News & Events
Department Events

Events

  • May
    5

    IEMS Seminar Jiawei Zhang | 5.05 | On the Inference Reliability of Large Language Models and Bilevel Optimization

    Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS)

    11:00 AM L440, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    Abstract

    This talk consists of two parts. In the first part, we study the inference reliability of large language models (LLMs), with an emphasis on characterizing how prompt design affects the accuracy and stability of model outputs. We discuss recent theoretical and empirical advances in in-context learning and hallucination, and examine conditions under which LLMs produce reliable predictions. In the second part, we consider constrained bilevel optimization and develop efficient algorithms with provable guarantees. In particular, we show how error bound conditions can be leveraged to obtain fast convergence rates under mild assumptions.

    Bio

    Jiawei Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to joining UW–Madison, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory for Information & Decision Systems (LIDS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Asuman Ozdaglar and Saurabh Amin. He received his PhD in Computer and Information Engineering from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen under the supervision of Zhi-Quan Luo. He earned his BSc in Mathematics (Hua Loo-Keng Talent Program) from the University of Science and Technology of China.

    His research focuses on optimization theory and algorithms, the theoretical foundations and algorithmic development of generative models (including large language models and diffusion models), and optimization methods for engineering applications such as energy systems, communications, and manufacturing.

    more less

    TIME Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    LOCATION L440, Technological Institute    map it

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Kendall Minta    kendall.minta@gmail.com EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS)

  • Jun
    14

    Spring 2026 Commencement

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Sunday, June 14, 2026

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Jun
    15

    Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    9:00 AM

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Jun
    15

    Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    2:00 PM

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, June 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Jun
    19

    Juneteenth - University Closed

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Friday, June 19, 2026

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Jul
    3

    Independence Day (observed) - University Closed

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Friday, July 3, 2026

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Sep
    23

    Fall 2026 Classes Begin

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Wednesday, September 23, 2026

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar