Derong Liu
Also known as Liu De-Rong, 刘德荣
Derong Liu is an AI researcher whose work spans neural networks, associative memories, adaptive dynamic programming, and intelligent control. He trained in China and the United States before holding research and faculty roles in both countries. His publications include cellular neural-network papers and books on reinforcement learning for feedback control and adaptive dynamic programming. He became an IAPR Fellow in 2016, received IEEE CIS's Neural Networks Pioneer Award in 2022, and is a professor in Anhui University's School of Artificial Intelligence.
- Now at
- Anhui University
- Works
- 850
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.
Timeline
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1982–1999
Engineering degrees and early work
He earns a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1982 and works as a product design engineer at China North Industries from 1982 to 1984. He earns an M.S. in automatic control in 1987, teaches at the Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1987 to 1990, and completes a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1994. He works as a staff fellow at General Motors Research and Development Center from 1993 to 1995 and serves as an assistant professor at Stevens Institute of Technology from 1995 to 1999.
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1993–1997
Associative-memory papers
In 1993, he and Anthony N. Michel publish “Cellular neural networks for associative memories.” He publishes “Sparsely interconnected neural networks for associative memories with applications to cellular neural networks” in 1994 and “Cloning template design of cellular neural networks for associative memories” in 1997.
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1999–2025
Professorship and journal leadership
He joins the University of Illinois Chicago in 1999, becomes a full professor in 2006, and holds that post through August 2025. At the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he serves as a professor from 2008 to 2016 and associate director of its State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems from 2010 to 2016. He edits IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems from 2010 to 2015, co-edits Reinforcement Learning and Approximate Dynamic Programming for Feedback Control in 2013, and coauthors Adaptive Dynamic Programming with Applications in Optimal Control in 2017.
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2016
An IAPR fellowship
He becomes an IAPR Fellow in 2016 for contributions to neural networks and associative memories.
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2017–2025
Professorships in China
He is a professor at Guangdong University of Technology from 2017 to 2022. In July 2022, he becomes a chair professor at Southern University of Science and Technology and serves there through December 2025.
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2021
Academia Europaea membership
Academia Europaea elects him as a member in 2021.
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2022
Neural Networks Pioneer Award
He receives IEEE CIS's Neural Networks Pioneer Award in 2022.
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Since 2026
Professor at Anhui University
In January 2026, he joins Anhui University as a professor in its School of Artificial Intelligence. His research interests include reinforcement learning and intelligent control.
Sources and credits
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