Guocong Zhai

Guocong Zhai

Causal decision-making for safe systems

Design: Guocong Zhai Academic Homepage (gzhai001.github.io)

Design: Guocong Zhai Academic Homepage (gzhai001.github.io)

Date: 2026-09-27 (revised same day after discovering existing AcademicPages site) Status: Direction approved by user — revive the existing AcademicPages site

Background

Initial plan was a hand-crafted single-page static HTML site (Style A mockup approved). During setup we discovered ~/gzhai001.github.io already contains a partially configured AcademicPages (Jekyll) site from Jan–Apr 2025 with most content already written. User chose to revive it instead. The remote repo gzhai001/gzhai001.github.io no longer exists on GitHub (site returns 404), so it must be recreated and pushed.

Current state of the local site (verified)

  • _config.yml: title, description, URL, repository set; author sidebar filled (avatar profile.png — exists in images/, bio, location, email, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, GitHub).
  • _pages/about.md (homepage): bio, two research themes, education, Prospective Students, Contact.
  • _pages/research.md: two-theme research overview + selected funding list.
  • _pages/publications.md: full publication list (journal + working papers), already includes 2026 updates (e.g., JCM paper now published: 59, 100610).
  • _pages/cv.md: education, appointments, funding.
  • _data/navigation.yml: Publications / Research / CV.
  • Untracked: .bundle/, vendor/ (must not be committed).
  • Template placeholder files still present: files/paper*.pdf, files/slides*.pdf, stock images in images/, _drafts/.

Work to complete the revival

  1. Content polish
    • Add a short News section to _pages/about.md (from CV dates): JCM paper published (2026), NSFC Young Scientists Fund (2026), joined SWJTU (2025), TRD guest editorship (2025).
    • Verify about.md / cv.md / research.md / publications.md match the CV; fix discrepancies (CV is source of truth; note publications.md has newer data than CV for JCM — keep the newer published info).
    • Add Awards & Honors and Professional Service to _pages/cv.md (from CV: ODU awards, outstanding reviewer, editorial board roles, guest editorship, 60+ peer reviews).
  2. Cleanup
    • Delete template placeholder files: files/paper1-3.pdf, files/slides1-3.pdf, stock images (foo-bar-identity*, image-alignment*, paragraph-indent*, 500x300.png, 3953273590_704e3899d5_m.jpg, homepage.png, editing-talk.png), _drafts/ contents.
    • Confirm .gitignore covers .bundle/, vendor/, .sass-cache/, .jekyll-cache/.
    • Keep images/profile.png (avatar), favicon set, site-logo.png if used.
  3. Deployment
    • Create public repo gzhai001/gzhai001.github.io via GitHub REST API using the existing macOS keychain credential (never echoed/committed).
    • Push main over HTTPS (repo-local credential.helper=osxkeychain).
    • GitHub Pages builds username.github.io repos automatically (Jekyll via github-pages gem — AcademicPages’ standard deployment path); enable Pages via API if not auto-enabled.

Verification

  1. After push, poll the Pages build status via API until built.
  2. Load https://gzhai001.github.io in the browser (via Kimi extension), screenshot, and confirm: homepage bio renders with sidebar avatar, Publications/Research/CV pages load, links (Scholar, GitHub, email) work.
  3. Confirm no template placeholder content is reachable.

Out of scope (YAGNI)

  • Blog, talks, teaching, portfolio collections; comments; analytics; local Ruby/Jekyll preview setup (site is verified via the deployed build).