The Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (LAS) has officially announced the winners of the 2025 Young Scientists and Doctoral Students Awards. Among them is Dr. Sarmad Maqsood, a researcher at KTU’s Faculty of Informatics. His work, “Deep learning methods for medical image analysis using imperfect data,” not only earned him a prestigious award but also addresses challenges in medical diagnostics.
Winning the LMA competition was significant proof for the scientist, confirming the value of his chosen direction. “This recognition motivates me to continue creating, researching, and discovering reliable artificial intelligence (AI) methods that can work in real-world conditions in the field of medicine,” shares S. Maqsood. “This activity encourages a deeper collaboration with clinicians and interdisciplinary teams”.
According to the laureate, this is not only a personal achievement but also a recognition of the institution. Grateful for the chance to grow and gain new experience at KTU, the scientist is inspired by the support of colleagues and the motivating environment that encourages him to achieve even more. As a member of the Faculty of Informatics and its representative in the LMA scientist competition, he is proud that the faculty provides young scientists with the opportunity to discover their path to success.
The challenge – imperfect data in the real world
“Medical data is rarely ideal in reality, so the most important thing was to create models that could learn reliably in the face of uncertainty,” explains the scientist. An equally important part of the study was the strict validity of the methods – carefully planned experiments and cautious evaluation of results to ensure the reliability of the conclusions.
Advice for future researchers: ethics and patience
When asked for advice to young colleagues starting their research careers, S. Maqsood emphasizes process and values over success. In his view, science is not a sprint; it requires diligence and attention to detail.
“Choose a problem that is important but defines a clear and achievable research question. Document everything so that the research can be replicated, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback early on – good mentoring speeds up progress,” the laureate shares his experience.
He also urges researchers not to be discouraged when faced with obstacles: “View negative results or article rejections as part of the process. Work ethically and transparently – quality and integrity pay off in the long run.”
This award is part of the annual LMA competition, which aims to encourage young scientists to conduct research at the highest level. Sarmad Maqsood’s success proves once again that the KTU Faculty of Informatics remains a leading center for global AI innovation.
