# Desmond Kao

> Computer Science + Data Science @ NYU

Location: New York City Metropolitan Area, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/desmondkao

Hi, I'm Desmond Kao, a Computer Science and Data Science student at NYU combining technical expertise with a unique perspective shaped by my studies in psychology and philosophy.

My journey bridges quantitative research and software development, where I've engineered reinforcement learning models that improved investment returns, built predictive systems for real estate, and developed energy-efficient language models. Throughout these experiences, I've honed my skills in Python, machine learning, and data analysis while maintaining a focus on creating technology that addresses genuine human needs.

What distinguishes my approach is how I integrate technical problem-solving with a deeper understanding of human behavior and ethical considerations. This perspective allows me to build solutions that are not only technically sound but also meaningful and impactful.
I'm currently seeking quant research or software engineering internships where I can apply my technical foundation alongside my interdisciplinary thinking to develop innovative solutions that balance analytical rigor with human insight.

Let's connect if you're looking for someone who brings both technical depth and a thoughtful, multidimensional perspective to your team.

## Work Experience
### Software Engineer, AI Systems @ Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science
Jan 2025 – Present

### Founder @ 2fish
Jan 2025 – Present | New York, New York, United States

### Software Engineer Intern @ AlphaQuest (f.k.a. Quest Partners)
Jan 2025 – Jan 2026 | New York, NY
Systematic Hedge Fund with 26-year track record + $2B AUM

### Software Engineer Intern @ Catenary Alternatives Asset Management LLC
Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | New York City Metropolitan Area
Quantitative Equity Market-Neutral Hedge Fund + $340M AUM

### AI/ML Research Assistant @ Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute
Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | New York, United States

### Cubist Point72 Hackathon @ Point72
Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | New York, NY
• Developed Traffixsplorer, a quantitative analytics platform for modeling and forecasting NYC traffic dynamics
• Engineered a 3D geospatial visualization system to analyze temporal congestion patterns and structural relationships in the data
• Integrated a natural language querying interface powered by domain grounded ML to surface insights and feature interactions
• Designed and evaluated predictive models including LSTM, Seasonal ANN, and Random Forest regression for multi horizon forecasting
• Applied rigorous data preprocessing, feature engineering, and cross validation to optimize performance and interpretability

### Data Science Intern @ Neue Urban
Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | New York, New York, United States
Predictive models & ETL pipelines to support real estate investment strategy

### Early Insights @ Morgan Stanley
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | New York, United States

### Computer Technician @ New York University
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | New York, United States

### Rock Climbing Wall Attendant @ New York University
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | New York, United States

### Software Engineer Intern @ HiringCoach.ai
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area

### Machine Learning Engineer Intern @ Yale University
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | New Haven, Connecticut, United States

### Software Engineer Intern @ Robots & Pencils
Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada

### Software Engineer Intern @ Robots & Pencils
Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada


## Education
### Bachelor's degree in Computer Science
New York University
Jan 2023 – Jan 2027

### Bachelor's degree in Data Science
New York University
Jan 2023 – Jan 2027

### Minor in Philosophy
New York University
Jan 2023 – Jan 2027

### International Baccalaureate
French American International School (San Francisco, CA)


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/desmond-kao
- Website: https://desmondkao.com/

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Source: https://flows.cv/desmondkao
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/desmondkao/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-01