Upcoming Events
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Past Events
Exploring the Intersection of AI and Entrepreneurship: Lessons and Insights from Silicon Valley to Acadia University
(3:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Talk by Dr. Junwei Zhang
Tech Lead Engineer/Investment Director
Date: March 8th
Time: 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Online
Teams link: Click here to join the meeting
Email: junweizhang23@gmail.com
Abstract: In today's fast-paced digital world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and driving the growth of startups. Junwei Zhang, with experience at Uber, Microsoft, and DoorDash, will share how Al can be integrated into new businesses, highlighting both challenges and opportunities.
With a background in computer vision and parallel computing, and hands-on leadership in tech projects, Zhang will discuss his journey through the dynamic tech and investment scene in Silicon Valley. The talk will focus on the latest developments in Al and the essentials of startup growth and venture capital, all based on his real-world experiences.
This session is intended as a mutual exchange of ideas, offering practical insights into how technology and entrepreneurship come together. It aims to inspire students with a clear understanding of the Al field and provide actionable advice for those interested in starting their own ventures or exploring the world of investment. Join us to learn how Al and entrepreneurship can shape the future and drive innovation.
Brief Bio: I am Junwei Zhang, and I am both an engineer and a venture capital investor with a robust background in technology and research. I earned my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University in New York. My journey in the tech industry began prior to the Uber IPO when I joined Uber as a software engineer. Following this, I embarked on roles within the Microsoft Azure Cloud + AI team and the DoorDash Growth team, contributing to significant projects and innovations. In addition to my industry experience, I serve as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (TCSVT), where I oversee contributions in areas pivotal to our field. My academic contributions include over 10 papers published in top-tier conferences and journals such as ICCV, CAD, CAGD, and TPDS, covering a range of topics from computer vision to geometry processing and parallel computing.
Venture capital investment is another avenue through which I engage with the tech ecosystem. I have led investments in startups, including those that empower Stanford researchers to leverage new AI technologies for mental health initiatives. Moreover, I am an active board member of a Silicon Valley-based tech entrepreneurship leadership community, where we organize monthly webinar discussions to foster innovation and leadership in the tech sector.
CS Seminar: Exploring the Intersection of AI and Entrepreneurship: Lessons and Insights from Silicon Valley to Acadia University (Seminar held with the LaunchBox)
(2:30 pm - 3:30 pm)
Talk by Dr. Junwei Zhang
Tech Lead Engineer/Investment Director
Date: March 8th
Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: Online
Teams link: Click here to join the meeting
Profile: LinkedIn
Email: junweizhang23@gmail.com
Abstract: In our rapidly evolving digital age, the impact of Artificial Intelligence on industries and the dynamism of startup ecosystems offer a unique canvas for innovation. Junwei Zhang, who has contributed to technology and venture capital through roles at companies including Uber, Microsoft, and DoorDash, shares insights into the integration of AI with entrepreneurial ventures, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities this convergence presents.
Drawing from a solid foundation in computer vision and parallel computing, alongside practical involvement in tech project leadership, Zhang aims to share his pathway and insights gained from navigating the vibrant tech and investment landscape of Silicon Valley. The discussion will allocate a thoughtful portion to AI — addressing its current frontiers and challenges — while also delving into the realms of startup development and venture capital, informed by Zhang's direct experiences and collaborative endeavors.
This session is designed to be an exchange of learnings rather than a highlight of personal accolades. It seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of how technology and entrepreneurship intersect, providing valuable perspectives for those interested in shaping the future of tech and business. Attendees will gain a broader understanding of the AI landscape, alongside practical advice on entrepreneurship and investment, fostering a spirit of innovation and growth.
Join us for a journey through the complexities and triumphs of merging AI with entrepreneurship, guided by the shared experiences from Silicon Valley's ecosystem to the academic and entrepreneurial communities at Acadia University.
Brief Bio: I am Junwei Zhang, and I am both an engineer and a venture capital investor with a robust background in technology and research. I earned my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University in New York. My journey in the tech industry began prior to the Uber IPO when I joined Uber as a software engineer. Following this, I embarked on roles within the Microsoft Azure Cloud + AI team and the DoorDash Growth team, contributing to significant projects and innovations. In addition to my industry experience, I serve as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (TCSVT), where I oversee contributions in areas pivotal to our field. My academic contributions include over 10 papers published in top-tier conferences and journals such as ICCV, CAD, CAGD, and TPDS, covering a range of topics from computer vision to geometry processing and parallel computing.
Venture capital investment is another avenue through which I engage with the tech ecosystem. I have led investments in startups, including those that empower Stanford researchers to leverage new AI technologies for mental health initiatives. Moreover, I am an active board member of a Silicon Valley-based tech entrepreneurship leadership community, where we organize monthly webinar discussions to foster innovation and leadership in the tech sector.
Poster Link
CS seminar: AI for healthcare: CNNs, Transformers, and Beyond
Title: AI for healthcare - CNNs, Transformers, and Beyond.
Presenter: Moulay Akhloufi, Professor at University of Moncton and Founder of the Perception, Robotics and Intelligent Machines (PRIME) research group
Summary: In recent years, we have seen important progress in the field of AI for healthcare, largely attributed to the impressive progress resulting from the application of deep learning. Various medical disciplines, including ophthalmology and radiology, have experienced the positive impact of these advancements. This talk will present the latest developments in leveraging deep learning for medical imaging. This includes the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and deep Transformers. Additionally, I will illustrate how the integration of deep ensemble learning improves the performance of specific tasks in this domain. I will also explore the application of deep learning in detecting eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and AMD, among others. Moreover, I will discuss the utilization of deep learning and transformers in radiology for the identification and diagnosis of a diverse type of diseases. In addition, cases in oncology, particularly in breast cancer and skin cancer detection, will be showcased. Given the importance of understanding the decisions made by these algorithms, I will provide examples of explainability techniques. Furthermore, I will emphasize the significance of federated learning in enhancing the training performance of deep models while ensuring privacy. Finally, I will touch upon potential research directions in this evolving field.
Short bio: Professor Moulay Akhloufi holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University Abdelmalek Essaadi (Morocco) and a Bachelor of Engineering from Telecom Saint-Etienne (France). He has a Master's and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal and Laval University (Canada), respectively. Additionally, he holds an MBA from Laval University. Presently, Professor Akhloufi serves as Professor in Computer Science at Université de Moncton, where he leads the Perception, Robotics, and Intelligent Machines (PRIME) research lab, and holds the position of Director at the Center for Artificial Intelligence NB Power. Prior to joining Université de Moncton in 2016, he gained valuable experience in the industry and in technology transfer within the fields of machine vision and robotics. Professor Akhloufi's research expertise spans across the domains of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and intelligent robotic systems, where he has contributed to over two hundred publications. Additionally, he is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a member of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
WISE Acadia July Camp 2022
Save the date! WISE Acadia is hosting the WISE Acadia Camp on July 11-15, 2022, for girls entering grades 7-9! WISE Acadia campers will live on the Acadia University campus and participate in various hands-on experiences related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM)! More information here!
Fundraising in AI Forum
(9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
The Nonprofit A.I. Forum is designed to give nonprofit leaders access to the latest technology and reposition the nonprofit sector from being under-served to first in line to access experts and learn the tactics that can give the third sector the edge. We have scoured the globe for the best experts, the leaders in A.I. adoption, and brought them together for an immersive digital experience.
Framed from the outset on the ethics and digital challenges faced by nonprofits, Acadia University and Fundmetric bring together leaders in planned giving, major gifts, donor retention, donor experience, and A.I. adoption experts for an unforgettable experience. All of these sessions are transcended by an emphasis on diversity and inclusion and how this is a tenant of anti-bias both for machine learning and beyond. We'll be discussing many topics during the forum, here are few examples:
Digital Transformation and Opportunities for AI
Learn about the latest in digital transformation and where the opportunities for AI exist for the nonprofit sector.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nonprofit AI
Why efforts in AI development and implementation need to include diverse groups.
The Latest in AI Research and Practical Application
Hear from academics and nonprofit industry leaders alike as they present their latest papers, projects, and practical experience.
Fundraising in A.I. Forum Website
This conference is organized by our very own Dr. Greg Lee and will feature talks from Dr. Lee and Dr. Silver as well as many other experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Fundraising. For information on attending and free admission please reach out to 148310p@acadiau.ca
