CV
A compact CV is shown below. The PDF version is available from the icon above.
Contact Information
| Name | Yuan Gao |
| yrick523@gmail.com |
Academic Profile
I am a PhD student in the Machine Learning and Optimization group at CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security and Universität des Saarlandes, advised by Sebastian Stich. I am broadly interested in the theory of first-order optimization and its connection to machine learning training practice.
Experience
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2021 - 2023 Saarbrücken, Germany
Research Assistant
Max Planck Institute for Informatics
Algorithms and Complexity Department.
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2020 - 2020 Shenzhen, China
Software Engineering Intern
Alipay
CodeInsight team.
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2018 - 2018 Hong Kong
Research Intern
The University of Hong Kong
URFP 18/19 research internship with Hubert Chan on spectral theory of hypergraphs.
Education
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2021 - present Saarbrücken, Germany
PhD
Saarland University
Machine Learning and Optimization
- Since 06/2023, affiliated with CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security.
- Supervisor: Sebastian Stich.
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2019 - 2021 Zurich, Switzerland
Master
ETH Zurich
Computer Science
- Thesis: Toward Practical Laplacian Linear Equation Solvers.
- Advisor: Rasmus Kyng.
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2015 - 2019 Hong Kong
BEng
The University of Hong Kong
Computer Science, Mathematics minor
- Graduated with first class honor.
- Thesis: Diffusion Process with Mediator on Hypergraph.
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2017 - 2017 Edinburgh, UK
Visiting Student
The University of Edinburgh
Informatics
Teaching
- TA, Lectures on Modern Optimization Methods, CISPA and Saarland University, 2025.
- TA, Optimization for Machine Learning, CISPA and Saarland University, 2024.
- TA, Optimization, Max Planck Institute for Informatics and Saarland University, 2022.
- TA, Optimization for Data Science, ETH Zurich, 2021.
Awards and Honors
- NeurIPS 2025 Top Reviewer.
- ICML 2026 Gold Reviewer.
- URFP 18/19 Research Internship Award.
- HKU Class Giving Scholarship 2017.
- HKU Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Honors List 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18.