Kaiqiang Xu
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Kaiqiang Xu

PhD in Computer Science (2025), HKUST

Research

My research focuses on improving the efficiency and accessibility of machine learning systems and AI computing infrastructure. A core theme of my work is designing new abstractions, parallelization strategies, and scheduling algorithms that exploit the unique characteristics of machine learning workloads and large-scale clusters.

I am currently in the final year of my PhD in Computer Science at HKUST, advised by Prof. Kai Chen. During my time at HKUST, I led the design and development of TACC, an AI cluster that supports over 600 university members. I earned my BSc in Computer Science from Renmin University of China.

My work has been published in top-tier conferences across computer networks, operating systems, architecture, and databases, including NSDI, OSDI, ASPLOS, and SIGMOD. I was also a researcher at Google, where I work on efficient infrastructure and frameworks for large models.

Selected Papers (Full publication list and Google Scholar)

NSDI USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation
ASPLOS ACM International Conference on Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems
SIGMOD ACM International Conference on Management of Data
Enabling Efficient GPU Communication over Multiple NICs with FuseLink link
OSDI USENIX Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation

Startups

My work seeks the synergy between technology and creativity. I aim to design exceptional user experiences in products that embed advanced technologies, transforming the way people interact with complex systems. The Wall Street Journal featured an exclusive interview with me for creating the world-recognized all-terrain robot HEXA.

I was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list twice, in 2020 (China) and 2022 (Asia).

Cofounder and COO, Vesta Sleep, 2020-Now
Cofounded w/ Zhenyu Gu, Founder and CEO, in New York in 2020. Investor: Sequoia Capital.
Vesta designs and manufactures eco-friendly, innovative, and fun household essentials for consumers worldwide, promoting a high-quality, sustainable lifestyle. Forbes named Vesta one of the 100 innovative companies to watch.
COO, Vincross Robotics, 2016-2020
Investors include GGV Capital, Lenovo Capital and ZhenFund.
Vincross empowers users to access and build the future of robotics. I led a global team and made the first programmable all-terrain robot HEXA for individuals to create robotic applications. Reported by the Wall Street Journal, The Verge, WIRED, IEEE Specturm and more.

Earlier in my career, I worked in serveral startups including as an algorithm engineer at Zhihu.com (NYSE: ZH) and a backend engineer at Tantan (now part of MOMO, NASDAQ: MOMO). See my LinkedIn profile for more details.

Outside of work, I enjoy art and music whenever I can. My favorite artist is Edward Hopper for his Nighthawks (1942), among others. I recommend the timeless musical Les Misérables to everyone. I dance Argentine Tango and have a love for Golden Age Tango music. Besides my hometown of Jinan, I have also called Ann Arbor, Beijing, Berkeley, Shenzhen and Hong Kong home.