Ming Gong
New York, NY | (682) 559-3699
Education
Columbia University
2024 - 2026
Bachelor of Science - Computer Engineering
GPA 4.23/4.33Bard College at Simon’s Rock
2021 - 2025
Bachelor of Arts - Physics
GPA 3.99/4.0
Scholarships: Faculty Scholarship ($1500), Merit Scholarship ($15,000), Center for Talented Youth Scholarship ($30,000)
Skills
- Hardware/EDA: Cadence Virtuosi, Quartus, FPGA, PCB layout, SPICE
- Programming: C/C++, Python, System Verilog, MATLAB, Git
- ML: Pytorch, CNN/U-Net, LLM fine-tuning (SFT)
- Domains: Digital VLSI, mixed-signal/analog, embedded systems, signal processing
Experience
Teaching Assistant
Columbia University | Jan. 2025 - present
- TA for Embedded Systems (CSEE 4840)
- Former head TA for Fundamentals of Computer Systems (CSEE 3827)
- Developed and optimized exam problems. Created supplemental materials to enhance and extend lecture content.
- Disability Services notetaker for Fundamentals of Computer Systems, Signals and Systems, and Electronic Circuits
Research Assistant with Dr. Xia Zhou
Columbia University | Jan. 2025 - present
- Designed charger circuits to safeguard fabric pillow sensor control chips.
- Implemented an Arduino-based system to monitor sensor performance under varying pressure conditions.
- Fabricated and tested additional fabric pillow sensors to enhance reliability and functionality.
Algorithms Intern
Alibaba | Jun. - Aug. 2025
- Researched advanced search agent architectures and applied them to design a workflow for business development automation.
- Optimized tools for browser automation, webpage scraping, and summarization.
- Tuned multilingual LLMs, using SFT to improve translation quality.
Research Assistant with Dr. Katayun Barmak
Columbia University | Sept. 2024 - May 2025
- Utilizing PyTorch to train U-Net convolutional neural networks for polycrystalline grain boundary detection.
- Post-processed model predictions to create binarized images for data analysis workflows.
- Applied statistical methods to fine-tune models and compare different predictions against human hand tracing.
Physics Intern with Dr. Michael Bergman
Bard College at Simon’s Rock | Jun. 2022 - Jun. 2024
- Experimentally verified the effect of wavelength and grain size on longitudinal ultrasonic wave scattering patterns.
- Designed a Python program to locate and integrate the scattering echo amplitude, overcoming signal quality issues.
- Experimented with a new foil technique in high-temperature ultrasonic shear wave coupling.
- Submitted a paper in 2025 and a poster to the 2024 SEDI Conference. Currently working on one more manuscript.
Tutor
Bard College at Simon’s Rock | Feb. 2022 - May 2024
- Peer tutor in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science. Class tutor for Quantum Physics, Classical Mechanics, and Ordinary Differential Equations.
- Guided students on math and CS projects, offering outline planning and step-by-step hints.
- Developed strong communication, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
Research Assistant with Dr. Xi Chen
Zhejiang University | Mar. 2022 - Jul. 2024
- Published a paper on predicting the physio-chemical properties of pure organic chemical species.
- Trained dense neural networks, convolutional neural networks, and decision tree models and compared the results.
- Collaborated on revising and editing academic papers in machine learning models.
Publications
Gong, M. & Bergman, M.I., (2025). An Experimental Ultrasonic Method to Determine A Scattering Quality Factor, with Application to Earth’s Inner Core. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors.
Cao, X., Gong, M., Tula, A., Chen, X., Gani, R., & Venkatasubramanian, V. (2024). An Improved Machine Learning Model for Pure Component Property Estimation. Engineering.
Selected Projects
- 8-bit VLSI Mini Processor - Full custom layout in Cadence Virtuoso, DRC and LVS clean<-->
- FPGA Gaussian Elimination Accelerator
- Capacitivite ECG Fabric Sensing Prototype
Courses
Computer Engineering:
Computer Networks, Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Advanced Logic Design, Digital VLSI Circuits, Advanced Digital Electronic Systems
Computer Science:
Advanced Programming, Advanced Systems Programming, Computer Science Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Networked Autonomous Systems, Operating Systems, C++ Deep Dive for C Programmers, Machine Learning
Electrical Engineering:
Solid State Devices and Matters, Analog Electronic Circuits, Random Signals and Noise
Mathematics:
Probability and Statistics, Real Analysis, Abstract Algebra
Physics:
Quantum Physics, Relativity & Cosmology, Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics
Chemistry:
Organic Chemistry
Activities
Electrical and Programming Lead, Columbia Robotics Club
Oct. 2024 - present
- Founding member of the Combat Robot Subteam.
- Coordinating with the team lead and programming team to design robot electronics and control software.
- Event supervisor for Robot Tour at the Columbia University Science Olympiad Invitational.
Executive Board, Columbia IEEE
Aug. 2025 - present
- Maintained the Columbia IEEE website.
- Hosting Open Project Space, beginner-friendly Arduino workshops
Executive Board Member, Columbia Data Science Society
Sept. 2024 - present
- Organizing data-science events and workshops for the Columbia community and the NYC area.
Organizational Committee Member, Columbia Global China Connection
Sept. 2024 - present
- Organizing social, cultural, and pre-professional events for Chinese students at Columbia.
- Collaborating with a team of 10 to manage GCC’s website and social media platforms.
President, Simon’s Rock Robotics Club
Sept. 2021 - May 2024
- Established a team of 10 from scratch; planned and allocated team budgets.
- Lectured Arduino lessons for beginners.
Member, Simon’s Rock STEM Competition Club
Sept. 2021 - May 2024
- Conducted weekly math modeling sessions, dedicating 3 hours per week to lead a team of 5.
- Competed in SCUDEM VIII and won the Outstanding Award.
Awards and Honors
- Columbia Dean’s List (3 times, 2026)
- Fisher Poster Session Contest, 2nd place (2024)
- Simon’s Rock Dean’s List (6 times, 2024)
- SCUDEM VIII Outstanding Award (2023)
- AP Scholar with Distinction (2021)
Interests
Electronics, Lego, combat robots; road trip, swimming, hiking, badminton, tennis
References
Michael Bergman
Emily H. Fisher Professor of Physics, Bard College at Simon’s RockXia Zhou
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia UniversityMartha Kim
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia UniversityStephen Edwards
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia UniversityDavid Vallancourt
Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Columbia UniversityXiaodong Wang
Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia UniversityDavid Myers
Professor of Chemistry, Bard College at Simon’s RockMiha Habič
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Bard College at Simon’s Rock
