Rate My Professor Stephen Baek

Baek's research centers on geometric data analysis, statistical shape modeling and analysis, deep learning on non-Euclidean domains, data-driven design and engineering, digital human modeling, geometric deep learning, and scientific machine learning. He directs the Visual Intelligence Laboratory at UVA, advancing applications in areas such as energetic materials, lung cancer survival prediction, body shape analysis, and performance in sports and manufacturing. Key publications include 'PARC: Physics-aware recurrent convolutional neural networks to assimilate meso scale reactive mechanics of energetic materials' in Science Advances (2023), 'Body shape matters: Evidence from machine learning on body shape-income relationship' in PLOS ONE (2021), 'Deep learning for synthetic microstructure generation in a materials-by-design framework for heterogeneous energetic materials' in Scientific Reports (2020), and 'Deep segmentation networks predict survival of non-small cell lung cancer' in Scientific Reports (2019). Baek has earned prestigious honors, including the Quantitative Foundation Endowed Professorship (2024), Outstanding Mentoring Award from the School of Data Science (2024), Shannon Center Mid-Career Fellow (2023), Supervisor of the Year Award from the University of Iowa (2021), Defense Innovation Award (2020), and University of Iowa Innovator Award (2019). He holds editorial roles as a board member for Scientific Reports and Associate Editor for the Journal of Computational Design and Engineering. Baek has taught advanced courses, including on physics and deep neural networks in India through the Global Initiative of Academic Networks in 2025.