By Louis DiPietro
On


Andrew Kang ’26 discovered a passion for research during his time as a computer science and mathematics major in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

After he graduates this month, Kang will pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, where he will investigate formal methods in control systems—a multidisciplinary field that leverages the methods of computer science and mathematics to prove that cyber-physical systems, from robotics to autonomous vehicles, satisfy critical safety and security guarantees.

 “I didn’t want to be limited to a single technical domain,” said Kang, who grew up just west of Toronto. “I believe that there is immense value in integrating perspectives across disciplines, especially nowadays in the era of AI.”Cornell provided a home to explore, and Cornell Bowers instilled in him an appreciation of computer science’s synthesis of mathematics, logic, philosophy, and engineering, he said. 

“I really value Cornell Bowers’ unique curriculum,” he said. “The courses place an emphasis on those first principles that far outlast any particular programming tool. That rigor was foundational to my ability to translate high-level specifications into concrete engineering results.”

As a first-year student, Kang explored research in data engineering in the lab of Sainyam Galhotra, assistant professor of computer science in Cornell Bowers. That summer, he participated in the Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE), a 10-week, paid summer research program that offers undergraduates a taste of research life. His BURE experience was transformative—it’s his favorite Cornell memory, and it motivated his decision to pursue doctoral research.

In his ensuing years at Cornell, Kang broadened his research scope, engaging in “full stack research” – getting involved with each stage of the research process, just like a full stack developer who works on both the front and backend of an application. He launched a student organization called Computational & Quantitative Social Science at Cornell (CQSS) that explored social science problems through computational methods. This year, he received an Honorable Mention for the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award from the Computing Research Association (CRA).

Foundational knowledge fuels innovation.

Andrew Kang in front of tan cement pillars

I really value Cornell Bowers’ unique curriculum. The courses place an emphasis on those first principles that far outlast any particular programming tool. That rigor was foundational to my ability to translate high-level specifications into concrete engineering results.

Andrew Kang ‘26
Computer Science and Mathematics

Kang also served as a teaching assistant (TA) for CS 3110 and CS 4160, experiences that he found deeply enriching on many levels: it was an opportunity to contribute to support other students, to meet new people, and to deepen his understanding of core technical concepts.

“I consider myself tremendously lucky to have been an undergraduate TA,” he said. “The community is incredibly supportive, and I learned so much from my professor’s work ethic and professionalism.”

His proudest Cornell achievement? “TQL: Towards Type-Drive Data Discovery,” the paper he co-authored with Galhotra, based on his BURE research, which was presented at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Big Data.

Looking ahead, Kang is eager to see where his research trajectory will lead next, both throughout and beyond his doctoral studies. He hopes to work at the interplay of theory and application, transforming theoretical advancements in mathematics and computer science into accessible industry-ready tools that can tackle critical safety and security challenges.

“I‘ve found the open-ended nature of research to be incredibly rewarding,” he said. “While classroom problems are usually structured to have known answers, I’ve learned to embrace the uncertainty of research. There’s something thrilling about realizing that there isn’t always a predestined destination—it forces you to be resourceful as you forge your own path forward.”
 


Louis DiPietro is a writer for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. 

Photography by Zoe Ku '27, Digital Content Producer

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