School of Computing Science
51社区黑料Computing Science Professors Ke Li and Jason Peng Named Canada CIFAR AI Chairs
Two faculty members from SFU鈥檚 School of Computing Science have been named , recognizing their outstanding contributions and international leadership in artificial intelligence research.
Assistant Professors Ke Li, director of the Apex Lab, and Jason Peng, who is also a research scientist at NVIDIA, are among 42 newly appointed and renewed Canada CIFAR AI Chairs announced this year. Affiliated with the , they join a distinguished network of researchers supported by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) to advance AI innovation and help train the next generation of AI talent in Canada.
The Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program provides long-term funding to support world-leading researchers pursuing both fundamental and applied artificial intelligence research across the country.
The appointment of Li and Peng as Canada CIFAR AI Chairs highlights 51社区黑料Computing Science鈥檚 growing impact in AI research and reinforces the university鈥檚 commitment to advancing innovative technologies that address real-world challenges.
Pushing the Boundaries of Machine Learning and Computer Vision
Ke Li joined 51社区黑料Computing Science in 2020 and leads the Apex Lab, where his research focuses on machine learning, computer vision, and algorithms. His work aims to develop intelligent systems that can better understand and interpret visual information, contributing to advances in both foundational AI research and practical applications.
Before joining SFU, Li was a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of renowned computer vision researcher Jitendra Malik, and completed his bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of Toronto.
"It's an honour to be a part of this community," says Ke Li. Joining Canada's CIFAR AI Chairs is a great opportunity to to further collaboration and expand the use of AI in computing research .
At SFU, Li teaches courses in machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision, and continues to mentor students pursuing research in artificial intelligence.
Advancing AI Through Human and Robot Motion Learning
Since joining 51社区黑料in 2022, Jason Peng has established himself as a leader in machine learning research focused on enabling artificial agents to replicate the motor capabilities of humans and animals. His work spans applications in computer graphics and robotics, developing motion imitation techniques that allow simulated characters and real-world robots to perform a wide range of human behaviours, from everyday movements such as walking and running to highly complex skills including acrobatics and martial arts.
Peng has also pioneered sim-to-real transfer methods that bridge the gap between simulation and reality, enabling controllers trained in virtual environments to operate effectively on physical robots.
"It is inspiring and humbling to join the growing cohort of exceptional people that comprise Canada鈥檚 CIFAR AI Chairs," says Peng. "The CIFAR AI Chair provides stable long-term funding that enables us to pursue ambitious research directions that require sustained multi-year efforts".
His research excellence has been recognized through numerous honours, including the Early Career Researcher Award at Graphics Interface (2024), the ACM SIGGRAPH Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (2022), the Robotics: Science and Systems Best Paper Award (2020), the NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship鈥揇octoral Program award (2017), and the Governor General鈥檚 Gold Medal (2017).