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FAQ for prospective students
  • I cannot reply to every email from prospective students, even though I would like to. Perhaps you can find your answer here.

  • Q. My CV is attached. Please take a look and comment on my admission chances.
    A. Your CV is indeed exceptional. Yet, I cannot comment on your chances. Each year, an admissions committee looks at all applications and decides the 'admissible' students. A subset of these are offered admission based on the interests of all faculty as well as other factors such as funding. I hope you will consider applying to UCSD.

  • Q. I want to work with you. Do you have space in your lab next year?
    A. Currently, I expect my 'lab' to add 1-2 students each year, so I can have a steady state average of 5-7 PhD. students. If you are not here yet, please mention my name in your application. If you are here already (or admitted to UCSD), please send me an email and we can talk about some research problems. In general, my own research interests are quite broad, and my current students often point me in new and exciting directions. So I am always available to listen to your new ideas.

  • Q. What kind of a background should I have to work with you?
    A. There is no requirement. We work on designing novel tools for analyzing biological data. In the past, some of my students had no prior biology background, while others were quite proficient. Most have some background in algorithms, and some mathematical maturity. If this does not help, or you feel your background is different, please attend one of my classes, or do a rotation with me.

  • Q. I want to set up a meeting with you but you haven't replied to my email.
    A. My apologies. Setting up meeting times is hard over email. Please call me if you want to set up a meeting time. Email is good for all other requests.

  • Q. I am a sophomore/junior at IITx, and would like to come over the summer for an internship
    A. Unfortunately, I do not usually have funding to support international students on internships. If you are studying at UCSD, or locally, and would like some research experience, please come by.