mentorship
Interested in working with me? Please read this before messaging.
I have multiple openings for Fall 2026, including both Ph.D. in iSchool and CS, and Master’s students in CS. I also welcome interns and collaborations.
Before reaching out, please ask yourself: Is this a research question I’d be excited to spend several months working on? Everyone’s time is limited, and I want students in my lab to feel proud of the projects they take on — the kind of work you’d be happy to share with peers or even people outside the field.
If my lab’s research directions don’t genuinely interest you, that’s completely okay, but it probably means this isn’t the right fit. If you are excited about these topics, though, I’d be very glad to hear from you.
How we work
Our Attitude: Interests-Driven Consistency
Research doesn’t thrive on logging endless hours - it thrives on genuine interest, curiosity, and passion. The best researchers don’t just do tasks; they carry their projects with them because the questions truly matter to them. When you are deeply interested in a problem, it becomes natural to keep thinking, exploring, and pushing forward. Interest fuels persistence, and joy in the process makes progress sustainable.
Our Focus: Healthcare
General-domain AI and NLP methods often cannot be directly applied to medical tasks, since the healthcare domain comes with its own unique challenges and constraints. Our lab serves as a bridge — identifying important medical problems and developing tailored solutions to address them. Right now, that often means machine learning or NLP, but who knows what else will become relevant next year. We do not simply apply existing models; we adapt, extend, and create new algorithms to meet the needs of clinicians, patients, and the broader healthcare system. Our ultimate goal is to develop methods that are both scientifically rigorous and impactful in real-world medical settings.
Lab Culture
- Shared Success — A student’s success is my success. I am committed to investing in your growth and supporting your journey toward becoming an independent researcher. Early on, I provide close guidance, including technical and implementation details when needed. As you grow in confidence and independence, I step back so you can take the lead.
- Excellence in Every Dimension — Success is not only about technical skills. It depends on the rigor of our methods, the depth of our analysis, the clarity of our communication, and the kindness we show one another. We aim for excellence across all these dimensions.
Who we are looking for
A Genuine Passion and Curiosity for AI/NLP in Healthcare
We seek colleagues whose passion and deep curiosity for applying AI and NLP to healthcare drive their research. The ideal candidate can explain why these problems excite them and why they want to dedicate their PhD journey to advancing this area. We value people whose curiosity and commitment push them to tackle meaningful challenges — improving care, supporting clinicians, and making a real difference for patients.
Strong Coding or Clinical Foundations
Students in our lab generally come from two backgrounds. Some have strong coding and machine learning skills and are eager to solve medical problems and collaborate with physicians, patients, and stakeholders. Others are trained as physicians (or in related medical fields) and bring research problems where AI/NLP could be a meaningful solution. Both paths are equally valued, and together they make our work impactful and interdisciplinary.
Critical Thinking and Self-Motivation
Being self-motivated does not mean working around the clock — that’s neither healthy nor sustainable. It means going beyond “just completing the task” and truly engaging with the research.
For example, ask yourself: What is the novelty of this research question? Why is it important to solve? What resources are needed? Why hasn’t it been solved before? If a model achieves 90% accuracy, don’t just report the number. Dig deeper: What does it really mean? Can you reproduce it? Where does it fail? How does it compare to existing approaches? The most interesting research questions often emerge from this kind of reflection.
A Mindset for Growth
A PhD isn’t just about learning more facts — it’s about growing in every direction. The people who thrive are those who actively seek feedback, absorb it quickly, and use it to improve. They’re resilient enough to handle setbacks and persistent enough to keep moving forward. Above all, they bring energy and passion to their work.
Kindness, Respect, and Faithfulness
We also expect you to maintain integrity, respect different work styles, and contribute positively as a member of the team. Mentor–mentee relationships last a lifetime. Lab-mate relationships often endure long after graduation. Joining this lab means becoming part of a community — and we choose colleagues as if we’re selecting partners for the long term, not just coworkers for a few years.
That’s why kindness, respect, and faithfulness to one another matter so much. Energy, passion, and curiosity are the baseline. But without kindness and respect, none of it works. We are not research machines; we are humans working together — and what sustains a team is kindness and respect.
If you’d like to name me as your potential advisor in your Ph.D. or Master’s application, please fill out this application form. If you’re interested in internship opportunities or research collaborations, please fill out this collaboration form. If you’re interested in postdoc positions, please send me an email with your cv.