About Me

I'm currently a graduate student working on my MS in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Previously I earned my BS in Math and Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

The title of my Masters thesis is Semantic Integration of XML Using a RDF Global Mediator. I actually passed my thesis defense on March 10 so I'm looking forward to getting my Masters degree in May (woo hoo!).

Currently (Spring Semester 2004) I'm a teaching assistant for CS 100: Computer Literacy. Previously I was a teaching assistant for CS 107: Introduction to Computing and Programming (for non-CS majors), and CS 102: Introduction to Programming (for CS majors). I started out by teaching C++ and then moved on to Java when the department made the big language switch.

My hobbies are comics, computer games, console games, juggling, and bicycling. I also like to play badminton though I never really get much of an opportunity to. My favorite programming language right now is Python--it may not have the cleanest syntax or produce the most efficient programs, but it works on all major platforms and it supports rapid development very well. I'd like to teach an introductory programming course in Python someday.

I was born in Shenyang, China, located in Liaoning province. It's an OK place, I guess. I left when I was six so my memories of China are not very good and my Chinese language skills are pretty bad. At least I'm fluent in English, but I wish my Chinese was better. I hope I can spend some extended time in China at some point in my life so I can work on my Chinese.