Prospective Students FAQs

Q: Are you taking new students? A: Yes, I plan to admit PhD students for the 2026 cycle. Please apply to the PhD program at JHU CS department (Deadline: December 15, 2025) and mention me in your application.

Q: Are you taking new interns? A: I do not plan to recruit interns in 2025, but I am open to recruiting interns for Fall 2026. Please stay tuned.

Q: What are your research interests? A: Please see this page for the summary.

Q: How should I indicate interest in working with you? A: You can submit this form (preferred) or email me directly at jaemin@jhu.edu. If you choose to email, please include a brief statement of purpose and your CV. Unfortunately, I cannot reply to every email, but I do read every submitted form and email. I will reach out if I find a good match.

Q: What should I include in my statement of purpose? A: Your statement of purpose is a crucial part of the application process and it’s your chance to sell you. I have found that such critical thinking and writing skills are consistently invaluable in many situations (e.g., when writing papers, scholarships, giving talks, grants, etc.) throughout my PhD program and future research journey.

• Demonstrate your unique, long-term vision. A PhD program is a long journey (mine took 5 years). Avoid focusing solely on topics that are currently “hot” or that further scaling of foundation models will likely solve in the near future. Instead, focus on demonstrating why your research interests are special and impactful in the long term.

• Show your passion and initiative. Describe how you have explored and maximized resources around you for your growth. Explain how your past job experiences, internships, projects, or other activities have shaped your research interests and how you are well-equipped to pursue your future research goals.