Last Updated: 2024.11.20

Ph.D. Applicants. Open Ph.D. positions are listed below. Good candidates will have some of the following qualifications: strong grades (e.g., at least a 3.25 undergraduate GPA), strong test scores (e.g., a Quantitative GRE of at least 165), high class ranking (e.g., top 15%), a selective undergraduate institution, strong references (e.g., preferably a professor that you’ve done research with). You do not necessarily need all of these qualifications, but exhibiting more will make you a stronger candidate.

Engaging with the lab prior to your application. I encourage prospective Ph.D. students to work with my team for at least a few months prior to their application. Assuming you perform well, this will dramatically increase your chances of receiving an offer. I am also happy to write strong reference letters for your applications to other schools, or to jobs.

Contacting Me: Prospective students are welcome to email me to learn more about our lab or their chances of acceptance, but please keep your emails brief, and please list your major qualifications, as specified above. Please email me (Jordan) at jmdrp@missouri.edu, and add “[Lab Applicant]” to the subject line.

Open Positions: There are several open Ph.D. positions for Fall 2025, involving all areas of the lab’s research. Applicants should apply to the University of Missouri-Columbia graduate program, or contact me for more information (see above).

Masters Students: Masters students at either Mizzou or Duke University are welcome to engage with research in the lab, and I can also advise thesis projects. There are a variety of research projects spanning most/all topics of the lab. These positions have many benefits: research experience, access to specialized hardware needed for AI research, reference letters, advising from me and my team, and possibly a publication. Strong students may also be given Ph.D. offers.

Qualifications. I expect Masters students to have at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) in their undergraduate coursework. Other qualifications that are helpful, but not always necessary: a selective undergraduate institution, strong undergraduate class ranking, strong test scores (e.g., ACT/SAT/GRE).

Can I be paid? Many students engage with the lab voluntarily due to its other benefits (see above), but I also understand that financial support can be very helpful, and I will always seek to fund strong students when possible. However, funding for Masters students is usually limited, and I will typically only fund students if they have demonstrated strong progress for at least one semester. If funding is crucial to your participation, please let me know in your initial communication so I can tell you the current funding availability.

Contacting Me: Interested students should email me (Jordan) at jmdrp@missouri.edu, and add “[Lab Applicant]” to the subject line. Please keep your email brief: mention that you are interested in participating in research, and attach your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. I encourage you also to list any other of the qualifications described above, if applicable.

Undergraduate Students: There are a variety of great opportunities for undergraduate students to engage with our research. These positions have many benefits: research experience, access to powerful hardware needed for AI research, reference letters, advising from me and my team students, and possibly a publication. Strong undergraduate researchers may also be given Ph.D. offers.

Qualifications: Students should have a relatively good GPA (3.0 or better) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. Good ACT/SAT scores also enhance an applications, if available. I also welcome students in other STEM fields that are interested in engaging with machine learning.

Can I be paid? Many students engage in research voluntarily due to its many other benefits, however, I will always seek to pay students, where possible. There are several pathways to obtain financial support for your work. Before doing so however, I ask students to work with me for a “trial period” of 1-3 months, where the goal is to ensure that we work well together, and that you will enjoy the research. A great way to do this is to enroll in a research course for credit under my supervision. Assuming a successful trial period, I will help you pursue one of the following options:

• Mizzou research fellowship (link). This is the best option. The University and my lab each contribute funds to provide you with a stipend for research done during either the Fall and/or Spring semesters.
• NSF REU (link). These are summer research projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
• Mizzou conference travel (link). If you have a paper accepted to an academic conference, the University will provide funding for your travel to the conference.
• Funding from the lab. This is generally reserved for student who demonstrate strong progress over at least one semester, and pending availability of funds.

Contacting Me. Interested students are encouraged to email me. Please indicate that you are an undergraduate interested research and attach your unofficial transcripts, and optionally any test scores. Please email me (Jordan) at jmdrp@missouri.edu, and add “[Lab Applicant]” to the subject line.