Cindy Zou

Year in School
Sophomore

Major

Research Interests

Research Mentor

Research/Engagement Experience

Interests

Project Title

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
Growing up in the bay area, studying computer science had always been something my parents and peers talked about. I was fascinated by the idea that logic and creativity could be used to solve real-world problems that humans couldn't even begin to comprehend.

What social interests matter to me?

Why did you choose Illinois?
I chose Illinois because of my major. My cohort is the first class of CS + Bioengineering majors, and the program seemed like a perfect fit for me. It combined both my biological and computational interests into a single major. Additionally, a lot of upperclassmen at my highschool chose Illinois and emphasized the community and vibrant student culture, and I have found that to be true. I have met the most amazing people, and if I could go back in time, I would still choose to come to Illinois.

What are your passions outside of computing?
Outside of computing, I am passionate about making an impact on the world. I wish to apply AI/ML methods to the medical field, and personalized medicine fascinates me. I am also a big people person; I love talking to anyone, and working as a tour guide and restaurant server has allowed me to broaden my worldview.

What has been one of your favorite experiences at Illinois that you would like to share with prospective students? (For Continuing UIUC Students)
One of my favorite experiences at Illinois was welcome week. I met my closest friendgroup through activities such as the Late-Nighter at the Union and also Sights and Sounds! It was so much fun being able to explore campus for the first time and get to know my peers during orientation events for Grainger and also Women in Engineering orientation. The amount of new people I met made the experience so much fun; I have always learned a lot from every person I talk to, and being able to get a deeper insight into student culture at Illinois made my first week of school so much more enjoyable. Also, as an added bonus, campus is beautiful during early fall!

What has been one of your favorite experiences as a CS STAR? (For Returning CS STARS)

What is my most impactful college experience?

These are a few of my favorite things!
Meeting new people, cats, late-night walks, a hot drink in snowy weather, nature, the color green.

Research Description

Biography
My name is Cindy Zou, and I am a sophomore studying CS + Bioengineering with a minor in Data Science. I'm from Fremont, California. My past research has involved AI applications in drug discovery for Alzheimer's Disease, motion planning for drug discovery, synthesis of dexamethasone steroids for anti-inflammatory purposes, and synthesis of an mRNA drug for the Nipah virus. On campus, I serve as a tour guide and restaurant server. I am a member of R|P's design team, design PF for HerWorld, and outreach chair for SWE. In my free time, I enjoy taking long walks, discovering new music artists, and trying new restaurants.