ProfessOR. Researcher. Teacher.

I left Taiwan and came to the United States as a graduate student in 1982. I have been a professor at the University of Southern California since 1989. Besides teaching, I conduct research and PhD student supervision. My research areas lie in visual communications, multimedia computing and artificial intelligence. To give an example, I was a recipient of the 72nd Annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for research on “Development of Perceptual Metrics for Video Encoding Optimization”. This was the outcome of my research collaboration with Netflix from 2012-2015. We developed a new video quality assessment method called VMAF (Video Multimethod Assessment Fusion). VMAF is used by Netflix not only for video quality assessment but also for video encoding optimization. VMAF contributes to high quality streaming video services from Netflix as well as other video streaming service providers.

How does being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American and/or community ally play a role in your life?

USC has quite a few students from Taiwan. It is a privilege to interact with them as a Taiwanese American professor on campus. They often seek advices on job hunting, career path, etc. I am glad to be able to help. Furthermore, I have dedicated a lot of time serving in a Taiwanese American church and two Theological Seminaries founded by Taiwanese leaders in Los Angeles. Most church members are immigrants from Taiwan and China and the second-generation Americans. Most of my family friends are church friends. Their love and support enrich our family life tremendously.

If you could teach future generations 1 thing about being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American or Taiwan, what would it be?

I hope that they feel proud of their origin, including people, language, culture and the pioneering and hardworking spirit. My wife and I brought our daughter back to Taiwan when she was a kid almost annually. We visited relatives and friends and had tours in many beautiful and unique places such as Kenting National Parking, Sun-Moon Lake, Ali Mount, etc. Now, she can travel in Taiwan alone without any problem. She is proud of being a Taiwanese American.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you?

If they can merge into the mainstream US culture and society while keeping their own identity of being an Asian Americans, they will serve as a bridge between the east and the west. There are many unique opportunities for them.

Favorite memory of Taiwan/Taiwanese America?

Taiwan’s night market for its diversified and delicious Taiwanese dishes.

Favorite Taiwanese food?

Sesame kidney stir fry, Oyster vermicelli and Taiwanese squid soup.