Lab Members


Qinglei Cao, PhD
Dr. Qinglei Cao, Director
he/him/his
Qinglei.Cao (at) slu.edu
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I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Saint Louis University (SLU) since the Fall of 2023, where I direct the Omni Computing Lab. I completed my Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2022 under the guidance of Dr. Jack Dongarra (Turing Award 2021) and Dr. George Bosilca at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I obtained my B.S. and M.E. degrees in China from Hunan University (2009) and Ocean University of China (2016), respectively. Before joining SLU, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2023) and a Member of Technical Staff at Cerebras Systems (2022-2023). I also served as an HPC Software Developer & Research Scientist at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), contributing to the development and research of the TianHe-1A and TianHe-2 supercomputers (2009-2013).

My research interest lies in areas of High-performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)---including parallel and distributed computing, task-based runtime systems, linear algebra algorithms, extreme-scale climate and weather modeling, and large-scale machine learning & deep learning. I have published many papers in top-rated conferences and journals in HPC, including SC, TPDS, IPDPS, HPDC, CLUSTER, PASC, etc, and is a recipient of the Best Paper Award at IEEE CLUSTER 2020. Notably, I am a finalist for the ACM Gordon Bell Prize three times---once in 2022 and twice in 2024 (one in the general track and one in the climate modeling track)---an annual award recognizing exceptional achievements in HPC and often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of Supercomputing'. Beyond the research activities, I enjoy basketball, tennis, fishing, hiking, and reading fantasy novels.


Phoebe Kim
Zhuowei Gu
PhD
LinkedIn

I'm a Ph.D. student at Saint Louis University specializing in Computer Science, with a Master's from New York University and a Bachelor's from Miami University. My technical skills include Python, C, C++, and more. During my Traini Inc. internship, I developed the Traini app using Swift UI, trained YOLOv3 models for dog motion detection, and analyzed movement patterns for user recommendations. As a Research Scientist at NYSPI, I transformed classrooms into labs, using PyCharm for Psychopy environments, debugging data structures, and developing EEG pipelines. Currently, I focus on High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) under Dr. Cao's guidance. I aim to optimize AI in HPC environments, utilizing GPUs and CPUs for large-scale data processing and deep learning applications. My research spans computer science, machine learning, deep learning, parallel computing, and distributed computing, addressing challenges in scientific research, healthcare, finance, and global issues.


Phoebe Kim
Pranitha Bollepalli
Master
LinkedIn

I am currently a master’s student in the Computer Science Department at Saint Louis University. I graduated from Sreyas Institute of Engineering and Technology which is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University with an 8.74 GPA. During this period, I learned the fundamentals of programming. I was introduced to “C Language”, where I started diving into the world of Programming. My enthusiasm for coding grew as I began to study new programming languages. I was able to obtain a “Cisco C certificate. I was also honored with HTML5, CSS, Java script, Python, and Python data structures certification. My paper "Object Detection using Voice Sensor and Cartoonizing the Image" was published in the International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering. I completed a Data Visualization internship as Data Analyst powered by “Excelerate”. In order to gain pragmatic experience, I joined Accenture Solutions Private Limited. As an Application Development Associate in Accenture Solutions Private Limited, I was trained in Manual and Automation Testing including selenium, Unified Functional Testing, Cucumber, JMeter. My perspectives have been enlarged by working with these technologies. I find pleasure in pursuing a range of interests, such as painting, sketching with pencils, composing poetry, and dancing.


Phoebe Kim
Ajith Akuthota
Master
LinkedIn

I'm currently enrolled as a master’s student in Computer Science program at Saint Louis University, where I am honing my skills and expanding my knowledge in various aspects of Computer Science. My foundation in technology was laid at MLR Institute of Technology, where I earned a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering with an CGPA of 9.36 out of 10. I possess a robust skillset in programming languages such as C, Java, and Python. I’m an Oracle certified Associate as JAVA SE8 programmer. I’ve been a part of many interesting projects during my under graduation, but the one that stands out to me is my Project that I developed during my time as a club member of "Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship" named "Shop Online Trial Online", which is introducing a novel approach to experiencing online products at home through ARVR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality). My role as an Associate Engineer Technology at VIRTUSA Consulting Services Pvt Ltd in India, I garnered both theoretical and practical expertise in full-stack development. Notably, this role provided me with a valuable opportunity to explore and contribute to Google's diverse range of applications while engaging collaboratively with a variety of clients. Eager to immerse myself in the fascinating realms of High-performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).


Phoebe Kim
Ashwin Pawar
Master
LinkedIn

I am a dedicated professional with a strong academic background and diverse industry experience in the field of Electronics and Communication Engineering. I completed my bachelor's degree at B V Raju Institute of Technology, Narsapur, where I specialized in Embedded System Design, gaining hands-on experience with various microcontrollers, Single Board Computers (SBCs), and processors. During my undergraduate years, I interned at Nokia Solutions and Networks, contributing as a Software Development Engineer Intern and VR Research Assistant. Subsequently, I joined Tata Consultancy Services as a Data Analyst and Automation Engineer. I decided to continue my education in order to follow my passion for deep learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. I am actively investigating the fields of High performance and Distributed Computing while pursuing a master's degree in computer science at Saint Louis University. With a diverse skill set in both hardware and software domains, I am prepared to contribute significantly to the research at the High Performance and Distributed Computing Lab. Eager to apply my expertise and enthusiasm, I look forward to actively participating in ongoing projects within this dynamic field.


Phoebe Kim
Ngan Nguyen
Undergraduate
LinkedIn

I'm currently a sophomore pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at Saint Louis University. My academic journey has been an exciting exploration into the world of software engineering and artificial intelligence. As I delve deeper into the intricacies of coding and algorithms, I find myself constantly amazed by the potential of technology to shape the future. In joining the team, I am eager to contribute to the Omni Computing Lab's research, aiming for practical solutions that bridge AI and HPC, with the goal of advancing geospatial modeling and other cutting-edge applications with real-world impact. Beyond academics, I enjoy being creative through my passion for ball-jointed dolls (BJDs), exploring aspects from resin 3D printing to clothing design, wig crafting, and makeup.