Written by humans, for humans.

Alexander Kai Chen

Computer Science & Classics Student

Hello! I'm a software engineer and student researcher (~6 years of programming with experience in enterprise full-stack, AI/ML). I also study classical languages (e.g. Latin), philosophy, and debate.

The human arts of reason and rhetoric are increasingly obscured by artificial illusions. I'm exploring how a classical understanding of the old can further our understanding of the new. Leveraging NeSy + explainable systems to reveal grounded truth, bridging human reason with machine logic.

Alexander Chen

Experience

AI Researcher & Author

NeurIPS 2025 Publication, Solo Author
2025

Published "iOS as Acceleration" in NeurIPS Workshop on Efficient Reasoning during highschool junior year.

Enterprise Tech Software & Data Engineering

State Farm Insurance, Intern
Summer 2025, Summer 2026

Developed large-scale infra (AWS, Azure) and data applications in State Farm Enterprise Technology division.

Logic & Explainable AI Research

UTD Applied Logic & Programming Systems Lab (ALPS), Intern
Summer 2024, 2026

XAI education research, explored Prolog and logic programming with Professor Gopal Gupta.

FRC Robotics Lead Analytics Developer

FIRST Robotics Competition
2022-2025

Developed data scouting software for FRC team, deployed to world championships in 2024 and 2025.

Volunteer Programming Instructor

Local STEM Summer Camp for Youth
2023

Co-taught programming section for underprivileged youths at local church with volunteers from FRC team.

C.S. Skills

Programming Languages

  • Python
  • Java
  • Lean4
  • Prolog
  • C++
  • Lisp (Clojure)
  • Swift

Frameworks & Tools

  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Git
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Mathlib

AI/ML

  • NeSy (neuralsymbolic) Systems
  • Explainable AI (XAI)
  • Distributed Computing & Parallelism
  • Edge & Mobile Computing

Theory

  • Algorithms & Data Structures
  • Software Development
  • Formal Verification
  • Discrete Mathematics

Workflows

  • SCRUM
  • Agile
  • Agentic Orchestration

Education

Highschool

Homeschool, Classical Curriculum

4.0 GPA, 1600 SAT, 6x APs score 5, currently completing Junior year

Dual Credit College Courses

Collin College

Discrete Math (Grade: A, 100%), Linear Algebra (in-progress)

Online College Courses

Online

"Data Structures & Algorithms Specialization" @ UCSD, "Build a Modern Computer from First Principles" @ HUJI

C.S. & A.I.

Self-Directed Study

NeSy, XAI, NLP, distributed learning, agentic LRMs.

Classical Studies

Classical Curriculum + Self-Directed Study

Languages (Latin), Greek & Roman philosophy, debate (formal reasoning, rhetoric)

Honors & Awards

USACO Gold Division

USA Computing Olympiad
Feb. 2025

Promoted to Gold Division, previous promotion to Silver in December 2023.

Coolidge 1v1 Debate

Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Debate
2025-2026

Qualified to national Coolidge Cup first year competing in Coolidge Debate, placed top 3-1 record in Spring Online national tournament competing against ~55 individual debaters.

ISEF State Science Fair

Texas Science & Engineering Fair
Mar. 2026

Placed 2nd in Software Design category, earning full scholarship to Governor's Science & Technology Champion's Academy summer research program.

ISEF Regional Science Fair

Dallas Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Feb. 2026

Placed 1st winning Software Design category with "MobilePipe: iPhones as Parallel Compute Accelerators for Local Machine Learning", advancing to TXSEF.

National Latin Exam

American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League
2023-2025

Intermediate Latin (2026) Gold Summa Cum Laude (with distinction), Beginning Latin (2025) Gold Summa Cum Laude, Introduction to Latin (2024) Magna Cum Laude

NCFCA Team Policy Debate

National Christian Forensics & Communications Association
2023-2025

Placed 2nd Team Policy Speaker out of ~110 competitors at national online tournament 24-25 season, team previously placed 8th out of ~42 teams at regional tournament Jan. 2024.

Connect

I live in Dallas, Texas, and homeschool with Mother of Divine Grace School. I'd love to get in touch!

Blog

Written by humans, for humans.

Posts with italicized titles are formalized writings, other posts are more casual updates.