Sean Wu, a Seaver College junior, was recently named an honorable mention outstanding
undergraduate researcher by the Computing Research Association — a nonprofit organization
that recognizes North American college students who show exceptional promise as computer
science researchers.
“I am very excited about this recognition,” says Wu. “It means that the research
I am conducting in artificial intelligence at Pepperdine is being recognized nationally
for its impactful and novel nature.”
Although he is only 20 years old, Wu has already obtained six first-author scholarly
publications for his various research efforts, all of which focus on implementing
and optimizing artificial intelligence in the medical community. Most recently, Wu
has published articles on how AI could affect the study of nephrology, angiograms,
and ophthalmic medical imaging. In the last two years, the Seaver College junior has
been listed as an author on a total of 10 different academic texts.
“I attribute my research success to the Keck Institute for Data Science, more specifically to my research mentor, Dr. Fabien Scalzo, who inspires me to investigate
impactful problems related to human-centered AI,” says Wu. “He and the program have
provided me with invaluable opportunities and guidance that I believe I would not
have received from any other university in the country.”
The Computing Research Association’s Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award is
one of the most prestigious and competitive awards offered to computer science majors
in the United States. This year, the honor’s selection committee was composed of researchers
and professors from such esteemed higher education institutions as Carnegie Mellon
University, Dartmouth College, and Princeton University.
“This is a particularly significant achievement for Sean as this award recognizes
exceptional undergraduate researchers who demonstrate strong research capabilities
and a commitment to advancing the field of computing,” says Fabien Scalzo, director
of the Keck Institute for Data Science. “It is also encouraging for Seaver College,
as it demonstrates it to be a competitive environment for undergraduate research that
can rival top institutions in North America.”
Seaver College has developed a strong computer science and data analytics program.
In 2021 Pepperdine University received a $10 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation
to establish a data science institute aimed at strengthening the research and teaching
methods of the institution. Since then, the institute recruited a cohort of 47 data
science minors and numerous faculty research associates.
Wu was one of 140 undergraduates recognized by the Computing Research Association. He is the first Pepperdine student
to be nominated for and secure this particular award. Currently Wu is developing an
algorithm to create 2D-3D reconstructions from limited, orthogonal views, alongside
numerous other projects.
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