Giulia DeSalvo
Courant Institute Address: 251 Mercer St New York, NY 10012 · email: desalvo@cims.nyu.edu
EDUCATION
Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University
Ph.D Candidate in Applied Mathematics - Degree Expected: May 2017
National Science Foundation Fellow
2012 - present
University of California, Berkeley
2007 - 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Italian Studies
Highest Honors in Applied Mathematics and Highest Distinction in General Scholarship
GPA: 3.97
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests are in both theory and applications of machine learning including: computational learning theory, decision trees, ensemble methods, on-line learning, and automated model
selection. I am also interested in the following related topics: probability theory, optimization,
numerical analysis, and algorithms.
PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
• DeSalvo G., Mohri M., and Syed U. Learning with Deep Cascades. Algorithmic Learning
Theory. Banff, Canada: October 2015.
• DeSalvo G., Mohri M., and Syed U. Learning with Deep Trees. NIPS-14 Modern Nonparametrics Workshop. Montreal, Canada: December 2014.
• Agatsuma K.,Friedrich D., Ballmer S., DeSalvo G., Sakata S., Nishida E., Kawamura S.
Precise Measurement of Laser Power using Optomechanical System. Optics Express, Vol. 22,
Issue 2, pp. 2013-2030 (2014). Amaldi Conference Proceeding: November 2011.
• DeSalvo G. Dirac Operators on Finite Spaces. UC Berkeley Undergraduate Thesis: Dec 2010.
• DeSalvo G. Measuring Quantum Efficiency of Photo Diode using Radiation Pressure and
Michelson Interferometer. University of Florida International REU Program: August 2010.
• DeSalvo G. Morphology and Kinematics of Proto-planetary Disks. California Institute of
Technology SURF Program: August 2009.
• DeSalvo G. Morphology and Environment of AGN Host Galaxies in the COSMOS Field.
California Institute of Technology SURF Program: August 2008.
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
• Paul Garabedian Fellowship and Sandra Bleistein Prize for notable achievement by a woman
in applied math or computer science at the graduate level at NYU (2015).
• National Science Foundation Fellow (2012-present), MacCracken Scholar (2012-present)
• Fulbright Fellowship (2011-2012)
• UC Regents and Chancellor Scholar (2007-2011), Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (2011),
UC Dean’s Honor List (Spring 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2009), UC Berkeley Biasin Travel
Scholarship (2011), Quilici, A And A Scholarship (2010-2011)
• NSF- Goettingen Penn State Summer Scholarship (Summer 2011)
• NSF- University of Florida International REU Fellowship (Summer 2010)
• Caltech SURF Internship Fellowship (Summer 2009, Summer 2008)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate School Research Area: Machine Learning
Nov 2013 - present
Advisor: Prof. Mehryar Mohri
• Learning using deep cascades: deriving generalization bounds and implementing novel algorithms for a cascade of general predictors structured as a decision tree.
• Deriving theory and new algorithms for generalized version of random forests.
• Connecting large multi-class classification to deep cascades both in terms of theory and applications.
Google Research Internship
June 2015 - Sep 2015
Dr. Afshin Rostamideh
• Developing a novel hyper parameter searcher, SHA.
• Implementing SHA in Google’s production base.
• Deriving theoretical guarantees and obtaining experimental results for SHA.
US - Italy Fulbright Program
Nov 2011 - July 2012
Prof. Anna Nobili. University of Pisa, Italy
• Constructing and calibrating U-spring suspensions for a differential accelerometer in order to
test Einstein Equivalence Principle for the GG Project.
• Creating the analytical model and simulation with Simmechanics of the space prototype.
Goettingen - Penn State Summer Program on Dynamical Systems
Summer 2011
Prof. Yakov Pesin. Goettingen University, Germany.
• Analyzed the action of a Schottky group to an iterated function system and the Hausdorff
dimension of the corresponding limit set
University of Florida International REU Program - Japan
Summer 2010
Prof. Seiji Kawamura and Prof. Stefan Ballmer. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
• Built a Michelson interferometer to measure the displacement of a laser modulated mirror
within a 1% precision level in order to determine the quantum efficiency of a photo diode.
UC Berkeley Undergraduate Research and Honor Thesis
Aug 2010 - Dec 2010
Prof. Marc Rieffel. University of California, Berkeley.
• Study of Dirac Operators in the context of C* algebras and state spaces.
Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Summer 2009
Prof. John Carpenter and Dr. Andrea Isella. California Institute of Technology.
• Analyzed the CO (J=2-1) emission of T. Tauri stars observed with CARMA to derive velocityposition plots, integrated intensity, velocity gradient, and the mass of the underlying star
Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Summer 2008
Prof. Nicholas Scoville and Dr. Mara Salvato. California Institute of Technology
• Analyzed and fitted galaxies hosting AGN with mathematical models to separate the disk,
bulge, and AGN components in order to determine if morphology and environment trigger
their nuclear activity.
RELEVENT SKILLS
Programming Skills: Python, C, C++, R, MATLAB, UNIX shell scripting, AWK.
Scientific Packages: Simulink, Simmechanics, IRAF, DS9, GALFIT, MIRIAD, GILDAS.
Language Skills: Fluent in Italian and English. Conversational French.