Thank you for your interest in joining my research group. I am always looking for highly motivated students interested in machine learning (ML), AI, human-robot interaction (HRI), human-computer interaction (HCI), and/or robotics. Please review the information below before emailing me about any open positions in my group.

    Prospective PhD and Thesis-based MASc Students (Current Openings: Few)

    If you are interested in joining my 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.

    Please adhere to the following format in your email to express your interest in applying to work with me. If you do not follow this format and send me a general mass email, it shows that you are not interested in working with me. It is highly unlikely that you will get a response from any professor if you send them mass emails. However, if you send a personalized email to a professor (including me) you will most likely get a response because we are always looking for motivated students.

  • 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.

  • 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, or use vague, abstract language, such as, "Your contributions to the field resonate strongly with my academic interests, and I am particularly drawn to the innovative research projects you have undertaken in X domain". You should be more specific in expressing your interest. Please see Useful Links below for some advice on emailing professors.
    • prior experience (if any) in ML, HRI, or robotics. This can be courses, projects, or online courses/certificates (e.g. Coursera, edx), etc. Experience is not required, but knowing your background helps me identify the best research fit for you.
    • prior experience (if any) with Python/C++, ROS, working with robotics hardware. Again, experience is not required.
    • any scholarships you have been awarded or applied for (e.g. NSERC, MITACS, etc.). Most of the scholarships are for national students, but there are a few opportunities for international students as well. Please see Useful Links below for more details.
    • read a recent paper I wrote (see my Publications page) that piques your interest. Depending on your interests, I suggest you read any of these publications from my page: 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 that came to your mind when you read it. State any critical assumption(s) that the paper makes and if these can lead to some limitations of the proposed methods. Also, feel free to tell me what and why you liked/disliked in the paper.

  • Attach the following documents with the email:

    • CV
    • Undergraduate/graduate transcripts
    • a writing sample (project report, research publication, etc). This can also be for a class assignment. Make sure to send me your work, so that I can gauge your English writing skills. Concordia also has options to improve these skills through coursework/workshops, if you need help.

    • 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. If you do not hear from me right away, do not be discouraged. If you applied to the department and selected me as a preferred supervisor, your application will be forwarded to me. I will review your materials and reach out directly if I’m interested in pursuing your application further.

    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. The committee can still reject the application or impose additional course requirements as a condition of admission.
  • 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. However, for exceptional undergrads (e.g. if you already have publications at top-tier venues as undergrads), it may even be possible to be directly admitted to the PhD program.

    • Course-based MEng Students

    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 MSc programs within about a year, which is an alternative way for you to join my group. If you perform well in your graduate courses, preferably in one of my courses, I’ll be more likely to consider you for a transfer to the thesis program in my lab.

    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.

    Undergraduate Students (Current Openings: Multiple)

  • For Concordia undergrads seeking internship or research assistant positions, please have a look at the instructions and deadlines here: NSERC USRA, Concordia Undergraduate Student Research Awards. If you are interested in my group, feel free to email me your CV and transcript.
  • For 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, and email me your CV and transcript to show your interest.
  • Canada has an amazing program to support international undergraduate students in getting research exposure, called the Mitacs Globalink program. Please check this website for more information and deadlines. For this program, the application process generally starts approximately a year before the summer you will be coming here.

    • Visiting Scholars

    I cannot provide funding for visiting scholars.

  • However, if you are an international graduate student interested in visiting my group, you can apply for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award which provides support for 12-24 week visits. Please have a look at this website for more details and the application process.
  • For graduate students at Canadian institutions looking to visit my group, you likely have programs from your institution to support your visit. Please ask your advisor to contact me to discuss the best arrangement for your visit.

    • Prospective Postdocs (Current Openings: None)

    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 the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and FRQNT Postdoctoral Fellowship. You can find more opportunities at Concordia here.

    Useful Links

    University Life

  • Tuition and living expenses
  • Resources for international students at Concordia. You can also check the International Students Office (ISO) for more information.
  • Life in Montreal: Useful information regarding student life in Montreal.

    • Fellowship and Awards

    Students who are actively applying for or have secured external fellowships are of particular interest. Being self-funded makes it easier to find a position in any lab, and having a fellowship will enhance your CV. Below is a common list of fellowships and awards for Canadian and international students. You can also find an exhaustive list of fellowships at Concordia here and here. Concordia also has a program to support graduate funding application preparation.

  • Canadian students (citizens and permanent residents)

  • International students

  • Postdoctoral fellows (exhaustive list here)

    • General Grad School Advice

  • This repository of links offers extensive advice on grad school applications, CV writing, crafting a statement of purpose, conducting research, and navigating the PhD experience.
  • A little old but still an excellent resource on how to succeed in grad school mit.ai.research.pdf
  • Great collection of resources for graduate students interested in AI and CS in general (here, here)
  • A Survival Guide to a PhD covers essential aspects of the PhD journey, including selecting an advisor, choosing research topics, and writing papers.
  • 5-minutes with Cyrill Professor Cyrill Stachniss has recorded a series of 5-minute videos covering crucial skills, both technical and non-technical. These include preparing a conference talk, defending a research proposal, as well as technical topics.
  • Should You Email Professors? by Yonatan Bisk offers valuable insights into emailing professors, and understanding graduate admissions.