Tao Lu, University of Victoria

Research

Machine Learning Convolutional Neural Networks Deep Learing Integrated Photonics Recurrent Neural Networks Sensing Silicon Photonics Single Molecule Detection

Latest papers

A 3D ray traced biological neural network learning model.
Nature communications · 2024 · senior author
Universal activation function for machine learning.
Scientific reports · 2021 · senior author
Polygon Coherent Modes in a Weakly Perturbed Whispering Gallery Microresonator for Efficient Second Harmonic, Optomechanical, and Frequency Comb Generations.
Physical review letters · 2020 · senior author

All 5 publications

Latest funding

Feasibility study of cavity quantum optomechanical magnetometry at Ga2O3 defect centre
NSERC · 2025 · Principal investigator
$25,000
Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis System Urgently Required for Research in Targeted Drug-Delivery, Exosomes, Nanoplastics, and Artificial Cell Studies
NSERC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$135,513
Consortium on integrated Quantum photonics with ferroelectric materials
NSERC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$2,000,000

All 19 grants and awards

5 publications.

01

A 3D ray traced biological neural network learning model.

Yuen B, Dong X, Lu T

Nature communications2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48747-7 PMID: 38824154

02

Universal activation function for machine learning.

Yuen B, Hoang MT, Dong X, Lu T

Scientific reports2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96723-8 PMID: 34548504

03

Polygon Coherent Modes in a Weakly Perturbed Whispering Gallery Microresonator for Efficient Second Harmonic, Optomechanical, and Frequency Comb Generations.

Fang Z, Haque S, Farajollahi S, Luo H, Lin J, Wu R, Zhang J, Wang Z, Wang M, Cheng Y, Lu T

Physical review letters2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.173901 PMID: 33156678

04

Hollow Fiber Coupler Sensor.

Kuruba N, Lu T

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2019Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/s19040806 PMID: 30781482

05

Cavity optomechanical spring sensing of single molecules.

Yu W, Jiang WC, Lin Q, Lu T

Nature communications2016Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12311 PMID: 27460277

Feasibility study of cavity quantum optomechanical magnetometry at Ga2O3 defect centre

Principal investigatorNSERC2025International - Catalyst - Quantum - G7

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao

Keywords: Materials sciences; Life sciences (including biotechnology)

$25,000

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis System Urgently Required for Research in Targeted Drug-Delivery, Exosomes, Nanoplastics, and Artificial Cell Studies

Co-investigatorNSERC2024Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Hoorfar, Mina

Keywords: Biomolecules; Drug-encapsulation; Environmental health; Exosomes; Medical diagnosis; Microfluidics; Microplastics; Nanoparticles; Nanoplastics; Nanotechnology

$135,513

Consortium on integrated Quantum photonics with ferroelectric materials

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: de Sousa, Rogério R

Keywords: ferroelectric materials; integrated photonics; photon cluster states; quantum computing; quantum photonics; silicon; squeezed states of light

$2,000,000

Hollow Fiber Coupler for Hydrogen Sulfide Spectral Analysis

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao T

Keywords: Absorption Spectrscopy; Detection; Greenhouse Gases; H2S; Hollow Fiber Sensor; Machine Learning; Methane; Raman Spectroscopy; Sensor; Spectroscopic Analysis

$56,000

Passive contact tracing and social distancing assessment for COVID-19_x000d_ _x000d_

Co-investigatorNSERC2020Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Dong, Xiaodai

$50,000

Researches on Whispering Gallery Microcavities and Machine Learning

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao

Keywords: integrated photonics; whispering gallery microcavity; silicon photonics; machine learning; recurrent neural networks; convolutional neural networks; deep learing; sensing; spectral analysis; single molecule detection

$234,000

Feasibility study of on-chip Avalanche Photodetector

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao

$25,000

Learning Based Autonomous Indoor Localization and Map Generation

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Dong, Xiaodai

$160,000

Investigation of chelating material properties for optical sensing

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao

$25,000

Feasibility study of high voltage power line energy harvesting for self-powered sensor networks

Principal investigatorNSERC2015Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Lu, Tao

$25,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Xiaodai Dong

Electrical and Computer Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Machine Learning Dear Professor Lu, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "A 3D ray traced biological neural network learning model." (2024), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Feasibility study of cavity quantum optomechanical magnetometry at Ga2O3 defect centre" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]