Tianrui Wu

Biography

I am a rising senior at Duke University, pursuing a major in Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics, a second major in Mathematics, and a minor in Computer Science.

As an international student from Zhejiang, China, I began my Duke journey with a robust foundation in theoretical frameworks and have since delved into diverse research domains including cosmology, high-energy physics, and data science. My physical research commenced with developing a computational algorithm for particle collision path reconstruction at the Large Hadron Collider. Since my freshman summer, I have been an integral part of the Duke Cosmology Group, tasked with constraining Dark Energy dynamics. My primary responsibilities involve crafting analytical pipelines for two-point correlations and enhancing synergy between the Roman Space Telescope and the Rubin Observatory. While my focus remains on cosmology and astrophysics, I ventured into machine learning within an environmental science framework in the summer of 2023. Here, I innovated forward-based imputation methods to bridge data gaps, developing software that employs a combination of random forests and neural networks to quantify and visualize carbon emissions in Southeastern U.S. wetlands.

This summer, I will join the SPHEREx team at Caltech, applying neural network models to predict window function effects on the bispectrum. Beyond my research endeavors, I serve as co-president of the Society of Physics Students at Duke and founder of the Stargazing Devils Astronomy Club. These roles have allowed me to revitalize and nurture a dynamic physics and astronomy community, organizing everything from research panels to public outreach events. In addition to my scientific pursuits, I enjoy contributing to historical research and engaging in geography. As I prepare for graduate studies, I am eager to further explore the intersections of astrophysics and computational science, aiming to deepen our understanding of the universe's fundamental principles through continuous innovation. My academic and leadership experiences reflect my commitment to advancing the field of physics both as a researcher and as a community leader.