Jason Li

Jason Li

Computer Science and Mathematics at University of Pennsylvania. Building at the intersection of health, biology, data-driven finance, and robotics.

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About

I think about computer science as a way to model and understand complex systems. Whether I'm working with biological data, building autonomous systems, or analyzing financial patterns, the core challenge is the same: how do you extract meaningful insights from systems that are inherently messy and interconnected?

What draws me to real-world applications is that they force you to collaborate. The best computational work happens when you're working alongside domain experts: neuroscientists who understand behavior, clinicians who understand patient needs, or researchers who understand biological mechanisms. These collaborations force you to ask better questions and build tools that actually get used.

The intersection of CS, biology, data-driven finance, and robotics interests me because these domains all deal with complex, high-stakes systems. In biomedical research, you're working with data that could inform health outcomes. In finance and statistics, you're building models that support decision-making. In robotics, you're bringing algorithms into the physical world—perception, control, and real hardware—which forces you to close the loop between computation and action. All of it requires technical rigor and domain understanding, and benefits from interdisciplinary thinking.

Experience

Research & Biomedical AI

Biomedical AI Research

Campbell Lab, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA2025 - Present

I work on computer vision models for analyzing zebrafish behavior, using Python, OpenCV, and YOLO to process video data and identify patterns. The challenge isn't just building accurate models. It's understanding what behaviors matter to neuroscientists and how computational methods can answer questions that traditional analysis can't. Real data is messy, which is part of what makes it interesting. This work has taught me how to bridge the gap between technical implementation and biological understanding, often working with datasets that require careful preprocessing and domain expertise.

Research & Biomedical AI

NLP Research Intern

BlastAI

RemoteSummer 2023

I developed transformer models for analyzing large-scale social media data, focusing on extracting meaningful patterns from complex text datasets. This project resulted in a paper published at the Second International Conference on Informatics (ICI-2023) and gave me experience working with state-of-the-art NLP methods while thinking critically about how these models can be applied to real-world problems. The work required balancing technical innovation with practical constraints, and it reinforced my interest in applying AI to domains where the data is inherently complex and meaningful.

View paper →

Research & Biomedical AI

Bioinformatics & Data Analysis Intern

NextGen Jane

Remote2023 - 2024

I worked with large patient datasets, performing statistical analysis and building Shiny visualizations to help researchers understand patterns in health data. This experience taught me how to think about data quality, statistical rigor, and visualization design, all while working with datasets where the stakes are high and the questions are complex. The work required close collaboration with domain experts to ensure that the analysis and visualizations actually supported research goals.

Engineering & Robotics

Perception Systems Engineer

Penn Aerial Robotics

Philadelphia, PA2025 - Present

I work on perception systems for UAVs using PX4 and ROS2, developing computer vision pipelines that enable autonomous navigation. The challenge is building systems that work reliably in real environments, not just in simulation. This has taught me systems thinking, how to debug complex autonomy stacks, and how to balance theoretical approaches with practical constraints. The work requires understanding everything from low-level sensor data to high-level planning, and it's given me experience in how software interfaces with physical systems.

Product & Applied Software

Software Engineer

MindX Sciences

Remote2023 - 2024

I developed features in React Native for a mental health application used by over 2,000 users. This work taught me how to think about user experience, iterate based on feedback, and ship software that people actually use. The product sits at the intersection of technology and health, which reinforced my interest in building tools that can have real impact. Working on a deployed product with real users forced me to think about edge cases, performance, and how technical decisions affect user experience.

Skills & Tools

Languages

Python
Java
C++
JavaScript
TypeScript
R

ML / Data

PyTorch
TensorFlow
OpenCV
scikit-learn
YOLO
Pandas
NumPy
SQL
R Shiny
Matplotlib

Frontend

React
React Native
Next.js
Node.js
Tailwind CSS

Systems / Robotics

ROS
ROS2
PX4
Linux
Git
Docker

Projects

Zebrafish Behavior Analysis

Biomedical AI

Problem

Understanding how computational methods can extract meaningful patterns from animal behavior data

Approach

I developed computer vision pipelines using Python, OpenCV, and YOLO to analyze video data of zebrafish behavior, working closely with neuroscience researchers to identify which behaviors matter and how to quantify them

Outcome

The tools I built enable researchers to ask questions about behavior that weren't feasible with manual analysis, showing how computer vision can support biological research

Social Media Data Analysis

NLP Research

Problem

Extracting insights from large-scale text data using transformer models

Approach

I developed NLP models to analyze social media datasets, focusing on how transformer architectures can identify patterns in complex, noisy text data

Outcome

This work contributed to research published in IEEE, showing how modern NLP methods can be applied to understand large-scale social phenomena

UAV Perception Systems

Robotics & Autonomy

Problem

Building reliable perception for autonomous aerial systems

Approach

I developed computer vision and perception pipelines using ROS2 and PX4, integrating sensor data to enable autonomous navigation in real environments

Outcome

The systems I built demonstrate how perception, planning, and control can work together in physical systems, with applications to autonomous robotics

Clubs & Interests

Clubs

AI@Penn

I enjoy going to talks and workshops where people share what they're working on. It's a good way to stay curious about what's happening in AI research and meet others who are thinking about similar problems.

Penn Spark

I like spending time with people who are building things, whether that's products or companies. The conversations are usually practical: how do you actually ship something, what makes an idea worth pursuing, that kind of thing.

Wharton Statistics Society

I find behavioral finance interesting because it connects data to how people actually make decisions. The discussions often get into how models can inform judgment without replacing it, which feels relevant to a lot of the work I do.

Penn Aerial Robotics

I work on perception systems for autonomous aerial vehicles, developing computer vision pipelines and integrating sensor data. It's a hands-on way to apply systems thinking to real robotics problems, and the team environment is collaborative and focused on building things that actually work.

Penn Club Tennis

Outside of class, I often play tennis. It's a good way to stay active and clear my head. The competitive aspect is fun, but mostly I like that it forces you to focus on something completely different from technical work.

Hobbies

Poker

I mostly play poker because it's fun and social, but I do like that there's real math underneath it. Phil Laak is my favorite to watch because he's unpredictable and doesn't take himself too seriously. Games are more interesting when people don't all play the same way.

Basketball

I'm a Chicago Bulls fan, which is mostly pain but also kind of a personality trait at this point. I like pickup basketball because it's fast and simple: no planning, no setup, just show up and play. It's an easy way to get out of your head.

Running

Running is how I clear my head. I usually run on the Schuylkill River Trail when the weather's good, and you really enjoy the scenic views. I don't track much. It's more about getting outside and moving than anything else.

Cooking

I like cooking, mostly by messing around and seeing what works. I lean toward simple stuff I'll actually eat again. Not a fan of overly sweet savory dishes. It's relaxing, useful, and way more satisfying than ordering takeout every time.

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in conversations about interdisciplinary work, whether that's research, engineering, or data-focused projects. If you're working on problems at the intersection of computation, health, or data-driven decision-making, I'd love to hear about it.

li59@seas.upenn.edu

+1 (847) 907-0871