Prospective Students

Please read before you decide to contact a professor!

Finding a good advisor is one of the most important things you will do in your academic life. So please do not rush yourself. Most professors fund their research from their research grants, which they acquire by refining their research ideas over a long time and going through a highly competitive grant proposal process. Therefore, most professors will not want to work on your ideas and research interests. That does not mean that you should completely ignore your gut feeling and do whatever your research advisor asks you to. Instead, you should find an advisor whose work closely matches your interests. Best collaborations start with a great fit. If you start working with someone whose work does not fit your interests and skills, both sides lose precious time. But more importantly, the value of lost time is much larger for you than your advisor!

Short version (TLDR): You only get one chance to make a great first impression. Do your homework before you make the first contact. Get a rough idea of the professor’s research and ask yourself if there is sufficient overlap.

Please read before you decide to contact me!

The work in my group requires

• basic knowledge in differential equations, linear algebra, and feedback control,

• programming skills (Matlab, C++), and

• some basic hardware experience (Arduino).

Most importantly, you should be self-motivated and passionate about your research interests!

If you are a student at UMBC

• Write an email to me introducing yourself, your background, and your research interests. Use this excellent resource to draft your email.

• Assuming that your email makes a compelling case, I would be happy to talk with you to evaluate your research interests and capabilities; and explain current research opportunities in my group.

• If we both see a fit, I will assign you a small test project. The objective is to assess your skills, research capabilities, communication and writing style, and teamwork. The length of the test project obviously is inversely proportional to your capabilities and the time you invest in it. Successful completion of the test project requires you to produce enough new material for a publication. Upon completion, you will be offered a funded Ph.D. position in my group.

• Producing high-quality research work requires complete commitment and passion for your work. Therefore, it should be considered as a full-time job. Please make sure you are willing to invest yourself completely before you decide to work with me.

If you are NOT a student at UMBC

• You must have a solid background in controls (some control course and good programming skills) since you are most likely a graduate student.

• Write an email to me introducing yourself, your background, and your research interests. You have to make a much stronger case since you are not at UMBC. Projects, publications, research experience, etc. will help you stand out and make a compelling case.

• Assuming that your email makes a compelling case, I will interview you online to assess your skills, research capabilities, communication and writing style, and teamwork. If all goes well, I would be happy to recommend your admission to the ME department. Note that you still need to submit a complete admission application.