Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Keqin (Kevin) Liu (刘克勤) received his Ph.D. degree from the University of California at Davis in 2010 and joined industry as a software engineer in 2012 after 2 years of postdoc experience. After 8 years of working in the Silicon Valley, Dr. Liu still has a lot passion in mathematics and decided to return to academia in 2020 when working in ASML and subsequently taught in Nanjing University until joining XJTLU in 2024.
Research interests
Dr. Liu’s research interests include the development of modern math theory for AI technologies, the extension of pure math theory, especially number theory, and the application of pure math theory to solving practical problems in machine learning, e.g., multi-armed bandit in reinforcement learning.
Experience
Associate Professor & PhD Advisor, School of Math. & Phys., XJTLU, China (2024.08-now)
Lecturer, Math. Dept. & NJ-Helsinki Inst., NJU, China (2020.11-2024.07)
Sr. Software Engineer, ASML, Silicon Valley, USA (2019.02-2020.10)
Staff Software Engineer, KLA, Silicon Valley, USA (2016.03-2019.01)
CTO, Startup (Social E-Commerce), Silicon Valley, USA (2015.07-2016.03)
Sr. Software Engineer, MOOG, Silicon Valley, USA (2012.09-2015.07)
Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer, UC-Davis, USA (2010.10-2012.09)
Teaching
Fall 26/27:
MTH117: Analysis 1
MTH301: Final Year Project (Bachelor)
Spring 25/26:
MTH129: Introduction to AI for Mathematical Sciences
MTH301: Final Year Project (Bachelor)
MTH441/446: Dissertation (Master)
Fall 25/26:
MTH219: Complex Functions
MTH301: Final Year Project (Bachelor)
MTH446: Dissertation (Master)
Spring 24/25:
MTH302: Applied Probability
MTH301: Final Year Project (Bachelor)
Fall 24/25:
MTH205: Introduction to Statistical Methods
MTH301: Final Year Project (Bachelor)
Spring 23/24 (NJU):
Calculus II
Linear Algebra
Machine Learning: Mathematical Theory and Applications
Light of Science: AI and Mathematics
Light of Science: Human Civilization and Technology Development Boosted by Mathematics
Fall 23/24 (NJU):
Calculus I
Probability Theory and Statistics (2 parallel classes)
Spring 22/23 (NJU):
Machine Learning: Mathematical Theory and Applications
Light of Science: Human Civilization and Technology Development Boosted by Mathematics
Fall 22/23 (NJU):
Calculus I
Spring 21/22 (NJU):
Machine Learning: Mathematical Theory and Applications
Light of Science: Human Civilization and Technology Development Boosted by Mathematics
Operations Research
Fall 21/22 (NJU):
Probability Theory and Statistics
Spring 20/21 (NJU):
Stochastic Optimization
Summer 2011 (UC-Davis):
EEC150A: Signals and Systems I
Awards and honours
2025 Excellent Research-led Learning Supervisor, XJTLU, Suzhou, China
2024 SIP International Leading Talent (400,000 RMB fund), Suzhou, China, Jan. 6, 2025.
2024 First Prize for Excellent Paper Award, JAAS Annual Academic Conference, Nanjing, China, September 20-22, 2024.
2023 Zhi-Jian Award for Excellence in Teaching (mathematics), NJU, China
2021 Zi-Jin Talent Award (800,000 RMB fund), NJU, China
2021 Zheng-Gang Talent Award (300,000 RMB fund), NJU, China
2012 Zuhair A. Munir Award for Best Doctoral Dissertation, College of Engineering (selected from all the 7 departments), UC-Davis, USA
2011 Alien of Extraordinary Ability, USCIS, USA
External positions
Standing Council Member, Chinese Association for Applied Statistics - Digital Twin and Uncertainty Quantification
Apr 2026 → …
Council Member, Jiangsu Association for Applied Statistics
Jul 2022 → Jul 2026
Research Fellow, Jiangsu National Center for Applied Mathematics
Nov 2020 → Aug 2025
Research areas
- Reinforcement Learning
- Number Theory
Person Types
- Staff
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning: Mathematical Theory and Applications
Liu, K. (PI)
1/01/25 → 31/12/26
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Study on Single-Loop Full Splitting Algorithms for Nonconvex, Nonsmooth Optimization with Multiple Composite Structures
Tao, M. (PI) & Liu, K. (Team member)
1/01/25 → 31/12/28
Project: Governmental Research Project
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning: Mathematical Theory and Applications
Liu, K. (PI)
1/01/25 → 31/12/26
Project: Governmental Research Project
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning by Multi-Armed Bandit
Liu, K. (PI)
1/01/25 → 31/12/27
Project: Internal Research Project
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Efficient Computation of Whittle Index for Partially Observable Restless Bandits
Jia, Q. & Liu, K., Feb 2026, 2026 International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications, ICNC 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 232-236 5 p. (2026 International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications, ICNC 2026).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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Extended UCB Policies for Multi-armed Bandit Problems
Liu, K., Zheng, T. & Zhou, Z. H., Jan 2026, In: Machine Learning. 115, 1, 7.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Approximated Whittle index for femtocell scheduling
Zhang, Y. & Liu, K., 2 Jul 2025, Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis, CSAMCS 2023. Dai, W. & Li, J. (eds.). Springer, p. 337-346 10 p. (Springer Proceedings in Mathematics and Statistics; vol. 486).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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Generalization and alternative proof of two identities posed by Sun
Liu, K., 6 Oct 2025, In: Linear and Multilinear Algebra.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Relaxed indexability and index policy for partially observable restless bandits
Liu, K., 16 Apr 2025, In: Management Science.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
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The 4th INFORMS Conference on Quality, Statistics, and Reliability (ICQSR 2026)
Liu, K. (Participant)
6 Jul 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning by Multi-Armed Bandit
Liu, K. (Speaker)
11 Jun 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning by Multi-Armed Bandit
Liu, K. (Speaker)
30 May 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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High-Dimensional Reinforcement Learning by Multi-Armed Bandit
Liu, K. (Speaker)
16 May 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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