On a sunny autumn afternoon in London, new students thronged the halls of the Huxley Building at Imperial College, while graduates captured memories in the courtyard. Inside, Associate Professor Li Yingzhen held her weekly research meeting, where she was surrounded by nine male PhD students. Notably, she mentioned, “I have one female PhD student, but she”s not currently in London,” highlighting the enduring gender imbalance in computer science.
Li”s academic journey began in China, where she initially studied mathematics. However, during her second year, she discovered her passion for data rather than abstract theories. Participation in summer schools and data science competitions ultimately led her to the University of Cambridge for a PhD in machine learning.
Her research specializes in probabilistic machine learning, which involves modeling data generation. “Imagine asking an algorithm to draw a cat,” she explained. “You mention “cat,” but the model must infer the hidden details — that”s where probability plays a crucial role.” Following her PhD, she spent two and a half years as a senior researcher at Microsoft Research in Cambridge. A pivotal moment in her career occurred in 2018 when her paper on score matching caught the attention of Ilya Sutskever, the then chief scientist at OpenAI. “He emailed me after the conference,” she recalled. “He appreciated my work style and invited me to interview for a research scientist position at OpenAI,” an offer she declined but regarded as a significant acknowledgment of her research.
Throughout her career, Li often found herself as the sole woman in her lab. “During my PhD, I was the only woman among fifty or sixty people for nearly three years,” she noted. This experience heightened her awareness of gender dynamics in computing. “I frequently had to persuade my male colleagues using objective data and evidence to make my case and foster better collaboration,” she remarked. “I learned to let the data and facts speak for themselves.”
When conflicts arose over research methods or directions, she would create clear visualizations, reference peer-reviewed studies, or conduct additional tests to bolster her arguments. According to her, this evidence-based approach not only enhanced her credibility but also established a common ground for productive collaboration.
At Imperial, Li is now part of a growing community of women in computing, with approximately 30 percent of professors in her department being female, a significant improvement since her arrival. She has taken on the roles of mentor and role model for aspiring women in the field. Her colleague Fan Hongxiang noted that Li”s expertise “is no less than, and often exceeds, that of many male experts,” and highlighted her commitment to student development. Her personal website reflects this balance, featuring not just her academic accomplishments but also images from lab gatherings, including social events with her team.
Currently, Li supervises 11 PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers from various regions including China, Europe, and South America. Her students describe her as both motivating and compassionate. “She allows us the space to be independent, but she steps in when she sees us struggling,” said Carles Balsells Rodas, one of her PhD students. “Her enthusiasm for research is infectious.” On her office door, she has posted six guiding principles she refers to as her “six C”s”: curiosity, courage, challenge, concentration, continuation, and confidence. “Curiosity drives science,” she stated. “Courage means not following authority blindly, and confidence is about debating your ideas with peers. These principles apply not only to research but to life.”
Li”s academic credentials are impressive; in 2020, she became one of the first Chinese scholars to present a tutorial at NeurIPS, a leading machine learning conference. She also engaged in a debate in 2021 with Yann LeCun, a Turing Award winner and a pioneer in deep learning, on the topic of probabilistic methods in energy-based models. “There was no clear winner,” she chuckled, “but it was a serious 50-minute discussion that underscored the contributions probability can make as well as the challenges it faces.” In 2023, she was recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence as one of its global “New Faculty Highlights,” marking her as a rising star in the field.
Li is acutely aware of the societal consequences of artificial intelligence. “If you use an image-generation application to create a “doctor” or “CEO,” you”ll usually get a male figure. However, if you request a “nurse” or “teacher,” you”ll likely see a female representation. This indicates the bias present in the underlying data,” she explained. She argues that women”s involvement in AI development is essential. “AI relies on data and user perspectives,” she stated. “Without incorporating women”s experiences into that data, we cannot create fair or empathetic systems. We need women not just as users, but as creators of AI.”
Within her department, female professors foster a supportive environment through informal mentoring, peer reviews of grant applications, and mock interviews. The Women in Computing association connects female students, postdocs, and faculty, allowing them to share experiences and invite successful alumni to inspire the next generation. Li maintains strong ties with China”s rapidly evolving AI sector. Her twin sister leads an AI engineering team at ByteDance, and Li often exchanges ideas with scholars in China during her visits. “In some applied fields, like fine-tuning image generation, China is at the forefront,” she noted. “Conversely, Europe holds an advantage in fundamental innovation, exploring audacious concepts. The two regions can complement each other.”
Li recently spoke at the UK Women in AI Summit, organized by the China-Britain Artificial Intelligence Association. The summit encouraged women to overcome self-imposed obstacles and broaden their influence in both academia and industry. For Li, however, her mission extends beyond mere representation. “Creating AI that comprehends human needs and embodies empathy necessitates greater female involvement,” she asserted. “It”s about developing systems that are sustainable, socially responsible, and diverse.”
