Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Location: G01 Gates Hall
Speaker: Lidong Zhou, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Chief Scientist of the Microsoft Asia Pacific R&D Group, and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA)
Abstract: Systems research is entering one of its most transformative periods since the dawn of distributed computing. AI is no longer just a demanding workload but a force that is reshaping how we conceive, build, and reason about systems themselves. This shift raises grand challenges that go beyond performance or scalability: how do we design systems that can evolve with intelligence, embody trust in their foundations, and stay verifiable as they grow more autonomous? Early signs are emerging in areas such as AI-assisted verified code, which reframes correctness, and AI-driven approaches to systems design and optimization, which open new paths to shaping complex computing environments. In grappling with these questions, I find myself returning to the enduring principles I learned as a Ph.D. student at Cornell: the pursuit of rigor and precision; depth of inquiry and a systems philosophy to confront complexity; and a commitment to constant innovation in the face of change—foundations that remain vital for navigating this new era.
In the second part of the talk, I will highlight Microsoft Research Asia’s broader research agenda as showcases of how an open and interdisciplinary environment empowers researchers to pursue bold directions, create breakthroughs in technology, and generate lasting societal impact. I will close by pointing to opportunities for collaboration with Cornell faculty and students, including research proposals, internships, talent programs, and job openings across our Asia Pacific labs.
Bio: Dr. Lidong Zhou is Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Chief Scientist of the Microsoft Asia Pacific R&D Group, and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA). He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University and joined Microsoft Research in 2002, with roles in the Silicon Valley and Redmond labs before leading MSRA since 2021.
Dr. Zhou’s expertise is in computer systems research, especially scalable, reliable, and trustworthy distributed systems, with award-winning papers at top systems conferences such as SOSP, OSDI, and USENIX ATC. His work has shaped large-scale distributed systems underlying Microsoft products and services, including cloud infrastructure and AI platforms. At MSRA, he leads a diverse research community across Asia Pacific, fostering breakthroughs in technology and societal impact while mentoring the next generation of researchers. He is an ACM Fellow and an IEEE Fellow, has served on multiple editorial boards, and currently chairs the steering committee of SOSP.
Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/people/lidongz/
