Welcome to Zefeng Chen's Homepage

My current research interests are Intelligent Optimization & Learning & Decision. Specifically, I conduct research from diverse aspects including but not limited to:

1. Intelligent Optimization: involving the customized design of Intelligent Optimization algorithms (including Genetic Algorithms, Evolution Strategies, etc.) and Bayesian Optimization algorithms for different special scenarios such as multi-objective/many-objective optimization, multitask optimization, expensive optimization, data-driven optimization, and large-scale optimization;
2. Evolutionary Learning: mainly exploring how to adapt Evolutionary Computation approaches to solving complex problems in the fields of Machine Learning, Deep Reinforcement Learning and AutoML (including feature engineering, hyperparameter optimization, and neural architecture search) in an effective & efficient manner;
3. Swarm Intelligence: involving the design of Swarm Intelligence approaches (including Particle Swarm Optimization, Ant Colony Optimization, etc.) for diverse practical applications.

Note:
(A) Symbol “*” denotes that I am the corresponding author.
(B) Journal Ranking, Impact Factor (IF), and Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) are extracted from Journal Citation Reports published by Thomson Reuters (based on the newest data).

1. Zefeng Chen, Abhishek Gupta, Lei Zhou, and Yew-Soon Ong, “Scaling Multiobjective Evolution to Large Data With Minions: A Bayes-Informed Multitask Approach,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 1294-1307, Feb. 2024.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
2. Helin Zhuang, Xiaoyun Xia, Kangshun Li, Huogen Yang, Zefeng Chen, and Xianchao Zhang, “Research Advances on Electric Vehicle Routing Problem Models and Algorithms,” Journal of System Simulation, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 320-337, Feb. 2024. (in Chinese)   (Chinese Core Journal)
3. Liangjiang Lin, Zefeng Chen*, and Yuren Zhou, “Towards Scalable Feature Selection: An Evolutionary Multitask Algorithm Assisted by Transfer Learning Based Co-surrogate,” the 2023 International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP 2023), 2023.   (CCF-C)
4. Wenhui Wang, Zefeng Chen*, and Yuren Zhou, “Adaptive Multitask Evolutionary Optimization for Tasks with Non-uniform Evaluation Cost,” the 2023 IEEE Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC 2023), 2023. (Oral Presentation)   (CCF-C)
5. Yurui Yang, and Zefeng Chen*, “Data-efficient Elitist Evolutionary Algorithm for Training Neural Networks,” the 2023 IEEE Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC 2023), 2023.   (CCF-C)
6. Nick Zhang, Abhishek Gupta, Zefeng Chen, and Yew-Soon Ong, “Multitask Neuroevolution for Reinforcement Learning With Long and Short Episodes,” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1474-1486, Sep. 2023.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 5, SNIP: 1.584)
7. Zhenjie Xiao, Xiaoyun Xia, Youzhen Jin, and Zefeng Chen, “Automatic Fixing Based on Template-Oriented Genetic Programming,” Journal of Shaoguan University, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 18-23, Jun. 2023. (in Chinese)
8. Xiaoyun Xia, Helin Zhuang, Huogen Yang, Yi Xiang, and Zefeng Chen, “Adaptive large neighborhood search based artificial bee colony algorithm for CVRP,” Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems, vol. 28, no. 11, pp. 3545-3557, Nov. 2022. (in Chinese)   (Chinese Core Journal)
9. Xiaoyu He, Zibin Zheng, Zefeng Chen, and Yuren Zhou, “Adaptive Evolution Strategies for Stochastic Zeroth-Order Optimization,” IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 1271-1285, Oct. 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 5.3, SNIP: 2.169)
10. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, Xiaoyu He, and Jun Zhang, “Learning Task Relationships in Evolutionary Multitasking for Multi-objective Continuous Optimization,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 5278-5289, Jun. 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
11. Abhishek Gupta, Lei Zhou, Yew-Soon Ong, Zefeng Chen, and Yaqing Hou, “Half a Dozen Real-World Applications of Evolutionary Multitasking, and More,” IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine , vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 49-66, May 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 9, SNIP: 3.244)
12. Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen*, Zhengxin Huang, and Yi Xiang, “A Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Objective-space Localization Selection,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 3888-3901, May 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
13. Yuren Zhou, Xiaoyu He, Zefeng Chen, and Siyu Jiang, “A Neighborhood Regression Optimization Algorithm for Computationally Expensive Optimization Problems,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 3018-3031, May 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
14. Nick Zhang, Abhishek Gupta, Zefeng Chen*, and Yew-Soon Ong, “Evolutionary Machine Learning with Minions: A Case Study in Feature Selection,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 130-144, Feb. 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)
15. Xiaoyun Xia, Zhengxin Huang, Xue Peng, Zefeng Chen, and Yi Xiang, “Performance analysis of evolutionary algorithm for the maximum internal spanning tree problem,” Journal of Supercomputing , vol. 78, pp. 11949–11973, Feb. 2022.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q2, IF: 3.3 , SNIP: 1.158)
16. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, Zhengxin Huang, and Xiaoyun Xia, “Towards Efficient Multiobjective Hyperparameter Optimization: A Multiobjective Multi-fidelity Bayesian Optimization and Hyperband Algorithm,” the Twentieth International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving from Nature (PPSN 2022), 2022.   (CCF-B)
17. Zhengxin Huang, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, Xiaoyu He, Xinsheng Lai, and Xiaoyun Xia, “Running Time Analysis of MOEA/D on Pseudo-Boolean Functions,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 51, no. 10, pp. 5130-5141, Oct. 2021.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
18. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, Jun Zhang, and Wei-neng Chen, “Large-Scale Evolution Strategy Based on Search Direction Adaptation,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 1651-1665, Mar. 2021.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
19. Chunliang Zhao, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “Decomposition-Based Evolutionary Algorithm with Automatic Estimation to Handle Many-Objective Optimization Problem,” Information Sciences, vol. 546, pp. 1030-1046, Feb. 2021.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 8.1, SNIP: 2.454)
20. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, and Siyu Jiang, “An Evolutionary Approach to Black-Box Optimization on Matrix Manifolds,” Applied Soft Computing, vol. 97, pp. 106773, Dec. 2020.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 8.7, SNIP: 2.314)
21. Siyu Jiang, and Zefeng Chen*, “A Two-phase Evolutionary Algorithm Framework for Multi-objective Optimization,” Applied Intelligence, vol. 51, pp. 3952-3974, Nov. 2020.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q2, IF: 5.3, SNIP: 1.780)
22. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “An Evolution Strategy for Black-box Optimization on Matrix Manifold,” Chinese Journal of Computers, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 1604-1623, Sep. 2020. (in Chinese)   (Chinese Core Journal)
23. Yi Xiang, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, and Jun Zhang, “A Many-Objective Particle Swarm Optimizer With Leaders Selected From Historical Solutions by Using Scalar Projections,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 50, no. 5, pp. 2209-2222, May 2020.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
24. Zhengxin Huang, Zefeng Chen, and Yuren Zhou, “Analysis on the Efficiency of Multifactorial Evolutionary Algorithms,” the Sixteenth International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving from Nature (PPSN 2020), 2020.   (CCF-B)
25. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, and Zhengxin Huang, “Auto-creation of Effective Neural Network Architecture by Evolutionary Algorithm and ResNet for Image Classification,” the 2019 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC 2019), 2019.   (CCF-C)
26. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, Xiaoyu He, and Siyu Jiang. “A Restart-based Rank-1 Evolution Strategy for Reinforcement Learning,” the 28th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI-19), 2019. (Oral Presentation)   (CCF-A)
27. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, and Xiaoyu He, “Handling expensive multi-objective optimization problems with a cluster-based neighborhood regression model,” Applied Soft Computing, vol. 80, pp. 211-225, Jul. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 8.7, SNIP: 2.314)
28. Yuren Zhou, Yi Xiang, Zefeng Chen, Jun He, and Jiahai Wang, “A Scalar Projection and Angle-Based Evolutionary Algorithm for Many-Objective Optimization Problems,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 2073-2084, Jun. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
29. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, and Qingfu Zhang, “Evolutionary Many-objective Optimization based on Dynamical Decomposition,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 361-375, Jun. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)
30. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “Evolutionary Bilevel Optimization based on Covariance Matrix Adaptation,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 258-272, Apr. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)
31. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, and Yi Xiang, “Towards efficiently searching triple product property triples: Deterministic and randomized algorithms,” Applied Soft Computing, vol. 75, pp. 349-357, Feb. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 8.7, SNIP: 2.314)
32. Xiaoyu He, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “An Evolution Path-Based Reproduction Operator for Many-Objective Optimization,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 29-43, Feb. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)
33. Yi Xiang, Yuren Zhou, Langping Tang, and Zefeng Chen, “A Decomposition-Based Many-Objective Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm,” IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 287-300, Jan. 2019.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 11.8, SNIP: 4.286)
34. Yuchen Lian, Zhengxin Huang, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “Improve Theoretical Upper Bound of Jump_k Function by Evolutionary Multitasking,” the 2019 3rd High Performance Computing and Cluster Technologies Conference (HPCCT 2019), 2019. (Oral Presentation)
35. Zhengxin Huang, Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, and Xiaoyu He, “Running Time Analysis of MOEA/D with Crossover on Discrete Optimization Problem,” the Thirty-Third AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-19), 2019.   (CCF-A)
36. Yi Xiang, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “A local search based restart evolutionary algorithm for finding triple product property triples,” Applied Intelligence, vol. 48, no. 9, pp. 2894-2911, Sep. 2018.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q2, IF: 5.3, SNIP: 1.780)
37. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, Xiaorong Zhao, Yi Xiang, and Jiahai Wang, “A historical solutions based evolution operator for decomposition-based many-objective optimization,” Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, vol. 41, pp. 167-189, Aug. 2018.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 10, SNIP: 3.002)
38. Langping Tang, Yuren Zhou, and Zefeng Chen, “A Dominance-Based Constrained Optimization Evolutionary Algorithm for the 4-th Tensor Power Problem of Matrix Multiplication,” the 4th International Conference on Cloud Computing and Security (ICCCS 2018), 2018.
39. Zefeng Chen, Yuren Zhou, and Yi Xiang, “A many-objective evolutionary algorithm based on a projection-assisted intra-family election,” Applied Soft Computing, vol. 61, pp. 394-411, Dec. 2017.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 8.7, SNIP: 2.314)
40. Yi Xiang, Jing Peng, Yuren Zhou, Miqing Li, and Zefeng Chen, “An angle based constrained many-objective evolutionary algorithm,” Applied Intelligence, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 705-720, Oct. 2017.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q2, IF: 3.325, SNIP: 1.571)
41. Yi Xiang, Yuren Zhou, Miqing Li, and Zefeng Chen, “A Vector Angle-Based Evolutionary Algorithm for Unconstrained Many-Objective Optimization,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 131-152, Feb. 2017.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)
42. Yuren Zhou, Zefeng Chen, and Jun Zhang, “Ranking vectors by means of the dominance degree matrix,” IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 34-51, Feb. 2017.   (SCI Indexed, JCR Q1, IF: 14.3, SNIP: 5.091)

Reviewer of Academic Journals

• IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation
• IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics
• IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics: Systems
• IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence
• Swarm and Evolutionary Computation
• Information Sciences
• Knowledge-Based Systems
• Applied Soft Computing
• Expert Systems With Applications
• Science China Information Sciences
• Complex & Intelligent Systems
• Memetic Computing
• Artificial Intelligence Review
• Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence
• IEEE Access

Reviewer of Academic Conferences

• ECAI 2023
• ICONIP 2023
• SMC 2023
• ICTAI 2023

• Optimization Theory and Method (Graduate Course), Teacher In Charge, 2023-2
• Optimization Theory and Method, Teacher In Charge, 2022-1, 2023-1
• Computer Networks, Teacher In Charge, 2021-2, 2023-1
• Computer Networks Laboratory, Teacher In Charge, 2021-2, 2023-1
• Mathematical Analysis, Teaching Assistant, 2017-1, 2018-1
• Higher Mathematics, Teaching Assistant, 2016-2
• Higher Algebra, Teaching Assistant, 2016-1

• Outstanding Paper Award (Second Prize) from Computer Academy of Guangdong, 2023
• Outstanding Graduate Students in Guangdong Province, 2019
• Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) Scholarship, 2018
• Second Prize PhD Scholarship of SYSU (Top 2), 2017, 2018
• Outstanding Graduate Students in SYSU, 2017
• Third Prize Doctoral Scholarship of SYSU, 2016
• First Prize Postgraduate Scholarship of SCUT, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Outstanding Graduates in SYSU, 2013
• Excellent League Members in SYSU, 2012
• Liu Yongsheng Scholarship for Outstanding Students Under Poverty, 2012
• First Prize Scholarship of SYSU (Top 5%), 2012
• Zeng Xianzi Excellent Student Scholarship, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Second Prize in Guangdong Contest District in China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling (CUMCM), 2011
• National Encouragement Scholarship (Ministry of Education, China), 2011
• Second Prize Scholarship of SYSU, 2011
• Asian Games Volunteer Service Advanced Individuals in SYSU, 2010
• Third Prize Scholarship of SYSU, 2010