ProfessorTruyen Tran

TL;DR: I lead research on fundamental AI and AI for improving health and accelerating scientific discovery.

As Head of AI, Health and Science at the Deakin Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative, Deakin University, I oversee research, graduate training and funding across three major programs: AI Future, exploring the foundations of intelligence; AI4Science, accelerating discovery through AI; and AI4Health, developing translational AI to improve health outcomes.

AI Future aims to create generalist systems that learn, reason and act responsibly across human domains—envisioning AI as a digital species of intelligent, evolving agents. We focus on deep reasoning, social modelling, memory and alignment to ensure AI remains truthful, safe and consistent with human values.

AI4Science unites AI and scientific discovery. We build AI Scientists—autonomous agents that generate hypotheses, design and perform experiments and uncover insights in physics, chemistry and biology. Our work accelerates materials and energy research, decodes biological systems and advances drug discovery, making science faster, cheaper and more creative through human–AI collaboration.

AI4Health develops intelligent technologies that support clinicians and patients. We create AI Doctors capable of seeing, thinking, planning and communicating like human professionals. Our systems enhance medical imaging, population health analysis and personalised care, with applications from early cerebral palsy screening and mental-health support to suicide-risk prediction and pandemic forecasting. Our goal is to make trustworthy AI accessible for everyone’s health and wellbeing.

We have won numerous research awards and recognitions.

I completed my PhD at Curtin University in 2008, investigating structured machine learning through probabilistic graphical models. I have authored over 200 research papers on AI and its applications in health, science and industry.  I have received funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and industry. For more details on my current research activities, please visit the my personal page: https://truyentran.github.io