FACOM · UFU · Uberlândia, Brazil

AINET

Artificial and Machine Intelligence in Networks

We turn advanced AI research into real-world solutions — from scientific discovery to deployed technology.

Our Research Publications
12MSc/PhD Alumni
6Active Projects
2×Google Award
1×NVIDIA Award
Research Lines
🕸️
Complex Networks
Graph learning & structural analysis
🧠
Deep Learning
Neural networks & transformers
🤖
Foundation Models
Foundation models & LLMs
🧬
AI for Health
COVID-19, ASD, cancer, coma prognosis
🌱
AI for Agriculture
Precision farming & crop analysis
💹
AI for Finance
LLMs for the finance domain
63
Complete Articles Published
6
Filed Patents
24
Graduates Trained
8+
Funding Agencies
About AINET

Bridging AI theory
with real-world impact

The Artificial and Machine Intelligence in Networks (AINET) research group is based at the Faculdade de Computação (FACOM), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Brazil. Led by Prof. Murillo G. Carneiro, an IEEE Senior Member and two-time Google Latin America Research Award winner, AINET investigates the intersection of machine learning, graph-based methods, and bio-inspired computing.

Our work spans from theoretical advances in complex network classification to applied breakthroughs — developing salivary biosensors for COVID-19 and autism detection, EEG-based coma prognosis systems, and AI-powered crop-yield prediction tools.

Meet the team Join AINET
Prof. Murillo G. Carneiro
IEEE Senior Member
Since 2020
2× Google Award
Latin America Research Awards
6 Patents Filed
INPI & WIPO (PCT)
100+ Articles Published
Research Lines

Five core areas of expertise

From fundamental theory to deployed systems, our research targets societal grand challenges.

🕸️

Complex Networks

Graph-based learning, structural optimization, community detection, and high-level data classification using network topology.

🧠

Deep Learning & Neural Networks

Convolutional and recurrent architectures, transformers, CNN-LSTM hybrids for EEG signals, spectroscopy, and image analysis.

📊

Machine Learning

High-level classification, multi-label learning, dimensionality reduction, PSO-based optimization, and ensemble methods.

🧬

Bio-Inspired Computing

Cellular automata, genetic algorithms, surrogate-assisted evolutionary methods, and nature-inspired optimization.

🤖

Foundation Models

Large language and foundation models, transfer learning, and generative approaches for spectral data synthesis and domain-specific fine-tuning.

View all research projects
Active Projects

Current research initiatives

Funded projects currently running in the AINET lab.

Health Deep Learning Collaboration

Non-invasive ASD Detection via ATR-FTIR + ML

A collaborative initiative with Eindhoven University (TU/e) and Radboud University developing an automated biophonic ML platform for Autism Spectrum Disorder detection from saliva using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared analysis.

Active · 2024– CNPq · Google
Health Complex Networks

Complex Networks for Molecular ASD Diagnosis

High-level data classification techniques based on complex network metrics and properties applied to the molecular diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder from salivary infrared spectroscopy data.

Active · 2022– CNPq
Deep Learning EEG Health

EEG Pattern Learning for Coma Prognosis

Investigation of network-based and deep learning models for early prognosis of patients in coma states using EEG data. Applications to improve conditions for organ donation and clinical decisions.

Active · 2019– CNPq
Agriculture ML

AI for Agriculture & Geospatial Information

Intelligent machine learning methods for problems related to agriculture and geospatial information processing, including crop yield prediction, soybean maturity classification via UAV, and eucalyptus growth modelling.

Active · 2019– CNPq · MDA
LLMs FinTech

LLMFinance: Scalable LLMs for Finance

Development of scalable and reliable large language models tailored for the finance domain, incorporating domain-specific fine-tuning and evaluation frameworks for financial NLP tasks.

Active · 2025– Internal
View all projects
Publications

Recent Articles

Selection of journal and conference articles published in the last two years. Bold denotes the group's coordinator.

1
Dual-Attention Transformer for FTIR Spectroscopy: Integrating Intra-Region and Global Attention for Disease Detection
Souza, P.D.S.; Oliveira, G.B.S.; Cintra, C.E.B.; Mineo, T.W.P.; Mineo, J.R.; Martins, M.M.; Cunha, Thulio; Sabino-Silva, R.; Carneiro, Murilo Guimarães
IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2026) Maastricht · 2026 IEEE
2
Improving Surrogate-Assisted Genetic Algorithm Peptide Discovery with ESM-2 Embeddings
Duarte, V.P.; Andrade, Bruno S.; Sabino-Silva, R.; Carneiro, Murilo Guimarães
IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC 2026) Maastricht · 2026 IEEE
3
Transformer-Based Learning of Spectral Representations for Infrared Spectroscopy Data Generation
Fernandes, Janayna; Sabino-Silva, R.; Carneiro, Murilo Guimarães
IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2026) Maastricht · 2026 IEEE
4
A Bioinspired Multimodal CNN-LSTM Network for EEG Analysis of Patients in Coma
Baldo-Junior, Sérgio; Carneiro, Murilo G.; Barbosa, João L.M.; Zhao, Liang; Destro-Filho, João Batista; Campos, Marcos; Tinós, Renato
Sensors v.25, p.681 · 2025 WoS Q1
5
Attention to EEG Signals: A Transformer-Based Model for Prognosis of Patients in Coma
Barbosa, J.L.M.; Baldo-Junior, Sérgio; Tinós, Renato; Ji, Donghong; Zhao, Liang; Destro-Filho, João Batista; Carneiro, Murilo G.
IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2025) Rome · 2025 IEEE
6
High-Level Classification Based on Meta-Graph of Visibility Graphs for Autism Detection
Lima Filho, Ricardo B.; Sabino-Silva, Robinson; Carneiro, Murilo G.
IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2025) Rome · 2025 IEEE
All publications
News & Awards

Highlights

2026
Award

CNPq/FAPEMIG Productivity in Technological Development

Prof. Murillo G. Carneiro awarded Pesquisador de Produtividade em Desenvolvimento Tecnológico.

2024
Best Dissertation

Best MSc Dissertation in AI — CTDIAC

Janayna M. Fernandes' M.Sc. Dissertation awarded 2nd place at the 2024 Thesis and Dissertation Contest on Artificial and Computational Intelligence.

2022
Research Grant

Google Latin America Research Award — 2nd time

Project on COVID-19 molecular diagnosis via salivary spectroscopy awarded for the second consecutive time by Google Inc.

2022
GPU Grant

NVIDIA GPU Research Grant

AINET receives NVIDIA GPU grant under the Accelerated Data Science GPU Grant program.

2020
Research Grant

Google Latin America Research Award — 1st time

Inaugural Google Latin America Research Award for research on COVID-19 salivary diagnostics with machine learning.

2020
Distinction

IEEE Senior Member

Prof. Murillo G. Carneiro elevated to IEEE Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Funding & Partners

Supported by leading agencies & institutions

CNPq
CAPES
FAPEMIG
FAPESP
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Agriculture
Google
NVIDIA
Neospace AI
ImunoScan
BioGenetics Diagnósticos
Grupo Luta Pela Vida
Center for Artificial Intelligence
INCT TeraNano

International collaborations with TU/e Eindhoven · Radboud University · University of Surrey · USP São Paulo