Summary
Yixue Zhao is a PhD-trained computer scientist and researcher with 11 years of experience bridging software engineering, AI/ML, and human-centered computing. She has led multiple research projects, published extensively, earned two U.S. patents, and held roles from USC Information Sciences Institute research scientist to a CIFellow postdoc at UMass Amherst. Her engineering work includes low-level systems contributions—porting CRIU to RISC-V and developing LLVM-based control-flow assertions for space-grade fault tolerance—alongside higher-level research on software testing and UI test reuse. Now based in Washington, D.C., she combines rigorous research with creative public engagement as the founder of Yixue Research Institute and a content creator focused on meditation, mental health, and the humane futures of AI. Colleagues describe her as a “professional dreamer” who deliberately blends technical depth with curiosity-driven projects and mentoring. Her profile reflects an unusual mix of production-grade systems engineering, academic impact, and a visible commitment to wellbeing and public-facing science communication.
11 years of coding experience
9 years of employment as a software developer
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Computer Science, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Computer Science at University of Southern California
Postdoc (CIFellow) Computer Science, Postdoc (CIFellow) Computer Science at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bachelor's Degree Software Engineering, Bachelor's Degree Software Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology
Chinese, English