Join Furong Lab

Start with the right path.

Thank you for your interest in Furong Lab. This page is the front door for research opportunities: check whether your pathway is open, identify a specific research fit, and submit one structured inquiry.

RecruitingFall 2027

Ph.D. opportunities

Furong Lab is hiring Ph.D. students.

Prospective students interested in world models, reasoning control, or trustworthy self-improvement should apply through UMD Computer Science. An optional research-fit inquiry can help the lab understand your interests, but it does not replace the official application.

Choose your path

Step 1

Choose your opportunity type.

Availability and requirements differ by pathway. Please use the route that describes your current status rather than sending a general email.

Open · Fall 2027

Prospective Ph.D. students

Apply through the UMD Computer Science graduate admissions process. The research inquiry form is optional and does not replace the official application or admission review.

Use the inquiry form UMD graduate admissions

Open inquiries

Current UMD graduate students

Use the form if you are looking for a research advisor, rotation, or sustained collaboration. Include your program, preparation, weekly availability, and one specific lab direction.

Use the inquiry form

Open inquiries

Current UMD undergraduates

Use the form to request research experience. Priority goes to students who can make a sustained commitment and can point to relevant coursework, code, or a substantial technical project.

Use the inquiry form

Limited availability

Research internships

In-person and remote requests use the same form. State exact dates, location constraints, funding status, and the concrete technical contribution you are prepared to make.

Use the inquiry form

Not currently hosting

Visiting students or scholars

The lab is not currently able to host visiting students or scholars, including visits that require an invitation, sponsorship, or institutional affiliation.

Program referral

High school students

The lab is generally unable to supervise individual high-school projects or informal internships. Eligible students should explore the Maryland Robotics Center’s structured SPARC program.

Explore the MRC SPARC program

Step 2

Choose one research direction.

Broad interests such as “AI” or “machine learning” are difficult to evaluate. Name one pillar, then identify a specific project, paper, or research question within it.

World models

Learn what can happen

Embodied AI, multimodal learning, and sequential decision-making.

Reasoning control

Decide how to think

AI agents, test-time compute, and agentic workflows.

Trustworthy self-improvement

Learn from failure

AI safety, alignment, and robust learning.

Step 3

Prepare one concise submission.

The form is intentionally structured so inquiries can be reviewed consistently. Use links instead of large attachments and have these five items ready.

01
Your pathway
Select Ph.D., current UMD graduate, current UMD undergraduate, or research internship.
02
Your research fit
Name one Furong Lab pillar and one specific project, paper, or question that genuinely interests you.
03
Your proposed contribution
Describe one concrete question, experiment, system, or technical direction you could pursue.
04
Evidence of preparation
Link to your CV, code, publications, portfolio, or one substantial technical project and explain your contribution.
05
Practical constraints
Give your dates, weekly availability, location or remote constraints, and funding status when relevant.

Structured intake

One form. One review queue.

Submit one form after reviewing the guidance above. Inquiries are reviewed for research fit, preparation, timing, and available mentoring capacity. The lab cannot guarantee an individual reply.

When a candidate’s interests and timing align with current opportunities, the lab may share a private link for a short conversation. Please do not send a duplicate email after submitting the form.

Ready to submit?

The form opens in a new tab and does not require a UMD or Google account. Please have your CV or résumé available as a shareable link.

Submit a research inquiry Form submissions—not direct email—are the review queue for research opportunities.