{"id":27548,"date":"2026-04-30T11:48:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=27548"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:58:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:58:08","slug":"computational-linguistics-student-finds-love-of-language-and-ai-safety-at-usc-dornsife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/computational-linguistics-student-finds-love-of-language-and-ai-safety-at-usc-dornsife\/","title":{"rendered":"Love of language and community \u2014 and AI safety \u2014 fuel graduating senior\u2019s USC Dornsife experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                          \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Student wearing graduation sash strikes a martial arts pose while holding as sword\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Graduating senior Kyle Ng is co-president of USC Kung Fu, which helps fuel his drive to build community among students. (Photo: Gabriel Sakoda.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=commencement\">Commencement<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Love of language and community \u2014 and AI safety \u2014 fuel graduating senior\u2019s USC Dornsife experience<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Computational linguistics major Kyle Ng explores ways to make large language models safer while also helping his fellow students feel at home on campus.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Greg Hardesty<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">April 30, 2026<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Kyle Ng recalls the spark that ignited his love for languages.<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather was a hardworking immigrant from Hong Kong who, with Ng\u2019s grandmother, opened a flower shop in California\u2019s Bay Area and helped raise Ng and his siblings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs he was one of the world\u2019s slowest drivers, we had some of the best conversations together,\u201d recalls NG, a computational <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ling\/the-linguistics-major\/\">linguistics<\/a> major at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, his grandfather passed away last summer and won\u2019t be able to see him graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree this May and, this December, a master\u2019s degree in language sciences. But his grandfather will always remain a loving inspiration for Ng, who cherishes language as a medium for people to connect.<\/p>\n<p>And Ng is all about forming connections.<\/p>\n<p>Take, for example, his role as co-president of USC Kung Fu. For Ng, the student club is about much more than Chinese martial arts. It\u2019s a way of approaching life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just a competitive sports club,\u201d Ng says, \u201cbut building a community through the hard work of people.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Computational linguistics student revels in interdisciplinary opportunities<\/h2>\n<p>Ng\u2019s studies in computational linguistics, the scientific and engineering study of human language, have allowed him to further form connections with a community of USC students in the fields of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>The interdisciplinary opportunities at USC Dornsife were one of the main reasons he came here in fall 2022, initially interested in physics and computer science and then in East Asian languages and cultures before settling on his major.<\/p>\n<p>A key turning point was enrolling in a linguistics course, \u201cHuman Language as Computation\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalogue.usc.edu\/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=20&amp;coid=319268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LING 385Lg<\/a>), taught by Professor of Linguistics <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/khalil-iskarous\/\">Khalil Iskarous<\/a>. The material convinced Ng to pursue a field that combines science and the humanities \u2014 and sates his seemingly limitless thirst for knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t let an unclear point pass in class, and he wouldn\u2019t let an office hour, an opportunity for inquiry, pass without a brilliant question,\u201d Iskarous says. \u201cThrough the hard work of asking, asking, and more asking, Kyle has developed the skill of problem formulation \u2014 not just the usual skill of answering and solving.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time I work with Kyle on a problem, I become more hopeful, as I know that the world is about to get a great problem formulator and solver.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Laura Apisakkul, assistant dean of USC Dornsife <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/admission\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">admission and student success<\/a>, saw that promise when Ng was a high school senior and she was interviewing him for a USC scholarship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you talk with Kyle about something he\u2019s interested in,\u201d Apisakkul says, \u201chis enthusiasm is contagious, and you can\u2019t help but be drawn into whatever topic he\u2019s discussing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never met anyone as energetic, optimistic, and curious as Kyle. He loves learning and asking questions to better understand the world around him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That enthusiasm and love of learning helped earn Ng a Trustee Scholarship, one of USC\u2019s most prestigious merit awards, covering full tuition for undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and leadership.<\/p>\n<p>He also received a Gold Family Scholarship, which supports study-abroad opportunities for Trustee Scholars.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s been busy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27549\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27549\" style=\"width: 980px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27549 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-a.jpg\" alt=\"Student stands in front of computer screens with X-ray images of a human head in profile\" width=\"980\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-a.jpg 980w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-a-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-a-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-a-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27549\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyle Ng\u2019s studies include analyzing the way humans form language. (Photo: Gabriel Sakoda.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>USC Dornsife senior guides peers as student ambassador<\/h2>\n<p>Since starting at USC Dornsife, Ng has served as a student ambassador for the admissions team. He says the volunteer work has satisfied his longtime passion to mentor others \u2014 as well as feed them. Ng is known for lugging a rice cooker around campus to share meals with the various circles of students he\u2019s involved with.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe cares about others around him and is truly interested in hearing their stories, which is why he\u2019s been such a wonderful Dornsife student ambassador,\u201d Apisakkul says.<\/p>\n<p>In high school, Ng participated in FIRST, a global youth robotics community. As part of that, he founded Serendipity, a group dedicated to increasing STEM opportunities for special education students through coding lessons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI saw not a class, nor students, nor teachers, but a family,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>After entering USC, Ng participated in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscrpl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Rocket Propulsion Lab<\/a>, an undergraduate rocketry group for experimental rocket technologies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI helped launch two rockets,\u201d he says with a laugh.<\/p>\n<h2>Linguistics major dives into AI research<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27550\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27550\" style=\"width: 363px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27550 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-b-363x550.jpg\" alt=\"Student with backpack gives the \u201cFight On!\u201d hand gesture near a lake and snowy mountains\" width=\"363\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-b-363x550.jpg 363w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-b-676x1024.jpg 676w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-b-768x1163.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/kyle-ng-grad-profile-b.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graduating senior Kyle Ng, who is pursuing a progressive master\u2019s degree, takes a break from his studies. (Photo: Courtesy of Kyle Ng.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ng had his first experience with AI research during the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/css\/surf\/\">SURF<\/a> (Summer Undergraduate Research Fund) program, which provides financial support for students conducting faculty-mentored research during the summer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sat in an MRI for three hours for a vocal scan to analyze the movement in my mouth when I spoke,\u201d Ng explains. \u201cThe study was part of an experiment to see if such mouth movements could be used in helping to understand how speech LLMs (large language models) work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Iskarous and PhD student Haley Hsu mentored Ng during his SURF project. \u201cNot only is Kyle an impressively hardworking student, but he is also a major pillar of the linguistics community at USC,\u201d says Hsu. \u201cHis desire to deeply understand and absorb as much information as possible is truly inspirational.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the winter break this year, Ng spent three weeks at the Oxford AI Safety Institute pursuing AI Safety, a field dedicated to ensuring AI systems behave as intended, minimizing harmful, dangerous, or uncontrollable outcomes.<\/p>\n<h2>Senior\u2019s future a numbers game \u2014 and much, much more<\/h2>\n<p>Ng says he isn\u2019t sure yet what his post-graduate plans are, but if his achievements to date are any indication, it will almost certainly involve a line of work that goes far beyond the numbers-crunching involved in studying how machines process language.<\/p>\n<p>In an essay he wrote as part of his application to USC Dornsife, Ng reimagines a data-driven world in which people often are defined by numbers (one = the number of winners at the top, a 4.0 GPA, a perfect AP score of 5, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m redefining the way I count,\u201d Ng wrote, describing the life philosophy he continues to hone today:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFive. How many more laughs can we share?<\/p>\n<p>\u201c4.0. How many more memories can we make?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne. A community that is greater than the sum of its numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/scientists-map-ocean-microbes-involved-in-carbon-cycle\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Scientists map the ocean\u2019s invisible workforce<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a 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campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":27551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,16],"tags":[99,149,155,95],"class_list":["post-27548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commencement","category-science-and-technology","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-class-of-2026","tag-linguistics","tag-social-sciences"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Love of language and community \u2014 and AI safety \u2014 fuel graduating senior\u2019s USC Dornsife experience<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Graduating senior Kyle Ng explores how to make large language models safer while also helping his fellow students feel at home on campus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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