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 second-year CS PhD student advised by Professor Daniel Moyer at Vanderbilt University, where I was selected as Russel G. Hamilton Scholar and awarded University Graduate Fellowship. I also closely collaborate with Professor Thomas Beckers at Ulm University. Previously, I received B.S. in CS and Math at Vanderbilt University, where I worked under and was advised by Professor Thomas Beckers and Professor Glenn Webb.

I am broadly interested in representations in machine learning and its applications to physical AI. My current research focused on learning representations for structurally-grounded modeling of multimodal dynamical data. I have worked on learning-based modeling and safe control of physical and robotic systems.

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
    • Russel G. Hamilton Scholar, University Graduate Fellowship
  • B.S. in Computer Science (Honors), Mathematics (Honors), 2025
    Vanderbilt University
    • CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award 2025 Honorable Mention
    • Cum Laude

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.