Five Questions with Jiacheng Yang
January 31, 2025
Meet Jiacheng Yang, a new research associate in the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development!
Yang joined the Institute for the Environment as a research associate in July 2024. In his role as a junior software engineer, he applies his expertise in software development, artificial intelligence‚ especially in large language models (LLMs) and data science. Yang earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in computer science from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the institute, he worked as a software engineer in the industry, where he gained substantial practical experience with databases and LLMs.
Tell us about your career so far.
I graduated from NCSU with a B.S. in Computer Science in 2021 and went on to earn my M.S. in 2023. During my studies, I interned at a biotech company in RTP (United Therapeutics). After completing my degrees, I worked at a company in New York (Omtou Inc.) for a year. However, I missed North Carolina so bad that I decided to return and joined UNC IE as a software engineer. Overall, it has been a pretty typical career path so far as a software engineer/developer.
What got you interested in software development, artificial intelligence in large language models (LLMs) and data science?
During college, I initially chose game development as my focus because, at the time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in the future, and game development seemed like a fun and exciting choice. However, as I progressed in game development, I was introduced to artificial intelligence. This exposure made me realize the incredible potential of AI, and I became deeply fascinated by its possibilities. As a result, I decided to shift my focus to artificial intelligence and explore its applications further.
What is your favorite (or most exciting) part of your job?
I love being able to participate in different projects and collaborate with passionate people from various backgrounds. It’s exciting to see how everyone’s enthusiasm and dedication contribute to creating something meaningful.
What does a typical day of work look like for you at IE?
A typical workday for me as a software engineer at IE always begins with my laptop! In the morning, I start by planning out the tasks I’ll be working on for the day. Once my plan is set, I dive into coding, tackling the assigned tasks. Throughout the day, I also participate in meetings where I discuss project details and specific tasks with stakeholders. These discussions help ensure everyone is on the same page and that any questions or concerns are addressed along the way.
What is something not many people know about you?
I make music in my free time!
