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Zixuan
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Zixuan
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Education
Washington University in St. Louis
Aug 2023 - May 2026 (expected)
Bachelor - Double Degree
- BA in Biology (Neuroscience) and BS in Computer Science & Mathematics
- GPA: Need JS enabled to show GPA/4.0
- Dean List of four semesters (all semesters at WashU)
Publication
- Li, S., Peng, X., Pang, R., Li, L., Song, Z. & Ye, H. Information preference and information supply efficiency evaluation before, during, and after an earthquake: Evidence from Songyuan, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 18, 13070 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413070
- Schneider, A.*, Chitalia, J.*, Song, Z. (M.)* &
Hengen, K. Hunting in the Urban Jungle: Unveiling Complex Predatory Behaviors in Mice Through
Ecologically-Inspired Environments. Poster presented at NEXTEN 2024, Saint Louis, Missouri (16 September
2024).
*Denotes co-first authorship - Zhuang, Y., Xian, Y., Chao, Y., Ma, L., Li, L., Wu, C., Liu, Z., & Song, Z. EGC-GS: Enhanced Geometric Constraints for Monocular Gaussian SLAM. Submitted to IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (2025).
Research and Internship
The Hengen Lab
Jan 2024 - Present
Data Analysis and Classification of Animals in Complex Settings
- Implemented DeepLabCut pipeline to automate mice tracking in behavioral videos, reducing processing time from weeks to 3 days, and demonstrated core technical skills, including Python, DeepLabCut, YOLO, and vectorization
- Developed data labeling and verification system to improve the training of data set quality for computer vision models
- Optimized MLE, XGBoost, Transformer, and MoE models for behavior classification, achieving better accuracy through hyperparameter tuning
- Created YOLO-based cockroach tracking system using newly annotated datasets, significantly improving the detection reliability
- Designed unsupervised learning pipeline (t-SNE/UMAP) to identify novel mouse hunting strategies
- Built data visualization tools, including interactive website for conference presentations (NEXTEN 2024) and presented at NEXTEN 2024
- Verified findings with various statistical methods (including LMM, ANOVA, Tukey HSD)
- Analyzed neural recordings data from Alzheimer's disease mouse models, focusing on the Brain Criticality Hypothesis with DCC, d2, and dβ metrics with the correlation with other factors including sleep deprivation
- Contributed to the development and optimization of d2 Python algorithm and correction of existing d2 algorithm in untested edge cases
- Designed dβ Python algorithm, benchmarked, and found a sanity test method for dβ algorithms
- Conducted surgical preparations including tetrode construction and animal monitoring
- Improved hardware and software design for mice sleep-deprivation experiment which was previously constantly causing experimental failures and hardware failures of experimental devices
- Conducted mice's roach hunting experiments, including mice handling pre- and post- experiment
- Built experimental devices for mice behavioral experiments and improved the design of the devices
- Currently leading animal hunting behavior manuscript preparation for the expected preprint publication in November 2025
WashU Research
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
Surgery and Neuron Activity Recordings
- Designed experiment procedure, hypothesis, gained outputs, and evaluations based on the measurements.
- Performed mouse tracheostomy and cochlear electrode implantation surgery, successfully recording auditory neural activity in anesthesia management along with team members
- Isolated bullfrog sciatic nerve through precise dissection, including decapitation, skinning, and tissue removal to prepare for electrophysiological measurement
- Conducted crayfish tail ablation and recorded neuromuscular activity, analyzing the resultant electrophysiological data
- Compiled surgical data into waveform graphs and co-authored three detailed manuscripts analyzing experimental findings and potential research directions
- Developed advanced surgical abilities and academic writing skills through repeated operations and literature-based investigation
Tencent
Sep 2022 - Sep 2023
Tencent Quantum Lab Research Intern
- Researched current machine learning models and translated them into quantum ML models (such as ensemble)
- Debugged code and ported the code for macOS computers and Metal (Apple Silicon API) support
- Researched error mitigation algorithm of raw physical quantum machines (such as HAMMER)
- Delivered lectures and designed assignments for understanding of quantum computing based machine learning and quantum algorithm design.
Tsinglan Bio-Adv Lab
Oct 2022 - Aug 2023
Synthesis and Evaluation of Melanin-Combine Photo-sensitizers
- Researched melanin-combined photosensitizers and synthesized melanin-combined photosensitizers
- Applied to Chinese herbal medicines and evaluated anti-bacterial effects with analysis of the SOSG test
- Used techniques such as DNA sequencing, cell culture growing, PCR, and synthesis of melanin-combined photosensitizers
Courses
Awards
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Summer 20252025 WashU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience 2025 (SURGE)