Last Updated: 2024.11.24

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 in the lab’s research. Your engagement can take the form of (i) voluntary part-time participation; (ii) participation in research for course credit; or (iii) as a paid lab assistant. Regardless of how you engage, these positions have many benefits: experience with the latest AI methods, access to powerful hardware needed for AI research, reference letters for graduate school or jobs, advising from me and my team. Furthermore, undergraduate students often leave with demonstrable results/skills: (e.g., a github project), a scholarly publication, and/or have the opportunity to travel to an academic conference. To get started please contact me as prescribed below.

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; indicate that you are an undergraduate interested in research, and attach your unofficial undergraduate transcripts. To participate, students should have a GPA of at least 3.0 or better in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. Although not obligatory, I also welcome students to share a short resume with any AP courses, test scores (e.g., ACT, SAT), or any other evidence of academic success.

Can I be paid? There are numerous benefits to engagement in research besides payment, but I also understand that financial support is helpful, and sometimes even crucial for students. There are several pathways to obtain funding for your work, however these funds sources are limited, and I typically ask students to work with me for a “trial period” of 2-4 months before considering payment. A great way to do this is to enroll in research course credit under my supervision. Assuming that this “trial period” goes well, we can pursue 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.
• 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 solely from my lab. In this case I will provide support for your effort on an hourly basis. This option can be considered for student who demonstrate strong progress over at least one semester, and pending availability of funds.

Students who are especially in need of payment should let me know early in their process so that we can discuss availability of funding, and expectations.