Hu Yuncong is an Assistant Professor and PhD Supervisor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has been selected for a national-level young talent program and the Shanghai High-Level Overseas Young Talent Program, and has received funding such as the Huawei ExploreX Fund. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (ACM Class) from Zhiyuan College in 2017 and completed his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of renowned cryptography scholars Professor Raluca Popa and Professor Alessandro Chiesa. His long-term research focuses on applied cryptography and zero-knowledge proofs. The zero-knowledge proof system Marlin, which he co-developed, and the open-source toolkit Arkworks have become widely adopted foundational infrastructure in both academia and industry.

Zhiyuan Beginnings: Competition as a Stepping Stone, Setting a New Course

With outstanding achievements in informatics competitions, Hu Yuncong was admitted directly to the ACM Class of Zhiyuan College. At the time, his understanding of the ACM Class was largely centered on competitive programming, and he had yet to form a complete picture of the broader research landscape of computer science. Upon entering Zhiyuan, however, the College’s strong academic atmosphere opened a new window onto scientific research. While continuing to compete in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest and winning a regional gold medal, Hu also came to appreciate the ACM Class’s emphasis on scientific inquiry and fundamental exploration within computer science itself. This training model—grounded in solid foundations, encouraging interdisciplinarity, and emphasizing exploration—laid a firm groundwork for his later pursuit of cryptography, a frontier field that deeply integrates mathematics, computer science, and engineering practice.

Three Mentors: Shaping Research Rigor and an Interdisciplinary Perspective

Several key mentors played a decisive role in Hu Yuncong’s research journey. In his junior year, he joined Professor Yu Kai’s SpeechLab, taking his first steps in hands-on research. Although his research direction later shifted to cryptography, Hu believes that the fundamental research qualities imparted by Professor Yu—such as academic rigor and the ability to identify meaningful research questions—have had a lasting, cross-disciplinary influence.

During a summer exchange program jointly organized by Zhiyuan College and Cornell University, Hu was particularly inspired by Turing Award laureate Professor John Hopcroft, who invited students to his home for informal discussions. In a warm and relaxed setting, Professor Hopcroft shared his research experiences and academic reflections, advocating the principle of “pursuing research that you truly love.” This encounter prompted Hu to reflect deeply on intrinsic motivation in academic exploration.

At Cornell University, Professor Elaine Shi introduced Hu to the field of cryptography. Beyond systematically teaching specialized knowledge, she demonstrated how leading scholars approach research and thinking in interdisciplinary contexts. This experience directly led Hu to establish cryptography as his core research direction.

Exploration and Practice: From Interdisciplinary Frontiers to Independent Innovation

During his summer program at Cornell, Hu participated in a blockchain bootcamp jointly organized by the Ethereum Foundation and Cornell University. His team worked on introducing zero-knowledge proof techniques into the Ethereum Virtual Machine—an effort later regarded as an early prototype of ZK-EVM technology. The project not only won first prize, but also allowed Hu to personally experience the appeal of cross-disciplinary innovation spanning cryptography, distributed systems, and mechanism design. It was through such frontier exploration that he discovered a viable path for transforming competitive-programming thinking into research innovation.

Group photo of Hu Yuncong (second from the right, front row) at the Bootcamp program

This transformation became even more evident during his PhD research on Merkle². Hu recalls that a Google research team once visited Berkeley and shared challenges and future directions from their project. Building on this exchange, Hu independently conceived a research problem and solution, then proactively recruited three undergraduate students to carry out the project.“This was the first project I led entirely on my own—from topic selection and conceptual design to guiding students through execution,” Hu noted. “My advisors only provided supplementary suggestions.” Upon completion, his advisors recognized that he had reached the standard of an independent researcher. Hu therefore regards Merkle² as a critical milestone in his academic career.

Hu Yuncong with Turing Award laureate Whitfield Diffie during his PhD studies at the University of California, Berkeley

Cross-Boundary Integration: A Two-Way Journey Between Academia and Industry

Hu Yuncong’s research has consistently maintained a dynamic interaction between academic frontiers and industrial practice. At Berkeley, regular discussions between his lab and leading companies made him acutely aware of how real-world problems can guide fundamental research. He later brought this philosophy into his teaching and research after returning to China. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the curriculum he designed for the ACM Class and the John Class clearly reflects this integration: cryptography courses emphasize theoretical depth and mathematical rigor, while blockchain courses incorporate concepts from game theory, distributed systems, and other disciplines. Beyond the classroom, Hu fosters an academic community through regular paper-reading seminars and project meetings. He also actively undertakes research projects supported by institutions such as the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and the Puxin Research Institute, promoting the application of cryptographic technologies in real-world scenarios. This closed loop of research–teaching–application has become his distinctive methodology in interdisciplinary exploration.

Hu Yuncong delivering a presentation at the 20th Anniversary Conference of the ACM Class

Research Methodology: Learning Through Exploration, Advancing into the Unknown

Reflecting on his own research development, Hu Yuncong believes that the greatest challenge lay in transforming his way of thinking. Early on, he tended to follow a “learn thoroughly before acting” mindset. However, true research frontiers often lack predefined paths. As his experience grew, Hu gradually realized that “exploring while learning” is in fact the norm in research. For students just beginning their research journey, Hu sees overcoming the notion of “needing to be perfectly prepared before taking action” as a key challenge.

Drawing on his own transition from competition participant to independent researcher, he offers two core pieces of advice to younger students. First, cultivate a proactive and pioneering mindset. He observes that many students wait for opportunities rather than actively seeking them, whereas in interdisciplinary fields, initiative and the courage to raise questions often open new doors. Second, build a solid foundation of knowledge. While he appreciates the enthusiasm of underclassmen eager to engage in research early, he emphasizes that this must be grounded in a firm command of mathematics and disciplinary fundamentals at each stage. Only with deep roots can one advance steadily in future interdisciplinary research.

From a young talent emerging through informatics competitions, to a frontier explorer in cryptography, and now a young faculty member and mentor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hu Yuncong’s growth trajectory has consistently intertwined understanding and integration across multiple disciplines. In his view, true innovation often occurs at disciplinary boundaries—and the rigorous training and broad vision he gained at Zhiyuan College remain a crucial foundation supporting his continued progress along this path.

Personal Homepage: https://cs.sjtu.edu.cn/jiaoshiml/huyuncong.html

Source: Shanghai Jiao Tong University AAA Alumni Association

Editor: Office of Cooperation and Exchange

Translated by: Denise

Proofread by: Zara

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