Info for Prospective Students

Update for Ph.D. applicants: Fall 2027 admissions cycle

I can no longer reply to individual emails from prospective Ph.D. students

Thank you for your interest in studying at the University of Central Florida. Because of the volume of inquiries I receive, I am unfortunately no longer able to respond to individual emails from prospective Ph.D. students. You are still welcome to write to me, but please do not expect a reply before the interview phase described below. (Master's, undergraduate, and high school students: see the sections further down this page.)

I expect to have one funded Ph.D. position for a student starting in Fall 2027. I will be reviewing applications for that position during the upcoming admissions cycle. If you are interested in working with me, the best thing you can do is apply to the CS Ph.D. program at UCF and list my name as the advisor you are interested in working with. At UCF, Ph.D. students are admitted directly into the lab of the advisor they plan to work with throughout their studies, so your application is what I will read, not your email.

A few things to know about the process:

UCF typically only admits Ph.D. students with full funding support, and only to start in the Fall semester.
I typically review applications to the SAGE Lab in mid-February, select a handful of finalists to meet with and interview, and then make my final admission decisions.
Admission into the lab is competitive, so I cannot guarantee admission, and I cannot meet with students individually before the interview phase.
There are no application fee waivers and no GRE waivers available this year, so please do not email to request one.

Apply to UCF's Ph.D. Program → Learn about the program →

I am generally always on the lookout for outstanding students to join the SAGE Lab and work at the intersection of software engineering and machine learning at the University of Central Florida. I work with students across all education levels (click here to see students who have worked with me in the past), and the sections below describe how to get involved as a Ph.D., master's, undergraduate, or high school student.

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students are the core of the lab, and Ph.D. positions in the SAGE Lab are fully funded, typically through a research or teaching assistantship. As described in the update above, the way to join is to apply to the CS Ph.D. program at UCF and list me as the advisor you would like to work with; Ph.D. students at UCF are admitted directly into their advisor's lab, so your application is what I will read. I review applications in mid-February, interview a small number of finalists, and then make admission decisions for a Fall start.

A strong application shows a clear interest in the lab's research areas, ideally with some evidence of research experience, such as a thesis, a publication, or a substantial project, and a statement that explains what you want to work on and why this lab is the right place to do it. You are welcome to email me with an outline of your research interests and a CV, but I am no longer able to reply to these messages individually. If you do write, please put “[New UCF Sage Lab Ph.D. Applicant]” in the subject line so I can find your note when I review applications.

Resources for applying to UCF

If you are thinking about applying to UCF, I have included some resources below that point to information about the program, and the application system. Most questions about deadlines, requirements, and funding are answered on the UCF graduate admissions pages linked below, so please check there first.

Learn about UCF's Ph.D. Program → Apply to UCF's Ph.D. Program →

Master's Students

I work with M.S. students who are already enrolled at UCF, most often on a thesis or a research project that can grow into a publication. Admission to UCF's M.S. program is handled by the department rather than by individual advisors, so if you are still applying, apply through the program first; I do not review M.S. applications or meet with M.S. applicants ahead of admission.

Once you are a UCF student, email me a detailed note explaining your research interests and how they connect to the lab's work, along with your resume and an unofficial transcript. Please put “[UCF Sage Lab M.S. Researcher]” in the subject line. I read these messages in batches, so please do not expect a reply right away; if there is a good fit and an open project, I will follow up to set up a conversation.

Undergraduate Students

I regularly work with UCF undergraduates, and several have gone on to co-author papers with the lab. The general process is:

Apply through a UCF undergraduate research program. The main route into the lab is the EXCEL program and its undergraduate research experience. Other UCF programs work too, including the Honors Undergraduate Thesis and the programs and grants run by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Applying through one of these programs gives your work a structure, and often funding or course credit, that an informal arrangement does not.
Send me a detailed email. Explain what you are interested in and why, which of the lab's projects or papers caught your attention, and what skills you would bring, and attach your resume and an unofficial transcript. Please put “[UCF Sage Lab Undergraduate Researcher]” in the subject line.
Wait for a follow-up. Please do not expect an email back from me right away. I review these messages in batches and reach out when a project is a good fit, which may be some time after you write.

High School Students

I currently work with high school students only through Lake Highland Preparatory School's ASPIRE program, which places Upper School students with research mentors in Central Florida. If you are a Lake Highland student, apply through ASPIRE and the program will put us in touch. I am not able to take on high school students outside of that program at this time, so please do not email about other arrangements.

Overview of My Research

My work lies primarily at the intersection of software engineering and machine learning, with a focus on building smarter developer tools to enable the next generation of software developers to build high quality software quickly and effectively. Check out my short presentation below to learn more about my work!

Download the slides (PDF)