Dr. Chengyuan Zhang

Postdoctoral Researcher, McGill University

Montréal, Canada enzozcy [at] gmail.com Chengyuan-Zhang

Download CVPDF

Research

I build stochastic models of human behavior and the Bayesian inference that fits them to data. The variation left unexplained by context turns out to be structured: it carries memory, it differs systematically between individuals, and it switches between latent regimes. Modeling that structure is what allows uncertainty to travel from individual decisions through to the collective dynamics they produce. I work on driving and traffic because the measurement is dense enough and the mechanistic theory mature enough to test such models seriously.

Areas

Stochastic behavior modeling Bayesian inference & calibration Simulation-based inference Uncertainty quantification Traffic flow theory & microsimulation Multi-agent interaction Spatiotemporal modeling

Education

  1. 2020 – 2026

    Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Transportation)

    McGill University, Montréal, Canada

    Dissertation: From Micro Interactions to Traffic Flow: Stochastic Driver Models for Realistic Traffic Simulation
    Advisor: Prof. Lijun Sun · Fast-tracked from M.Sc. to Ph.D. program in 2022

  2. 2015 – 2019

    B.Eng. in Vehicle Engineering

    Chongqing University, Chongqing, China

    Thesis: Recognition of Multi-Vehicle Interaction Patterns Based on Probabilistic Velocity Fields Outstanding Thesis Award
    Advisor: Prof. Zhenfei Zhan

Academic Experiences

  1. 2026 – Present Current

    Postdoctoral Researcher

    Dept. of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

    With Prof. Lijun Sun

  2. 2023

    Visiting Student Researcher

    Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

    Hosted by Prof. Changliu Liu

  3. 2019 – 2020

    Visiting Student Researcher

    Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley, USA

    Hosted by Prof. Masayoshi Tomizuka

  4. 2019, 2020

    Deep Learning Summer Camp (DeeCamp)

    Sinovation Ventures, China

    Outstanding Team Award Best Application Award

  5. 2018

    Visiting Student Researcher

    Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

    Hosted by Prof. Ding Zhao

  6. 2018

    Visiting Student

    University of Pennsylvania, USA

  7. 2016 – 2018

    Member, CQU-Formula SAE Transmission Group

    Chongqing University, China

Leadership & Services

Workshops Organized

Program Committee

  • 2023 Symposium on Machine Learning for Autonomous Driving @ NeurIPS ’23

Reviewer 26 outlets

Journals & conferences reviewed

Journals

Transportation Science Transp. Res. Part B Transp. Res. Part C European J. of Operational Research Artificial Intelligence for Transp. IEEE T-ITS IEEE T-IV IEEE T-CE IEEE T-IE IEEE T-Cybernetics IEEE Sensors Journal Transp. Res. Interdisc. Perspectives Travel Behaviour and Society ASME J. Mech. & Robotics ASME J. Mech. Design Physica A Automotive Innovation Advanced Engineering Informatics J. of Traffic & Transp. Engineering Nonlinear Dynamics Journal of King Saud University Computer and Information Sciences Scientific Reports

Conferences & Workshops

IEEE ITSC (’22–’24) IEEE IV (’23–’24) TRB Annual Meeting NeurIPS Bayesian D&U Workshop ’24 MFTS ’24 RSS AVAS Workshop ’24 ISTDM ’25

Memberships

IEEE Graduate Student IEEE ITSS Student CIRRELT Student COTA Student SAE China

Honors, Fellowships & Recognition

Fellowships & Scholarships CAD $300K+ total

  • 2023 – 2027 FRQNT Doctoral Scholarship (B2X) CAD $100,000
  • 2022 – 2025 McGill Engineering Doctoral Award (MEDA) CAD $111,000
  • 2022 – 2023 FRQNT Master’s Scholarship (B1X) CAD $17,500
  • 2022 – 2023 Mitacs Globalink Research Award — Abroad CAD $6,000
  • 2022 – 2023 Graduate Mobility Award, McGill University CAD $9,000
  • 2025 CIRRELT Doctoral Scholarship of Excellence — Final Stages CAD $7,500
  • 2023 CIRRELT Doctoral Scholarship of Excellence — Early Stages CAD $4,000
  • 2022 CIRRELT Master’s Scholarship of Excellence CAD $3,500
  • 2020 – 2022 IVADO Excellence Scholarship — M.Sc. CAD $40,000
  • 2020 Graduate Excellence Fellowship Award, McGill University

Research & Travel Awards

  • 2024 Honorable Mention, Clifford Spiegelman Student Paper Competition
  • 2023 Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel Award, McGill University
  • 2023 Ron Rice Memorial Award, McGill University
  • 2019 Outstanding Team & Best Application Awards, DeeCamp, China

Academic Distinctions

  • 2019 Outstanding Graduate of Chongqing University
  • 2018 First Prize, National College Mechanical Innovation Competition Top #10 in China
  • 2017 First Prize, China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling
  • 2017 National Scholarship, China
  • 2015 First Prize, Chongqing University Physics Contest #1 of 500+ · as a first-year undergraduate