Thai Tran - HomeThai Tran homepage

About me

- Thai Tran earned a PhD in Computer Science from Lincoln University, New Zealand in 2021. His supervisors included Professors Sandhya Samarasinghe and Don Kulasiri (Lincoln University) and Distinguished Professor Michael Levin (Wyss Institute, Harvard, and Tufts University).

- Since 2022, Thai Tran has been a Geospatial Research Assistant at Lincoln Agritech Ltd., New Zealand, specializing in GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis. He works with tools like QGIS, ArcGIS, and Google Earth Engine, manages UAVs like eBeeX, and develops workflows and Python scripts for imagery processing. His expertise spans satellite and drone imagery analysis, workshop facilitation, and technical reporting, with a focus on environmental and agricultural applications.

Experiences

Geospatial Research Assistant

05/2022 - Present
Lincoln Agritech Ltd., Lincoln, New Zealand.

- Proficiency in GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis.

- Skillful utilization of diverse software and tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS, GEE, among others.

- Hands-on experience with a range of sensors and equipment like UAV eBeeX, Pix4D, LAI-2200C, Dualex Force-A, GPS devices, etc.

- Developed workflows and Python scripts for imagery downloading, processing, and modeling. Additionally, created processes for UAV data collection, processing, and modeling.

- Proficient in organizing and managing workshops, as well as adept at report and research paper writing.

- Possesses extensive knowledge in GIS and remote sensing, with familiarity in using satellite and drone imagery. Skilled in sourcing Sentinel imagery from multiple platforms including SciHub, Google Cloud, and GEE. Experience includes geospatial data analysis encompassing imagery acquisition, processing, analytics, and modeling.

Research Technician

01/2022 - 04/2022
Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University

Responsibilities:

- Prepared equipment, materials, products, and specimens required for experiments.

- Gathered and organized field samples, including gas and soil, to support ongoing research endeavors.

- Conducted cleaning and filtration procedures on collected samples, ensuring their readiness for analysis.

- Implemented and executed field experiments, overseeing the setup and monitoring of procedures.

- Maintained and managed laboratory facilities, ensuring their functionality for both research and educational purposes.

Statistical Analysis and Machine Learning

02/2022 - 04/2022
N3T, Whangārei, New Zealand

Responsibilities:

- Generating PDF reports.

- Enhancing performance, improving user experience (UX), and developing the user interface (UI).

- Designing interactive data visualizations.

- Implementing AWS integration and setup.

- Conducting data cleansing processes.

- Performing statistical analysis and applying machine learning techniques.

- Establishing connections between the backend and React frontend.

Postdoctoral in Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

08/2021 – 12/2021
Lincoln University, New Zealand

- Gathering data from primary and secondary sources while maintaining data systems.

- Processing data by filtering, cleaning, and visualizing raw data to generate actionable results.

- Identifying, analyzing, and interpreting patterns or trends within intricate datasets.

- Utilizing statistical techniques to analyze data and produce comprehensive reports.

- Employing Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) to model cell cycles in biology, adapting and fine-tuning network parameters for training and testing data.

- Conducting software coding (Python, MATLAB, and Excel) for data analysis and visualization purposes.

- Software coding (Python, Matlab and Excel) for Data Analysis and Data Visualization.

- Analyzing outcomes and composing research papers and reports based on the findings.

PhD student, Dean’s List

04/2017 – 08/2021
Lincoln University, New Zealand

Project: Autonomous Self-repair Systems

- Optimized Neural Networks to simulate biological tissue and organism self-repair processes.

- Enhanced Hopfield Neural Networks to facilitate the restoration of organism functions and structures.

- Proposed three distinct self-repair algorithms tailored for tissues, simple organisms, and more complex organisms.

- Visualized outputs, programmed, and executed simulations using Python.

- Documented and summarized results in reports, research papers, and a thesis.

- Contributed to the review process of research papers for various journals and conferences.

Data Analyst – Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

09/2019 – 12/2019
Lincoln University, New Zealand

Project: Neural Network Analysis of Biological Tissues

- Managed data entry, migration, and preparation for analysis purposes.

- Employed Hopfield Networks to retain memory in various connection topologies related to biological tissues.

- Investigated different memory types and their impact on potential tissue function, considering the influence of connection topology and the durability of memory in tissues.

- Explored discrete and continuous states within the Hopfield Networks.

- Conducted software coding for both data analysis and data visualization.

- Formulated critical questions, conceptualized ideas, and gained a comprehensive understanding of neural network modeling in relevance to the project.

- Summarized findings in reports and research papers.

Professional Services

Reviewer:

- The International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Data Science (ISDS) 2023.

- ​16th Asian Conference on Intelligent Information and Database Systems (ACIIDS) 2024.

Best publications

  1. Sandhya Samarasinghe, T. N. Minh-Thai, A Comprehensive Conceptual and Computational Dynamics Framework for Autonomous Regeneration of Form and Function in Biological Organisms, PNAS Nexus, 2023;, pgac308, https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac308.
  2. T. N. Minh-Thai, Sandhya Samarasinghe, Michael Levin: A Comprehensive Conceptual and Computational Dynamics Framework for Autonomous Regeneration Systems. Article in Artificial Life. 2021; MIT Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/artl_a_00343.
  3. T. N. Minh-Thai, Aryal J., Samarasinghe S., Levin M. (2018) A Computational Framework for Autonomous Self-repair Systems. In: Mitrovic T., Xue B., Li X. (eds) AI 2018: Advances in Artificial Intelligence. AI 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 11320. Springer, Cham. Scopus - Elsevier.
  4. T. N. Minh-Thai and Nguyen Thai-Nghe. (2015). An Approach for Developing Intelligent Systems in Smart Home Environment. In: Dang T., Wagner R., Küng J., Thoai N., Takizawa M., Neuhold E. (eds) Future Data and Security Engineering. FDSE 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp 147-161, vol 9446. Springer, Cham.Scopus - Elsevier.
  5. T. N. Minh-Thai and Nguyen Thai-Nghe. (2015). Methods for Abnormal Usage Detection in Developing Intelligent Systems for Smart Homes. In Proceedings of the 2015 Seventh International Conference on Knowledge and Systems Engineering (KSE 2015). pp. 114-119, ISBN 978-1-4673-8013-3, IEEE.Scopus - Elsevier.

Medium articles

Geospatial analysis is a rapidly growing field that combines geography, spatial data and technology to provide insights into a wide range of applications. Whether you're analyzing urban planning, disaster response, or the spread of disease, geospatial analysis provides a unique perspective on complex problems. In this blog, we will explore the latest trends, techniques and tools in geospatial analysis, and how it is changing the way we understand the world around us.

1. Spatial Programming & Remote Sensing - Spatial programming and remote sensing are essential components of modern technology and are transforming the way we understand our world.
2. Apply masks on Satellite Images - When we use Satellite Imagery, they usually provide masks for clouds, water, etc. I will show you how to apply masks to remove water pixels from satellite images.
3. Remove photo background by Python - Removing the background of an image using Python can be done using image processing and computer vision techniques. One popular method is using the OpenCV library, which provides a range of tools and functions for image processing and computer vision.
4. Watermark Photos with Python - To watermark photos using Python, you can use the Python Imaging Library (PIL) or OpenCV library. Both libraries provide tools for image processing and can be used to add a watermark to an image.
5. ChatGPT API with Python - To use the OpenAI API with Python, you will need to use the OpenAI API client library, which provides a Python interface for the API. The API client library makes it easy to interact with the API, allowing you to send requests to the API and receive responses in a convenient and easy-to-use format.