My last name is pronounced [D-oh-n].

Hello! I'm a postdoc researcher at MIT Sloan. Theoretical computer scientist by training, I now focus on applying my modelling, optimization, and machine learning expertise to problems in social science and operations management.

I completed my PhD in computer science at the University of Washington, where I was fortunate to be advised by Professors Yin Tat Lee and Thomas Rothvoss. Before that, I received my bachelor's degree in computer science and pure math from the University of Waterloo.

Email: sallyqd at mit

Publications

Convex optimization with combinatorial characteristics: new results in linear programming, min-cost flow, and other structured problems.
My thesis, 2024.
The main theme of this thesis is the design of provably-fast algorithms for classical theory problems, by incorporating structural combinatorics arguments into general-purpose convex optimization techniques.

Faster min-cost flow and approximate tree decomposition on bounded treewidth graphs
with Guanghao Ye
ESA 2024
Arxiv

The extension complexity of polytopes with bounded integral slack matrices
with Thomas Rothvoss
IPCO 2024
Arxiv

Faster algorithms for separable linear programs
with Gramoz Goranci, Lawrence Li, Sushant Sachdeva, and Guanghao Ye
SODA 2024
Arxiv

Decomposable non-smooth convex optimization with nearly-linear gradient oracle complexity
with Haotian Jiang, Yin Tat Lee, Swati Padmanabhan, Guanghao Ye
NeurIPS 2022
Arxiv

Nested dissection meets IPMs: Planar min-cost flow in nearly-linear time
with Yu Gao, Gramoz Goranci, Yin Tat Lee, Richard Peng, Sushant Sachdeva, Guanghao Ye
SODA 2022
Arxiv

A nearly-linear time algorithm for linear programs with small treewidth: A multiscale representation of robust central path
with Yin Tat Lee and Guanghao Ye
STOC 2021
Invited to SICOMP special issue.
Arxiv

Computing circle packing representations of planar graphs
with Yin Tat Lee and Kent Quanrud
SODA 2020
Arxiv

Improved bounds for rota’s basis conjecture
with Jim Geelen
Combinatorica, 2019
Arxiv, Polymath 12 discussions




Misc

My Erdős number is 3.

I grew up in Toronto, Canada.

Outside of research, I enjoy reading history and political science. Sometimes I take film photos.