Join Our Lab

If you are interested in joining our group as a graduate student, you are encouraged to contact me via email. But first, check the department's application deadlines and confirm the start time you're considering emailing me about is still possible. Note that Concordia accepts applications with three different start dates (Fall, Winter, and Summer), and the application deadline is different for international and Canadian students.

Email Guidelines

1. The subject line should be: (Domestic/International) Prospective (PhD/MASc) Student -- Your Area(s) of Interest (ML, AI, HRI, and/or Robotics).

   Note: Do not include the parentheses; only choose one option from each parenthesis. For example, if you are a domestic student interested in PhD in robotics, the subject should be Domestic Prospective PhD Student -- Robotics.

2. The body of the email should include:

   • A brief description of why you are interested in my lab. Note that it is challenging for any professor to gauge your interests when you write, "I read your paper on X and am interested in working with you" without adding any more details. You should be more specific in expressing your interest.
   • Prior experience (if any) in ML, HRI, or robotics. This can be courses, projects, or online courses/certificates (e.g. Coursera, edx), etc.
   • Prior experience (if any) with Python/C++, ROS, working with robotics hardware.
   • Any scholarships you have been awarded or applied for (e.g. NSERC, MITACS, etc.).
   • Read a recent paper I wrote (see my Publications page) that piques your interest. For machine learning/continual learning [3, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20], for HRI/robotics [1, 2, 4, 5, 7]. Let me know which paper(s) you read and ask one or more questions.

3. Attach the following documents with the email:

   • CV
   • Undergraduate/graduate transcripts
   • A writing sample (project report, research publication, etc). Make sure to send me your work.

Application Process

After expressing your interest via email, please follow the application process detailed on the Department's website (MASc, PhD). You'll find a section where you can select me as your preferred supervisor.

I receive a lot of emails asking about research opportunities. Unfortunately, I cannot reply to all of them right away, and some may go unanswered. If you have a solid background and are a good fit for my research, I will most likely respond to your request and initiate a conversation.

A few more notes about the application process:

• Even if I agree to accept you into my group, your application will still be evaluated by the graduate studies committee.
• A direct entry into the PhD program from BS is atypical in Canada. Normally, students with a BS should apply to the MASc program. For really excellent students, it is possible to fast-track to the PhD program after one year in the MASc program.

The department also offers course-based MEng programs that do not require a supervisor and the admission is managed centrally by the department. Course-based students can transfer to thesis-based MASc programs within about a year, which is an alternative way for you to join my group.

If you are an MEng student in GCS and are interested in joining my lab, please send me an email with the subject heading "Current MEng/MASc Student" with your CV and graduate transcript. I will respond to set up a meeting if our research interests are aligned.

• Concordia undergrads seeking internship or research assistant positions, please have a look at: NSERC USRA, Concordia Undergraduate Student Research Awards. If you are interested in my group, feel free to email me your CV and transcript.
• Non-Concordia undergrads studying at a Canadian institution, you can apply for the NSERC USRA program. Please check with your institution about the application process and deadlines.
• International undergraduate students can apply through the Mitacs Globalink program. The application process generally starts approximately a year before the summer you will be coming here.

I cannot provide funding for visiting scholars. However, there are several options:

• International graduate students can apply for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award which provides support for 12-24 week visits.
• Graduate students at Canadian institutions likely have programs from your institution to support your visit. Please ask your advisor to contact me to discuss arrangements.

If you have a good publication record, with multiple first-author papers at top-tier ML or robotics venues, feel free to send me your CV and your specific interest in doing a postdoc in my group. There are various funding opportunities available for Canadian and international students, such as:

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship
• FRQNT Postdoctoral Fellowship

You can find more opportunities at Concordia here.