Team.
A close-knit group of researchers exploring trustworthy AI, AI for science, and graph learning at the University of Notre Dame.
Xiangliang Zhang.
Leonard C. Bettex Collegiate Professor
Computer Science & Engineering
Dr. Zhang leads the Machine Intelligence and kNowledge Engineering (MINE) group at the University of Notre Dame. Her research broadly addresses ways that enable computer machines to learn by the use of diverse types of data, with a focus on machine learning algorithms for complex, large-scale streaming and graph data — and applications to recommendation systems, knowledge discovery, and natural language understanding.
Her recent work notably advances the application of AI in chemistry, biology, and physics. She delivered an Early Career Spotlight talk at IJCAI-ECAI 2018, was awarded the ERCIM Alain Bensoussan Fellowship in 2009, and regularly serves as Area Chair / Senior PC at SIGKDD, AAAI, and IJCAI. She is Editor-in-Chief of ACM SIGKDD Explorations, an associate editor for ACM TKDD and Information Sciences, and PC Co-chair of KDD 2026 research track.
Prior to joining Notre Dame, she was an Associate Professor at KAUST. She received her PhD from INRIA-Université Paris-Sud (France) in 2010, and her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Xi'an Jiaotong University.
PhD students.
9 current PhDs across our three research thrusts.
Alumni.
PhD graduates and former lab members carrying their work forward.
Pet scholars.
Bark-fessor, Oreo, a brilliant mini-Aussie, serves as the lead investigator in the MINE Lab's Paw-tective Studies Department. His research interests include shepherding efficiency, treat economics, and zoomie dynamics under varying energy conditions. Oreo is currently working on a groundbreaking thesis titled, "The Art of Herding Humans: A Behavioral Study in Household Management."
Donna, a remarkable Shih Tzu, served as the Post-dog-toral Researcher in the MINE Lab's Comfort Optimization Department. Her research interests included blanket layering strategies, lap-warming efficiency, and the physics of toy displacement during playtime. Donna worked on an innovative study titled, "The Science of Cozy: Maximizing Comfort in Shared Living Spaces." She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her contributions to comfort science and the warmth she brought to our lab family.
Fletcher is pursuing his Meow-ster's Degree in Cozy Spot Optimization and String Theory (literally). His academic contributions include pioneering studies in 'keyboard occupation during work hours' and 'lap-warming methodologies.' Fletcher's extracurricular interests include investigating sunbeam alignment across the room and testing the gravitational properties of objects on tables.
Snowball is proudly working toward her Bun-chelor's Degree in Fluff Density Maximization and Veggie Acquisition Strategies. Her notable academic achievements include trailblazing research on 'Couch Cushion Excavation' and 'The Art of Begging for Treats with Maximum Adorability.' Snowball's leisure activities feature precision binkies at unexpected moments, mastering the art of disappearing into tiny nooks, and conducting extensive taste tests on various types of lettuce.