Prospective Students
▓ Eligibility ▓
First, I would like to thank everyone who reads this. It is always wonderful to hear from passionate pupils/students interested in robotics. However, I receive multiple emails every year from students seeking supervision. To streamline this process for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, I have prepared this guide. I highly recommend reading it carefully before reaching out to me.
In academia, we have certain standards that we expect prospective students to follow, especially for PhD and Postdoctoral positions. This guide aims to reduce the wastage of time for both parties.
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Before delving into the specifics, I have a couple of very important criteria that I recommend you double-check. If you meet these qualifications and skill sets, please proceed to the next section. These criteria are:
🤖 Passion and Interest in Robotics: Robotics is not as easy as it may seem from the outside. Many people see Boston Dynamics robots and assume it's simple. It is not. As someone who has been passionate about robotics since childhood and has a decade of professional experience, I can attest that this field is challenging and diverse. You should have a genuine, in-depth interest in robotics and understand what a robot is, why robotics is important its challenges, and its potential capabilities. Thus, I recommend starting with talks from leading roboticists in this field such as Prof. Jean-Paul Laumond , Marc Raibert , Prof. Jamie Paik and talks/lectures from CMU and more, which you can find online or on YouTube.
🤖 Proficiency in Mathematics: Robotics is a vast field. Some people mistakenly think that robotics is solely artificial intelligence (AI). While AI is a component of robotics, it is only a small part. Fundamental robotics intersects with control theory (applied mathematics), mechanics (physics), electronics, mechatronics, and material science. Be prepared to engage with a lot of math, as robotics is increasingly complex. Here is my Robotics Equation for you :
Specifically, we create novel robots and explore various fields to push the boundaries of what is possible. Therefore, you should expect the unexpected, especially in PhD or Postdoctoral studies. See bellow how robotics and control is vast 👇
🤖 Learn What I Am Working On (Be a Reader, Not Just a Follower): As researchers and academics, we are primarily interested in students who are readers. These students actively explore and investigate their prospective professors' research areas. It is important to review recent works and any texts that indicate what your prospective professor is currently interested in. Please do not reach out with vague statements like "AI" or "Robotics." Be as specific as possible, which means you need to do some exploration and reading. The field of robotics is advancing rapidly, and you need to be equipped with patience and a genuine interest in reading and understanding problems, especially when the language is heavily mathematical.
🤖 Work on Your CV: Engage with the field of robotics as much as possible. Attend local or international conferences, participate in robotics competitions, blog about your robot designs, and highlight any robotics-related courses or modules you have studied. If you do not have an engineering background and your CV lacks keywords related to robotics or control systems, it is unlikely to be considered. Make sure your CV reflects your genuine involvement and interest in robotics.
If you have read this far and are confident that you meet the previous prerequisites, proceed to read the more specific details and availability of positions within my team.
▓ Positions and Availabilities ▓
PhD/PostDocs
If you've made it this far, it means you're truly committed to contacting me. Here's how to proceed:
Available Called Positions
We typically share our official available positions (please check carefully for fully-funded and self-funded options) on the following platforms: FindAPhD , Jobs.co.uk . If you're self-funded or have external funding/scholarships, please follow the steps outlined below.
Other Funding Options
For those without funding who are seeking opportunities, there are several options:
Governmental/External Scholarships: If you plan to apply for a governmental or external scholarship and need a recommendation or conditional offer, we can assist you. However, you must follow the previously provided steps. Upon passing those steps, we can support your application for scholarships or funding.
Cardiff University Funding: I highly recommend exploring the Cardiff University website to check for scholarships available to students of your nationality. Sometimes, there are specific scholarships for different nationalities that you can apply for.
PhD Studies:
Chinese Students:
CSC Scholarship: If you are interested in applying for the CSC Chinese Scholarship under my supervision, refer to the following link for details. Please contact me if you genuinely wish to join my team. Transparency about applications to other universities is expected. Additionally, you should have an IELTS certificate with the expected application date.
European Students:
Marie Curie PhD Scholarships: These scholarships can be applied for with the support of a supervisor.
PostDocs:
For PostDocs, there are several opportunities to work under my supervision, even if there are no current positions available:
Royal Society The Newton International Fellowship (NIF) , For this PostDoc Fellowship, please contact me in late December or early January of the application period following how to email guidance at the end. While the application is primarily your responsibility, if you pass my evaluation process, I will support you as a sponsor and mentor in your research. Remember this is a prestigious but competitive fellowship.
Health Grants
Other Funding Sources
If you meet the above prerequisites and are confident in your qualifications, please proceed to read more specific details about the positions available in my team.
BEng/MSc Students:
At Cardiff University, early supervision is not typically available. Therefore, current Cardiff University students should look for proposed projects. If you are genuinely interested, I highly recommend making these projects your first choice. Our projects require students to know mechanics (solid model design), basic control systems, and some coding skills.
Cardiff University does not accept visiting BEng/MSc students for short-term or summer programs.
▓ How to Email Me and Selection Process ▓
It looks like you are determined to pursue research with me! 😂 Ok, here’s how to prepare your first contact email:
Email Subject:
Format it as "Prospective PhD/PostDoc Student (Expected Year), Scholarship/Funding Type, Research Area Topic, Scholarship Name (if applicable)". "For example, if you are a PhD student expecting to start in 2021 with governmental funding and an interest in underactuated robotics, and applying for the MEXT scholarship, the subject line would be: "Prospective PhD Student (2021), Governmental Scholarship, Underactuated Robotics, MEXT".
Email Content:
Your email should include:
Your CV
Example related publications, attached as an electric copy of PDF (not more than 2-3)
A cover letter outlining your research interests and ideas
Transcripts of previous studies
Start your email with a brief overview of your studies or work related to robotics or your research area. Explicitly state what you would like to explore or achieve in 2-3 sentences. Keep the email concise, ideally 500-600 words. Keep your email straighforward, and be aware that your chosen topic may not be your final research topic.
Selection Process:
We will first review your application and inform you if you are eligible for the next stage. If selected, you will participate in a 10-15 minute online interview with a short presentation. If an online interview is not possible, you may be asked to submit a pre-recorded 5-10 minute video presentation. Based on these evaluations, accepted students will proceed with the application to Cardiff University to receive an official conditional/unconditional offer from me.
Following this guide will help streamline the application process and ensure your email is considered promptly.