Boya Hou
I am a postdoctoral research associate hosted by Prof. Maxim Raginsky and Prof. Olgica Milenkovic at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). I obtained my Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UIUC, advised by Prof. Subhonmesh Bose. Prior to this, I received B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Zhejiang University.
My CV can be found here (Dec 2025) CV.
Research Interests:
My research seeks to redefine modeling for autonomy by unifying modern machine learning with the rigor of systems and control theory, with application to power systems and biology. Drawing on tools from statistical learning theory, applied probability, operator theory, systems and control theory, and optimization, I develop theoretical frameworks and computational methods for data-driven representation and control of dynamical systems that learn from data and adapt to uncertain environments while remaining grounded in rigorous principles.
Monograph
📄 Kernel Method for Learning Dynamical Systems: An Operator-Theoretic Perspective
Sample chapters
B. Hou, S. Bose, N. Dahlin, U. Vaidya
An Operator-Theoretic Perspective for Learning Nonlinear Systems
📄 Nonparametric Sparse Online Learning of the Koopman Operator
B. Hou, S. Sanjari, N. Dahlin, A. Koppel, S. Bose
arXiv preprint download
📄 Kernel Methods for the Approximation of the Eigenfunctions of the Koopman Operator
Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 2025 download
J. Lee, B. Hamzi, B. Hou, H. Owhadi, G. Santin, U. Vaidya
⭐ Sparse Learning of Dynamical Systems in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space: An Operator-Theoretic Approach
Proceedings of the 40th International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), 2023 download
B. Hou, S. Sanjari, N. Dahlin, S. Bose, U. Vaidya
📄 Compressed Decentralized Learning of Conditional Mean Embedding Operators in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space
Proceedings of the 37th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 2023 download
B. Hou, S. Sanjari, N. Dahlin, S. Bose
📄 Sparse Learning of Kernel Transfer Operators
Proceedings of the Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, 2021 download
B. Hou, S. Bose, U. Vaidya
🔹 Application to Power Systems:
📄 Data-Driven Transient Stability Analysis Using the Koopman Operator
International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 2024 download
A. Reddy Ramapuram Matavalam, B. Hou, H. Choi, S. Bose, U. Vaidya
📄 Propagating Uncertainty Through System Dynamics in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space
Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, Special Issue: Topics at the Interface of Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems, 2024 download
Also presented as a poster at the American Control Conference (ACC), 2023.
B. Hou, A. Reddy Ramapuram Matavalam, S. Bose, U. Vaidya
Behavioral Approach for Controlled Systems Beyond Linearity
📄 A Behavioral Perspective on Subspace and Interpolation Methods for Simulation of Linear Time-Invariant Systems
B. Hou, M. Raginsky
Preprint
📄 A Behavioral Framework on Nonlinear Systems in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces
B. Hou, M. Raginsky
In preparation
Analysis and Control of Spatially Coupled Network RNA Velocity
📄 Multi Network RNA Velocity
Presented at the NITMB MathBio Convergence Conference, 2025 Slide
B. Hou, M. Raginsky, A. Pandey, O. Milenkovic
📄 Spatially-Coupled Network RNA Velocities: A Control Theoretic Perspective
B. Hou, M. Raginsky, A. Pandey, O. Milenkovic
In preparation
Preparing Power Grid for Electrified Transportation
Electrification can help to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. The transition from jet-fuel aircraft to battery-powered electrified aircraft will impose new charging requirements on airports. To support this transition, I study the interdependency between transportation (airlines) and energy infrastructure.
📄 Impact of Aviation Electrification on Airports: Flight Scheduling and Charging
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2023 download
B. Hou, S. Bose, L. Marla, K. Haran
📄 Powering Electric Aircraft at O’Hare Airport: A Case Study
Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, 2020 download
B. Hou, S. Bose, K. Haran
Awards
- The NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB) Early Career Travel Award, 2025
- Best Poster Award, Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC), 2024
- Rising Stars in EECS, 2023
- M.A.Pai Scholarship, 2023
- Mavis Future Faculty Fellows (MF3), 2023-2024
- AAAI Student Scholarship, 2023
- The second-place winner in the United States Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) Case Competition, 2019
- UCLA Cross-disciplinary Scholars in Science and Technology (CSST) Scholarship, 2017
Presentations
- August 2025, National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB) MathBio Convergence Conference.
- December 2024, Power Systems Engineering Research Center Industry Advisory Board (PSERC IAB) Meeting.
- October 2024, INFORMS Annual Meeting.
- October 2024, Young Research’s Workshop, Cornell ORIE.
- September 2024, Sandia National Laboratories, Sandia Machine Learning and Deep Learning (MLDL) Workshop.
- July 2024, Fields Institute, the 4th Symposium on Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems.
- May 2024, Alan Turing Institute, Machine Learning and Dynamical Systems Seminar.
- April 2024, Northwestern, the 10th Midwest Workshop on Control and Game Theory.
- April 2024, UIUC, group meeting of Prof. R. Srikant and Prof. Carolyn Beck.
- March 2024, MIT, group meeting of Prof. Navid Azizan.
- February 2024, Georgia Tech, Algorithms and Randomness Center (ARC) colloquium.
- November 2023, Georgia Tech, EECS Rising Stars Workshop.
- November 2023, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Grad Seminar in Special Topics.
Teaching
- Fall 2021, Teaching Assistant, ECE 365 Data Science and Engineering, UIUC.
- Fall 2023, Organized and taught weekly reading group on Learning in Games, UIUC.
- Summer 2021, Organized and taught weekly reading group on Functional and Operator-Theoretic Foundation of Learning.
Fun
Outside of mathematics and engineering, I pursue my passion for dancing. I performed contemporary ballet and dance of the Han-Tang dynasties (a subcategory of Classical Chinese Dance) with Champaign Park District and Zhejiang Wenqin Art Troupe.