Marc Cheng

el psy kongroo

Research Track

Current Focus: Prompt engineering and LLM-assisted decision systems. Exploring architectures for multivariate time series forecasting, including state-space models and attention mechanisms.

Research Interest: Examining conceptual parallels between LLM architectures and the brain’s Default Mode Network, particularly in relation to self-referential processing and internal simulation.

Academic Background

University of Toronto (St. George Campus) — Trinity College
Honours B.S. in Mathematics with High Distinction
Mathematics & Its Applications Specialist (Probability/Statistics)
September 2019 - June 2023

GPA: 3.6/4.0 | Dean's List: 2021, 2022, 2023

Corporate Track

Rexel Canada Electric Inc.

Product Data Specialist | June 2023 - May 2025

Developed key functionalities for Informatica Product 360, AWS dataflow control processes, and PIM systems for e-commerce.

Deloitte Canada

Data Analyst (Co-op) | July 2021 - April 2022

Validated anti-money laundering models for Scotiabank. Extracted and analyzed transactional data (4M-20M records) using SQL, R, Python, and SAS.

Everything Personal

Travel & Life

I frequently travel between Canada and China. In 2023, I completed a cross-continental road trip in North America, visiting Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Chicago, and Detroit. In 2025, I completed a solo trip to South America, visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and other destinations.

Art & Music

I received formal training in visual art, including watercolor, acrylic, oil painting, and charcoal, under the supervision of Georges Kalmetti. Now I enjoy experimenting with Stable Diffusion models and custom prompts to generate fictional characters.

I'm self-taught in piano, guitar, and ukulele, focusing mostly on contemporary popular music.

Recreation

Skateboarding is one of my favorite activities. I started with a penny board at 16 and have since explored popsicle, cruiser, longboard, and dance boards.

Recently, I've been into free climbing and bouldering. Currently climbing at 5.8 (YDS). I also enjoy cycling, ice skating, and swimming.

Anime

I follow anime and related media. They allow me to experience unique stories in an entirely different realm. Favorite anime: Steins;Gate, Hyouka, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

2nd President of UTACG

University of Toronto Anime Comic and Game

President (Nov 2021 - Jan 2023): Led executive committee of 12, generated revenue of $33,000 with net profit of $2,200. Organized Lunar New Year Gala for 200 attendees.

Chair of Finance (Feb 2021 - Oct 2021): Led pricing analysis and merchandise procurement.

Finance Associate (Oct 2019 - Jan 2021): Managed prime membership and event operations.

Gaming

My favorite genres are space simulation and city simulation: Dyson Sphere Program, Kerbal Space Program, Stellaris, and Cities Skylines. I occasionally play League of Legends, VALORANT, Overwatch, Delta Force, and Final Fantasy XIV with friends.

Other Social