Prospective students
Thank you for your interest in Furong Lab. Because the lab receives more inquiries than it can answer individually, the guidance below is the best way to help us understand your interests, preparation, and potential research fit.
Ph.D. opportunities
Prospective students interested in world models, reasoning control, or trustworthy self-improvement are encouraged to apply through the UMD Computer Science graduate admissions process. Please review the guidance below before sending an optional research-fit message.
Step 1
Use the subject-line format for your situation. It helps the lab identify and review relevant inquiries efficiently.
Apply through the UMD Computer Science graduate admissions process. Individual application reviews and admission decisions are not made by email. A concise research-fit message is optional and does not replace the official application.
[PhD 2027] Name — research direction — current institutionExplain the time you can commit during the semester, the preparation you already have, and the specific Furong Lab project or question you hope to explore. Priority goes to students who can make a sustained research commitment.
[UMD Research] Name — program/year — research directionState your exact availability, location or remote constraints, funding status, and the technical contribution you are prepared to make. A specific request gives the lab enough context to assess mutual fit.
[Internship] Name — proposed dates — research directionThank you for considering Furong Lab. We are not currently able to host visiting students or visiting scholars, including visits that require an invitation, sponsorship, or institutional affiliation.
We encourage eligible high-school students to explore the Maryland Robotics Center’s SPARC program, a structured three-week summer robotics experience. Furong Lab is generally unable to supervise individual high-school projects or informal internships, so please apply through the program.
Explore the MRC SPARC programStep 2
Broad interests such as “AI” or “machine learning” are difficult to evaluate. Please name one pillar, then identify a specific project, paper, or research question within it.
What happens next
Messages are reviewed for research fit, preparation, and available mentoring capacity. Although the lab cannot guarantee an individual reply, one brief follow-up after two weeks is welcome if you have not heard back.
When a candidate’s interests and timing align with current opportunities, the lab may share a private link for a 15-minute conversation. The booking link is reserved for invited candidates and should not be redistributed.
Confirm that your subject line and message follow all three steps above, then complete the short human check.