Ithaca, N.Y. — The Cornell University community is mourning the passing of Emily Ryu, a 26-year-old doctoral student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow, who died on October 26, 2025, at her off-campus residence, according to a statement released by the university.
Ryu, who joined Cornell after completing her undergraduate studies at Princeton University in 2021, was recognized as an emerging talent in the fields of algorithmic game theory and optimization. Her research, described by colleagues as both “rigorous” and “deeply creative,” had already begun to make an impact in the academic community.
“Emily was a brilliant mind and a kind soul,” said one of her advisors in Cornell’s Department of Computer Science. “She had an incredible ability to see elegant solutions to complex problems — and she shared her knowledge generously.”
Students and faculty alike expressed grief and disbelief over the news, remembering Ryu not only for her intellectual gifts but for her warmth and humility. A fellow graduate student described her as “the person who would stay late in the lab to help others, even when she didn’t have to.”
Cornell University has shared its condolences with Ryu’s family and announced that counseling and support services are available to members of the campus community affected by her passing.
Ryu’s legacy, her professors noted, will live on in the research she inspired and the students she encouraged. “Emily’s passion for learning and her pursuit of excellence were unmatched,” a university statement read. “Her loss is a profound one — for Cornell, for her field, and for all who knew her.”
Memorial arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.