My name is Yuqi Ren, and I also go by Ricky. I am a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California (USC), advised by Prof. Jernej Barbič. My research interests are computer graphics and physics-based simulation, primarily deformable body simulation and fluid simulation. I am also open to exploring machine learning.
Previously, I studied computer science in IIIS ("Yao Class") at Tsinghua University as an undergraduate.
I started my Ph.D. at USC, advised by Prof. Jernej Barbič!
I graduated from Tsinghua University!
Research Experience
Simulation and Control of String-like Structures
09/2025 - 05/2026
Undergraduate thesis, Tsinghua University. Advisor: Prof. Tao Du
An NVIDIA Warp-based framework for simulating and controlling string-like aquatic soft bodies, combining discrete elastic rods (DER), fluid drag, collision handling, and simulation-based motion optimization.
Latte Art Optimization
02/2025 - 08/2025
Research project, UC San Diego. Advisor: Prof. Hao Su
Differentiable two-fluid SPH simulation coupled with differentiable rendering for latte art optimization, with GPU acceleration in NVIDIA Warp and analysis of gradient errors.
A variational fluid-solid coupling implementation based on Batty et al.'s A Fast Variational Framework for Accurate Solid-Fluid Coupling, with 2D and 3D versions.