Tengkai Yu
About Tengkai Yu
Tengkai Yu is a computer scientist with a strong academic background, holding an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Toronto and a Master's degree from the University of Victoria. Currently a PhD researcher, Yu has contributed to advancements in machine learning and deep learning through various roles, including positions at Cash App and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Education and Expertise
Tengkai Yu studied at the University of Toronto, where he completed a Computer Science Specialist program and earned an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) from 2012 to 2016. He furthered his education at the University of Victoria, obtaining a Master's degree in Computer Science from 2017 to 2020. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science at the same institution, with an expected completion in 2024. His academic background provides a strong foundation in machine learning and data science.
Work at Cash App
Tengkai Yu worked at Cash App as a Deep Learning Researcher from 2022 to 2023, contributing to advancements in machine learning. He designed and developed a large-scale self-supervised machine learning model aimed at enhancing customer event history embedding, which improved the company's fraud detection capabilities. His role involved incorporating state-of-the-art techniques and staying updated with the latest research in language models.
Experience at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Tengkai Yu served as a Data Scientist at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) from 2021 to 2022. In this role, he applied data science methodologies to support housing-related initiatives. His experience at CMHC allowed him to further develop his analytical skills and contribute to data-driven decision-making processes.
Research Contributions and Publications
Tengkai Yu has contributed to significant research in the field of machine learning. He co-authored a paper published in AAAI on fintech-kMC, a synthetic data generation tool, where he led the machine learning validation segment. Additionally, he conducted specialized studies on text embedding using smaller models like BERT, ensuring his work reflects the latest advancements in language model research.
Teaching Experience at University of Victoria
Tengkai Yu worked as a Computer Science Teaching Assistant at the University of Victoria from 2018 to 2022. During this four-year period, he supported undergraduate students in their studies, helping to facilitate their understanding of complex computer science concepts. His teaching experience complements his research activities and enhances his communication skills within the academic community.