Meet me. Liukuan Yu (aka Wellk)

Hello everyone!
I’m Liukuan Yu,or you can call me Wellk , and I’m delighted to join the GRBIO family. I come from Xi’an, China, a historical city known as the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. Xi'an is famous worldwide for its rich cultural heritage, the Terracotta Warriors, and delicious local cuisine.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Financial Mathematics at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, an international institution jointly founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool, located in the scenic water town of Suzhou. There, I gained solid academic knowledge and gradually discovered my strong interest in operations research and biostatistics. My undergraduate thesis focused on optimizing the NBA schedule, where I utilized mathematical modeling and algorithm optimization to improve the fairness and efficiency of the game scheduling process. This project was my first significant experience in applying mathematical methods to solve practical problems, which deeply fascinated me.

For my postgraduate studies, I moved to the UK to study Health Data Science at the University of Manchester, a city known for its frequent rainy weather. During my time in Manchester, I systematically learned modern statistical and data analysis techniques, further solidifying my determination to pursue advanced studies in biostatistics. My master's projects involved applying statistical methods to health data, and this interdisciplinary approach significantly deepened my interest in exploring statistics further.

Currently, I am a PhD student at GRBIO under the supervision of Jordi and Daniel. My research primarily focuses on clustering analysis, particularly innovative applications of the k-means algorithm in sports analytics. My goal is to provide precise and scientifically supported data insights for the sports industry through statistical modeling.

Outside academia, I enjoy football, basketball, and fitness activities. I've been a loyal supporter of FC Barcelona since I was 12. Living in the vibrant city of Barcelona brings me closer to my favorite football club and has made me deeply appreciate the warm climate and the diverse, delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

I look forward to exchanging ideas, growing together, and sharing a wonderful research journey with everyone in the coming years!