FAQ

  1. Where is your office?
  2. Where is your lab?
  3. I sent you an email, why did you not respond?
  4. I am in your class and I sent you an email at 6:30 pm on Friday. It is Sunday and you haven’t responded yet. Why???
  5. What are my chances of getting accepted as a graduate student in your laboratory?
  6. I’m excited about robotics research – how do I pursue a career in this field?
  7. Do you have any openings for graduate students?
  8. Do you have any openings for undergraduate students?
  9. Do you have any openings for postdoctoral students/research engineers?
  10. Should I apply?

1. Where is your office?

Please see my contact page

Mailing Address:
Professor Elizabeth Croft
Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC
6250 Applied Science Lane
Vancouver, BC CANADA V6T 1Z4

Tel: 604.822-6614 Fax: 604.822.2403

2. Where is your lab?

My lab is located in the Institute for Computing, Information & Cognitive Systems (ICICS) extension.

Mailing Address:

Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC

6250 Applied Science Lane

Vancouver, BC CANADA V6T 1Z4

Street Address: Room X015 ICICS Building

2366 Main Mall, UBC Campus

(note this address is the front of the building, we are at the back, off of Engineering Road, see Lab website for directions)
Tel. 604.822.3147
Fax. 604.822.2403

3. I sent you an email, why did you not respond?

Like many faculty, I get a *lot* of email. Some of it starts like this:
Dear Sir….

I immediately delete these, or any email that CLEARLY indicates that the writer didn’t bother to even look at my name, never mind the picture on my web!
If you emailed me to ask about graduate student openings, please see item 7.

4. I am in your class and I sent you an email at 6:30 pm on Friday. It is Sunday and you haven’t responded yet. Why???

I am struggling to achieve work-life balance.

5. What are my chances of getting accepted as a graduate student in your laboratory?

I get this question repeatedly. It’s hard to answer. Selection of graduate students is very difficult. It depends on current projects, funding, student fit, background and a whole host of other items. The time lag doesn’t help either – with students applying in January and starting in September, projects and funding can shift inbetween. I give preference to students who demonstrate:

  • Strong background in Mechatronics or related disciplines (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and in some cases cognitive science). High GPA in relevant courses is important.
  • Training in robotics, cognitive science, physiology, psychology, computer vision, and other related areas.
  • Prior demonstration of activity in related projects.
  • Strong hands-on instrumentation skills
  • Strong programming skills (C++, Matlab/Simulink, LabView)
  • Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and attitudes (friendly, helpful, good natured – unhappy people need not apply)
  • Strong references from supervisors (especially from people I know, or whose work is related to my area of research).

Please keep in mind that I get hundreds of inquiries about graduate studies each year, and only accept a few students every year. I review applications to our department very carefully, but simply do not have time to review all emailed cv’s and statements of purpose. Thus, while the simple statistical likelihood of being accepted into my laboratory is quite low, the likelihood of being accepted if you do not apply is zero. Please do not email me to ask me if you should apply. That decision is up to you. Please do not email me to ask if I am going to take any students (or if I will accept you). The answer is that I typically take a few students every year, but only select from those who apply. Students with major scholarships (e.g. NSERC) are obviously much more likely to be accepted to my lab (provided the fit is good). If you do hold an NSERC, that is a great reason to email me.

6. I’m excited about robotics research- how do I pursue a career in this field?

In highschool you need to continue to study math and physics through to graduation. These are the baseline courses needed for acceptance into programs in engineering and computer science at most universities. Keep up your interest by getting involved in robotics competitions and clubs. I would also recommend to keep your options broad in highschool and undergraduate studies – courses in biology and psychology will be helpful if you are interested in biologically inspired robotics or human-robot interaction. In university I suggest you major in mechanical, electrical or computer engineering, or computer sciences. Some schools have a mechatronics program. This is highly recommended as it combines elements of all three of these programs. To pursue robotics at the research and development level you will need to get into a graduate degree specializing in some area of robotics. This requires achieving high grades in your undergraduate studies – I also strongly recommend looking for opportunities to do an internship or similar program in a university robotics lab or institute.

7. Do you have any openings for graduate students?

I recruit a small number of students each year, for entry in September. I start reviewing applications in mid January and make offers through the early spring. Off cycle acceptances are very rare . Please see “prospective students” in the menu. I normally recruit students for fall (September) start. Please do not email me asking if I have any openings. I will not be able to provide you with any specific information beyond what is available on this website, which I will update as I can.

8. Do you have any openings for undergraduate students?

Typically, yes, I recruit undergraduate students through two programs: the NSERC USRA program (deadlines in February) and the UBC workstudy program (deadlines in August). USRA openings will normally be advertised through this website, in January. Workstudy openings will normally be advertised through the workstudy website in August. Please do not email me asking if I have any openings. I will not be able to provide you with any specific information beyond what is available on this website, which I will update as I can.

9. Do you have any openings for postdoctoral students/research engineers?

Currently such positions are filled in my lab. Any openings will be posted on my lab website and on the Robotics World Wide Listserve. Please email me if your are eligible for the NSERC (or similar) PDF scholarship program and would like to study at the CARIS lab.

10. Should I apply?

Please read the answers above, especially #5, and review this website. The rest is up to you (Tuum Est).

 

Thank you for reading my FAQ. I’ll update it as time allows.

 

Elizabeth Croft