Directory profile for Dr. Runlong Yu

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Alabama. Before joining UA, I was a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Pittsburgh. I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2023, following a B.Eng. in Computer Science from USTC in 2017. My primary research interest is to advance artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to address real-world challenges with broad societal and scientific impact. A central theme of my work is the development of machine learning models that integrate scientific knowledge, enabling adaptation to dynamic and uncertain environments. This interdisciplinary approach has applications across hydrology, aquatic science, wildfire science, climate science, agriculture, and biomedicine. A unifying perspective is to adopt a holistic Earth-system framework by developing foundation models and autonomous AI agents that capture the coupled dynamics of environmental, hydrological, ecological, and social systems. Methodologically, my research leverages multimodal datasets (including remote sensing imagery, in-situ measurements, and process-based simulations) and incorporates them into physics-guided learning and retrieval-augmented frameworks. These methods aim to synthesize knowledge, facilitate hypothesis generation, and model complex natural systems. At UA, I lead the AI for Science Lab, where we develop algorithms, tools, and platforms to advance interdisciplinary science. Our lab welcomes students and collaborators interested in AI, machine learning, and data-driven discovery for sustainability, resilience, and intelligent infrastructure.