Trustworthy Swarm Intelligence and AI Agents: Challenges and Opportunities
Yuping Yan, Yuhan Xie, Hengjie Yu, et al. Trustworthy Swarm Intelligence and AI Agents: Challenges and Opportunities[J]. Computing Magazine of the CCF, 2026, 2(3): 60−68.
CV
Education
- 2019.09 - 2024.06: Ph.D., College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University
- 2023.01 - 2024.01: Visiting Ph.D. student, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
- 2015.09 - 2019.06: B.E., School of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China
Work experience
- 2026.07 - present: Assistant Researcher in Department of AI, Schoole of Engineering, Westlake University
- 2024.07 - 2026.06: Postdoc Fellow in Department of AI, Schoole of Engineering, Westlake University
Research interests
- AI for Science
- AI: LLMs & Multi-agent system & Multimodal learning & Explainable AI
- Science: Nanobio interface, Nanotechnology, RNA, Protein
Publications
Empowering scientific discovery with explainable small domain-specific and large language models
Hengjie Yu, Yizhi Wang, Tao Cheng, Yan Yan, Kenneth A. Dawson, Sam F. Y. Li, Yefeng Zheng, Yaochu Jin. Empowering scientific discovery with explainable small domain-specific and large language models. 2025, Artificial Intelligence Review, Accepted.
A million-scale dataset and generalizable foundation model for nanomaterial-protein interactions
Hengjie Yu, Kenneth A. Dawson, Haiyun Yang, Shuya Liu, Yan Yan, Yaochu Jin. A million-scale dataset and generalizable foundation model for nanomaterial-protein interactions. 2025, arXiv:2507.14245
Unlocking the Potential of AI Researchers in Scientific Discovery: What Is Missing?
Hengjie Yu, Yaochu Jin. Unlocking the Potential of AI Researchers in Scientific Discovery: What Is Missing? 2025, arXiv:2503.05822
Optimizing benefit-risk trade-off in nano-agrochemicals through explainable machine learning: Beyond concentration
Hengjie Yu, Shiyu Tang, Eslam M. Hamed, Sam F. Y. Li, Yaochu Jin, Fang Cheng. Optimizing benefit-risk trade-off in nano-agrochemicals through explainable machine learning: Beyond concentration. Environmental Science:Nano, 2024, 11, 3374-3389.
Ce-UiO-66-F4-based composites decorated with green carbon dots for universal adsorption of organic pollutants containing hydrogen bond donors and its application exploration
Maozhen Qu, Hengjie Yu, Yingchao He, Weidong Xu, Da Liu, Fang Cheng. Ce-UiO-66-F4-based composites decorated with green carbon dots for universal adsorption of organic pollutants containing hydrogen bond donors and its application exploration. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 486, 150266,
Averaging strategy for interpretable machine learning on small datasets to understand element uptake after seed nanotreatment
Hengjie Yu, Shiyu Tang, Sam F. Y. Li, Fang Cheng. Averaging strategy for interpretable machine learning on small datasets to understand element uptake after seed nanotreatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 2023, 57(34): 12760-12770.
Interpretable machine learning-accelerated seed treatment using nanomaterials for environmental stress alleviation
Hengjie Yu, Dan Luo, Sam F. Y. Li, Maozhen Qu, Da Liu, Yingchao He, Fang Cheng. Interpretable machine learning-accelerated seed treatment using nanomaterials for environmental stress alleviation. Nanoscale, 2023, 15(32), 13437-13449.
Interpretable machine learning for investigating complex nanomaterial–plant–soil interactions
Hengjie Yu, Zhilin Zhao, Dan Luo, Fang Cheng*. Interpretable machine learning for investigating complex nanomaterial–plant–soil interactions. Environmental Science: Nano, 2022, 9(11), 4305-4316.
Single-kernel classification of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone contaminated maize based on visible light imaging under ultraviolet light excitation combined with polarized light imaging
Maozhen Qu, Shijie Tian, Hengjie Yu, Da Liu, Chao Zhang, Yingchao He, Fang Cheng. Single-kernel classification of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone contaminated maize based on visible light imaging under ultraviolet light excitation combined with polarized light imaging. Food Control, 2023, 144, 109354.
Integrating machine learning interpretation methods for investigating nanoparticle uptake during seed priming and its biological effects
Hengjie Yu, Zhilin Zhao, Da Liu, Fang Cheng. Integrating machine learning interpretation methods for investigating nanoparticle uptake during seed priming and its biological effects. Nanoscale, 2022, 14(41), 15305-15315.
An analysis of factors affecting agricultural tractors’ reliability using random survival forests based on warranty data
Zhilin Zhao, Hengjie Yu and Fang Cheng. An analysis of factors affecting agricultural tractors’ reliability using random survival forests based on warranty data. IEEE Access, 2022, 10, 50183-50194.
Predicting and investigating cytotoxicity of nanoparticles by translucent machine learning
Hengjie Yu, Zhilin Zhao, Fang Cheng. Predicting and investigating cytotoxicity of nanoparticles by translucent machine learning. Chemosphere, 2021, 276, 130164.
Preparation and characterization of cross-linked starch nanocrystals and self-reinforced starch-based nanocomposite films
Limin Dai, Hengjie Yu, Jun Zhang, Fang Cheng. Preparation and characterization of cross-linked starch nanocrystals and self-reinforced starch-based nanocomposite films. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021, 181, 868-876.
In silico nanosafety assessment tools and their ecosystem-level integration prospect
Hengjie Yu, Dan Luo, Limin Dai, Fang Cheng. In silico nanosafety assessment tools and their ecosystem-level integration prospect. Nanoscale, 2021, 13(19), 8722-8739.
Talks
Artificial Intelligence in Nanomaterials and Nanobio Interface Research: A Tutorial on Prediction, Discovery, and Design at IEEE NANO 2026, Nanjing University International Conference Center, Nanjing, China
Position Paper: Unlocking the Potential of AI Researchers in Scientific Discovery-What Is Missing? at WCCI 2026, MECC, Maastricht, Netherlands
From Explainable AI to Agents for Science: A New Paradigm at 1st Westlake-ELTE workshop 2026, ELTE Faculty of Informatics, Budapest, Hungary
A Million-scale Dataset and Generalizable Foundation Model for Nanomaterial-Protein Interactions at ChinaNano 2025, Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China
Protein corona foundation model and its application in disease diagnosis at Academic exchange activity, Yuhang Campus, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
Protein Corona Dataset and Foundation Model—Explainability and Knowledge Consistency in AI4Science at AI·Proteomics·Medicine 2025 Spring Mini-Symposium, Yunqi Campus, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
Awards and honors
- 2024.03: Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate of Zhejiang University
- 2023.10: Zhejiang University’s Rising Star Training Program for Ph.D. Students
- 2023.10: Chinese National Scholarship for Ph.D. Students
- 2023.10: Outstanding Graduate Student of Zhejiang University
- 2023.01: Outstanding Ph.D. Student of IBE Innovation Team
- 2022.01: Star of Cooperation of IBE Innovation Team (One student per year)
- 2021.10: Outstanding Graduate Student of Zhejiang University
- 2018.12: Principal’s Medal of North University of China (Highest honor for a student, about top 0.1%)
- 2018.10: Chinese National Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
- 2018.04: Meritorious Winner in American Mathematical Contest in Modeling
- 2017.11: Second Prize in Chinese Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling
Service and leadership
- 2026.07: Session Chair, IEEE NANO 2026
- 2020.11 - 2021.11: Student leader of the Intelligent Bio-industrial Equipment Innovation Team (IBE) Innovation team of Zhejiang University
- 2019.11 - 2020.11: Student leader of the Artificial Intelligence and Agricultural Big Data Group of the IBE Innovation team of Zhejiang University
- 2017.09 - 2018.06: Assistant Class Advisor at North University of China
- 2017.12 - 2018.09: Founder and the first president of the Machine Vision Association of North University of China