Completed Oral Defence

Four years, brief in a lifetime, yet transformative in my youth. Completing my Ph.D. at CUHK’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, made possible by an extraordinary community of mentors, collaborators, and friends.

I am profoundly grateful to my advisor, Prof. Tsung‑Yi Ho, whose visionary guidance taught me to ask bold questions, navigate emerging fields, and build a sustainable research career, all while exemplifying integrity and generosity.

My deepest thanks also go to Prof. Bei Yu, whose sharp insights, rigorous methodology, and weekly group meetings constantly pushed my work to higher standards and sharpened my communication skills. Prof. Qiang Xu’s writings and constructive feedback shaped my research judgment in the AI era, while my six‑month visit with Prof. Ulf Schlichtmann at TU Munich immersed me in a European scholarly culture that deepened my analytical rigor and broadened my perspective on work‑life balance. Early‑stage mentorship from Dr. Tsun‑Ming Tseng and Dr. Mengchu Li laid the foundations for the core contributions of this thesis—and I wish them and their new families all the best.

I owe a special debt to Prof. Evangeline F.Y. Young, whose EDA course and CUHK summer camp first ignited my passion for electronic design automation, and to Prof. Jialin Pan, whose career advice and personal investment extended far beyond my teaching assistant role.

To all my co‑authors and labmates, your diverse expertise, patience, and camaraderie turned challenges into discoveries and long hours into lasting memories. And to my family and friends, your unwavering belief has been my anchor.

Finally, a quiet thank‑you to myself for persevering, and to the late Kobe Bryant, whose ethos of relentless dedication and resilience has served as a constant personal motivation.

Excelsior.