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Chan-Jin Chung

Chan-Jin (CJ) Chung
Born (1959-01-04) January 4, 1959 (age 66)
Seoul, South Korea
AwardsCitation of Honor Award, IEEE-USA, 2011[1]
Scientific career
FieldsComputer science
InstitutionsProfessor at Lawrence Technological University
Thesis Knowledge-Based Self-Adaptation in Evolutionary Search[2]  (1997)
Doctoral advisorRobert G. Reynolds

Chan-Jin Chung (Korean: 정찬진; born January 4, 1959), also known as CJ Chung, is a professor of computer science at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Michigan, USA. He is the founder of Robofest, an international autonomous robotics competition established during the 1999–2000 academic year [3] He has contributed to educational programs that integrate science, technology, engineering, mathematics (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), arts, robotics, and computer science.

Chung served as the founding USA National Organizer of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in 2014[4] and 2015. He also initiated the WISER (World conference on Integrated STEaM Education through Robotics) conference in 2014. His work includes the development of undergraduate curricula for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) supported by the National Science Foundation . His research areas include evolutionary computation, [5] cultural algorithms,[2] intelligent systems & autonomous mobile robotics,[6] [7][8] self-driving Cloud laboratory, software engineering,[9] machine learning & deep learning, [10] evolutionary deep learning (hyper-parameter optimization), [11] modelling medical systems (Cardiopulmonary bypass machines), [12] computer science education,[13][14] and educational robotics.[13][15]

Biography

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Chung was born in Seoul, South Korea and earned a B.S. Computer Science degree from Hongik University in 1981. He began his career as a part-time mathematics instructor at the YMCA Academy in Seoul in 1979. From 1981 to 1982, he worked for Korea Electric Power Corporation, developing an online customer information system using COBOL and IMS Databases on an IBM 3031 mainframe.

From 1982 to 1992, Chung was a research scientist at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he contributed to the development of TDX switching systems,[16] which later formed the foundation for the first commercialized CDMA system in the world. During this period, he was a visiting researcher at L.M. Ericsson in Stockholm, Sweden, developing telecommunication software modules for the AXE-10 system (1983–1984).

Chung received his Ph.D. in computer science from Wayne State University in 1997. His doctoral research focused on developing a self-adaptive artificial intelligence system inspired by cultural evolution [2] , which was applied to nonlinear function optimization and the training of artificial neural networks. [7]

In 2002, he and his master’s student Wei-Wen Chang won first place in a 3D design optimization competition sponsored by Honda R&D Europe GmbH as part of the IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence. [5] In 2022, he was awarded a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant by the National Science Foundation.

Achievements in STEaM, Robotics, and Computer Science Education

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Chung is the founder of Robofest [15] [17][18] [19] [20][21] , an international autonomous robotics competition established in 1999. As of 2025, more than 38,000 students from 18 U.S. states and 25 countries have participated. [22] He has also launched several educational programs integrating computer science, robotics, and STEaM fields, including RoboParade (2006), [23][24][25] RoboFashion and Dance Show (2007), [26] Vision Centric Robot Challenge (VCC) (2007), [27] Robot Music Camp (2013), [13] Global Robotics Art Festival (GRAF) (2013), [23] WRO-USA (2014), [4] CS+PA²: Learning Computer Science with Physical Activities and Animation (2018), [28] [14] and Robofest eAcademy (2019).

Since 2003, Chung has served as faculty advisor for Lawrence Technological University’s Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) teams. His H2Bot team received the first-place design award in 2007 [29] His another team represented the United States in the RoboCup Four-Legged Robot Soccer Division the same year. The BigFoot II IGVC team won the Grand Award LESCOE Cup in 2016. [30] As of 2025, he leads the ACTor (Autonomous Campus TranspORt) project using a fullscale drive-by-wire electric vehicle. The ACTor vehicle team won the Self-Drive Challenge at the IGVC in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.[31]

In 2011, IEEE USA awarded Chung the Citation of Honor for his contributions to STEM education.

Honours, Awards and Distinctions

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  • 2023 Hsu Family Distinguished Award in Creativity,[32] which includes a $1,000 honorarium and commemorative award, Lawrence Technological University, November 2, 2023
  • The Robert Neff Memorial Award, for outstanding contributions to the IEEE Southeast Michigan Section, by the Engineering Society of Detroit Affiliate Council, March 15, 2023
  • Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) GOLD Awards – Outstanding IEEE Member Award, March 11, 2015, at ESD Gold Award Banquet
  • Citation of Honor Award, IEEE-USA, "for the leadership in founding the Robofest competition to inspire interest in engineering among pre-college students", March 2011[1]
  • MGA Achievement Award, IEEE Member Geographic Activities (MGA) Board, "for inspiring thousands of young students into the science and engineering career path through his Robofest and hands-on robotics workshops", December, 2010[33]
  • The Mary E. and Richard E. Marburger Distinguished Achievement Award – 2007 Champion for Institutional Excellence and Preeminence, which includes a $1,000 honorarium and commemorative award, Lawrence Technological University
  • Excellent Research Award, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), December 31, 1986, Certificate No. 151

References and notes

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  1. ^ a b George F. McClure Citation of Honor Award Past Recipients, retrieved on June 2020
  2. ^ a b c Chung, Chan-Jin (1997). Knowledge-Based Self-Adaptation in Evolutionary Search (PhD). Wayne State University.
  3. ^ Bill King (Feb 16, 2000). Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan backs Lawrence Tech Robofest; University trains teachers in robots LTU Tech News, page 1 and 8
  4. ^ a b Lawrence, Eric D. (Sep 27, 2014). Students hope to represent U.S. in Robot Olympiad USA Today
  5. ^ a b Chang, Wei-Wen; Chung, Chan-Jin; Sendhoff, Bernard (December 2, 2003). Target shape design optimization with evolutionary computation. The 2003 Congress on Evolutionary Computation, 2003. CEC'03. Canberra, Australia. pp. 1864–1870. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Kawatsu, C.; Li, J.; Chung, C.J. (2013). "Development of a Fall Detection System with Microsoft Kinect". Robot Intelligence Technology and Applications 2012. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. Vol. 208. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. pp. 80–83. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-37374-9_59. ISBN 978-3-642-37373-2. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b Tedder, Maurice; Chamulak, David; Chen, Li-Ping; Nair, Santosh; Shvartsman, Andrey; Tseng, I; Chung, Chan-Jin (Aug 2004). "An affordable modular mobile robotic platform with fuzzy logic control and evolutionary artificial neural networks". Journal of Robotic Systems. 21 (8). Wiley: 419–428. doi:10.1002/rob.20023.
  8. ^ Paul, Nicholas; Chung, ChanJin (June 2018). "Application of HDR algorithms to solve direct sunlight problems when autonomous vehicles using machine vision systems are driving into sun". Computers in Industry. 98. Elsevier ScienceDirect: 192–196. doi:10.1016/j.compind.2018.03.011.
  9. ^ Chung, Chan J.; Hong, Jin P.; Choi, Wan; Kim, Han K.; Lee, Young K. (Oct 1989). "Using SDL in Switching System Development" (PDF). SDL '89 The Language at Work. 4th SDL Forum. Lisbon Portugal: North-Holland. pp. 377–386.
  10. ^ Liu, Zhen; Chung, CJ (April 2019). Teaching Cars to Reproduce Human Driving Behavior Using Deep Neural Networks in a Simulated Environment (PDF). LTU Research Day Poster Presentation. Southfield, Michigan.
  11. ^ Butani, Devson; Kaddis, Ryan; Chung, Chan-Jin (2025). Evolutionary Hyperparameter Optimization to Find Lightweight CNN Models for Autonomous Steering. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Electro Information Technology (eIT). IEEE. pp. 344–349. doi:10.1109/eIT64391.2025.11103679.
  12. ^ Kaddis, Ryan; Chung, Chan-Jin; Murtha, sean; Jiang, Hao (2025). "A Non-intrusive, Non-obstructive, Versatile Venous Reservoir Blood Volume Sensor Based on Computer Vision for Clinical Cardiopulmonary Bypass". IEEE Sensors Letters. 9 (5): 1–4. Bibcode:2025ISenL...9L1948K. doi:10.1109/LSENS.2025.3551948.
  13. ^ a b c Chung, CJ ChanJin; Cartwright, Christopher; Chung, Chanmee (Mar 8, 2014). Robot Music Camp 2013: An Experiment to Promote STEM and Computer Science (PDF). IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC '14). Princeton University, New Jersey.
  14. ^ a b Shamir, Mirit; Kocherovsky, Mark; Chung, ChanJin (2019). A paradigm for teaching math and computer science concepts to k-12 education by integrating coding, animation, dance, music and art (PDF). 2019 IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC). Princeton University, New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 62–68. doi:10.1109/ISECon.2019.8882015.
  15. ^ a b Chung, CJ ChanJin; Cartwright, Christopher; Cole, Matthew (July–September 2014). "Assessing the Impact of an Autonomous Robotics Competition for STEM Education". Journal of STEM Education. 15 (2): 24–34.
  16. ^ (2016). ETRI 40th Anniversary - TDX History (in Korean)
  17. ^ MacLennan, Jamie (Jan–Feb 2010). "Robofest 2009 - Motivating young minds to master the machine" (PDF). Robot Magazine: 80–83.
  18. ^ Coscarelli, Rick (Sep–Oct 2015). "16th Annual Robofest World Championship" (PDF). Robot Magazine: 28–31.
  19. ^ Reindl, JC (May 13, 2017). "Robofest at Lawrence Tech draws school-age engineers and their self-driving machines". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  20. ^ JC Reindl (May 13, 2017). Robofest at Lawrence Tech draws school-age engineers and their self-driving machines, Detroit Free Press, Retrieved on July 26, 2020
  21. ^ WUCF PBS TV (2015). SCITECH NOW Robofest in Tampa, Florida, Retrieved on July 25, 2020
  22. ^ Robofest 2018–2019 Annual Report
  23. ^ a b Tom Watts (Nov 27, 2013) Thanksgiving RoboParade and Global Robotics Art Festival a big hit, Macomb Daily, Retrieved on July 24, 2020
  24. ^ Micki Steele (Nov. 20, 2010) Science, technology all part of Thanksgiving RoboParade, The Detroit News
  25. ^ Don Dubois, Bruce Mitchell (July 2012). RoboParade, Apple Books
  26. ^ Don Dubois, Bruce Mitchell (July 2012). RoboFashion and Dance, Apple Books
  27. ^ Crocker, Noah E. (November–December 2011). "Robofest 2011 Vision Centric Challenge (VCC) Update!" (PDF). Robot Magazine: 80–33.
  28. ^ Chung, ChanJin; Kocherovsky, Mark (March 10, 2018). CS+PA^2: Learning computer science with physical activities and animation — A MathDance experiment. IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC '18). Princeton University, New Jersey: IEEE. pp. 262–267. doi:10.1109/ISECon.2018.8340497.
  29. ^ The 15TH Annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition Results, page 3, Retrieved June 17, 2020
  30. ^ "Lawrence Tech wins global autonomous vehicle competition". LTU News Center. June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  31. ^ Runkle, Anne (June 13, 2019). "Lawrence Tech wins self-driving car competition". The Oakland Press. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  32. ^ Troy Times 1/11/24, retrieved on May 24, 2024
  33. ^ IEEE MGA Award Recipients, retrieved on June 15, 2020
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