Professor Yu-Lun Liu is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). He is a recipient of the Yushan Young Scholar Award and, most notably, one of only 70 global recipients of the 2024 Google Research Scholar Award—the first Taiwanese scholar to ever receive this prestigious honor since the award's inception. NYCU is proud to invite Professor Liu to share his talk “What School and Work Never Taught Me,” aiming to inspire students to move beyond confusion, dream boldly, and pursue their goals with determination through his personal journey.

Professor Liu divides his life into five key stages: studying for his bachelor's and master’s degrees in the Department of Electronics at Chiao Tung University; working at MediaTek; pursuing a doctoral degree at National Taiwan University in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering; interning at Meta; and finally, returning to his alma mater, NYCU, as a faculty member. Like many freshmen, he initially immersed himself in extracurricular clubs and the annual Mei-Chu Games. However, a leg fracture in his second semester forced him to remain in the dorm for an extended period—an unexpected turning point in his life. Gradually shifting focus back to academics, he discovered his passion in his junior year through Professor I-Cheng Lin’s course on Computer Vision. This ignited a lasting interest in research, leading to his successful admission to the graduate program in electronics at Chiao Tung University.

During his time in graduate school, he actively engaged in research projects and academic writing, often representing the university at international conferences. Notably, he presented at the Picture Coding Symposium 2013, experiences that not only built his expertise but also confirmed his commitment to his chosen path. “From undergraduate to graduate school, you have four to six years to explore and make mistakes—take your time!” he says. Professor Liu believes that university is not just about grades, but a crucial period for self-discovery and career exploration. Even if students aren’t sure what they’re passionate about, it’s important to start by identifying what they don’t enjoy or aren’t good at.

After graduation, like many of his peers, Professor Liu joined MediaTek. It was there that he experienced the harsh reality of “Work-Life Imbalance”—constant traffic, frequent self-imposed overtime driven by fear of falling behind. One day, after accidentally oversleeping until noon, he rushed to the office only to realize no one had even noticed his absence. This moment of clarity taught him an important lesson: no one is irreplaceable, and collaboration is more important than individual prowess. Especially when facing unfamiliar tasks, he advises, one should ask questions boldly—not only to improve efficiency but also to build stronger connections with teammates.

While working, Professor Liu also pursued a Ph.D. at NTU. His doctoral journey, however, was far from smooth. He faced multiple rejections and periods of stagnation in his research. “Sometimes you feel like you've done your best, but it’s still not enough.” During this difficult phase, he constantly communicated with his advisor and peers, regaining his confidence through their encouragement. More importantly, it was during this time that he discovered what he both enjoyed and excelled at—research in computer vision. Though academia is filled with pressure, he overcame those challenges through persistence and self-adjustment. He reflects, “Letting things take their course isn’t giving up—it means not forcing things after you’ve done your best.” This mindset, born of sincere effort, has become a guiding principle in facing life’s difficulties.

After completing his doctorate, Professor Liu boldly applied for an internship at Meta in the U.S. Despite having a background quite different from the typical American candidate, he was accepted and began a new chapter in Seattle. The cultural and lifestyle shocks were profound. He found the food expensive and unpalatable, but appreciated the open and inclusive office culture compared to Taiwan. He reminds students: “Not all Taiwanese working overseas live glamorous lives—sometimes it’s a matter of survivor’s bias. The true effort and challenges are often far tougher than they appear.” Even so, he encourages students to seek international experiences if possible, to broaden their horizons.

Now back at NYCU as a faculty member, Professor Liu not only teaches courses in his area of expertise but also mentors students in his lab, guiding them through experiments and paper submissions. He shares this advice: “Life is never about being fully prepared—opportunities are reserved for those who dare to try.” He believes that as long as we keep trying and stepping outside our comfort zones, we will eventually find something we love, are good at, and can earn a living from—achieving a true work-life balance.