Liwen Tang
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Detail-oriented research assistant with advanced skills in Python, machine learning, and scientific computing. Proven ability to enhance data analysis workflows and optimize complex systems.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant for VERITAS
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
05.2025 - Current
- Improved very high energy (VHE) gamma ray event identification by applying Boosted Decision Trees (BDT) for gamma/hadron separation in the VERITAS analysis pipeline.
- Extended the existing BDT framework to support additional observing conditions by adding different zenith angle bins, increasing usable data coverage.
- Implemented a more robust optimization workflow by combining simulation with five real crab data runs, reducing reliance on a single dataset, and improving model generalization across seasons and atmospheric conditions.
- Performed data calibration and reconstruction steps, trained and validated models, and selected an optimized BDT score cut to improve background rejection while maintaining gamma efficiency.
- Demonstrated consistent performance across multiple seasonal datasets, strengthening VERITAS's sensitivity to faint sources, and enabling cleaner downstream spectral analyses.
Photoelectric Sensing Intelligent Car Competition
Soochow University
Suzhou, Jiangsu
03.2023 - 03.2023
- Debugged and optimized control software for a photoelectric sensing autonomous car system.
- Improved stability and performance through systematic testing, code refactoring, and parameter tuning.
Education
BA - Physics And Computer Science
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN01-2024
Skills
- Programming Languages: C, Python, Java, MATLAB
- Scientific Computing: numerical methods, optimization, error propagation, data processing pipelines
- Machine Learning: Boosted Desition Tree, feature engineering, model validation
- Software Tools: GitHub, Linux/Unix shell, VS Code, LaTeX
- Core CS Foundations: algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming, debugging
- Collaboration: technical communication, reproducible workflows, documentation, team-based development
Timeline
Research Assistant for VERITAS
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
05.2025 - Current
Photoelectric Sensing Intelligent Car Competition
Soochow University
03.2023 - 03.2023
BA - Physics And Computer Science
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities