Biography
Hi! My name is Jenny Zhu. When people ask me why I enjoy playing chess, it’s hard to describe in one word or even a sentence. The game of chess is notoriously known for being unsolvable with over 10100 possible positions, yet amidst the complexity, there was something beautifully simple about it at the same time. The winning combination in one game consists of moves I learned when just starting chess. This is because rather than focusing on repeated practice of various skills, I study chess puzzles and analyze games to train my brain to apply what I learn rather than purely memorizing it.
This game has shaped me to be someone with the mental capacity to play 4-hour games back to back while still keeping an ambitious spirit. It has taught me how to overcome challenges and pressure with focus and dedication. And lastly, it has given me some of my most valuable friendships and experiences.
In addition, my interest in computer science helps me extend my chess passion. Some of my previous CS research projects include:
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Building an AI model that can instantly recognize handwritten chess moves [Independent Research]
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1st author of “Analysis of the ELO Rating System for Chess” proposing improvement to the chess rating system [Pioneer Research].
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And analyzing an AI model that can label and detect objects in a video [GSTEM Research]
Outside of chess and research, I’ll either be reading with questionable posture on my bed (My favorite book is “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir), playing pickleball (Often spotted playing in the nearby park), or lastly, listening to country music (Also an aspiring guitarist so I can play along one day)!