Joining
Current Openings
- The ARCS Lab invites applications for two Postdoctoral Researchers on Agricultural Robotics (positions available immediately), for more information see here.
- The ARCS Lab invites applications for PhD students in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle, for more information see here.
- The ARCS Lab offers undergraduate research opportunities on a rolling basis, for more information see here.
General Information
The ARCS Lab offers several research opportunities at the graduate (PhD/MS) levels on a rolling basis!
-> We have a few MS openings starting Fall 2023 / Winter 2024 for students already accepted to the ROBO, EE, CE, CS, or ME programs. Available spots are competitive and will require strong technical background in a combination of two or more areas: (1) programming (Python, C++), (2) math (Linear Algebra, Differential Equations and/or Discrete Structures), (3) core robotics software/middleware (ROS, Gazebo). Certain spots are more design-oriented, in which case there will be more emphasis on (4) strong design and electromechanical prototyping background. We strongly encourage incoming ROBO MS students to take on the research project option and reach out for possible opportunities to conduct research with us.
- Please read the following carefully, and note that due to the large number of emails/applications we receive regarding joining our group, we may not be able to reply to all individual requests.
We officially accept students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), or Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in one of the following programs: Robotics Engineering (ROBO), Electrical Engineering (EE), Computer Engineering (CE), Computer Science (CS), and Mechanical Engineering (ME).
Students pursuing PhD degrees:
(1) If already at UCR and not already part of our group, the minimum requirement is to have passed EE283A with A or A+. Besides this, it is expected that you have passed at least two out of EE215, EE230, and/or EE235 (or equivalent courses in ME and CSE) with all grades being at least A-. Alternatively, the expectation is that you have performed research that has led to the submission of a conference paper to a venue relevant to the lab's focus AND you have GPA > 3.5.
(2) If you have applied to the ECE/ME/CSE PhD program, the minimum expectation in our group for the very first two quarters includes exceptional course performance (at least A- in the core courses relevant to our research) AND excellent research output (satisfactory research in Quarter 1 that will lead to conference paper submission in Quarter 2 [e.g., to IROS, RSS, ROMAN, CDC, ICML, ICCV/ECCV, CASE]).
(3) If you have not applied, please do so before reaching out to us. We do not make any admission recommendations or give any feedback regarding your expected application unless you have actually applied to your favorite program (ECE/ME/CSE) and have listed in your Statements interest in joining our group. Due to volume of incoming emails, we do not reply to individual emails asking for openings in our group. There is a process to follow, as described in this page, so please do so.
Students pursuing MS degrees:
(1) If already at UCR, the minimum requirement is to have passed 1) EE283A with A or A+, and 2) two out of EE215, EE230, and EE235 (or equivalent courses in ME and CSE) with all grades being at least A-. Special exceptions can occur to join in the group starting in Fall if you have an already strong background on Robotics (in which case please reach out to discuss options).
(2) If you have applied to the ECE/ME/CSE MS program, please wait for the official admission offer; this happens centrally - we DO NOT make any admission offers at the MS level. When admitted and come to UCR, you may request joining the group if there are available spots (announced here). The minimum expectation is exceptional course performance (at least A- in core courses relevant to our research), and excellent research output (satisfactory research in Quarter 1 that will lead to conference paper submission in Quarter 2).
(3) If you have not applied, please do so before reaching out to us. We do not give any feedback regarding your expected application unless you have actually applied to your favorite program (ECE/ME/CSE) and have listed in your Statements interest in our group.
When contacting us, keep in mind the following:
You must be familiar with the work we do in the lab by going over the Research and Publication pages.
If you are not affiliated with UCR, refer to the UCR ECE/ME/CSE admissions pages. The lab does not make any admission recommendations prior to you filing a complete application.
If you are already at UCR and not affiliated with our group, the most direct way to help you possibly join us is by taking (and doing well in) EE144/ME144, EE283A.
We do not consider and respond to general purpose emails. (On the contrary, this gains you a spot in our spam email folder.)
You must complete the form!