English

一、自我介绍

背诵时长：3 分钟

Good morning/afternoon.

My name is Wang Xincheng, a third-year Computer Science student specializing in Information Security at Tongji University.With a strong academic foundation and hands-on experience in AI security and cutting-edge research, I’m excited to contribute my skills to advancing safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.

Academically, I rank 2nd in my cohort of 34 students with a GPA of 4.82/5. I’ve achieved perfect scores in core subjects like Modern Cryptography, Operating Systems, and Data Structures, alongside a CET-6 English proficiency certification.

My research focuses on AI security, particularly defending systems against adversarial attacks. I co-developed the GSRGNN framework for financial anti-fraud, with this work currently under review at a CCF-A journel.

In practical projects, I’ve tackled real-world security challenges. For example: In my LLM Jailbreak Defense project, I developed a method to protect large language models from malicious attacks—without needing to fine-tune the model.

In addition, I’ve pushed my skills to the limit in competitive tech events.——From battling AI security challenges at the Cyber Mimic Defense International Challenge, to coding in the Blue Bridge Cup for both C++ and Web development, and solving complex problems in Statistical Modeling competitions. These high-pressure environments have sharpened my technical abilities and problem-solving speed.

Professionally, I served as a Security Assistant at Tongji’s IT Office and participated in China’s Ministry of Education Cyber Protection Action as a Shanghai Attack Team member.

Outside of research, I enjoy staying active through running and swimming, while music helps me recharge – it’s the perfect balance between energy and relaxation.

All in all, I’m passionate about developing resilient AI systems and believe my blend of theoretical rigor and practical innovation can address evolving threats. I sincerely hope to pursue my graduate studies at your esteemed [ Tsinghua / Peking / Fudan ] university. Thank you for your time.

二、论文项目

论文介绍

As second author of a paper currently under review at a CCF-A journel IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, I co-developed the GSRGNN framework for financial anti-fraud systems.

This work—conducted at Tongji’s FinTech Lab—uses generative graph representations to reconstruct node features and neighbor structures, significantly improving robustness against attacks on WeChat Pay, Yelp, and Amazon datasets.

项目介绍

In practical projects, I’ve tackled real-world security challenges. For example:

1. In my LLM Jailbreak Defense project, I developed a method to protect large language models from malicious attacks—without needing to fine-tune the model.

   The key idea was to analyze and redirect the model’s attention during inference, focusing it on the user’s genuine intent while minimizing the impact of harmful prompts.

2. For my Adversarial Face Attacks project, I designed an attack system that could trick state-of-the-art face recognition models like ArcFace.

   The approach used smart perturbation strategies - essentially adding carefully crafted ‘invisible noise’ to facial images within specific masked regions. This allowed the attacks to succeed while keeping the modifications nearly undetectable to human eyes.

3. In my AI-Powered IPv6 Scanning project, I tackled a fundamental networking challenge - the massive scale of IPv6 addresses make them impossible to scan completely.

   My solution was to develop a machine learning model that could intelligently predict which addresses were most likely to be active, dramatically reducing the scanning space needed.

4. In my Education System Development project, I single-handedly built an intelligent platform to help high school graduates plan their academic future.

   Using Vue for the frontend and Django for the backend, I developed a system that recommends university majors and courses based on students’ interests. To make it even more powerful, I integrated Alibaba’s Qwen AI to provide personalized, expert-level guidance.

三、英语问答

Q: Could you briefly introduce your major?

A:
“I major in Information Security at Tongji University, focusing on AI system defense and adversarial machine learning. My coursework covers cryptography, secure architectures, and data protection, while my research tackles real-world challenges like financial anti-fraud and LLM security.”

Q: Could you tell us something about your hometown?

A:
“I’m from Shangrao, Jiangxi — a picturesque city famous for Mount Sanqingshan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s where stunning natural landscapes meet rich cultural history, from Song Dynasty Confucian academies to traditional tea farming.”

Q: Can you tell us about your family?

A:
“I grew up in a warm rural family with my parents and older sister. Though simple, our life was full of joy and mutual support—this upbringing taught me resilience, gratitude, and the value of hard work.”

Q: What are your hobbies or interests outside of academics?

A:
“Outside of research, I enjoy staying active through running and swimming, while music helps me recharge. It’s the perfect balance between energy and relaxation.”

Q: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

A:
“Transitioning from rural education to a top-tier computer science program was my toughest challenge. Initially, I lacked advanced programming experience, but through systematic self-study and seeking mentorship, I not only caught up but achieved top rankings, which proving adaptability matters most.”

Q: What are your plans for graduate study?

A:
"I aim to deepen my research in AI security, particularly on adversarial defense for LLMs. My short-term goal is mastering advanced jailbreak techniques and defense mechanisms through coursework, while long-term, I want to develop innovative frameworks for comprehensive LLM security, ideally publishing in top-tier conferences.

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

A:
“My strength lies in persistent problem-solving, like when I taught myself Machine Learning techniques to build effective face recognition attacks. For weaknesses, I occasionally dive too deep into technical details. I’m improving by practicing ‘top-down’ thinking. As the saying goes, ’Think twice before you act‘.”

Q: What is your favorite course and why?

A:
“Data Structures and Algorithms was my favorite course. Beyond classic sorting and tree problems, I now see its profound impact on AI systems, like using graph algorithms for LLM attention optimization. This foundation enables me to design more computationally efficient security solutions.”

Q: Why do you want to pursue graduate studies?

A:

“During my undergraduate studies, I discovered a strong passion for LLM security, especially when exploring jailbreak vulnerabilities and defense mechanisms. Pursuing graduate studies will equip me with deeper theoretical tools and research experience, so I can contribute more meaningfully to building safe and reliable large language models.”

Q: Why do you want to study at our university?

A:
“I’m deeply impressed by [ Tsinghua / Peking / Fudan ] university’s leading reputation in computer science, particularly in AI security research. The cutting-edge labs, strong industry-academia collaborations, and rigorous academic environment perfectly align with my goal to advance LLM safety. I believe studying here will provide the most ideal platform to grow as an excellent researcher.”

Q: Do you plan to pursue a PhD?

A:
“Currently, I aim to focus on excelling in my master’s studies first. During this time, I plan to explore research directions more deeply before deciding whether to continue with a PhD.”

Q: How do you manage stress or anxiety?

A:

“I maintain balance through evening running, weekend swimming, and regular music breaks. These physical activities help me reset. Combined with a disciplined study schedule, this routine keeps me focused and energized.”

Q: How do you approach teamwork?

A:
“I actively listen to teammates’ ideas, divide tasks based on strengths, and maintain open feedback channels. When conflicts arise, I focus on solutions rather than blame.”

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A:

“Absolutely Watermelon! Its crisp sweetness and freshness never fail to recharge me. I especially enjoy it after long study sessions as a healthy reward.”

Q: Could you introduce your university?

A:
“I study at Tongji University in Shanghai. It’s a leading research institution renowned for its excellence in engineering and technology. And the Shanghai location provides unmatched industry-academia collaboration opportunities for its development in various fields. So, I’m deeply grateful to Tongji for cultivating my academic growth and research capabilities.”

Q: Where have you traveled?

A:
“I visited Hangzhou last summer. West Lake’s beauty truly amazed me. It’s no wonder it inspired centuries of Chinese art!”

Q: What’s your most important gain from university?

A:
“The most valuable lesson was mastering work-life balance. I maintain balance through evening running, weekend swimming, and regular music breaks. These physical activities help me reset. Combined with a disciplined study schedule, this routine keeps me focused and energized.”

Q: What other schools did you submit to for summer campus/pre-admission?

A:

“I have given a lot of thought to the schools I have chosen to apply to. In addition to your school, I only applied to my mother school, Tongji University. So, I’d sincerely appreciate it if you could give me an opportunity to demonstrate my abilities at your esteemed institution.”

Q: Do you think English is important in your future research and study?

A:
“Yes, English is indispensable. Publishing in top journals, collaborating internationally, and accessing cutting-edge research all require strong English proficiency. I’m actively improving mine through daily paper reading and technical writing practice.”

Q: If we give you an offer, will you definitely come?

A:
“Absolutely YES. [ Tsinghua / Peking / Fudan ] university is my dream school, which has always been my top choice. A personal consideration is that my girlfriend currently works in [ Shenzhen / Shanghai / Beijing], so I’m highly motivated to establish my career here as well. If not given the offer, I’ll also continue striving for excellence elsewhere while maintaining the highest respect for your institution.”

Q: How would people around you describe you?

A:
“My peers often describe me as diligent and responsible. Whether tackling research problems or team projects, I will do my best to finish it. They also say I bring positive energy, like when motivating teammates during work and study. Of course, no one is perfect, and I’m actively working to improve myself constantly.”

Q: As a university student in the new era, what do you think are your responsibilities?

A:

As university student in the new era, our responsibility is to study our professional knowledge diligently, improve our overall qualities, and pay attention to the development of our country and society.

Q: How is China responding to the challenges brought by globalization?

A:

China’s way of responding to the challenges of globalization is to uphold openness, cooperation, and independent innovation. For example, the Belt and Road Initiative has promoted cooperation and exchange with countries around the world.

Q: Which matters more—the process or the result?

A:

I believe that both are important. The learning and thinking during the process are meaningful for my ability enhancement. At the same time, a good result can inspire my subsequent work in the future.