Eigenmumbles

If you are reading this, it is likely because you are an IIT student who wrote me to seek an internship, and I directed you here. At present, I do not have internship opportunities for students outside Cornell. If you are really interested in doing research with me, please do consider applying to our Ph.D. program when you graduate! In the mean time, though, I would like to mention a two points that may help you in your search (adapted from a Ph.D. comics post that is worth checking out).

First: Your letter is a writing sample. Treat it as such. Check your spelling, punctuation, and usage before you send anything. Describe your qualifications clearly, but concisely. Leave out the sentence “I have a passion for your research area”; instead, show your passion by describing why my research area interests you.

Second: I appreciate when students are interested in my work. If you write me an email that addresses me and mentions reasons you specifically would like to work with me (and specific qualifications that are relevant to my work), I will at least try to send a polite reply, and I will likely remember your email later. In contrast, if you send the same form email to me that you sent to thirty other CS professors, I will likely reply tersely (if at all) and forget about it within minutes.

Cornell CS is trying a small IIT internship program this summer. You may want to contact your department’s internship coordinator to find out about the details.