Victor Chang wins Computing AI Data Scientist of the Year award

By AI, Created 5:09 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Professor Victor Chang of Aston University was named Data Scientist of the Year at Computing’s AI and Software Development Awards 2026 in London on May 14. The award recognizes his work in healthcare AI, cybersecurity, responsible AI and mentorship that has moved beyond research into real-world use.

Why it matters: - Professor Victor Chang’s work is already in use in hospitals and data centres, showing how academic AI research can reach operational settings. - The award spotlights applied AI that affects patient care, infrastructure security and workforce development. - Chang’s recognition also underscores the growing value of responsible AI governance, not just model performance.

What happened: - Professor Victor Chang, Professor of Business Analytics at Aston Business School, Aston University, was named Data Scientist of the Year at the Computing AI and Software Development Awards 2026. - The ceremony took place on 14 May at Guildhall in London. - The awards are described as one of the most widely recognised events in the UK technology calendar.

The details: - Chang received the award for contributions that extend beyond academic research. - His AI systems are in clinical use at hospitals in the UK and abroad. - His cybersecurity frameworks protect data centres across multiple countries. - His mentorship programme has shaped the careers of more than 250 early-career researchers on six continents. - Working with NHS trusts and international hospital networks, Chang developed AI diagnostic systems that support clinicians in detecting serious conditions. - More than 1,000 patients have directly benefited from the healthcare AI work. - The diagnostic accuracy exceeds 90 percent. - Hospital partners report that the programme is still running years after the original research was published. - Chang said, “Data has enormous potential to improve lives, but only if the systems around it are transparent, fair, and responsible.” - His intrusion detection framework blocks more than 99 percent of malware threats in real time across multiple international data centres. - A UK-Japan 6G security collaboration, funded by the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund, produced federated malware detection. - That collaboration achieved 96.8 percent accuracy at sub-0.8-second inference times. - The 6G security system keeps sensitive data on the source device. - Chang has contributed to institutional policy and spoken at major international conferences on AI accountability. - Applied work in financial services analytics delivered measurable improvements in real-time decision-making for partner organisations. - The same work improved security posture and reduced environmental overhead. - Chang has directly mentored more than 250 early-career researchers and taught more than 100,000 students and professionals. - Four mentees have been promoted to senior academic positions. - Colleagues supported through his grant-writing programme have secured major research funding at a 100 percent success rate. - Chang founded five international research conferences with more than 1,000 active members combined. - More than 50 former mentees now hold leadership roles globally. - Chang has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, accumulated over 32,000 citations and holds an h-index of 90. - He is among the top 0.2 percent of scientists globally by citation impact. - He has secured more than £3 million in research funding as principal investigator. - Collaborative projects involving Chang total more than £14 million across Europe and Asia. - Chang holds fellowships from the British Computer Society, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society for Public Health and the Operational Research Society. - His research spans federated learning, healthcare AI, cybersecurity, financial analytics and responsible AI governance. - He has partnerships with more than 100 institutions across six continents. - Chang was also named to the AI Leadership Index 2026 and named Cybersecurity Professional of the Year 2026 earlier this year.

Between the lines: - The award frames Chang as a rare researcher whose work has crossed from publication into sustained deployment. - The combination of healthcare, security and mentorship suggests his influence is as much about systems and people as algorithms. - The citation, funding and partnership figures point to a broad research footprint with international reach.

What’s next: - Chang’s work appears likely to keep expanding across healthcare AI, cybersecurity and responsible AI policy. - The hospital, data centre and mentorship programmes give Aston University a visible showcase for applied AI impact. - Earlier recognition this year suggests Chang’s profile may continue rising across both technology and academic circles.