Zhe Fu

Year in School
Junior

Major
Statistics & Computer Science

Research Interests
Artificial Intelligence

Research Mentor

Research/Engagement Experience

Interests

Project Title

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
I first became interested in computer science through statistics and machine learning. I liked the idea that mathematical models could do more than describe data—they could be turned into systems that learn, reason, and make decisions. As I started building ML projects and doing research, I became especially interested in understanding when these systems work, when they fail, and how we can make them more reliable.

What social interests matter to me?

Why did you choose Illinois?
I chose Illinois because it offered the combination I was looking for: a strong foundation in both statistics and computer science, a broad research community, and many opportunities for undergraduates to get involved in research. I also liked how easy it is to explore across areas—from machine learning and data mining to AI systems—and work with people from different academic backgrounds.

What are your passions outside of computing?
Mostly things that get me out of the house. I love road trips — driving out to nearby national parks, or flying somewhere new and exploring a city on foot, usually with a list of local restaurants to hunt down. I'm certified for open-water diving, play badminton (enthusiastically, not well), and I'm a longtime anime fan. I'll watch almost any genre in a theater, and I make it to a Broadway musical whenever I can. At home there's a border collie and an American shorthair cat, which is a hobby of its own.

What has been one of your favorite experiences at Illinois that you would like to share with prospective students? (For Continuing UIUC Students)

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!
My border collie and my American shorthair cat. Long road trips to national parks. Anime and movies of all genres. Musicals on Broadway. And that first descent on an open-water dive.

Research Description

Biography
"I’m Zhe Fu, a Statistics & Computer Science student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, originally from Chongqing, China. I’m interested in reliable and trustworthy AI, especially evaluating language models and agentic systems and understanding when they succeed or fail. Outside of computing, I enjoy traveling, visiting national parks, scuba diving, badminton, anime, movies, and musicals. I also spend a lot of time with my border collie and cat. "