Zixuan
Song

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  • WashU in St. Louis Class of 2026
  • BA in Biology (Neuroscience); BS in CS&Math
  • PDF Version of Résumé

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: 3.75/4.0
  • 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

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)
  • Assisted in neural recordings analysis for Alzheimer's research using DCC, d2, and dβ metrics of the Brain Criticality Hypothesis to predict disease
  • 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
  • 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 machine learning and quantum computing fundamentals.
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

Fall 2023

  • Chem 111A
  • Chem 151
  • ELit 315
  • Math 233
  • Biol 2970
  • CWP 1001
  • General Chemistry I
  • General Chemistry Lab I
  • Topics in Literature
  • Calculus III
  • Principles of Biology II
  • Academic Writing
  • B+
  • A
  • Cr
  • A-
  • A-
  • A

Spring 2024

  • CSE 247
  • Chem 112A
  • Chem 152
  • Math 310
  • Biol 2960
  • CWP 113
  • Data Struct. and Algo.
  • General Chemistry II
  • General Chemistry Lab II
  • Found. for Higher Math
  • Principles of Biology I
  • Academic Writing
  • A+
  • B
  • A
  • A-
  • A-
  • B+

Summer 2024

  • Chem 261
  • Chem 262
  • Math 3211
  • Organic Chem. I with Lab
  • Organic Chem. II with Lab
  • Statistics for Data Science
  • A-
  • B+
  • A

Fall 2024

  • Biol 404
  • Biol 3411
  • Biol 2651
  • CSE 217A
  • Chi 341
  • Fre 101D
  • Neurophysiology Lab
  • Principle of Nervous System
  • MedPrep I
  • Intro. to Data Science I
  • Early and Imperial Chinese
  • Essential French 1
  • A-
  • A+
  • Cr
  • A
  • A-
  • A

Spring 2025

  • Biol 3057
  • Biol 4030
  • CSE 347
  • Fre 102D
  • Math 493
  • Math 495
  • Biol 2651
  • Principles of Control Systems
  • Biological Clocks
  • Analysis of Algorithm
  • Essential French 2
  • Probability
  • Stochastic Processes
  • MedPrep II
  • A
  • A
  • B
  • Cr
  • A
  • A+
  • Cr

Summer 2025

  • Biol 451
  • Math 309
  • General Biochemistry
  • Matrix Algebra (ongoing)
  • A

Fall 2025 (Plan)

  • Biol 4183
  • SDS 4020
  • Anthro 1520
  • PNP 2000
  • Psyc 1000
  • Psyc 3300
  • CSE 4102
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Mathematical Statistics
  • Intro. to Cultural Anthro.
  • Intro. to Cogn. Psych.
  • Intro. to Psychology
  • Sensation and Perception
  • Intro. to AI

Spring 2026 (Plan)

  • Fre 2030
  • Engr 3100
  • CSE TBD
  • Math TBD
  • Math TBD
  • TBD
  • Intermediate French 1
  • Technical Writing
  • To Be Determined
  • To Be Determined
  • To Be Determined
  • To Be Determined

Awards

  • Summer 2025
    2025 WashU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience 2025 (SURGE)

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PDF Version of my Résumé