Chirag Falor

™ 500 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 ‡ chiragfalor

Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA GPA: 5.00/5.00
Candidate for MEng in AI and Decision Making Expected Feb 2025
S.B. in Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, with Minor in Music & Technology 2020-2024
− Computer Science : Machine Learning, Cryptography, Algorithms, Programming, Optimization Methods, Ad-
vanced NLP, Theory of Computation, Deep Learning, Advanced Complexity Theory, Quantum Complexity
Theory
− Mathematics and Physics : Inference and Information, Statistics, Discrete Applied Mathematics, Abstract
Algebra, Real and Complex Analysis, Quantum Mechanics III, Statistical Physics, Electromagnetism II, General
Relativity, Quantum Field Theory I, Quantum Information III
− Others : Mentorship and Pedagogy, Negotiation Analysis, Explorations in Management
− Teaching : Teaching Assistant for Graduate Cryptography and Cryptanalysis (18.425, Fall 2023), Probability
and Random Variables (18.600, Spring 2023), Linear Algebra (18.06, Fall 2022), Principles of Discrete Applied
Mathematics (18.200, Spring 2022)
Pragati Public School, Dwarka, Delhi, India 2018-2020
CBSE, Senior Secondary. Subjects: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, English 98.4%
Awards
Peter Baddoo Community Building Award, MIT Mathematics Department Apr 2023
2nd Ranker in Physics Brawl, International Online Physics Competition Nov 2022
2nd Place in HackBoston (Cartesi Track), $100K Blockchain Hackathon Sep 2022
2nd Place in iQuHack, International Quantum Computing Hackathon Jan 2022
3rd Place in Integration Bee, MIT Jan 2022
2nd Ranker in Physics Brawl, International Online Physics Competition Nov 2021
1st All India Rank in JEE - Advanced Sep 2020
National Team Selection Camps (OCSC) of Physics, Math, Chemistry, Astro Olympiad Mar 2020
National Child Award (Rashtriya Bal Puraskar), awarded by the President of India Jan 2020
Gold Medal and Absolute Winner in Night. Obs., Intl. Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics Aug 2019

Leadership Experience
Physics Mentorship Program, MIT Physics Department Sep 2021-Present
− Physics Lead Mentor: 8.022 in Spring 2022, 8.033 in Fall 2022, 8.04 in Spring 2023.
− Physics Mentor: 8.033, 8.03 in Fall 2021.
− Assisted underclassmen with physics while offering guidance on research opportunities and life at MIT.
− Completed formal training in mentorship and pedagogy, earning a certificate of completion.
Society of Physics Students (SPS), MIT May 2021-Present
− Current President (2023-2024), Vice-President (2022-2023), Social Chair (2021-2022)
− Jointly overhauled SPS structure with the executive team, creating staffer roles to better engage enthusiastic
new members in SPS initiatives.
− Launched and led academic initiatives including GAPS (Grad Apps Workshop Series), PRISM (MIT SPS
Undergraduate research conference), and UROP Expo. In progress: Harvard-MIT Chilloquium and
Beyond Academia Panel. Also leading the Physics Handbook and continuing UROP Guide.
− Organized numerous social and community building events such as PCR (Physics Common Room) socials,
Minority Meetups, faculty dinners, LN2 ice cream socials, movie nights, and more.
International Students’ Association (ISA), MIT September 2021-Present
− Current President (2023-2024), Social Chair (2022-2023), Social Chair (2021-2022)
− Revived and expanded ISA post-COVID to over 400 members, MIT’s largest international student body.
 − Co-organized the ISA Formal with over 100 attendees, spearheaded biweekly ISA social breaks, and
serving as an Intl. Orientation Mentor, thus nurturing a dynamic multicultural community for internationals.
Undergraduate Mathematics Association (UMA), MIT May 2021-May 2023
− Social Head (2022-2023), Social Staffer (2021-2022)
− Spearheaded a range of social events averaging 50 attendees like the Pi Day Math Clubs Mixer, Putnam Study
Session, First Year Math Social, UMA Estimathon, Pi Day Physics-Math Mixer, and Hex Tournament.
Associate Advisor (AA), Office of First Year, MIT September 2021-Present
− Acted as an Associate Advisor to groups of 10 first-years each year, supplementing the advisor’s role by
offering a student’s perspective, as well as academic and personal support.
− AA for Physics of Energy seminar (6.A48) in 2021, the First.nano seminar (6.A06) in 2022, and directly
with the MIT Provost Cynthia Barnhart in 2023.
Resident Peer Mentor (RPM), Division of Student Life, MIT August 2022-Present
− Served as an RPM in my undergraduate dorms, Simmons Hall (2022) and Next House (2023).
− Assisted first-year students in connecting with campus resources, facilitating their transition to MIT.
− Participated actively in the undergraduate dorm community, coordinating events and activities for first-years.
Research Experience
Reductions between Quantum Cryptographic Primitives MIT CSAIL and MIT Department of Physics
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Anand Natarajan Feb 2023-Present
− Focused on extending the classical cryptographic reductions to quantum cryptographic primitives.
− Currently developing a generalization of the quantum SWAP test for multiple quantum states, while determining
its computational and query complexity bounds.
− Utilizing these insights to formulate a potential quantum cryptographic protocol for encryption.
Automating Gadget Hardness Determination MIT CSAIL
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Erik Demaine and Prof. Jayson Lynch Feb 2023-Present
− Understanding the computational complexity of problems posed by abstract “gadgets”, conceptual elements
that encapsulate unique game or real-life situations.
− Engaged in codifying research insights on the hardness of specific types of gadgets into a software tool,
automating the process of hardness determination for a wider variety of gadget-based problems.
AlgoWiki MIT CSAIL
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Neil Thompson and Prof. Jayson Lynch Sep 2022-May 2023
− Contributed to a comprehensive online resource providing details about a wide range of algorithmic problems,
algorithms, data structures along with their time and space complexities.
− Reviewed scientific papers to understand various algorithms and ascertain their space complexities.
− Paper in preparation that amalgamates research findings into a comprehensive survey and meta-analysis of the
trends in space complexities of algorithms across several decades.
Secondary Vertex Prediction and Pileup Removal European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Philip Harris May 2022-Sep 2022
− Designed a graph neural network architecture to predict soft collision vertices, adapting it for LHC Run
3’s high-luminosity conditions, potentially enabling a forty-fold increase in analyzable collision instances.
− Presented research findings at PRISM conference (2022) and paper in preparation.
Evolution of Density Perturbations in the Early Universe MIT Center for Theoretical Physics
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Alan Guth and Prof. David Kaiser May 2021-May 2022
− Enhanced biased random fields sampling and curtailed truncation error due to computational constraints.
− Implemented numerical non-linear evolution of density perturbations using Einstein Field Equations.
Forward Analytic Solver for Quad Quasar Images from Elliptical Lenses MIT Kavli Institute
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Paul Schechter Feb 2021-Aug 2022
− Generalized the circular configurations of gravitationally lensed quasars to elliptical configurations.
− Uncovered the exact forward solution of the quad quasar problem for the single isothermal + external shear
lens model, providing a good approximation to the known observed quads.
 − Presented research findings at Summer MKI Undergraduate Research Forum (SMURF, Aug 2021), PRISM
conference (Aug 2021), talk at EPFL, Switzerland (July 2022), and seminar at IUCAA, India (Aug 2022).
− Falor, C., and Schechter, P. L. (2022). The Quadruple Image Configurations of Asymptotically Circular
Gravitational Lenses. The Astronomical Journal, 164(4), 120. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac80bc
Calculating Entropy Flow from a simplified model of a Black Hole MIT Center for Theoretical Physics
Undergraduate Researcher under Prof. Frank Wilczek (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2004) Sep 2020-Dec 2020
− Analyzed the flow of entropy from a generalized toy model of a black hole, initially proposed by Griffiths.
− Performed numerical calculations to determine the asymptotics of the entropy flow.
− Models of Hidden Purity. https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.13593
Professional Experience
Jane Street Capital New York City, NY
Quantitative Research Intern May 2023-Aug 2023
− Devised an effective options trading strategy by leveraging the movements of related assets
− Designed machine learning models to predict the routes of forthcoming order flows.
− Completed a rigorous financial curriculum encompassing courses on financial products, practical mock trading,
data science competitions, and algorithmic trading contests.
Other Activities
MIT Clubs: Chess Club, Archery Club, Pistol Club, Poker Club, MIT Sangam, MIT South Asian Association of
Students (SAAS), Teacher at Educational Studies Program (ESP)
Physical Education: Top Gun in Air Pistol (Q4 2021), 2nd Place in Archery (Q3 2022), 2nd Place in Rifle
(Q1 2022), Intermediate Ice Skating, Intermediate Badminton
Skills
Languages: Python (native), Java (fluent), C++ (proficient), SQL (proficient), Mathematica (proficient)
Libraries: Numpy/Pandas/Matplotlib (native), PyTorch/Tensorflow (fluent)
Tools: Git/Terminal (conversational ), Slurm (conversational )