CV
General Information
| Full Name | Kate Wenqi Zhu |
| Current Position | Postdoctoral Researcher, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford |
| Research Area | Optimization, numerical analysis, algebraic geometry, and AI-integrated mathematical discovery |
| Languages | English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese |
Education and Professional Experience
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2026-present Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Oxford, UK - Working on AI in the Mathematical Foundations of AI.
- Supervised by Prof. Jared Tanner.
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2022-2026 D.Phil. in Mathematics
University of Oxford, UK - Viva: Apr 2026; graduation expected May-Jul 2026.
- Supervised by Prof. Coralia Cartis.
- Dissertation: Tensor Methods for Nonconvex Optimization.
- Awarded full scholarship.
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2020-2021 M.Sc. Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing
University of Oxford, UK - Distinction; ranked 1st in cohort.
- Awarded M.Sc. Prize for Excellence, 2021.
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2017-2019 Goldman Sachs Product Specialist Associate
Goldman Sachs Investment Management, Hong Kong, China -
2014-2017 JP Morgan Investment Strategist
JP Morgan Asset Management, Hong Kong, China -
2010-2014 BA & MMath Mathematics
University of Oxford, UK - Dean's List 2011; First Class.
- St Hugh's College Scholarship, 2011-2014.
Research Interests
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High-order optimization and tensor methods
- Nonconvex optimization
- Adaptive regularization methods
- Computational complexity analysis
- Tensor approximation
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Algebraic and polynomial optimization
- Sum-of-squares techniques
- Tractable polynomial optimization
- High-order Taylor model subproblems
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AI-integrated mathematical discovery
- Generative AI for mathematical reasoning
- AI systems for large-scale mathematical discovery
Awards and Grants
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2025 - Leslie Fox Prize for Numerical Analysis, Second Prize
- RisingWISE Training & Development Programme for Women in STEM
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2024 - Outstanding Doctoral Student Forum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, invited participant
- Jane Street Graduate Fellowship Research Workshop, selected participant
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2021-2025 - Full PhD Studentship, Oxford-HK InnoHK
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2021 - M.Sc. Prize for Excellence, University of Oxford
- Archibald Jackson Prize, University of Oxford
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2011-2014 - St Hugh's College Scholarship, University of Oxford
Service, Teaching and Outreach
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2025 Session Organizer
International Conference on Continuous Optimisation (ICCOPT) - Advances in Nonlinear Optimization.
- Techniques for Nonlinear Optimization.
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2023-present Journal Reviewer
Mathematical Programming; SIAM Journal on Optimization; Optimization and Engineering; IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis -
2023-2025 Problem Class Tutor, Continuous Optimization
University of Oxford - 196 contact hours.
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2025-2026 Examiner, Theory of Deep Learning
University of Oxford - Marked coursework and assessed MSc students' thesis proposal presentations.
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2014-present Founder, Mathematics Outreach Community and AI Education Platform
Mathematics outreach and AI-powered education - Founded a mathematics community with 3 million+ followers.
- Built an AI-powered education platform with 8,000 enrolled learners and 200,000+ learning sessions.