Quyen Tran
Research Interests
Visualization, Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), AI in Education (AIED), with a focus on designing visual and interactive systems that make abstract concepts and formal reasoning more understandable and accessible.
Education
Aug 2023 to
May 2027
May 2027
B.A. in Computer Science and Mathematics, GPA: 3.95/4.0, majors: 4.0/4.0
DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Aug 2025 to
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
Budapest Semester in Mathematics, GPA: 4.0+/4.0
Faculty affiliation: Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics & Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Faculty affiliation: Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics & Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Publications
Journal Articles
J3
Ranking Events Based on a Random Sample
Quyen Tran and Jyotirmoy Sarkar. Resonance—Journal of Science Education, Classroom Section, 2026.
J2
Predicting Outcomes of Random Phenomena
Jyotirmoy Sarkar and Quyen Tran. International Journal of Mathematics, Statistics and Operations Research, 5(2), 2025, pp. 287–302.
Preprints & Manuscripts
P1
CUMath: A Benchmark for Evaluating LLM Step-by-Step Reasoning in Undergraduate Mathematics
Quyen Tran, Hieu Tran, Sutthirut Charoenphon, and Brian T. Howard. Preprint, 2026.
Presentations & Talks (* denotes equal contribution)
T3
Automating Textbook Proof Conversion and Dataset Generation for Geometry Learning
Quyen Tran, Hwei-Shin Harriman, Dominik Moritz, and Joshua Sunshine. REUSE Poster Session, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 2026.
T2
Mechanistic Interpretability and Simple Games
Vasudev Menon*, Sam Reiter*, Jayson Tran*, Quyen Tran*, Benjamin Whitsett*, and Pál Zsámboki. Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Undergraduate Research Program, 2025.
T1
Optimizing Transport Predictive Modeling with Simulation-Based Statistical Inference
Quyen Tran and Mamunur Rashid. MAA MathFest, Indianapolis, IN, Aug. 2024.
Selected Technical Papers
S3
Learning Nim Strategies with Bayesian Reinforcement Learning and MCMC
Quyen Tran. Final paper, Math Senior Seminar, DePauw University, 2026.
S2
Clustering-Based Lightweight Architecture for Image Captioning
Quyen Tran and Hung Nguyen. Final project paper, CSC 370: Data Mining, DePauw University, 2026.
S1
Sketch- and Text-Guided Image Generation with Diffusion Models
Quyen Tran. Final project paper, Introduction to Deep Learning, Budapest Semesters in Mathematics, 2025.
Research Experience
May 2026 to
Present
Present
Research Intern (REUSE Program)Carnegie Mellon University
Software and Societal Systems Department
Jan 2026 to
Present
Present
Research InternSEACrowd
Reasoning Agentic LLM Router Research Group
Mentors: David Anugraha (MSCS @ Stanford) and Dr. Genta Winata (Scientist @ Capital One)
Sep 2025 to
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
Student ResearcherBudapest Semesters in Mathematics
Mechanistic Interpretability Research Group (TDK Program)
Advisor: Dr. Pál Zsámboki (HUN-REN Rényi Institute, AI Group)
May 2024 to
Present
Present
Undergraduate ResearcherDePauw University
Departments of Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences
Project 2: Evaluating LLM Step-by-Step Reasoning in Undergraduate Mathematics [Manuscript]
Project 1: Optimizing Transport Predictive Modeling with Simulation-Based Statistical Inference [Publication]
Advisor: Dr. Mamunur Rashid
Independent Projects
Jan 2026 to
May 2026
May 2026
Project: Bayesian Reinforcement Learning for the n-Pile Nim Game
Math Senior Seminar Project, DePauw University
Math Senior Seminar Project, DePauw University
Explored how Bayesian reinforcement learning learns interpretable game-playing strategies using Bayesian policy learning and MCMC. [Manuscript]
Jan 2026 to
May 2026
May 2026
Project: Clustering-Based Lightweight Architecture for Image Captioning
Data Mining Course Project, DePauw University
Data Mining Course Project, DePauw University
Investigated clustering-based methods for improving the specificity and contextual relevance of image captions across ViT-GPT2, GIT, and BLIP. [Manuscript]
Sep 2025 to
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
Project: Sketch-Guided Diffusion for Image-to-Image Generation
Deep Learning Course Project, Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
Deep Learning Course Project, Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
Studied sketch-guided diffusion models for controllable image generation, with an aim to better align generated images with human structure and intent. [Manuscript]
Mar 2025 to
Oct 2025
Oct 2025
Project: Explainable Breast Cancer Detection Model
Advisor: Dr. Mehmet Gulum (DePauw University)
Co-authors: Hieu Tran (CS PhD @ Purdue), Tri Dang (CS PhD @ UC Merced), Dat Nguyen (MSCS @ Syracuse)
Built a Vision Transformer for breast cancer prediction with attention-based explanations to help clinicians interpret and verify model predictions.
Aug 2024 to
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
Project: Statistical Structure of Random Event Sequences
Advisor: Dr. Jyotirmoy Sarkar (Indiana University Indianapolis)
Studied finite-sample statistical structure in random phenomena for ranking and prediction under probabilistic models. [Publication 1] [Publication 2]
Teaching Assistant & Services
Teaching
Fall 2026STEM Guide (Teaching Assistant & Tutor) for CSC 121: Introduction to Computer Science
Spring 2026Teaching Assistant for CSC 121: Introduction to Computer Science
Spring 2025Lab Assistant for CSC 121: Introduction to Computer Science
2024–2025Math Tutor: Discrete Math, Intro to Proof, Calculus I–III, Linear Algebra
Spring 2024Math Tutor: Discrete Math, Calculus I–II
Services
2023–2027Vice President at DePauw Math Club
2024–2025Technical Advisor at DePauw Women in Computer Science
Honors, Awards, and Grants
2023–2027Science Research Fellow, DePauw University
2023–2027Dean’s List (every semester), DePauw University
2026REUSE Internship Scholarship, Carnegie Mellon University
2026Computer Science Honor Society, DePauw University
2025Waldemar J. Trjitzinsky Memorial Award, American Mathematical Society
2025Kitüntetés (academic distinction), Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
2025Charles and Frances (Wylie) Condit Science Math Award, DePauw University
2025J. William Asher and Melanie J. Norton Fund in the Sciences, DePauw University
2024Student Research and Artistic Grants, DePauw University
2024Faculty Development Committee Summer Research Funding, DePauw University
2024Second Place, Indiana Collegiate Mathematics Competition (ICMC)
2023Distinguished Scholarship (2023–2027), DePauw University
Technical Skills
Languages: Python, Java, C++, R, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL
Libraries: PyTorch, Hugging Face, scikit-learn, fastai, TensorFlow, OpenCV, NumPy, pandas, matplotlib
Tools: LaTeX, Visual Studio Code, Google Colab, Git/GitHub