Hello! My name is Nguyen (Nguyên in Vietnamese). I am a Lecturer (equiv. assistant professor) at the School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews.

Broadly speaking, my research interest is automated algorithm design for combinatorial optimisation. I am particularly interested in automated algorithm configuration and automated algorithm selection, where the aim is to leverage both machine learning and optimisation techniques to automate the development and selection of solvers.

Owing to their general-purpose nature, automated algorithm configuration and selection techniques are broadly applicable across a wide range of domains. One of my research focuses is on applying those techniques to constraint programming, especially automated constraint modelling.

Another focus of my research is Deep Reinforcement Learning for Dynamic Algorithm Configuration (DAC). DAC is a more general version of automated algorithm configuration where the aim is learn to adaptively adjust parameters of algorithm during the solving process (rather than finding a static best algorithm configuration).

I got my PhD degree from KU Leuven under the supervision of Prof. Patrick De Causmaecker and Prof. Thomas Stützle. The topic of my PhD was “Data Analytics for Algorithm Design”.

How to pronounce my name: Nguyễn is a very common family name in Vietnam so people I met may recognise that I’m Vietnamese when they see my name. Actually this is my first name, written as Nguyên (I’m sure you can see the big difference between Nguyễn and Nguyên ). A close enough pronounciation of Nguyên is “nguin” in penguin : /ˈpeŋ.ɡwɪn/. So just think about me as a small penguin when you see me!

News

• I will be giving an invited talk at the Machine Learning for Solvers and Provers (ML4SP) workshop on August 10, 2025.

• Our paper “On the Importance of Reward Design in Reinforcement Learning-based Dynamic Algorithm Configuration: A Case Study on OneMax with (1+($\lambda$,$\lambda$))-GA” has received a best paper award at GECCO’2025 (L4EC track) . Joint work with Tai Nguyen, Phong Le, André Biedenkapp, and Carola Doerr. This is part of Tai Nguyen’s PhD project (co-supervised by Carola Doerr and myself).

• Our paper “Multi-parameter Control for the (1+(λ,λ))-GA on OneMax via Deep Reinforcement Learning” has been accepted at FOGA’2025. Joint work with Tai Nguyen, Phong Le, and Carola Doerr. This is part of Tai Nguyen’s PhD project (co-supervised by Carola Doerr and myself).

• (July 26, 2025) I just created my homepage! :)

Research Topics

• Automated algorithm configuration and automated algorithm selection
• Deep reinforcement learning for dynamic algorithm configuration
• Constrain programming and automated constraint modelling
• Automated instance generation (for algorithm development and benchmarking)

Awards

• Best paper award at GECCO’2025
• Best paper award at GECCO’2022
• Nomination for best paper award at FOGA’2023
• Best paper award at GECCO’2017

Fellowship

• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (09/2020 - 08/2023) (£90,000)

Grants

• 08/2025: Young Researcher and Innovator Conference grant (2385€), funded by the COST Action CA22137 - Randomised Optimisation Algorithms Research Network (ROAR-NET).

• 03/2024 - 04/2025: EPSRC High Performance Computing (701,000 CPU hours ~ £21,030)

• 07/2019 - 07/2020: EPSRC High Performance Computing (1.5 million CPUh ~ £13,800)

• 09/2018: Short-Term Scientific Mission grant (1122€), funded by the CA15140 - Improving Applicability of Nature-Inspired Optimisation by Joining Theory and Practice (ImAppNIO)