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Main Authors: Liu, Shikun, Zou, Deyu, Shoghi, Nima, Fung, Victor, Liu, Kai, Li, Pan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.00614
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author Liu, Shikun
Zou, Deyu
Shoghi, Nima
Fung, Victor
Liu, Kai
Li, Pan
author_facet Liu, Shikun
Zou, Deyu
Shoghi, Nima
Fung, Victor
Liu, Kai
Li, Pan
contents In the era of foundation models, fine-tuning pre-trained models for specific downstream tasks has become crucial. This drives the need for robust fine-tuning methods to address challenges such as model overfitting and sparse labeling. Molecular graph foundation models (MGFMs) face unique difficulties that complicate fine-tuning. These models are limited by smaller pre-training datasets and more severe data scarcity for downstream tasks, both of which require enhanced model generalization. Moreover, MGFMs must accommodate diverse objectives, including both regression and classification tasks. To better understand and improve fine-tuning techniques under these conditions, we classify eight fine-tuning methods into three mechanisms: weight-based, representation-based, and partial fine-tuning. We benchmark these methods on downstream regression and classification tasks across supervised and self-supervised pre-trained models in diverse labeling settings. This extensive evaluation provides valuable insights and informs the design of a refined robust fine-tuning method, ROFT-MOL. This approach combines the strengths of simple post-hoc weight interpolation with more complex weight ensemble fine-tuning methods, delivering improved performance across both task types while maintaining the ease of use inherent in post-hoc weight interpolation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_00614
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle RoFt-Mol: Benchmarking Robust Fine-Tuning with Molecular Graph Foundation Models
Liu, Shikun
Zou, Deyu
Shoghi, Nima
Fung, Victor
Liu, Kai
Li, Pan
Machine Learning
Chemical Physics
In the era of foundation models, fine-tuning pre-trained models for specific downstream tasks has become crucial. This drives the need for robust fine-tuning methods to address challenges such as model overfitting and sparse labeling. Molecular graph foundation models (MGFMs) face unique difficulties that complicate fine-tuning. These models are limited by smaller pre-training datasets and more severe data scarcity for downstream tasks, both of which require enhanced model generalization. Moreover, MGFMs must accommodate diverse objectives, including both regression and classification tasks. To better understand and improve fine-tuning techniques under these conditions, we classify eight fine-tuning methods into three mechanisms: weight-based, representation-based, and partial fine-tuning. We benchmark these methods on downstream regression and classification tasks across supervised and self-supervised pre-trained models in diverse labeling settings. This extensive evaluation provides valuable insights and informs the design of a refined robust fine-tuning method, ROFT-MOL. This approach combines the strengths of simple post-hoc weight interpolation with more complex weight ensemble fine-tuning methods, delivering improved performance across both task types while maintaining the ease of use inherent in post-hoc weight interpolation.
title RoFt-Mol: Benchmarking Robust Fine-Tuning with Molecular Graph Foundation Models
topic Machine Learning
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.00614