Self-Introduction

Hey, My name is Ruogu Yang(杨若谷), an incoming Phd student at Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University. My advisor is Professor Ziming Zhao. I received my B.Eng. degree from Southern University of Science and Technology(SUSTech). You can call me Blue (小蓝 in Chinese) — I chose this nickname because it’s my favorite WeChat sticker. My slightly more formal English name is Tony. I love music! My favorite band is Mayday (五月天), and my favorite singer is Gloria (邓紫棋).

The best way to reach me is by email at ruoguyang26@gmail.com. You are welcome to contact me not only about research, but also regarding my applications, hobbies, and other topics.

Detailed Research Interests

My current research interests focus on automated techniques for detecting vulnerabilities in software systems. I aim to combine dynamic and static analysis methods to address these challenges more effectively. While these techniques can help uncover a broader range of vulnerabilities, I am equally interested in ensuring that the detection methods themselves are robust and resilient. In other words, I view vulnerability detection as a system design problem: the system should not only provide rich functionality but also be capable of withstanding adversarial attacks.

Hobbies

Rowing I used to be the captain of the rowing team at SUSTech. I spend most of my spare time rowing, usually training on the rowing machine twice a week and on the water once a week. I row in the 5-seat of the men’s eight, and I also row in sculls. Rowing has allowed me to meet many like-minded teammates, all working together toward a common goal. It not only strengthens my physique, but also helps me enter a state of flow and improves my focus when I train in single sculls.

Classical music I enjoy listening to classical music while conducting research, and I also love visiting symphony halls to fully experience it. I have a deep appreciation for classical music across many periods. From the Baroque era, I especially enjoy Bach’s Goldberg Variations; from the Classical period, Beethoven and Mozart; from the Romantic era, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Bruckner, and Schubert; and from the post-Romantic/early 20th-century period, Mahler and Richard Strauss. Exploring music from these diverse periods not only enriches my research time and helps me focus, but also inspires me creatively.

Powerlifting I have been training for about 2.5 years. My personal bests are: Squat 160 kg, Bench Press 110 kg, and Deadlift 195 kg. I had to pause my training since Fall 2025 due to the application season, but I am now gradually getting back into it.

Surfing Surfing is a sport I have always wanted to spend more time training. Unfortunately, during my undergraduate years, it was difficult to access the ocean, so I’ve surfed fewer than ten times so far. I hope to find more opportunities to surf in Boston in the future.

Video games I have purchased many video games on my Steam account, but due to limited time, I’ve only played a small portion of them. Some of my favorite games include The Witcher 3 (especially Gwent), GTA V, Elden Ring, Sekiro, and the Resident Evil 4 remake. I’m planning to complete the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree next, followed by Black Myth: Wukong. I’m also looking forward to the release of GTA VI.