FAQ

Interested in working with me?

Thank you for your interest! Please read the following information before reaching out.

If you're applying to the GWU CS Ph.D program

First of all, yay! Second: I get a lot of emails from prospective students and can’t reply to most of them, so I’ve answered the most common questions here.

Will you admit new PhD students this year? For Fall 2027, yes I am planning to recruit at least 1 new PhD student.

Which PhD program to apply to: I'm affiliated with GWU's Computer Science Department within the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Please apply to the Computer Science Ph.D. program by first selecting “School of Engineering and Applied Science” under Schools and then “Computer Science” under Program when you start your application. The application portal and instructions can be accessed here.

Can I schedule a meeting with you so that we will see if there is a fit? As much as I would love to talk to every person interested in my research, there is simply not enough time. Please check out my publications list, this should give an idea about whether I am a good fit for you as an advisor or not.

I do not want to submit an application if I have no chance, can you pre-evaluate my application? Due to the volume of inquiries, I'm not able to review individual applications before the deadline and I cannot comment on your chances before seeing the entire application pool because the process is inherently competitive. During admissions season I also can’t answer questions about application status. If my research excites you, please apply!

What are you looking for in students? I enjoy working with students from diverse backgrounds who are curious, self-motivated, and resourceful-- and who care about doing empirical research that helps address practice-driven problems. The main thing I look for is the ability to do research. Hands-on experience with empirical methods is a strong signal, and so are publications. But you don’t need prior experience with my specific research topics or methods.

I already submitted my application, can I send you a reminder to make sure you don't miss it? Please don’t. Recruiting students is one of the most important parts of being junior faculty, so I carefully review every application that lists me. The best way to make sure I see your application is to add my name to the "Research Faculty of Interest" list in the "GW Engineering Supplemental Information" section of your application. If my name is on that list, I will read your application. Emails do not provide any such guarantee since they are independent from the application portal.

I'm having technical issues with submitting my application, what do I do? You can send an e-mail to engineering@gwu.edu with specific questions regarding your application and/or the application portal.

Can you grant me a fee waiver? Yes! You can use the code GWCS2026 for an application fee waiver.

Is there any way to reach you? If you have a specific research idea or question about my work, send me an email whose subject line begins with I_LISTENED. I’ll do my best to read it, though I can’t promise a reply.

If you’re a current or incoming GW CS PhD student

If you’re a current GW PhD student and interested in collaborating, feel free to email me with a brief summary of your research interests or projects. I’d love to explore potential collaborations!

If you’re an incoming PhD student looking for a potential advisor or co-advisor, or you’re interested in future collaborations, please feel free to email me as well. I may not be able to make advising commitments right away, but I’d still be very happy to chat.

If you're interested in joining the lab as an Undergraduate/Master's student

Right now (2026) I’m mostly looking to recruit PhD students, but I’m happy to make exceptions for exceptional students. The best way to reach me is through this research interest form, and I’ll get in touch if there’s a good fit.