faq

interest in joining our group
 

PhD applicants: The 2025-26 admission cycle has ended. Applications for the 2026-27 admission cycle will open in Autumn 2025.

I primarily admit PhD students through the iSchool though also have the ability to recruit through CSE. I can co-advise candidates in the HCDE and BIME programs.

If you have a background in NLP and experience in human-centered methods, healthcare, and/or accessibility, I welcome your application. I am not replying to individual emails from applicants at this time.

Masters/Undergraduate students: I occasionally accept advanced undergraduate and Masters students enrolled at UW or elsewhere to conduct research. If you are at UW, you can receive credit for research. If you reach out, please include your CV and the following information in your email:

  • Which research questions or problems interest you?
  • Why is this lab the right place to conduct this research?
  • What do you hope to get out of this collaboration?
  • Are you proficient in Python? If so, what frameworks (ML, NLP, data analytics, data visualization) are you familiar with? If you have sample code from an open source project (not a class project), please send a link.
  • Have you worked with other faculty before on research? If so, summarize what you worked on.
  • Have you taken any courses with content in NLP, ML, AI, CV, HCI, data/text mining, data science, or research methods (including any you are currently enrolled in)?
  • If you have led any research publications, please include these as an attachment and describe your contributions.

Other inquiries: Postdocs and visiting students should email to discuss potential opportunities. Please include a description of your research interests, alignment with this lab, CV, any relevant recent publications, and your timeframe. If you are an international student, you may need to apply through the UW's VISIT program. Please note there is a 12-week lead time for visa applications and a 12-month limit on PhD visits.

requesting letters of recommendation
 

If you were a student in my class, will I write you a letter of recommendation?

I will agree to write letters for students in my classes only if I am confident I can write a strong letter that will help your application. This is because a short, thin, or lukewarm letter is more likely to hurt your chances of admission into a program than help them. In general, if you did not actively participate in class or work with me outside of class in some manner (e.g., as a TA or participating in research), I would recommend that you ask someone else who knows you better and can speak to your qualities. In other words, I should have some sense of your skills, work ethic, and personality that goes beyond just the grade you received in my class.

I also ask that you meet the following criteria:

  • You have fully completed a class with me
  • You did well in my class
  • You give me at least two weeks advance notice, and preferably more
  • You will waive your right to read your letter

In addition to all this, it also matters what the letter of recommendation will be used for. If you are applying to Masters programs or fellowships, meeting the above criteria is generally sufficient. If you are applying to PhD programs, I will write you a letter only if we have worked together in a research capacity.

(partially adapted from Benjamin Mako Hill)