Research at the Intersection of AI and Programming Languages
Artificial intelligence is changing how software is written and how computing systems are built. My group investigates how programming-language ideas can help make these systems more reliable, efficient, and trustworthy.
My primary research focus is programming languages, particularly compiler technologies, formal methods, and floating-point computation. I study these areas both as fundamental scientific problems and as foundations for addressing challenges in modern AI systems. AI provides important applications and new research questions, while rigorous programming-language thinking remains at the core of our work.
I welcome students who are excited about AI and interested in developing a deeper understanding of programs, compilers, reasoning, and numerical computation. You do not need to be an expert in every area before applying, but you should be eager to learn and pursue careful, high-impact research.
Research Directions
Potential research directions include:
- AI and programming languages: Using programming-language techniques to improve AI systems and the reliability of AI-assisted software.
- Compiler technologies: Developing methods for analyzing, transforming, and optimizing programs.
- Formal methods: Creating rigorous techniques for reasoning about software behavior and correctness.
- Floating-point computation: Understanding and improving the accuracy, reliability, and performance of numerical programs.
Specific research topics will be selected according to the student’s interests, preparation, and available research opportunities.
Why SUNY Korea?
SUNY Korea offers Stony Brook University degree programs in an English-speaking international environment. The Computer Science programs at SUNY Korea and Stony Brook’s New York campus are closely integrated, creating opportunities for collaboration across the two campuses.
South Korea is sometimes underestimated by people who have not lived here. It is a highly developed, high-income, and innovation-driven country. The United Nations classifies South Korea in the very high human development category, with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.937. The HDI reflects achievements in health, education, and standard of living. UNDP Human Development Report
The campus is located in Songdo, Incheon, a modern international district. Students have access to on-campus housing, a gymnasium, swimming pool, health services, and nearby shops and amenities. Studying here offers the combination of a Stony Brook education and life in one of Asia’s most technologically advanced societies. SUNY Korea campus facilities
Funding
Research-assistantship funding depends on the availability of sponsored projects and cannot be guaranteed. Admitted PhD students are typically supported through teaching or research assistantships, subject to university policies, eligibility requirements, and the availability of positions. These appointments generally include tuition support and a monthly stipend. Official graduate funding information
Nominal stipend amounts should not be compared directly across countries without considering local living costs. In my own experience living in both South Korea and the United States, I needed roughly twice the nominal income in the United States to maintain a comparable standard of living. Individual circumstances naturally vary, but candidates should consider housing, transportation, healthcare, and other daily expenses—not simply convert the stipend into another currency.
South Korea offers an exceptionally high quality of life, and the value of graduate support here can be substantially greater than a direct salary comparison might suggest.
Campus and Program Benefits
- Earn a Stony Brook University degree while studying at SUNY Korea.
- Work in an English-speaking and international academic environment.
- Pursue research connecting foundational computer science with modern AI.
- Access opportunities for collaboration between SUNY Korea and Stony Brook University in New York.
- Live in on-campus housing with convenient access to academic, recreational, and health facilities.
- Experience life in a safe, highly developed, and technologically advanced country.
How to Apply
Please email me at zhoulai.fu at sunykorea.ac.kr with:
- A statement describing your research interests, background, and motivation. Please explain which aspects of AI, compilers, formal methods, floating-point computation, or programming languages interest you.
- Your résumé or CV.
If you are attracted to modern AI but also want to understand the deeper principles that make software reliable, efficient, and correct, this could be an excellent research direction for you. I look forward to learning about your interests and exploring what we might accomplish together.