Hello! My name is Chen Qiqian [陈启乾] ("Qiqian Chen" is my name in western name order). I am a software engineer focused on ML infrastructure and distributed systems, experienced in C++/CUDA/Python, GPU systems, and performance optimization.

Click below to download my CV:

CV (English) CV (Chinese)

Work

ML Infra Engineer

2024.3 - 2026.7

ByteDance, Data-AML-Engine

Participated in the development and optimization of large-scale distributed recommendation training frameworks:

  • Sparse parameter offload storage: multi-tier caching (GPU/CPU/SSD), asynchronous I/O, backup, and recovery
  • GPU performance: CUDA kernels, operator fusion, parallelization strategies, and profiling
  • Heterogeneous computing: backend abstractions, optimizer implementations, and hardware portability across NVIDIA and domestic accelerators
  • Engineering & reliability: framework migration, CI/CD, release workflows, observability, troubleshooting, and reliability governance

Education

Tsinghua University (2020.9 - 2024.7)

I entered Tsinghua University in Fall 2020, majoring in Software Engineering at the School of Software as an undergraduate student.

My cumulative GPA is 3.77 out of 4, ranked in the top 30% of the School of Software.

Selected high-scoring courses (A- and above):

  • Modern Operating System, Principles of Assembly and Compilation, Principles of Database Systems, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Formal Language and Automata, Software Analysis and Verification, Introduction to Mobile Application Development
  • Linear Algebra, Advanced Topics in Linear Algebra (English), Discrete Mathematics (1, 2)

University of Waterloo (2022.9 - 2023.1)

In Fall 2022, I studied at the University of Waterloo, Canada as an exchange student in the Faculty of Mathematics.

I took the following five courses, and my term average was 89.8 out of 100:

  • CO 487: Applied Cryptography (97)
  • CS 456: Computer Networks (93)
  • CS 251: Computer Organization and Design (94)
  • SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology (80)
  • PHIL 256: Introduction to Cognitive Science (85)

The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China (2017.9 - 2020.7)

I am proud to have attended one of China's most prestigious high schools, the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China (RDFZ). I spent two years training for the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI), and won a Provincial First Prize in NOIP in 2018.

Experiences

Overall, my research interests lie in optimizing and improving computer software systems to facilitate and scale real-world applications:

  • Machine Learning Systems
  • High Performance / Heterogeneous Computing
  • Parallel Computing
  • Graph Algorithms

The following section introduces my industry and research experience.

GraphAutoTune — Undergraduate Thesis

2023.12 - 2024.6

Tsinghua University

  • A high-performance, parameterized, auto-tuning GPU subgraph matching system using C++20/CUDA template metaprogramming
  • Implemented tunable parallelism with CUDA Cooperative Groups; achieved 10% average performance improvement over GraphSet, up to 36% in best case

Summer Research Intern

2023.6 - 2023.9

ALCHEM Lab, Purdue University

  • Supervised by Prof. Xuehai Qian
  • Focused on communication optimization for distributed full-graph GNN training
  • Built a multi-GPU training and distributed evaluation prototype supporting GCN, GraphSAGE, GAT, and GCNII using PyTorch/DGL
  • Implemented custom C++/CUDA communication quantization operators with Message/Delta/Element-wise strategies, using history buffers and staleness control to compress forward/backward communication and reduce synchronization overhead

Part-time Intern

2023.2 - 2023.6, 2023.9 - 2024.2

Risk Management Technologies Department, Digital Finance, Ant Group

  • Focused on distributed graph mining for financial anti-fraud scenarios
  • Integrated a mining algorithm for billion-vertex labeled graphs on CPU clusters into existing distributed key-value databases and OLAP systems
  • Co-authored a paper on algorithmic improvements for labeled-graph mining, submitted for conference publication

Quantum Circuit Optimization Project

2022.3 - 2023.3

Student Research Training Program (SRT), Tsinghua University

  • Supervised by Prof. Zhengfeng Ji
  • Focused on classical simulations of quantum circuits by contracting tensor networks
  • Surveyed tensor network contraction ordering optimization algorithms and participated in the parallel contracting implementation

Undergraduate Research Assistant

2021.12 - 2022.10

Pacman Lab, Tsinghua University

  • Supervised by Prof. Jidong Zhai
  • Participated in the development of GraphSet, a CPU/GPU high-performance graph mining system
  • Published in SC'23

I focused on developing a graph mining system that could efficiently leverage heterogeneous hardware (CPU and GPU). I explored algorithmic and architectural optimization strategies for various graph mining applications, with a particular emphasis on Pattern Matching and Frequent Subgraph Mining (FSM). Specifically, I designed and implemented dynamic parallel strategies to optimize the search tree widths of frequent patterns that form a tree by their vertex numbers. Through this approach, I achieved efficiency improvements of up to several hundred times in extreme cases.

Publications

Projects

I enjoy collaborating with others on projects, and I have had the opportunity to work on several course and personal projects spanning from my time in high school to the present day.

WebGPU Parallel Collision Detection
2023.5 - 6 · Computer Graphics Course Project

GPU-accelerated particle collision detection, physics update, and real-time rendering using Rust, wgpu, and WGSL compute shaders. Used uniform grid spatial partitioning with GPU Bitonic Sort to build cell indices, reducing candidate pair checks from O(n²) to approximately O(n). Adapted to Vulkan / Metal / OpenGL / DX backends via wgpu; achieved ~40 FPS with 5,000 spheres.

LunchTime
2023.5 - 6 · Mobile App Development Course Project

A campus forum app built with Kotlin / Jetpack Compose + Material3 and Django, supporting rich text, images, videos, likes, bookmarks, and sharing. I designed the Android frontend architecture and client-server protocol, and implemented the rich-text editor, video player, and WebSocket-based real-time chat & notifications via Django Channels.

Coding Online — Web Python IDE
2022.6 - 8 · Full-Stack Development Course Project

A browser-based Python IDE with Vue 3 and Flask, featuring project file management, multi-file editing with split panes, code execution, a web terminal, and PDB-based breakpoint debugging. I led the system architecture and module integration, designed the Monaco Editor module (multi-model state, split panes, tabs, file-tree sync, breakpoint markers), and integrated python-lsp-server via WebSocket for code completion and diagnostics. Deployed with Docker Compose, Nginx, and GitHub Actions.

Fake Campus Net
2022.7 · Web Front-End Development Course Project

A mock website of Tsinghua University's campus network, built with Vue to practice front-end development fundamentals.

C-to-LLVM Compiler
2021.12 · Principles of Compilation Course Project

A C-to-LLVM compiler using ANTLR4 and the Python llvmlite package. Implemented scoped symbol tables, type conversion, and LLVM IR generation; supported variables, arrays, functions, recursion, branching, loops, pointer parameters, and external function calls, with automated compilation tests.

MASM Painter
2021.10 · Principles of Assembly Course Project

An ~2,000-line Windows drawing program written in MASM with Win32 API / GDI. Supported pen, eraser, fill, shape drawing, zoom & drag, undo, and BMP read/write. Used double buffering to reduce screen flicker.

THU Conqueror
2021.9 · Qt Graphics Course Project

A turn-based strategy chess game built with C++ and Qt Graphics View Framework. Supported multiple levels, map serialization, and game progress save & restore.

ERISC Simulator
2020.12 · Programming Design Course Project

As team lead, I designed the overall architecture and implemented the instruction executor for a C++ RISC instruction set simulator. It modeled registers, memory, stack, and jump control, with breakpoint debugging, state inspection, code validation, and memory visualization. Ran an O(n log n) prime sieve test program, executing ~29 million simulated instructions.

Sudoku-Scratch
2017.7

A sudoku solver written in Scratch. I regard this as the starting point of my programming journey.

Miscellaneous

Want to know more about me?

  • I maintain a Blog (in Chinese), which mainly consists of my notes on solving algorithm problems. However, it is not frequently updated at the moment.
  • You can view my Study Notes (mostly in Chinese) to explore my knowledge stack.
  • Feel free to contact me via email (cqqqwq at outlook dot com)!

Hobbies

  • Go: I enjoy playing Go, as it challenges and sharpens my cognitive abilities.
  • Linguistics & Philosophy: These are fields I find fascinating, as they explore fundamental questions about our existence and the world we live in. I have read several books on the history of Western philosophy, and I believe these topics are essential for broadening my understanding and perspective on computer science.
  • Public transportation: I love taking trains, buses, and planes to travel between or within cities and discovering different cultures.

Skills

  • Languages: C++, CUDA (Proficient); Python, JS/TS, Java, Kotlin (Familiar); Rust (Novice)
  • Frameworks: Qt, Vue.js, Windows & Android SDK, Flask, PyTorch, TensorFlow
  • Tools: Linux (cluster experience), Slurm, Git, LaTeX, Typst, Docker, CMake
  • English: IELTS 7.5 (R9.0, L8.5, W6.5, S6.0); TOEFL 106 (R30, L27, S23, W26)

Scholarships and Honours

  • Scientific Research Outstanding Scholarship, Tsinghua University, 2023.11
  • Social Work Outstanding Scholarship, Tsinghua University, 2022.11
  • Honorable Mention (Top 20%), 2022 Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (MCM/ICM), 2022.2
  • Comprehensive Excellence Scholarship (Top 20%), Tsinghua University, 2021.11
  • Third Prize, 2021 China WeChat Mini Program Development Competition, 2021.8
  • Provincial First Prize, 2018 National Olympiad in Informatics in Provinces (NOIP), 2018.11