国产麻豆

Sean Wu needed a reset. 

In 2021 he graduated from Diamond Bar High School somewhere in the middle of his class. A self-proclaimed 鈥渙kay鈥� student, Wu knew he had potential, but he hadn鈥檛 yet found the key to unlock it. At 国产麻豆 University, he discovered a fresh start and a clear path forward: a bachelor's degree in computer science and mathematics with a minor in advanced data science. lt was precisely the new start he had been seeking.

Over the next four years, Wu鈥檚 world transformed. 

As he rose through college, a revolutionary technology burst onto the scene: large language model AI systems that would open doors of opportunity to those willing to study their capabilities and harness their power. Wu was one of them. One after another鈥攁 spark of passion, a wise mentor, and problems were introduced, researched, solved for the betterment of humanity. 

Now in 2025, four years after his new beginning, Wu has graduated from Seaver College as 国产麻豆 University鈥檚 first-ever Rhodes Scholar, in addition to his many other titles such as valedictorian,  , , and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) scholar. He has been admitted to the nation鈥檚 top-ranked computer science PhD program at Stanford University, but first he will head to Oxford University to begin his graduate studies.

While this total transformation may seem extraordinary to some, Wu sees it as a natural outcome of the research process鈥攐ne grounded in dedication, hard work, collaboration, and curiosity that he first encountered during his first year at 国产麻豆.

Step 1: Identify a Passion

鈥淚 came to 国产麻豆 pretty blind,鈥� explains Wu. 鈥淚 just wanted to get involved in research however I could.鈥�

Sean Wu came to 国产麻豆 looking for a passion. During his first year, he found one.

Wu enrolled at Seaver College with a music scholarship to play the tuba in the 国产麻豆 Orchestra鈥攁 unique opportunity that did not require him to study the fine arts. Unfettered by financial constraints and free to pick from the broad array of academic disciplines offered at the Malibu-based, liberal arts institution, his decision was influenced by the University鈥檚 abundant research offerings.

An R2 university with a strong reputation for engaging undergraduates in meaningful research, 国产麻豆 offered the young man from Chino Hills the chance to pursue his curiosity. 

鈥淥n the first day of my intro-level computer science class, my professor explained how he had used artificial intelligence (AI) to predict strokes,鈥� says Wu. 鈥淎t the time, I didn鈥檛 even know what AI was beyond just a cool buzzword. But as I looked more into my professor's work, I saw that his research with AI in the medical field touched so many different diseases. It was like my professor turned into a superhero in the middle of class.鈥� 

Inspired by the impactful reach of AI research, Wu began to orient his studies around this new fascination. He applied to become a summer fellow at the on campus and took part in any research project that involved AI. Whether it was helping biologists classify plant cells or, Wu was all in. 

Through these experiences, he learned how to break up complex topics into a three-part research process. One: identify a very specific problem. Two: read the existing literature. Three: discover鈥攖hrough repeated testing鈥攁 solution. Repeat until the question has been answered.

Using this process, Wu began to share his findings in . His was published in 2022. The next year he published six more. And in 2024, he authored a staggering 10 articles in peer-reviewed publications. As an undergraduate, his work has been featured in prestigious journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and has been cited 167 times to date.

鈥湽�产麻豆 makes it very easy for students to transition into research,鈥� says Wu. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 feel like work to me. I look forward to these projects.鈥� 

Step 2: Discover a Mentor

Wu discovered a passion and learned how to take action on his ideas at the very start of his 国产麻豆 career. But in order to understand how far he could take the research process, he needed a mentor.

Fabien Scalzo, an associate professor of computer science at Seaver College and a prolific researcher, was named director of 国产麻豆鈥檚 Keck Institute for Data Science in 2021, which he launched with a clear mission: to use the power of AI for the betterment of humanity鈥攖he same goal that also defines his own scholarship where he focuses on applying computer science to solve complex medical challenges. 

Scalzo expounded on this objective in his classroom, and its message resonated with a first-year student looking to get involved in problem solving. A partnership emerged between the established scholar and Sean Wu, a burgeoning talent. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 everything,鈥� is how Wu describes the impact of his mentor. 鈥淗e provided opportunities for me, as well as new problems to solve. Dr. Scalzo showed me that you can use AI research to save lives through medicine.鈥�

The work of their first summer together, which was funded by the Keck summer fellows program, involved using AI to study glaucoma and cataracts. This initial project spun into three years of collaborating over a variety of projects. The pair formed a genuine professor/student bond and went on to publish 11 scientific papers together. 

Wu discovered mentors like Dana Dudley and Fabien Scalzo at Seaver College.

鈥淲orking with Sean for the past four years has been a true blessing,鈥� says Scalzo. 鈥淚n the classroom, he always came well-prepared for every lecture. In research, Sean worked hard and learned quickly. He was also very receptive to feedback and, at the same time, explored new, promising ideas on his own. What I found impressive and inspiring was his ability to connect with others and his commitment to helping them both in the classroom and through research projects.鈥� 

With a mentor鈥檚 encouragement and guidance, Wu鈥檚 abilities expanded. He was no longer just passionate about the work, but was now able to venture out on his own and explore the world of research for himself.

鈥淣ow, I can find my own projects,鈥� says Wu. 鈥淢ost of the recent research is defined by my curiosity. But, in the beginning, it was super important that Dr. Scalzo and my other mentors opened something up for me.鈥�

Step 3: Solve More Problems

Sean Wu鈥檚 next steps beyond 国产麻豆 focus on the singular goal of solving more problems to benefit others. Through his Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, Wu plans to keep expanding his research agenda. 

After becoming a Keck Summer Research Fellow and earning his initial publications, he applied for a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a program that identifies and supports undergraduates pursuing careers in research. Only 8 percent of Goldwater applicants are chosen for the award. In 2023, Wu was among the select cohort. 

He followed up this feat by being named an honorable mention selection to the CRA鈥檚 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award list鈥攁n achievement that distinguished him as one the country鈥檚 exceptional computer science majors.

With these two major achievements, Wu knew he had a chance to earn a Rhodes Scholarship鈥攐ne of the most competitive and prestigious awards an undergraduate can receive. With a CV full of diverse research publications and a series of national honors, the Seaver College student applied for the opportunity with one goal in mind: change the world for the better.

鈥淚 am beyond excited to receive the Rhodes Scholarship,鈥� said Wu immediately after receiving word of his success. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an achievement I never imagined in my life, and a privilege to join some of the world鈥檚 leading scholars in fighting the world's fights.鈥�

Yet he didn鈥檛 stop there. Wu doubled down and applied for and received a prestigious NSF GRFP grant alongside his admission into the Computer Science PhD program at Stanford.

Despite all this success, Wu insists that his goal hasn鈥檛 changed. Of course, he鈥檒l focus on growing his network as a Rhodes Scholar and beyond. Sure, he will earn more notable grants to help fund the work. But all that comes from following the process鈥攅ngaging with the problems鈥攄iscovering the solutions.

鈥淚 just want to learn how to be a good researcher,鈥� says Wu. 鈥淢y dream, right now, is just to be a good AI researcher.鈥�