What program are you in?
I am in the MS in computer science program, and have just accepted the offer to continue my PhD at Dartmouth. I am really excited to further my research journey!
What do you consider your hometown?
I grew up in Singapore, but have lived in many different countries. For the past 8 years, I have spent most of my time in the US for school and work, with a brief stint in France.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?
I earned a bachelors in business administration and a bachelors of science in cognitive science from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Who are the faculty that you are working with on this research?
I am working with Professor Soroush Vosoughi, assistant professor of computer science at Dartmouth. I first joined his lab in January 2024, with absolutely no prior experience in research. His mentorship and support have been invaluable, and I am so grateful to continue my PhD with him.
Tell me about your area of research.
My research lies at the intersection of natural language processing (NLP) and social impact, with a focus on low-resource and endangered languages. I am particularly interested in how we can harness the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to support the revitalization of endangered or even extinct languages.
The first language I worked on was Nüshu, a syllabic script from Jiangyong, Hunan. It is the only known language in the world created and used exclusively by women, and today, there are no remaining native speakers. As part of my research, I developed the first-ever parallel digital corpus for Nüshu and trained a GPT model to learn the language from scratch - generating new, synthetic data to help preserve and expand its digital presence.
What is the potential impact of your research?
This research is about giving lost languages a digital voice. Take Nüshu, a script once used by women in secret that is now nearly forgotten. By teaching AI to learn it from just a few examples, we are proving that even the rarest languages can thrive again - online and in future tech. It is not just about saving words, it is about keeping cultures alive and making sure no language gets left behind.
How will you use the Alumni Research Award and/or what will it allow you to do?
The Alumni Research Award was instrumental in supporting my work. I used half of the funding for OpenAI credits to power the technical side of my project, and the other half to register my paper at COLING 2025, where it was accepted for publication.
During my oral presentation at the conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, my research caught the attention of Dr. Joseph Mariani, Directeur de Recherche Émérite au CNRS at LISN. He later invited me to present at the Language Technologies for All (LT4All) 2025 meeting at UNESCO in Paris, France. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am still in awe that I had the chance to share my work on such a global stage. Also, I would like to thank the computer science department for generously providing a travel grant for LT4All.
Why did you choose Dartmouth to pursue your degree?
I chose Dartmouth because of its historical significance and strength in computer science - after all, both BASIC and the concept of artificial intelligence were born here.
Beyond academics, I was drawn to Dartmouth's tight-knit and collaborative community. I previously attended a Big Ten school, which was incredibly rewarding and formative. Having already had that experience, I felt that it was time to immerse myself in a more intimate academic environment. Also, I have always wanted to spend more time in New England!
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?
During my time at Michigan, I was a member of the University of Michigan equestrian team and found a lot of joy in riding.
While I have not had the chance to ride since coming to Dartmouth, I have been immersing myself in a different kind of sport - skiing! It felt like a natural shift, especially with Dartmouth having its own skiway. I have skied before, but never seriously. Now that I have committed to spending the next few years here for my PhD, I am excited to really hone my skills and (hopefully) become a great skier by the time I graduate.
What is your favorite place or most activity that you like best at Dartmouth or in the Upper Valley?
Sanborn Tea is one of my favorite traditions at Dartmouth! I was really charmed when I first heard the story behind it, and think it is such a lovely concept.
I also enjoy having picnics on the Green when the weather is nice. My little Pomeranian, Bagel, often joins me, and he is always very popular with the rest of the students. I think the simple things in life are often the most meaningful.
