About me

Hi, I’m Zhenyao (Gary) Dou. I enjoy building things that are useful, and I’m especially interested in how technology can make learning more effective and more human. Outside of research and development, I’m someone who appreciates small improvements—whether that’s iterating on a prototype, refining a workflow, or learning a new skill step by step.

In my spare time, I like staying active. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring new places, and badminton is my regular way to reset both physically and mentally. I also love nature views and long walks that help me think clearly—sometimes the best ideas arrive when I’m not staring at a screen.

I’m also a long-time Star Trek fan. I like stories that imagine better systems, better teamwork, and better futures. In a way, that’s also what I enjoy about research and building: understanding complex problems, working with others, and creating something that is a little more thoughtful than what existed before.

If you’d like to connect, collaborate, or simply chat about research, product ideas, or learning technologies, feel free to reach out via email or LinkedIn.

What I do

• Prototype and evaluate practical learning support tools for higher education
• Build full-stack systems (Vue.js, Firebase, Java, AWS) with a focus on usability and maintainability
• Work with data workflows (Python, SQL, Tableau) to support evidence-based iteration