02 Apr 2026
The 2026 Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) PhD Forum recently concluded with great success. PhD students from the School of Mathematics and Physics delivered exceptional performances, securing multiple awards. This year's forum brought together nearly 550 doctoral researchers from home and abroad to explore academic innovation in the era of artificial intelligence.
Among them, Abylay Bissekenov received the Best Poster Presentation Award; Tao Yan and Ze Yuan were awarded the Excellent Poster Presentation Award; Rui Wang and Ruihan Dong won the Excellent Oral Presentation Award.
Abylay Bissekenov’s research focuses on the dynamics of star clusters using gravitational N-body simulations, revealing the evolutionary process of star clusters from their formation to dissolution. He stated, “By varying the initial properties of the star clusters, these simulations can predict evolutionary behaviours under different conditions and provide theoretical support for future observations. Due to their high computational complexity, N-body simulations have also driven the development of high-performance parallel computing. Their application value extends beyond astrophysics itself, even benefiting the field of artificial intelligence.”
Tao Yan’s research focuses on asset pricing and machine learning. He shared, “Participating in this PhD forum was not just an opportunity to showcase my research findings, but also an invaluable learning and growth experience. Whilst preparing and presenting my poster, I constantly reflected on how to articulate my research more accurately and comprehensibly, which has deepened my understanding of academic communication. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Yi Cao, for his meticulous guidance, encouragement, and support throughout the research process. I am also grateful to XJTLU for providing such an open and international platform, enabling me to exchange ideas with researchers from various fields, broaden my horizons, and pursue my future academic path with greater determination.”
At the forum, over 300 academic posters were exhibited, and nearly 300 all-English thematic presentations were successfully delivered, covering 16 disciplines including biological sciences, business, and mathematical sciences.
The School of Mathematics and Physics extends its warmest congratulations to all the award-winning students. The School remains committed to deepening students' academic backgrounds and continuously cultivating their core competencies across multiple dimensions, including analytical, communicative, programming, teamwork, and practical problem-solving skills. We look forward to witnessing more remarkable academic achievements in the future.
By Qinru Liu
02 Apr 2026