Illustration of Shiyuan (Eric) Zhou with a dog

Shiyuan (Eric) Zhou 周世源

I am a PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine, advised by Prof. Sharad Mehrotra.

My research focuses on building reliable and efficient LLM-based systems that reason over data and automate complex analytical workflows.

News

I will join ByteDance as a Research Scientist Intern in Summer 2027.

Publications

  1. SIGMOD 2027

    SALUS: Automated Auditing of NL-to-SQL Benchmarks through Weak Supervision of Multi-Agent Output

    Shiyuan Zhou, Ashwin Gerard Colaco, Sainyam Galhotra, Sharad Mehrotra

    Paper Code DOI
    Abstract

    SALUS detects annotation errors in natural-language-to-SQL benchmarks. SQL generated by multiple LLM agents provides complementary weak supervision signals, which are combined to identify high-confidence training examples without human ground truth. A learned decision model then uses query features and agent reliability to audit reference annotations. Evaluations on BIRD and Spider reveal substantial annotation errors and their effects on leaderboard reliability.

    SALUS framework for weak supervision and feature-conditioned reliability estimation in NL-to-SQL auditing.
  2. NLP4DH @ ACL 2026

    MADRAG: Multi-Agent Debate with Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Training-Free Analytic Essay Scoring

    Ali Keramati, Shiyuan Zhou, Sharad Mehrotra, Mark Warschauer

    Paper
    Abstract

    MADRAG combines multi-agent debate with retrieval-augmented generation for analytic essay scoring without task-specific training. An Advocate identifies strengths, a Skeptic critiques weaknesses, and a Judge uses rubric-aligned exemplar essays to calibrate the final score. Experiments show that retrieval improves calibration while debate strengthens reasoning on higher-level writing traits, outperforming prompt-based baselines and approaching supervised systems.

    MADRAG architecture with supervisor, advocate, skeptic, and retrieval-augmented judge agents.
  3. SynthAI @ SIGMOD 2026

    WorkLoadWeaver: Realistic Synthetic Query Workloads for Adaptive Database Systems

    Keming Li, Nada Lahjouji, Ashwin Gerard Colaco, Shiyuan Zhou, Pratyoy Das, Guangxue Zhang, Sahil Makhijani, Vishal Chakraborty, Sarvesh Pandey, Sharad Mehrotra

    Paper DOI
    Abstract

    WorkLoadWeaver constructs synthetic workload specifications from query templates and optional domain assumptions. Its multi-agent pipeline models user personas, temporal patterns, transitions between queries, within-template refinements, and event-driven workload shifts. The pipeline supports both automated generation and human checkpoints for reviewing assumptions, adding constraints, and refining the resulting workload.

    WorkLoadWeaver pipeline from workload inputs through persona, parameter, and external-event agents to query streams.
  4. IUI 2025

    HEPHA: A Mixed-Initiative Image Labeling Tool for Specialized Domains

    Shiyuan Zhou*, Bingxuan Li*, Xiyuan Chen*, Zhi Tu, Yifeng Wang, Yiwen Xiang, Tianyi Zhang

    Paper Code
    Abstract

    HEPHA is a mixed-initiative image labeling tool that elicits domain experts’ knowledge through inductive logic learning. Starting from a small set of labeled images, it infers rules composed of visual predicates and applies them to unlabeled data. Experts can then correct labels or edit the rules directly. A user study evaluates this collaboration in both specialized and general image labeling tasks.

    HEPHA workflow combining rule inference with label correction and rule editing.
  5. ICSME 2023

    Aligning Documentation and Q&A Forum through Constrained Decoding with Weak Supervision

    Rohith Pudari, Shiyuan Zhou, Iftekhar Ahmed, Zhuyun Dai, Shurui Zhou

    Paper
    Abstract

    DOSA aligns Stack Overflow posts with official documentation to help developers navigate complementary software resources. Weak supervision adapts a language model to the structure of a documentation site, while constrained decoding restricts its output to existing documentation categories and sections. Experiments on Python and Flask documentation show the promise of this approach for low-resource software engineering tasks.

    DOSA framework for adapting language models to documentation and aligning questions through constrained decoding.
  6. KDD 2023

    Rapid Image Labeling via Neuro-Symbolic Learning

    Yifeng Wang*, Zhi Tu*, Yiwen Xiang, Shiyuan Zhou, Xiyuan Chen, Bingxuan Li, Tianyi Zhang

    Paper Code DOI
    Abstract

    Rapid combines pretrained computer vision models with inductive logic learning to infer interpretable image labeling rules. Domain experts supply a small set of labeled examples, and an active learning strategy selects informative samples for further annotation. Across four tasks, including specialized domains, Rapid achieves strong labeling accuracy with only 12 to 39 labeled samples.

    RAPID image-labeling loop with visual attribute extraction, inductive logic learning, and user feedback.

Industry experience

  1. ByteDance

    Summer 2027

    Incoming Research Scientist Intern

  2. Zhejiang University

    Summer 2023

    Machine Learning Engineer Intern · Institute of Computer Innovation · Volkswagen Team

  3. Basebit

    Summer 2021

    Data Scientist Intern · Healthcare Data Systems

Education

  1. University of California, Irvine

    2024 — present

    PhD Candidate in Computer Science

  2. University of Toronto

    2019 — 2023

    Honours BSc · Data Science Specialist