Tommy Li, CS + Math

佩，心地纯净    伦，行之有道

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN, USA
peilun.li@vanderbilt.edu

I am a first-year Computer Science (CS) PhD student advised by Professor Thomas Beckers at Vanderbilt University, where I was selected as Russel G. Hamilton Scholar and awarded University Graduate Fellowship. Previously, I received B.S. in CS and Mathematics at Vanderbilt University, where I'm privileged to work under and be advised by Professor Thomas Beckers and Professor Glenn Webb.

I am broadly interested in robotics, machine learning, and control theory. My current research focused on advancing physically accurate, learning-based modeling and safe control of physical and robotic systems. My research goal is to advance of safe and meaningful interactions between robot and human, ensuring that robot systems can maintain stability and avoid failures in the context of uncertainties.

Besides research, I am an avid sport enthusiast in running (5k, 10k, half Marathon), playing squash, and tennis. I play in the Vanderbilt Squash Club since 2021 for intramural and intercollegiate competitions. Right now, I am training for triathlon and hoping to unlock my first Olympic distance triathlon in 2025.

I further engage with (sense) the world and literature through calligraphy. Check out my portfolio!

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Education

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, 2029
    Vanderbilt University
  • B.S. in Computer Science (Honors), Mathematics (Honors), 2025
    Vanderbilt University
  • CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award 2025 Honorable Mention

News

  • 02/2025 Our paper "NAPI-MPC: Neural Accelerated Physics-Informed MPC Control for Nonlinear PDEs Systems" was accepted at L4DC, and will be presented in UMich in June 2025!
  • 01/2025 Our paper "PnP-PIML: Physics-informed Learning of Outlier Dynamics using Uncertainty Quantified Port-Hamiltonian Models" was accepted at ICRA, and will be presented in Atlanta in May 2025!
  • 12/2024 I am named an Honorable Mention for the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award, typically less than 200 in North America. Huge thanks to Prof. Beckers for his enourmous support for my award recognition!
  • 10/2024 I am honored to be nominated for the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award by Vanderbilt University.
  • 08/2024 I will be TA for CS4262:Foundation of ML and Math3620:Numerical Math for Fall 2024.
  • 07/2024 I presented two of our papers at the 16th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM) in Vancouver.
  • 07/2024 We presented our work on Physics-informed learning of PDEs with uncertainty quantification at the L4DC in Oxford.
  • 06/2024 We presented our Python toolbox for Bayesian learning of Port-Hamiltonian systems at the 8th IFAC Workshop on Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Methods for Non Linear Control in Besançon.
  • 03/2024 Our paper was accepted at the 8th IFAC Workshop on Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Methods for Nonlinear Control.
  • 03/2024 I was awarded undergraduate travel fund by School of Engineering to attend WCCM in Vancouver.
  • 03/2024 I am glad that my summer research is supported by VUSE-ISIS Fellowships and stipends.
  • 02/2024 Two of our abstract papers are approved at the 16th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM).
  • 12/2023 I am glad to join Tau Beta Pi (TBP) as a 3-rd year engineering student.
  • 09/2023 I presented a poster at the 25th Anniversary of the Institute of Software Integrated Systems.
  • 03/2023 I presented a poster at the Shanks Workshop on Advances in Theoretical Biology and Mathematical Biology.
  • 03/2023 I am glad that my summer research is supported by VUSE-ISIS Fellowships and stipends.