Vic Shihang Li
About
I build agents that autonomously design and operate systems end-to-end, and the systems that run those agents quickly, reliably, and securely.
I'm Vic, a third-year CS PhD at UW, advised by Simon Peter and Tom Anderson, and affiliated with SysLab, FOCI and SyFI.
I co-lead the Self-Defining Systems initiative, which asks how systems should be built when agents drive the end-to-end work: specification, design, implementation, and operation. Before agents, I built systems across the stack, from hardware abstractions to software runtimes. More in my research page and resume.
Before UW, I worked with Malte Schwarzkopf as an MS student at the ETOS group at Brown. Before that, I studied Finance and CS at NYU Stern.
News
Publications
Professional Experience
Teaching & Service
Mentoring
Mentoring students is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I work with many talented students. See here for who they are and what they work on.
I am always looking for talented undergraduate or MS students to work with. If my research looks interesting to you, reach out to me via email.
Teaching
- CSE481A: Capstone: OS @ UW
- CSCI 0300: Fundamentals of Computer Systems @ Brown
- CSCI 1760: Multiprocessor Synchronization @ Brown
- STAT-GB.2308.10: Stochastic Processes @ NYU
I am also an instructor for CSE 492R @ UW, a program that makes research more accessible to undergraduates, where I mentor students on a project tied to my research.
Service
- Co-organizer of the first-year PhD mentor-mentee program at UW CSE.
- Pre-PhD applicant mentor for the 2024 cycle, via the PAMS program at UW CSE.
- Mentor for first-year PhD students in the 2024-25 academic year.
- Member of EuroSys '25 Shadow PC.