Join the Lab

Thank you for your interest in working with the lab! We are actively recruiting students who are interested in any of these research areas: human-computer interaction, natural user interfaces, augmented reality, and child-computer interaction.

Prospective PhD Students

We have openings for at least 1-2 PhD positions in Computer Science at the University of South Florida (USF) starting Fall 2023 or beyond. Strong candidates should be self-motivated, have programming experience, and interested in any of the following research areas: human-computer interaction, augmented reality, natural user interactions (e.g., touch, speech, gestures), and child-computer interaction. You can learn about USF’s Computer Science and Engineering PhD program here. PhD Students at USF are typically funded with full tuition fees and stipend.

If you are interested, apply to USF’s Computer Science PhD program (Spring priority deadline in September, Fall priority deadline in January) and mention that you are interested in working with me in your essay. Also, you can send Dr. Julia Woodward a CV or resume, a link to a professional webpage or portfolio if you have one, and a few sentences on why you want to join the EnCoDe Lab, including what project you are most interested in and what kinds of work you’d like to do. Please contact Dr. Julia Woodward if you have questions or would like to talk!

Undergraduate / Master’s Students at University of South Florida

We look forward to working with undergraduate and master’s students at USF! Human-computer interaction research is strongly interdisciplinary; therefore, I welcome students from diverse backgrounds (e.g., computer science, psychology, education). Some nice-to-have skills (but not required) include programming fundamentals, good communication, experimental design, and time management. Interested students should email Dr. Julia Woodward their CV or resume, a short description of their research interests, a link to a professional webpage or portfolio if you have one, and a few sentences on why you want to join the EnCoDe Lab, including what project you are most interested in and what kinds of work you’d like to do. We may schedule a 30-minute meeting to discuss your research interests and potential projects.

If you’re a good fit, then there are at least two ways you can participate:

  1. Volunteer: You can join the lab as a volunteer, working at least 5-10 hours a week.
  2. For undergraduate students, course credit: You can sign up for independent study (CIS4900) or supervised research (CIS4915); these are 3 credit courses offered through the CSE department (make sure to check for prerequisites). You can also sign up for IDS 4914 through the office of undergraduate research.
  3. For M.S. students, if you are pursuing a thesis option I can be your research advisor.

Students who have been working with the lab a few semesters and have proven themselves capable of research may be eligible for paid research positions, and the chance to be involved in research publications.