Yiyi (Amy) Cao

DIDA 325: Data & Society (Exploring data science methods & techniques w/ real-world datasets) • Led weekly discussion sessions and coding labs for about 40 undergraduate students, facilitating hands-on learning in Python programming and data analysis.​ • Developed and conducted review sessions to prepare students for midterm and final exams, creating supplementary materials to reinforce key concepts.​ • Assisted in grading assignments and exams, offering constructive feedback to support student learning and academic growth.​ • Administered quizzes to assess student understanding and progress throughout the course. • Held regular office hours to provide individualized support, assisting students with Python programming, statistical reasoning, and assignment clarification.​

• Designed and delivered an intensive five-week introductory statistics course, Math 147-Elementary Statistics, for 35 college students, with 2.25 hours of lectures every weekday and 3 office hours each week. • Managed all aspects of instruction, including lecture planning (lecture slides, practice problems, study guides, exam review/ post-review), quizzes, homework, midterm and final exam design, grading, and providing guidance, support, and encouragement to students throughout the course.

• Delivered daily academic support during Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) study hours; collaborated in weekly staff meetings and evaluated post-tests. • Facilitated 17 group tutorial sessions (4 hours each), conducted 19 one-on-one sessions, fostering student engagement and trust. • Enhanced student performance: students achieved a historic median score of 91/100 on the second exam, best in program history.

Quantum Computing & Large Language Model

2023 Summer Research Program at Columbia University, Class name: "Statistics and Data Science with Real-World Case Studies" (using R programming language) • Assisted the Yale professor with the class named “Statistics and Data Science with Real-World Case Studies Research”, including pre-class preparation, course communication, and preparation of teaching materials. • Helped students work with real data sets using R programming and tutor students to conduct their data analytical research project. Supervise students to complete their assignments according to the professor's requirements. Answer and solve students' questions with suggestions and opinions during the TA Session or outside the class. • Responsible for the corresponding teaching assistants' class after the professor's class to supplement, explain and consolidate the content of the professor's class. • Worked with the class schedule, and clearly inform the students about the requirements, submission forms, and deadlines of the final assignment.

• Expand the East Coast of the US market for the client Wow Payments Merchant Services, which offers the state & federal approved “cash discount” program integrated with the free Clover POS (Mini, Flex, Station, and Pro) to increase business owners’ revenues by eliminating credit card processing fees. • Consult business owners as a financial advisor after massive sales trainings, suggesting them the best monthly software plans regarding business functions the merchants will need, and negotiate the best cash discount rate benefiting both the merchants and their customers. Build reliable relationships with clients offering 24/7 high-quality Customer Services. • Prepare the CEO for a professional business slideshow of opening a call center BPO in Philippines, including the PH BPO industry overview with the telecommunication sector, the detailed legal registration steps for the licensing with a timeline, as well as the total cost estimation for registration, equipment, and operating cost. • Research on Chowbus’ venture capital funding rounds and offer market insights to help their Asian food delivery services expand the US market. Visualize all kinds of software and hardware price plans for Competitor Cost Comparison Analysis between Chowbus POS and Clover POS, and develop market insights. • Conduct data analysis of real-time maps and geographic visualization with Python. • Act as Solution Expert. Suggest on digital transformation by developing the website with vision/mission/values, and telling the culture stories with videos and photos. • Utilize the firm’s key business development tools and experience database to track and report progress. • Attend conferences and have several business trips to promote products and generate leads. • Provide professional after sales support to enhance the customers’ dedication. • Remain in frequent contact with the clients in the responsibility to understand their needs. • Negotiate agreements and keep records of sales and data.

• Conducted research on private equity industry trends, emerging markets, and investment strategies, using Bloomberg Terminal. • Generated creative and well-researched article ideas and appeal to our target audience. • Wrote articles on private equity, adhering to the company’s style guidelines and tone. • Ensured all content is accurate, well-structured, and free from grammatical errors. • Collaborated with the editorial team to review, revise, and improve articles. • Met monthly deadlines for article submission. • Stayed up to date with the latest developments in the private equity field with timely and relevant insights. • Participated in team meetings and discussion to share ideas and contribute to content strategy.

• Created linear programming model (including objective function with constraints) and utilized Python (cplex library) to select 2 among 10 suppliers and 5 among 11 warehouses with 991 optimized combinations of supply chain route paths for 988 Juice 2U Direct customers for minimized total cost ($16,034,200) • Directed sensitivity analysis with advanced model algorithms to give the best solutions for 5 different scenarios (i.e., Fixed warehouse/distribution increase by 50%), with Tableau visualization & R exploratory data analysis • Designed warehouse (126,852 ft² in area) with forklift selection and cost modeling (total $2,042,986)

• Created detailed fundraising business plan for startup company Lify+, which offered free multimedia power bank station to the local business owners in NYC (mainly in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn). • Conducted SWOT product analytics with blue-ocean strategic consulting for the monthly goal of 200 deals in Manhattan, New York. • Finished the best sales record of 5 closed deals in 2 hours and 10 closed deals in 3 hours with strong verbal communication skills in both English and Chinese. • Presented products to Vietnamese Embassy in Manhattan and expanded the market share with goal-oriented sales strategies. • Negotiated as Solution Expert to enhance customers’ dedication and kept records of daily sales data into CRM systems.

• Analyzed industry performance data using Excel (VLOOKUP, NPV, IRR) forecasting global forklift market trends. Reorganized Conference Summary of Anhui Heli company and presented to the research team leaders. • Wrote daily and weekly reports with market insights and investment advice in the machinery industry, familiarizing with the development of forklift industry through extensive reading of investment reports in the past ten years. • Practiced on writing a 10+ page in-depth research report on the industry, focusing on how domestic leading enterprises - such as Anhui HeLi, SANY, Zoomlion, XCMG - compete over global giants with technology innovation.

• Coursework: Advanced Probability Theory, Advanced Statistical Learning, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Functional Analysis, Linear Algebra & Matrix Theory, Probability, Statistical Inference, Data Analysis, General Topology, Statistical Modeling with Regression, Experimental Design. • Activities and Societies: BU Council (till May 2024), Math Tutor (SUNY EOP 2024) Department Seminar Talks: 1. Title: An overview of Machine Learning & Artificial Neural Network (11/29/23), 2. Title: Beauty in Geometric Analysis: Costa-Hoffman-Meeks surfaces (04/08/24). SIAM Conferences: 1. Poster at 2024 SIAM Conference on Mathematics of Data Science. 2. Present at 2025 SIAM New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania Section Conference.

• Coursework: Programming in Java (elective 1), Machine Learning with Application in Finance (elective 2, Algorithm Trading, Portfolio Management, Machine Learning, Python), Modern Analysis I (elective 3, rigorous mathematics proof), Applied Analytics Frameworks and Methods I & II (Supervised & Unsupervised Learning, R), Research Design (Statistical Analysis), Managing Data (Data Engineering), Optimization I (PhD-Level, Auditing), Combinatorics (undergrad Math, Auditing), etc. • Activities and societies: Event Organizer | Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (Sep.2021-Sep.2022) Notetaker | Columbia Engineering - COMS4995w Machine Learning w/ Application in Finance (June 2022-Augst 2022)

• Coursework: Insurance, Finance, Fourier Analysis, Intro Stochastic Processes, Statistic Theory, Modern Algebra, Differential Equation, Intro to C/ C++, etc. • Honors: Dean’s List (Spring 2019); Member of the Tau Sigma National Honors Society (2019 - 2020) • Activities and societies: Financial Department Minister | Asian Business & Economics Student Association, UMN (Jun. 2019 – Oct. 2019) Welcome Week Leader | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Aug. 2019 & Aug. 2020)

• Relevant coursework: Advanced Mathematics I & II, Database Application Basics, Basics of Programming, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Fundamental Accounting, Organizational Behavior, Marketing, Economic Law, Management, Monographic studies on Finance, Advanced Application Practice of Excel, etc. • Honors: University Third Prize Scholarship (Fall 2016) • Awards: University sponsor for Provincial Women & Children’s Health Care start-up project (Summer 2017) • Activities and Societies: Vice President | National College Student Alliance for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Practice (Sept. 2016 – Mar. 2017) Team Leader | Provincial Contest for Creative Public Service for Women and Children (Mar. 2017 – Apr. 2017) Volunteer| The Inaugural China Healthcare Investing & Partnering Symposium (Spring 2019)

• Honors and awards: Tianjin Nankai District Three Good Students南开区三好学生(Fall 2014); Zhengzhou City Three Good Students两次郑州市市级三好学生 (top3‰, 初中Spring 2010, 小学Fall 2007); ¥2000 in cash for First Prize School Scholarship (Top 3 ranking of the grade, 3 consecutive years); Golden Medal for Women's 100m Running Race (Fall 2009); National Gold Medal of National Youth Science Fiction Painting (Fall 2005); • Admitted by Nankai High School, as one of the 40 students exclusively selected from 805,807 students in Henan province for academic excellence (2012中考&选拔); • Leadership Role: Class Monitor & School Newspaper Editor & Public Speaker (in class & school);