-Edit Model Training on different tasks: Object Erase, Object Insert, Super-resolution, Space planning - Lead Diffusion model performance optimization, on control module pruning, acceleration and pipeline parallelization - Lead Core Development on Product [Virtual Staging Tools](https://collov.ai/virtual-staging) $200K MRR from scratch to now, Monthly growth up to 66% ### Honorary Research Fellow (Full-time) (2024-2027) **University of Warwick** - Lead advanced research in machine learning and computer vision - Supervise doctoral research projects - Collaborate with industry partners on cutting-edge AI solutions ### Data Scientist - KTP Associate (Full-time) (2023-2024) **Warwick Business School** - Developed legal large-scale language models and RAG systems - Conducted deep learning and data analysis training sessions - Implemented advanced NLP solutions for legal document processing ### Academic Collaborator (Part-time) (2019-2023) **Samsung AI Centre Cambridge** - Researched neural architecture search and model compression - Developed super-resolution algorithms - Published multiple papers in top-tier conferences ### Data Scientist & Research Assistant (Part-time) (2020-2023) **University of Warwick** - Led development of "AI Essay-Analyst" - an academic writing tool featured in Times Higher Education - Implemented deep learning and NLP algorithms for automated essay analysis - Created visualization tools for argument structure and writing quality assessment - Integrated with WBS marking criteria for comprehensive feedback generation - Co-organized "Streetscape Perception Modelling" project at PLATIAL'21 Conference - Collaborated with researchers from University of Warwick on urban perception modeling - Focused on theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches in streetscape analysis ### Computer Vision Engineer (Full-time) (2018-2019) **4Paradigm, Beijing** - Developed AutoCV deep learning framework - Implemented automatic data augmentation systems - Created evaluation tools for AutoDL - Contributed to AutoDL Challenge platform development - Developed AutoCV access platform for automated deep learning challenges - Supported challenge organization and technical infrastructure - Results published in IEEE TPAMI (DOI: 10.1109/TPAMI.2021.3075372) ## Professional Activities ### Workshops & Events - **Co-organizer**, "Streetscape Perception Modelling – Theoretical Considerations and Methodological Possibilities", PLATIAL'21 Conference (December 2021) - Collaborated with researchers from University of Warwick on urban perception modeling - Focused on theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches in streetscape analysis ## Selected Publications ### Conference Papers 1. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2024). *Towards neural architecture search through hierarchical generative modeling*. ICML 2024. 2. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2023). *Zero-cost operation scoring in differentiable architecture search*. AAAI 2023. 3. **Pham, T.**,...**Xiang, L.**, et al. (2023). *Towards data-agnostic pruning at initialization: what makes a good sparse mask?*. NeurIPS 2023. 4. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2023). *Exploiting network compressibility and topology in zero-cost NAS*. AutoML Conference 2023. 🏆 **Best Paper Award** 5. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2023). *DPaI: Differentiable Pruning at Initialization with Node-Path Balance Principle*. ICLR 2023. ### Preprints 1. **Xu, M.**, **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2024). *No More Adam: Learning Rate Scaling at Initialization is All You Need*. arXiv. 2. **Fang, Z.**, **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2025). *FlexControl: Computation-Aware ControlNet with Differentiable Router for Text-to-Image Generation*. arXiv. ### Workshop Papers 1. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2023). *Generating Neural Network Architectures with Conditional Graph Normalizing Flows*. AutoML Conference Workshop 2023. 2. **Xiang, L.**, et al. (2021). *Temporal kernel consistency for blind video super-resolution*. ICCV Workshop 2021. ## Honors & Awards ### Academic Excellence - 🎓 Full Ph.D. Scholarship, University of Warwick (2019-2023) - 🏆 Best Paper Award, AutoML Conference 2023 - 🏆 Top 1 and Top2 Solutions on Zero-Cost NAS Competition, AutoML Conference 2022 - 🥇 Best Presentation Award (Machine Learning Track), Warwick Computer Science Graduate Conference 2021 ### Software & Innovation Competitions - 🥇 First Prize, Fujian Software Design Competition (2015) - 🥇 First Prize, Cross-Strait Information Service Innovation Competition (2013, 2014) - 🥈 Second Prize, China College Students' Computer Design Competition (2015) - 🥈 Second Prize, Fujian "Challenge Cup" Academic Competition (2015) ### Industry Recognition - 🏅 CMB FinTech Training Camp Excellence Award (2018) ## Skills - **Programming Languages**: Python, C++, PyTorch, TensorFlow - **Research Areas**: Neural Architecture Search, Model Compression, Computer Vision, Deep Learning - **Tools & Frameworks**: AutoML, ControlNet, Diffusion Models, RAG Systems - **Languages**: English (Fluent), Chinese (Native) ---