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Director of Applied Science
Dr. Weiwei Cheng is an AI executive and scientist with expertise in machine learning and natural language processing. He holds a double bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from Zhengzhou University (June 2004) and a Master of Science in Data and Knowledge Engineering from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (November 2007), where he graduated with the highest distinction and was named the Best Graduate of the Year. During his studies, he was awarded the Outstanding International Student Scholarship by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt. In December 2007, he joined the Computational Intelligence Group at Philipps University Marburg as a research staff member and earned his doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in May 2012. He joined Amazon as a founding member of the Core Machine Learning team in July 2013. As a senior scientist, he led the development of AI-based products for Alexa, Search, Marketplace, Customer Reviews, and Kindle. As a Bar Raiser, he conducted and supervised hundreds of interviews across both technical and non-technical roles. In May 2023, Dr. Cheng joined Zalando as a senior principal scientist – the company's highest science position – overseeing the technical direction of customers' onsite discovery experiences and capabilities including browse, search, ranking, and personalization. Since August 2025, he has served as Director of Discovery AI Global Technology, leading Zalando's global AI strategy for content discovery. Dr. Cheng has more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds over 10 US patents. His research won multiple accolades, including the Prominent Paper Award from the Artificial Intelligence journal, the Best Paper Award at the 21st International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning, recognition in the Notable Computing Books and Articles by ACM Computing Reviews, the Best Stude
Marburg University
PhD, Computer Science
January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2012
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
MS, Computer Science
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2007
Zhengzhou University
BS, Business Administration
January 1, 2002 – January 1, 2004
Zhengzhou University
BS, Computer Science
January 1, 2000 – January 1, 2004
Zalando
Director of Applied Science
January 1, 2025 – Present
Zalando
Senior Principal Scientist
January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2025
Amazon
Senior Scientist & Bar Raiser
January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2022
Berlin & Seattle · On-site
Microsoft Research Cambridge
Research Intern
January 1, 2010 – January 1, 2010
Cambridge, United Kingdom · On-site
Deutsche Bank
Data Mining Consultant
January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010
Eschborn, Germany · On-site
The Philipp University of Marburg
Researcher & Student Counsellor
January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2013
Marburg, Germany · On-site
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
Research Assistant
January 1, 2006 – January 1, 2007
Magdeburg, Germany · On-site
Xinli Software Co. Ltd.
Software Engineer
January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2003
Hefei, China · On-site
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate has a strong background in research and large tech companies (Amazon, Microsoft Research, Zalando), indicating a fit for data-driven, innovative environments. Their diverse roles from research intern to Director of Applied Science show adaptability and growth. However, the target role of 'Data Analyst' appears to be a significant step down from their current and past senior scientist and director roles, which might indicate a potential mismatch in expectations or a desire for a different type of challenge. The breadth of experience across different industries (e-commerce, finance, academia) suggests adaptability.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate's experience as a 'Bar Raiser' at Amazon suggests strong leadership, critical thinking, and an ability to uphold high technical standards. Their role as a Student Counsellor indicates good interpersonal and communication skills. The descriptions of their work at Amazon and Deutsche Bank highlight problem-solving and project leadership capabilities. However, specific details on collaboration style or stress handling are not explicitly provided.