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Faculty

Jiefu Chen
Dr. Jiefu Chen, Senior Member IEEE
Associate Professor
Office Location N320 Engineering Building 1
Phone 713-743-0841
Fax 713-743-4444
Email jchen84 [at] uh.edu
Publications
Education
Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University
M.S. Dynamics and Control, Dalian University of Technology, China
B.S. Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, China
Professional Experience
Associate Professor, University of Houston, 2021-Present
Assistant Professor, University of Houston, 2015-2021
Staff Scientist, Weatherford International, 2011-2015
Awards & Honors
Andrea Prosperetti Research Computing Faculty Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, 2025
Early Innovator Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, 2021
Best Paper Award, IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, 2011
Honorable Mention, Student Paper Contest, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, 2010
John T. Chambers Fellowship, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, 2007
Editorial Boards
Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Research Interests

Computational Electromagnetics and Acoustics

Inverse Problems

Machine Learning for Scientific Computing

Oilfield Data Analytics

Geophysical Data Processing

Subsurface Wireless Communication

Well Logging

Selected Publications

Yawei Su, Sihong Wu, Jiajia Sun, Xuqing Wu, Yueqin Huang, Jiefu Chen, Ligang Lu, Xiaolong Wei, and Rodolfo Christiansen, “Natural hydrogen exploration by joint sparse inversion of gravity and magnetic data and integrated geological interpretation,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 173, 151040, 2025.

Sihong Wu, Jiajia Sun, and Jiefu Chen, “Variational inference for geophysical inverse problems using normalization flows: an unsupervised approach to electromagnetic data inversion,” Geophysical Journal International, vol. 242, ggaf239, 2025.

Mai Le, Alan Yao, Amie Zhang, Hieu Le, Zhaoyang Chen, Xuqing Wu, Lihong Zhao, and Jiefu Chen, “Expediting ionic conductivity prediction of solid-state battery electrodes using machine learning,” IEEE Journal on Multiscale and Multiphysics Computational Techniques, vol. 9, pp. 375-382, 2024.

Richard Tran, Liqiang Huang, Yuan Zi, Shengguang Wang, Benjamin M. Comer, Xuqing Wu, Stefan J. Raaijman, Nishant K. Sinha, Shibin Thundiyil, Ganesh Iyer, Lars Grabow, Ligang Lu, and Jiefu Chen, “Rational design of nanoscale stabilized oxide catalysts for OER with OC22,” Nanoscale, vol. 16, pp. 17090-17101, 2024.

Xiaoliang Li, Chenpei Huang, Debing Wei, Miao Pan, Jiefu Chen, and Xiaonan Shan, “Enhancing subsurface CO2 storage monitoring and sensing: a novel long-term, real-time wireless communication system,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 24, pp. 38025-38034, 2024.

Shirui Wang, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Dip-informed neural network for self-supervised anti-aliasing seismic data interpolation,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 62, pp. 1-14, 2024.

Yanyan Hu, Xiaolong Wei, Xuqing Wu, Jiajia Sun, Yueqin Huang, and Jiefu Chen, “Three-dimensional cooperative inversion of airborne magnetic and gravity gradient data using deep-learning techniques,” Geophysics, vol. 89, pp. WB67–WB79, 2024.

Carlos Urdaneta, Charls Jeong, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Deep learning method for improving rate of penetration prediction in drilling,” SEP Journal, vol. 29, pp. 3440–3448, 2024.

Yuchen Jin, Qiyu Wan, Xuqing Wu, Xin Fu, and Jiefu Chen, “FPGA-accelerated deep neural network for real-time inversion of geosteering data,” Geoenergy Science and Engineering, vol. 224, 211610, 2023.

Carlos Urdaneta, Arnaud Jarrot, Shirui Wang, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Deep learning methods for improving electromagnetic telemetry signal-to-noise ratio,” SEP Journal, vol. 28, pp. 1676–1689, 2023.

Yanyan Hu, Xiaolong Wei, Xuqing Wu, Jiajia Sun, Jiuping Chen, Yueqin Huang, and Jiefu Chen, “A deep learning enhanced framework for multi-physics joint inversion,” Geophysics, vol. 88, no. 1, pp. K13–K26, 2023.

Shirui Wang, Wenyi Hu, Pengyu Yuan, Xuqing Wu, Qunshan Zhang, Prashanth Nadukandi, German Ocampo Botero, and Jiefu Chen, “A self-supervised deep learning method for seismic data deblending using a blind-trace network,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, vol. 34, pp. 3405-3414, 2023.

Yuchen Jin, Yuan Zi, Wenyi Hu, Yanyan Hu, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “A robust learning method for low-frequency extrapolation in GPR full waveform inversion,” IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, vol. 19, pp. 1-5, 2022.

Li Yan, Yuchen Jin, Chaoxian Qi, Pengyu Yuan, Shirui Wang, Xuqing Wu, Yueqin Huang, and Jiefu Chen, “Deep learning assisted real-time forward and inverse modeling of electromagnetic logging in complex formations,” IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, vol. 19, no. 8027505, pp. 1-5, 2022.

Pengyu Yuan, Shirui Wang, Wenyi Hu, Prashanth Nadukandi, German Ocampo Botero, Xuqing Wu, Hien Van Nguyen, and Jiefu Chen, “Self-supervised learning for efficient antialiasing seismic data interpolation,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, no. 5913819, pp. 1-19, 2022.

Li Yan, Hanming Wang, and Jiefu Chen, “2D inversion of ultradeep electromagnetic logging measurements for look-ahead applications,” Interpretation, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. T393-T402, 2022.

Yuchen Jin, Wenyi Hu, Shirui Wang, Yuan Zi, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Efficient progressive transfer learning for full waveform inversion with extrapolated low-frequency reflection seismic data,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, no. 5908810, pp. 1-10, 2022.

Yanyan Hu, Yuchen Jin, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “A theory-guided deep neural network for time domain electromagnetic simulation and inversion using a differentiable programming platform,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 767-772, Jan. 2022.

Li Yan, Shubin Zeng, and Jiefu Chen, “2D pixel-based inversion for simultaneous reconstruction of resistivity and dielectric constant from electromagnetic logging-while-drilling measurements,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, pp. 1-14, 2022.

Michael Bittar, Shirui Wang, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Multiple well-log depth matching using deep Q-learning,” Petrophysics, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 353–361, Aug. 2021.

Wenyi Hu, Yuchen Jin, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Progressive transfer learning for low frequency data prediction in full waveform inversion,” Geophysics, vol. 86, no. 4, pp. R369–R382, 2021.

Pan Zhang, Yanyan Hu, Yuchen Jin, Shaogui Deng, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen “A Maxwell’s equations based deep learning method for time domain electromagnetic simulations,” IEEE Journal on Multiscale and Multiphysics Computational Techniques, vol. 6, pp. 35-40, 2021.

Pengyu Yuan, Shirui Wang, Wenyi Hu, Xuqing Wu, Jiefu Chen, and Hien Van Nguyen, “A robust first-arrival picking workflow using convolutional and recurrent neural networks,” Geophysics, vol. 85, no. 5, pp. U109-U119, 2020.

Shirui Wang, Qiuyang Shen, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Automated gamma-ray log pattern alignment and depth matching by machine learning,” Interpretation, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. SL25-SL34, Aug. 2020.

Qiuyang Shen, Jiefu Chen, Xuqing Wu, Zhu Han, and Yueqin Huang, “Parallel tempered trans-dimensional Bayesian inference for the inversion of ultra-deep directional logging-while-drilling resistivity measurements,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 188, 106961, May 2020.

Neil Jerome A. Egarguin, Shubin Zeng, Daniel Onofrei, and Jiefu Chen, “Active control of Helmholtz fields in 3D using an array of sources,” Wave Motion, vol. 94, 102523, Mar. 2020.

Yuchen Jin, Qiuyang Shen, Xuqing Wu, Jiefu Chen, and Yueqin Huang, “A physics-driven deep-learning network for solving nonlinear inverse problems,” Petrophysics, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 86-98, Feb. 2020.

Han Lu, Qiuyang Shen, Jiefu Chen, Xuqing Wu, and Xin Fu, “Parallel multiple-chain DRAM MCMC for large-scale geosteering inversion and uncertainty quantification,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 174, pp. 189-200, Mar. 2019.

Shubin Zeng, Donald R. Wilton, and Jiefu Chen, “Multiscale modeling of electromagnetic telemetry in layered transverse isotropic formation,” IEEE Journal on Multiscale and Multiphysics Computational Techniques, vol. 3, pp. 266-276, 2018.

Qiuyang Shen, Jiefu Chen, and Hanming Wang, “Data-driven interpretation of ultradeep azimuthal propagation resistivity measurements: transdimensional stochastic inversion and uncertainty quantification,” Petrophysics, vol. 59, no. 6, pp. 786-798, Dec. 2018.

Shubin Zeng, Dawei Li, Donald R. Wilton, and Jiefu Chen, “Fast and accurate simulation of electromagnetic telemetry in deviated and horizontal drilling,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 166, pp. 242-248, Jul. 2018.

Wenyi Hu, Jiefu Chen, Jianguo Liu, and Aria Abubakar, “Retrieving low wavenumber information in FWI: an overview of the cycle-skipping phenomenon and solutions,” IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 35, pp. 132-141, Mar. 2018.

Shubin Zeng, Fangzhou Chen, Dawei Li, Ji Chen, and Jiefu Chen, “A novel 2.5D finite difference scheme for simulations of resistivity logging in anisotropic media,” Journal of Applied Geophysics, vol. 150, pp. 144-152, Mar. 2018.

Qiuyang Shen, Xuqing Wu, Jiefu Chen, Zhu Han, and Yueqin Huang, “Solving geosteering inverse problems by stochastic hybrid Monte Carlo method,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 161, pp. 9-16, Feb. 2018.

Jiefu Chen, “An efficient layered finite element method with domain decomposition for simulations of resistivity well logging,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 150, pp. 217-223, 2017.

Jiefu Chen and Shubin Zeng, “Hybridizing semianalytical and conventional finite-element schemes for simulations of electromagnetic borehole resistivity measurement,” Geophysics, vol. 82, no. 1, pp. E17-E26, 2017.

Jiefu Chen and Qing H. Liu, “Discontinuous Galerkin time domain methods for multiscale electromagnetic simulations: a review,” Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 101, no. 2, pp. 242-254, Feb. 2013.

Jiefu Chen, Luis Tobon, Mei Chai, Jason A. Mix, and Qing H. Liu, “Efficient implicit-explicit time stepping scheme with domain decomposition for multiscale modeling of layered structures,” IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, vol. 1, no. 9, pp. 1438-1446, Sept. 2011.

Jiefu Chen, Bao Zhu, Wanxie Zhong, and Qing H. Liu, “A semianalytical spectral element method for the analysis of 3D layered structures,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 1-8, Jan. 2011.

Jiefu Chen, Qing H. Liu, Mei Chai, and Jason A. Mix, “A non-spurious 3D vector discontinuous Galerkin finite-element time-domain method,” IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-3, Jan. 2010.

Jiefu Chen, Joon-Ho Lee, and Qing H. Liu, “A high-precision integration scheme for the spectral-element time-domain method in electromagnetic simulation,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 57, no. 10, pp. 3223-3231, Oct. 2009.

Books

Shirui Wang, Wenyi Hu, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “Deep Learning for Seismic Data Enhancement and Representation,” Springer, 2024.

Qiuyang Shen, Jiefu Chen, Xuqing Wu, Yueqin Huang, and Zhu Han, “Statistical Inversion of Electromagnetic Logging Data,” Springer, 2020.

Jiefu Chen, Shubin Zeng, and Yueqin Huang, “Borehole Electromagnetic Telemetry System: Theory, Modeling, and Applications,” Springer, 2019.

Articles/Book Chapters

Yanyan Hu, Yuchen Jin, Xuqing Wu, and Jiefu Chen, “A Theory-guided Deep Neural Network for Time Domain Electromagnetic Simulation and Inversion Using a Differentiable Programming Platform,” Advances in Time-Domain Computational Electromagnetic Methods, edited by Qiang Re, Su Yan, and Atef Elsherbeni, Page 395-421.

Jiefu Chen, Yueqin Huang, Tommy L. Binford, and Xuqing Wu, “Managing Uncertainty in Large-Scale Inversions for the Oil & Gas Industry,” Guide to Big Data Applications, edited by S. Srinivasan, Page 149-173. Springer, 2018.

Patent/Patent Applications
Jiefu Chen, Xinyu Liu, and David R. Jackson, “Apparatus and method for wellbore imaging in oil-based mud,” U.S. Patent US11163086B2, issued on Nov. 2, 2021
Jiefu Chen, “Logging while drilling electrical imager and method for measurement in oil based mud,” U.S. Patent US9797236B2, issued Oct. 24, 2017.
Shanjun Li, and Jiefu Chen, “Apparatus and method for simultaneously obtaining quantitative measurements of formation resistivity and permittivity in both water and oil based mud,” U.S. Patent US9341735B1, issued May 17, 2016.