The University of Florida’s J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering congratulates Seowung Leem, a Ph.D. candidate in the Smart Medical Informatics Learning & Evaluation (SMILE) Lab, on receiving the Certificate of Outstanding Merit from the UF International Center.
This honor, part of the 2024 International Student Achievement Awards, celebrates exceptional international students who make significant contributions to UF’s global mission of teaching, research, and service. Seowung exemplifies these ideals through his outstanding academic achievements, innovative research, and dedication to advancing global health.
Academically, Seowung has demonstrated exceptional dedication and performance. Despite managing a rigorous schedule of coursework, research, and lab responsibilities, he has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA in his Ph.D. program. Beyond excelling in coursework, he has successfully applied his knowledge to research with significant interdisciplinary impact.
Seowung’s work focuses on brain-inspired artificial intelligence (AI) and its application to critical global health challenges, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinsonism. Leveraging neuroscience principles, he has developed next-generation AI models for emotion processing and associative learning, as well as innovative approaches to link vascular changes in color fundus images to AD risk factors. These efforts pave the way for cost-effective, accessible, and rapid screening methods, enabling early interventions and lifestyle changes.
He has also received notable recognition, including the prestigious IEEE EMBS NextGen Scholar Award at the 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and the Best Poster Presentation Award at the 2024 Pruitt Graduate Research Day.
Seowung’s recognition by the UF International Center underscores the critical role of international scholars in shaping the future of biomedical engineering and research at UF. His contributions exemplify the spirit of innovation, dedication, and global collaboration that define UF’s mission.