Muhammad Chaidir is a doctoral student in the Mathematics and Science Applications (DMAS) program at the Graduate School (SPs), Syiah Kuala University (USK). He is currently undertaking a visiting PhD student program at the University of Newcastle (UoN), Australia, for several weeks under the supervision of Professor Stephan Chalup, a professor in the field of data science and statistics. This activity is funded by a research grant under the USK Flagship Research Program for Doctoral Acceleration (PRUUPD) from the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), USK. A visiting PhD student program is a temporary academic visit to another university or institution to participate in research activities, collaboration, or training with the aim of broadening scientific insights and strengthening professional networks.
As part of this visiting PhD student program, Chaidir had the opportunity to be one of the speakers at a workshop themed “Critical Phenomena and Topological Data Analysis”, held on November 15, 2024, at UoN, Australia. The keynote speaker at the workshop was Professor Mikhail Prokopenko from the University of Sydney. The event brought together several researchers to explore the innovative intersection of complex systems, critical phenomena, topological data analysis, and machine learning. The workshop was a collaborative effort between the School of Information and Physical Sciences at the University of Newcastle and the Centre for Complex Systems at the University of Sydney.
Chaidir presented his doctoral research titled “Development of Intelligent Methods for Face Recognition Based on Deep Learning.” This research aims to address the challenges posed by facial aging in face recognition systems by leveraging deep learning methods to improve model accuracy and adaptability. The application of data augmentation techniques using HyperStyle and age estimation has shown promising results, with improved evaluation metrics.
Furthermore, the insights shared by keynote speaker Professor Mikhail Prokopenko, known for his expertise in critical phenomena and complex systems, along with interdisciplinary discussions involving various experts, highlighted the importance of research-based solutions for advancing global technology. The collaboration between the two universities underscores the transformative potential of cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional researchers, emphasizing the application of computational and topological methods in addressing real-world challenges.