Part-Time Lecturer, Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Biography
Dr. Karl Ni joined the faculty of Northeastern University in Silicon Valley in 2023. He is known for creating an engaging and inclusive environment, where his teaching style, often punctuated with subtle humor, makes complex subjects accessible and interesting. He is committed to fostering high-potential career paths for students, bringing real-world insights from his professional career into the classroom.
In his full-time role, Karl is a Staff Software Engineer at Google Search, where he leads teams developing sophisticated machine learning solutions to personalize the search experience. He has also worked as a Senior Manager and Head of Recommendations Sciences at Etsy, as well as serving as the Technical Director of Lab41, In-Q-Tel.
Dr. Ni’s research background includes work at federally funded institutions such as MIT Lincoln and Livermore Laboratories, specializing in signal processing.
Education
- PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, UC San Diego
- BS in Electrical and Computer Science, UC Berkeley
Publications
Research Interests
Dr. Karl Ni’s research philosophy centers on the intersection of information retrieval and large language models, with a focus on building systems that operate effectively and responsibly at scale. At its core, his work is driven by a simple yet powerful goal: to surface the right information for people at the right moment — whether or not they are actively seeking it.
Projects
- Multi-Platform Promotion Delivery System: A system that can deliver a high volume of promotions with minimal delay to users across various platforms and at different times.
