Xuan LI

PhD Student at the Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania

Bio


I'm a PhD student at the Sig Lab, the University of Pennsylvania, advised by Prof. Chenfanfu Jiang. My research interests include physically-based simulation and geometry processing.

I received my M.S. degree from the Department of Computer Science, the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2020, and my B.S. degree from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Tsinghua University (China) in 2017. Four undergraduate years of systematic education on mathematics developed my mathematical intuition while I was also attracted to computer science long ago (I taught myself programming at the age of 16). With love for both two subjects, I hope I can introduce mathematics to real life and make an impact on this world.


Publications


A Hybrid Lagrangian-Eulerian Method for Topology Optimization

Yue Li*, Xuan Li*, Minchen Li*, Yixin Zhu, Bo Zhu, and Chenfanfu Jiang.

*Equal contributions.

In submission. Preprint available. 2020.

[Abstract] [Paper] [Video] [Code] [Bibtex]

Polycube Shape Space

Hui Zhao, Xuan Li, Na Lei, Xiaoling Wang, Shaodong Wang, Wencheng Wang, and Xiangfeng Gu.

Proceedings of Pacific Graphics. 2019.

[Abstract] [Paper] [Slides] [Bibtex]

Conformal Mesh Parameterization using Discrete Calabi Flow

Hui Zhao, Xuan Li, Huabin Ge, Na Lei, Min Zhang, Xiaoling Wang, and Xianfeng Gu.

Proceedings of Geometric Modeling and Processing. 2018.

[Abstract] [Paper] [Slides] [Data] [Bibtex]


Experiences


Sig Center for Computer Graphics, University of Pennsylvania

Visiting Student

Sep, 2019 - Present

Creative Intelligence Lab, Adobe Research

Deep Learning Research Intern

May, 2019 - Nov, 2019

Department of Computer Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Research Assistant

May, 2018 - May, 2019

Department of Computer Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Teaching Assistant of Introduction to Theory of Computation (CSE 303) and Foundations of Computer Science (CSE 215)

Sep, 2017 - May, 2018

Natural Language Processing Lab, Tsinghua University

Visiting Student

Mar, 2016 - Jun, 2016


Projects


Surface Parameterization

It is a Computer Graphics course project. I implemented three kinds of parameterization algorithms: orbifold tutte embeddings, hyperbolic orbifold tutte embeddings, boundary first flattening. The first two solve a parameterization that can tessellate the whole Euclidean space or Hyperbolic space to form an orbifold structure. The third one embeds the boundary isometrically with given cone angles first and then extend to inner conformally.
Simple Ray Tracer

It is a simple CPU ray tracer. I followed the instructions in Ray Tracing in One Weekend to learn rendering. I did implement it in a weekend.
Infinitesimal Rigidity Checker

It is my undergraduate thesis. I turned the theory of infinitesimal rigidity into a program, which uses Hilbert-Einstein functional to decide whether a polyhedron is infinitesimally rigid and can visualize the basis of non-trivial infinitesimal motions of a polyhedron.

Personal


  • The pronunciation of my name is like “ Shayne Lee” in English.
  • I love modern origami art because of the mathematical theory behind the origami design (Tree Theory). I was the president of Tsinghua Origami Club in 2014-2015.
  • I started self-studying fingerstyle Ukelele one year ago. It’s my new hobby now.
  • I love reading science books and articles. I interned at Global Science Magazines Co., Ltd. (Chinese edition of Scientific American) for my whole undergraduate years as a science translator and an intern team leader.
  • I have translated Matt Parker’s book about math Things We Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension into Chinese. It will be published next year by Hina Books.