Gefei Shen
Mary Gates Research Scholar
Autumn 2024
Major: Applied & Computational Mathematical Sciences (Statistics)
Mentor: Dongfang Zhao
Project
Order-Preserving Dimension Reduction for Multimodal Semantic Embedding
I developed a method called Order-Preserving Dimension Reduction (OPDR) to make multimodal data retrieval more efficient. The goal was to reduce the size of high-dimensional embeddings while preserving the ranking of similar items for K-nearest neighbor (KNN) search. Our method significantly cuts down computation time without sacrificing retrieval accuracy and can be applied to a wide range of datasets and models.
What I learned
Doing research often comes with unexpected challenges—experiments may fail, and papers may get rejected. However, I’ve learned that persistence and adaptability are key. Every setback is a learning opportunity, and staying curious and open to feedback helps me grow as a researcher.
Advice for future applicants
Don’t give up, even when things get tough. Research and leadership projects often come with setbacks, but persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from failure will carry you far. Believe in your growth and keep moving forward!
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