phd synopsis computer science

• Values of Inclusion
• 2020 Antiracism Task Force
• 2022 DEI Report
• Research News

Department Life

• Listed by Recipient
• Listed by Category
• Oral History of Cornell CS
• CS 40th Anniversary Booklet
• ABC Book for Computer Science at Cornell by David Gries
• Books by Author
• Books Chronologically
• The 60's
• The 70's
• The 80's
• The 90's
• The 00's
• The 2010's
• Faculty Positions: Ithaca
• Faculty Positions: New York City
• Lecturer Position: Ithaca
• Post-doc Position: Ithaca
• Staff/Technical Positions
• Ugrad Course Staff
• Ithaca Info
• Internal info
• Graduation Information
• Cornell Tech Colloquium
• Student Colloquium
• Fall 2023 Colloquium
• Conway-Walker Lecture Series
• Salton 2023 Lecture Series
• Fall 2023 Artificial Intelligence Seminar
• Fall 2023 Robotics Seminar
• Fall 2023 Theory Seminar
• Big Red Hacks
• Cornell University High School Programming Contests 2023
• Game Design Initiative
• CSMore: The Rising Sophomore Summer Program in Computer Science
• Explore CS Research
• ACSU Research Night
• Cornell Junior Theorists' Workshop
• Researchers
• Ph.D. Students
• M.Eng. Students
• M.S. Students
• Ph.D. Alumni
• List of Courses
• Course and Room Roster
• CS Advanced Standing Exam
• Architecture
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Biology
• Database Systems
• Human Interaction
• Machine Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Programming Languages
• Scientific Computing
• Software Engineering
• Systems and Networking
• Theory of Computing
• Contact Academic Advisor
• Your First CS Course
• Technical Electives
• CS with Other Majors/Areas
• Transfer Credits
• CS Honors Program
• CPT for International CS Undergrads
• Graduation Requirements
• Useful Forms
• Becoming a CS Major
• Requirements
• Game Design Minor
• Co-op Program
• Cornell Bowers CIS Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE)
• Independent Research (CS 4999)
• Student Groups
• UGrad Events
• Undergraduate Learning Center
• UGrad Course Staff Info
• The Review Process
• Early M.Eng Credit Approval
• Financial Aid
• Prerequisites
• The Application Process
• The Project
• Pre-approved Electives
• Degree Requirements
• The Course Enrollment Process
• Advising Tips
• Entrepreneurship
• Cornell Tech Programs
• Professional Development
• Contact MEng Office
• Career Success
• Applicant FAQ
• Computer Science Graduate Office Hours
• Exam Scheduling Guidelines
• Graduate TA Handbook
• MS Degree Checklist
• MS Student Financial Support
• Special Committee Selection
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Contact MS Office
• Ph.D. Applicant FAQ
• Graduate Housing
• Non-Degree Application Guidelines
• Ph. D. Visit Day
• Business Card Policy
• Cornell Tech
• Curricular Practical Training
• Fellowship Opportunities
• Field of Computer Science Ph.D. Student Handbook
• Field A Exam Summary Form
• Graduate School Forms
• Instructor / TA Application
• Ph.D. Requirements
• Ph.D. Student Financial Support
• Travel Funding Opportunities
• The Outside Minor Requirement
• CS Graduate Minor
• Outreach Opportunities
• Parental Accommodation Policy
• Special Masters
• Student Spotlights
• Contact PhD Office

Search form

Computer Science Ph.D. Program

You are here.

The Cornell Ph.D. program in computer science is consistently ranked among the top six departments in the country, with world-class research covering all of computer science. Our computer science program is distinguished by the excellence of the faculty, by a long tradition of pioneering research, and by the breadth of its Ph.D. program. Faculty and Ph.D. students are located both in Ithaca and in New York City at the Cornell Tech campus . The Field of Computer Science also includes faculty members from other departments (Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Applied Math, Mathematics, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computational Biology, and Architecture) who can supervise a student's Ph.D. thesis research in computer science.

Over the past years we've increased our strength in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, systems, security, machine learning, and digital libraries, while maintaining our depth in traditional areas such as theory, programming languages and scientific computing.  You can find out more about our research here . 

The department provides an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere that encourages the sharing of ideas across all areas. 

Cornell is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This beautiful area provides many opportunities for recreational activities such as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and brewery/cider/wine-tasting. In fact, Cornell offers courses in all of these activities.

The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is located on Roosevelt Island.  Cornell Tech  is a graduate school conceived and implemented expressly to integrate the study of technology with business, law, and design. There are now over a half-dozen masters programs on offer as well as doctoral studies.

FAQ with more information about the two campuses .

Ph.D. Program Structure

Each year, about 30-40 new Ph.D. students join the department. During the first two semesters, students become familiar with the faculty members and their areas of research by taking graduate courses, attending research seminars, and participating in research projects. By the end of the first year, each student selects a specific area and forms a committee based on the student's research interests. This “Special Committee” of three or more faculty members will guide the student through to a Ph.D. dissertation. Ph.D. students that decide to work with a faculty member based at Cornell Tech typically move to New York City after a year in Ithaca.

The Field believes that certain areas are so fundamental to Computer Science that all students should be competent in them. Ph.D. candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in four areas of computer science at the high undergraduate level: theory, programming languages, systems, and artificial intelligence.

Each student then focuses on a specific topic of research and begins a preliminary investigation of that topic. The initial results are presented during a comprehensive oral evaluation, which is administered by the members of the student's Special Committee. The objective of this examination, usually taken in the third year, is to evaluate a student's ability to undertake original research at the Ph.D. level.

The final oral examination, a public defense of the dissertation, is taken before the Special Committee.

To encourage students to explore areas other than Computer Science, the department requires that students complete an outside minor. Cornell offers almost 90 fields from which a minor can be chosen. Some students elect to minor in related fields such as Applied Mathematics, Information Science, Electrical Engineering, or Operations Research. Others use this opportunity to pursue interests as diverse as Music, Theater, Psychology, Women's Studies, Philosophy, and Finance.

The computer science Ph.D. program complies with the requirements of the Cornell Graduate School , which include requirements on residency, minimum grades, examinations, and dissertation.

The Department also administers a very small 2-year Master of Science program (with thesis). Students in this program serve as teaching assistants and receive full tuition plus a stipend for their services.

Computer Science & Engineering

Doctoral Programs in Computer Science and Engineering

Updated January 2023

PhD Program Overview

The following requirements are for students who entered the program starting Fall 2018 or later. If you entered Doctoral Program  prior to Fall 2018  see our  Former Curriculum Requirements .

CSE offers Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Science and in Computer Engineering, providing a research-oriented education in preparation for a research, industrial, or entrepreneurial career. These programs explore both the fundamental aspects and application of computation, spanning theory, software, hardware, and applications.

The 37-unit coursework requirement is intended to ensure that students are exposed to (1) fundamental concepts and tools, (2) advanced, up-to-date views in topics outside their area (the breadth requirement), and (3) a deep, up-to-date view of their research area (the elective requirement). Doctoral students are expected to complete the breadth and elective requirements within the first three years of the program. All required coursework must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of CSE 292 (Faculty Research Seminar), which is only offered S/U.

To access the CSE PhD Program Course Planner worksheet:   click here

Units obtained from a single course cannot count towards both the breadth and the elective requirements; they may only be applied towards one or the other. Doctoral students who have taken similar courses elsewhere may petition for a waiver of the required courses or for substitution by alternative courses.

The breadth requirement ensures that doctoral students share knowledge of fundamental concepts and tools from across broad areas of computer science and computer engineering. Each doctoral student must take each of these courses for a letter grade and maintain an overall breadth course GPA of 3.3 (except for CSE 292, for which a letter grade is not assigned). A student will typically complete all breadth courses within the first two years of graduate study.  Breadth courses are categorized into ten areas and are listed here alphabetically:

• Artificial Intelligence 
• Bioinformatics
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Systems & Security
• Database Systems
• Graphics & Vision
• Human-computer Interaction 
• Programming Languages, Compilers, and Software Engineering
• Theoretical Computer Science

To fulfill the breadth requirement, students will select four out of the ten areas and take a single course from each of these four areas.

For courses approved to fulfill the breadth requirement, please see the CSE Graduate Course Structure for PhD Students.

Additionally, students are required to take CSE 292, a 1-unit Faculty Researcher Seminar, where CSE faculty present one-hour seminars of their current research work in their areas of interest.  This course is only taught in Fall quarters and offered for S/U grade only.

The elective requirement ensures that doctoral students acquire some depth of knowledge in a general research area early in their career, but it also does not preclude them from pursuing a breadth of topics, if it serves their research interests. The elective requirement is designed to be flexible and nimble enough to respond to the rapidly and constantly evolving dynamic disciplines of computer science and computer engineering. 

The elective requirement is also designed with heavy faculty mentorship in mind.  Students will consult with their faculty advisors to develop an academic plan that will include four courses from the aforementioned four separate breadth areas and five elective courses that may be selected from an approved set of courses featured in the  CSE Graduate Course Structure for PhD Students.

Units obtained in the CSE 209 series, 229 series, 239 series, 249 series, 259 series, 269 series, 279 series, 289 series, 219, 290, 292, 293, 294, 298, 299, 500, and 599 do not count toward the elective requirement.

The research exam in the first milestone in the Ph.D. program.  It has three goals:

• Depth . The research exam verifies the student's ability to identify challenges and open problems in a focused area.  The exam should teach students how to navigate, acquire depth of knowledge, and perform critical analysis in a given research area; the exam should verify such abilities.
• Communication . The research exam will verify the student's ability to communicate past and proposed research, orally and in writing.
• Provide diverse feedback . The research exam provides the student with feedback on their research synthesis, analysis, and communication skills from CSE faculty beyond their advisor and outside their immediate research area.

As part of the exam, the student prepares and makes a presentation to their research exam committee.  The presentation can present results of their research and must also place that work in the context of related work in the field.

The exam committee comprises three faculty members (not including the student’s advisor), and the committee evaluates the student based on the goals above.

Student should complete the exam before the end of their second year of study.

Teaching is an important part of a doctoral student’s training. All students enrolled in the doctoral program must have one quarter of training as a teaching assistant. This is a formal degree requirement and must be completed before the student is permitted to graduate. The requirement is met by serving as a 50 percent teaching assistant and taking CSE 500 (Teaching Assistantship). CSE 599 (Teaching Methods in Computer Science) examines theoretical and practical communication and teaching techniques particularly appropriate to computer science, and students usually take it prior to or concurrent with the teaching assistantship.

The qualifying examination is a requirement for advancement to candidacy. Prior to taking the qualifying examination, a student must have satisfied the departmental course and research exam requirements and must have been accepted by a CSE faculty member as a doctoral thesis candidate. All doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the end of their third year, and advancement is mandatory by the end of the fourth year. The examination is administered by a doctoral committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division and consists of faculty from CSE and other departments. More information on the composition of the committee can be obtained from the CSE graduate office. The examination is taken after the student and his or her adviser have identified a topic for the dissertation and an initial demonstration of feasible progress has been made. The candidate is expected to describe his or her accomplishments to date as well as future work.

The dissertation defense is the final doctoral examination. A candidate for the doctoral degree is expected to write a dissertation and defend it in an oral examination conducted by the doctoral committee. 

Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of four years. Total university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered time at UC San Diego cannot exceed eight years.

PhD students may obtain an MS Degree along the way or a terminal MS degree by completing the PhD coursework requirements (see details in the section “Doctoral Degree Program”); AND completing four units of CSE 299/298/293 OR an additional 4-unit, letter-graded, approved course from the CSE Graduate Course Structure; AND passing the PhD Research Exam.  Please note that completion of CSE 292 is not required for PhD students to earn the MS along the way or a terminal MS.

Financial support is available to qualified graduate students in the form of fellowships, loans, and assistantships. For questions about financial support, please see our website: http://cse.ucsd.edu/graduate/financial-opportunities .

• Menu  Close 
• Search 

PhD Program

We are proud of the quality of PhD students we attract and the training they receive. All of our students receive support, including an annual stipend, in the form of external and internal competitive fellowships, research fellowships, or teaching fellowships. As a PhD candidate, you will share in the excitement of discovery as you collaborate with our faculty on cutting-edge research . You will also acquire strong independent research skills and begin to develop your own reputation as a member of the research community.

Because the advisor-graduate relationship is the cornerstone of a successful PhD experience, all new PhD candidates are carefully matched with faculty advisors based on mutual research interests. In addition, an active three-person PhD committee is created for each PhD student to provide cogent advice throughout your degree program.

You will find the work here challenging and personally rewarding. Students who complete our PhD program are well-prepared for careers in academia, research, government, and industry. Please visit the Graduate Admissions information page  for application requirements, deadlines, and other important information.

Application Deadlines:

• The PhD deadline for fall is December 15th. (No recruiting for spring admissions.)
• The application will be available for submission on or around August 15.

To learn more about the PhD admissions process, please visit our PhD Admissions FAQ page .

Apply today

Learn more about the graduate admissions process and start your application.

For Current Students

Policies, resources, forms, course information, FAQs, and services for graduate students.

PhD in Computer Science

WPI’s PhD in Computer Science has built an international reputation for research excellence over the past 40 years, providing you with extensive opportunities to work side by side with interdisciplinary researchers at the forefront of innovations that are shaping the discipline.

Value Proposition Description

Our PhD in computer science gives students immediate access to world-class laboratories and the latest in computers and software, solving real-world problems and creating groundbreaking advances in computer security, artificial intelligence, database systems, data mining, human interaction, robotics, software engineering, visualization, and image science.

In WPI’s PhD in Computer Science, you’ll be focused on solving real-world problems, from increasing computer system resilience in the face of attacks, to effective data mining that improves medical diagnoses and treatment. Exploration is encouraged for our doctorate in computer science, so you’ll take a range of courses from different areas, including essential work in theory, algorithms, and systems or networks. Then, you’ll direct your curriculum to suit your research interests and goals in areas like graphics/imaging, artificial intelligence, and databases.

Through his mobile health and sensing research, EPICC PI Emmanuel Agu is looking at the role mobile devices, smartphones, and health care apps can play in capturing important health data and biomarkers.

In our computer science PhD program, you’ll conduct advanced research with our renowned faculty members in core research groups supported by agencies like the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, and the US Army.

You’ll have access to our state-of-the-art research facilities offering the latest in computers and software as you pursue your doctorate in computer science. These resources, such as the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Lab and the Applied Logic and Security Lab, allow for creative and inspired exploration in areas like Internet privacy, next-generation user interfaces in gaming, and artificial intelligence.

At WPI, students venture deeply into the design, application, and ethics of cutting-edge technology.

At WPI, our approach means you’ll consider the additional social, ethical, and technological implications of your research and solutions so your work becomes more applicable and effective.

Areas of study at WPI are relevant in every area of industry, government, and academia, so our multidisciplinary and collaborative approach gives your research the potential to make an even greater impact in the world.

Building better cybersecurity tools, using smartphone apps to detect mental health changes, or using data to find previously unknown patterns—all things WPI computer science students do.

Our state-of-the-art facilities give students access to powerful supercomputers and to facilities that support research in computer security, artificial intelligence, database systems, human interaction in virtual environments, robotics, data mining, and more.

• Applied Logic and Security Group (ALAS)
• Artificial Intelligence Research Group (AIRG)
• Database Systems Research Group (DSRG)
• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Image Science Research Group (ISRG)
• Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Research Group (KDDRG)
• Mobile Graphics Research Group (MGRG)
• Performance Evaluation of Distributed Systems (PEDS)
• Software Engineering Research Group (SERG)
• Theory Umbrella Group (THUG)
• Tutor Research Group (TRG)

Getting Involved

WPI actively supports many ways for you to interact with other students and the campus community through clubs, organizations, and more. Some are even designed specifically for students earning a PhD in computer science:

• Computer Science Graduate Student Organization (CS-GSO)
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Women in Computer Science (WiCS)

When you complete your PhD in Computer Science from WPI, your interdisciplinary skill set, publication record, and professional presentations of your findings are evidence of your productivity, creativity, and accomplishments. WPI’s Career Development Center offers resources to help you stand out to potential employers and ensure your successful future. They can help you find PhD in computer science job opportunities so you can get a jump start on your career. Maybe you have specific questions about what PhD computer science salary looks like? We’re here to help answer any questions you may have.

Interested in Pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science First?

Not quite ready to pursue a doctorate in computer science? Our master’s in computer science will challenge you to utilize practical and theoretical expertise as you solve real-world problems in fields ranging from game development to data mining. Maybe you’re looking to study online? Explore our online master of science in computer science which offers the same rigorous curriculum at the convenience of your busy lifestyle.

Are You Ready to Get Started on a Computer Science Career Path?

Do you think a career in computer science fits your interests? WPI’s bachelor’s in computer science blends the technical knowledge you’ll need with the global view of how to best use your expertise to better the world. Our rigorous curriculum and collaborative faculty gives you the computer science tools you need to succeed.

Are You Looking for Basic Computer Science Experience?

If you’re someone who wants to develop an understanding of computer science without majoring in the discipline, try a minor in computer science. WPI’s minor in computer science gives you the knowledge and skills you’ll be able to apply in almost any field you enter. Having this technical understanding will help you advance in your career and is experience employers want to see.

Faculty Profiles

Emmanuel Agu is currently a professor in the computer science department at WPI having received his Masters and PhD in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His research interests are in the areas of computer graphics, mobile computing, and wireless networks. He is especially interested in research into how to use a smartphone as a platform to deliver better healthcare.

I am generally interested in  network security  and  traffic analysis , and in the challenges that arise when attempting to design security systems which are  performant ,  effective , and  usable . My interests cover:

• IoT and residential network security
• Web and cloud security
• Software security
• Malware detection and understanding
• Usable security

Professor Eltabakh’s research is in the broad area of Database Management Systems and Information Management. In particular, his work is in the areas of query processing and optimization, indexing techniques, scientific data management, and large-scale data analytics. Prof. Eltabakh is currently exploring possible extensions to both database management systems and Hadoop framework to support scientific applications and health-care systems. He is a member of the Database Systems Research Group (DSRG) and a faculty member of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) program.

I am a system researcher by training and am particularly passionate about designing systems mechanisms and policies to handle trade-offs in cost, performance, and efficiency for emerging applications. Since joining WPI, my group’s research has focused on improving system support and performance for machine learning (ML)-related workloads. Because ML is widely adopted in many applications, it is critical to have performant systems that can effectively train, serve, and manage ML models.

Information visualization is a powerful means for understanding data and informing human minds. As people begin to rely on visualizations to make high-impact and even life-critical decisions, there is a growing need to ensure that information can be perceived accurately and precisely.

Dr. Lee’s research interests are in information retrieval, natural language processing, social computing, machine learning, and cybersecurity over large-scale networked information systems like the Web and social media. He focuses on threats to these systems and design methods to mitigate negative behaviors (e.g., misinformation, hate speech), and looks for positive opportunities to mine and analyze these systems for developing next generation algorithms and architectures (e.g., recommender system, natural language understanding).

I am interested in computer networking and security. Given the significance of the Internet in our economy and society, I am interested in improvements and studies that can have a real-world impact. My recent work has focused on how to make both enterprise and residential networks more secure. In my research work, I am exploring ways to change the traditional computer network communication model using techniques such as software-defined networking and network function virtualization.

My research is in human-computer interaction. One focus of my research is on next-generation interaction techniques, such as brain-computer interfaces, physiological computing, and reality-based interaction. My students and I design, build and evaluate interactive computing systems that use machine learning approaches to adapt and support the user’s changing cognitive state and context. I also investigate novel paradigms for designing with accessibility in mind, particularly for the Deaf community.

WPI is proud to be the recipient of not one, but two National Science Foundation Research Traineeship programs. The programs provide exceptionally talented graduate students with specialized training and funding assistance to join careers at the forefront of technology and innovation. The programs are for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs in STEM. Learn more .

Ph.D. in Information Technology

Tessa Cooper

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated September 27, 2023 · 4 Min Read

ComputerScience.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for computer and information technology occupations to  grow by 12%  from 2018-2028. A Ph.D. in information technology creates opportunities for high-paying jobs that require extensive research.

Graduates can further the information technology field through research discoveries enhancing computer and network security. If this Ph.D. seems like a good fit for you, read on to learn about what it takes to earn a Ph.D. in IT, plus common courses and potential jobs and salaries for graduates.

Top Online Programs

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Information Technology Ph.D. Programs

How long it takes to earn a Ph.D. in information technology depends on various factors, like how many credit hours the program requires and whether learners must work full-time jobs during their studies. Full-time learners typically take four years to complete a doctorate in this subject, with required credit hours ranging from 90-120. Pursuing an online degree allows for added flexibility compared to an on-campus degree.

Potential earnings upon graduation vary by factors like previous work experience, role, and geographical location. For example, employers in larger cities tend to pay more than those in rural areas due to the higher costs of living in big cities.

Ph.D. Degree in Information Technology Courses

• Research Processes, Theory, and Practice in Information Technology: In this course, students learn about information technology theories and how to apply these principles to their everyday practice. This course also covers the methods researchers employ when making discoveries in addition to quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Ph.D. Dissertation Research Seminar: Most programs require multiple dissertation courses. During this course, students engage with their peers and provide feedback on dissertations during class discussions. Learners also apply the feedback they receive to enhance their own dissertations. Students learn best practices for research methods to hone their research and writing practices.
• Literature Review: In a literature review course, learners discover tools for reading, evaluating, and applying knowledge found in research papers. These tools allow learners to build upon their dissertation plans and select quality research for their projects. Students also define which gaps in current scholarly research they want to fill with their own dissertations.
• Information Technology Strategic Planning in Global Environments: This class covers various information governance models across the globe. Learners discover the common decision models information technology professionals employ when collaborating with leaders in different countries. Students also evaluate performance measurements and assess social responsibility issues.
• Doctoral Comprehensive Examination: This final course provides students with a review of the comprehensive examination process. Students examine evaluation criteria and the test's instructions. After completing this examination and submitting their dissertations, students earn their doctoral degree.

Common Admission Requirements

Most Ph.D. in information technology programs feature competitive requirements. For example, certain colleges and universities require applicants to hold graduate degrees in information technology and a minimum 3.5 GPA.

When applying for programs, learners should gather recommendation letters and official college transcripts from each previously attended university. Most programs also require an in-person or phone interview and an essay.

Ph.D. in Information Technology Career Outlook

Ph.D. in information technology students can choose from a variety of specializations to tailor the degree to their interests and goals. For example, those who want to work as economists after graduation might focus their dissertations on researching how the economy affects computer information technology .

The BLS projects demand for professionals in this field to  rise by 12%  from 2018-2028. The exact percentage varies based on each particular job. Common information technology careers requiring doctorates include survey researcher, postsecondary teacher, and economist.

What Jobs Can You Get with an Information Technology Ph.D.?

An undergraduate or master's in IT degree can help learners acquire entry- and mid-level jobs in this field, but doctoral degrees open up even more opportunities. For example, jobs requiring extensive research often require a Ph.D. in IT degree. Below, we outline several common careers and potential salaries for graduates with a Ph.D. in information technology.  

• Collapse All

Computer and Information Research Scientist

Mathematician or statistician, survey researcher, postsecondary teacher.

Median Annual Salary: $78,470 Projected Growth Rate (2018-28): 11%

Educational Paths

Undergraduate and graduate information technology degrees represent worthwhile ways to achieve a high-paying, satisfying career. However, many companies limit how much money professionals can earn without a doctorate. A Ph.D. in information technology keeps professionals' options open.

Most individuals choose to gather on-the-job experience before earning their doctorate. In fact, many positions requiring doctoral degrees also mandate professional experience. For this reason, individuals often choose to work full time before and/or during their Ph.D. in IT program.

Explore Computer Science Career Paths by Degree Level

Frequently asked questions about it ph.d.s, what can i do with a ph.d. in information technology, why should i earn a ph.d. in information technology, what are common research interests for students pursuing a ph.d. in information technology, how long does it take to earn a ph.d. in information technology, what master's degree do you need to be able to earn a ph.d. in information technology, recommended reading, take the next step toward your future..

Discover programs you’re interested in and take charge of your education.

• Our Promise
• Our Achievements
• Our Mission
• Proposal Writing
• System Development
• Paper Writing
• Paper Publish
• Synopsis Writing
• Thesis Writing
• Assignments
• Survey Paper
• Conference Paper
• Journal Paper
• Empirical Paper
• Journal Support
• Computer Science PhD Synopsis Guidance
• Statistical learning
• Artificial neural network
• Knowledge acquisition, discovery
• Machine learning and information retrieval
• Computational big data modeling
• beyond Hadoop/MapReduce
• Web and social network mining
• Data security and privacy
• Forward your requirements
• Choose your notion
• Literature service
• Problem formation
• Research plan
• Proposal evaluation
• Synopsis designing
• Retrieve your synopsis

Computer science PhD synopsis guidance is a Grade A service which pledges PhD candidates for a synopsis writing. Compared to other branches, computer science is a broad research field. It raises the interest of the students.   By all means, we will announce our computer science PhD synopsis guidance .

We will draft your synopsis as per your need…

We will prearrange the synopsis writing team to talk over with your university commands. It will promote us for a better way to bring your quality work by all. We coupled with the language writing team for good readability.

List of Latest Computer Science Topics

• Artificial neural network learning
• Knowledge acquisition, discovery, and learning
• Text, multimedia, and mobile data mining
• Theoretical and computational big data modeling
• Big data Programming models
• Big data beyond Hadoop/MapReduce
• Heterogeneous data sources management
• Data modeling, visualization, personalization, and recommendation
• And also, Data security and privacy in massive storage

Apart from that, we’re experts in various fields, namely, cloud and fog computing, networks, web technology, AI, VLSI, and so on.

When you have the power to build your study, then you will be in need of our switch…

Computer science PhD synopsis guidance by our PROFESSIONALS

• Initially, forward your needs to us via E-mail
• While preferring your research topic, pay attention to the current trend
• Leave other tasks to us
• We will do widen literature service on your topic
• It will formulate the problems and limitations in the literature
• We will plan research methodologies tentatively
• It will evaluate the proposal
• And also, We will prepare your synopsis
• In the final analysis, retrieve your PhD synopsis in computer science

In each domain, we will have a separate expert team. We will arrange them for you with the updated technical stuff. With our computer science PhD synopsis guidance , you can see day’s climb as much height as your desires.

For all your problems, we have the solutions to fix them. For all your solutions, we have campaigns to assess them. And for all your plans, we have massive success by applying them.

MILESTONE 1: Research Proposal

Finalize journal (indexing).

Before sit down to research proposal writing, we need to decide exact journals. For e.g. SCI, SCI-E, ISI, SCOPUS.

Research Subject Selection

As a doctoral student, subject selection is a big problem. Phdservices.org has the team of world class experts who experience in assisting all subjects. When you decide to work in networking, we assign our experts in your specific area for assistance.

Research Topic Selection

We helping you with right and perfect topic selection, which sound interesting to the other fellows of your committee. For e.g. if your interest in networking, the research topic is VANET / MANET / any other

Literature Survey Writing

To ensure the novelty of research, we find research gaps in 50+ latest benchmark papers (IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, MDPI, Hindawi, etc.)

Case Study Writing

After literature survey, we get the main issue/problem that your research topic will aim to resolve and elegant writing support to identify relevance of the issue.

Problem Statement

Based on the research gaps finding and importance of your research, we conclude the appropriate and specific problem statement.

Writing Research Proposal

Writing a good research proposal has need of lot of time. We only span a few to cover all major aspects (reference papers collection, deficiency finding, drawing system architecture, highlights novelty)

MILESTONE 2: System Development

Fix implementation plan.

We prepare a clear project implementation plan that narrates your proposal in step-by step and it contains Software and OS specification. We recommend you very suitable tools/software that fit for your concept.

Tools/Plan Approval

We get the approval for implementation tool, software, programing language and finally implementation plan to start development process.

Pseudocode Description

Our source code is original since we write the code after pseudocodes, algorithm writing and mathematical equation derivations.

Develop Proposal Idea

We implement our novel idea in step-by-step process that given in implementation plan. We can help scholars in implementation.

Comparison/Experiments

We perform the comparison between proposed and existing schemes in both quantitative and qualitative manner since it is most crucial part of any journal paper.

Graphs, Results, Analysis Table

We evaluate and analyze the project results by plotting graphs, numerical results computation, and broader discussion of quantitative results in table.

Project Deliverables

For every project order, we deliver the following: reference papers, source codes screenshots, project video, installation and running procedures.

MILESTONE 3: Paper Writing

Choosing right format.

We intend to write a paper in customized layout. If you are interesting in any specific journal, we ready to support you. Otherwise we prepare in IEEE transaction level.

Collecting Reliable Resources

Before paper writing, we collect reliable resources such as 50+ journal papers, magazines, news, encyclopedia (books), benchmark datasets, and online resources.

Writing Rough Draft

We create an outline of a paper at first and then writing under each heading and sub-headings. It consists of novel idea and resources

Proofreading & Formatting

We must proofread and formatting a paper to fix typesetting errors, and avoiding misspelled words, misplaced punctuation marks, and so on

Native English Writing

We check the communication of a paper by rewriting with native English writers who accomplish their English literature in University of Oxford.

Scrutinizing Paper Quality

We examine the paper quality by top-experts who can easily fix the issues in journal paper writing and also confirm the level of journal paper (SCI, Scopus or Normal).

Plagiarism Checking

We at phdservices.org is 100% guarantee for original journal paper writing. We never use previously published works.

MILESTONE 4: Paper Publication

Finding apt journal.

We play crucial role in this step since this is very important for scholar’s future. Our experts will help you in choosing high Impact Factor (SJR) journals for publishing.

Lay Paper to Submit

We organize your paper for journal submission, which covers the preparation of Authors Biography, Cover Letter, Highlights of Novelty, and Suggested Reviewers.

Paper Submission

We upload paper with submit all prerequisites that are required in journal. We completely remove frustration in paper publishing.

Paper Status Tracking

We track your paper status and answering the questions raise before review process and also we giving you frequent updates for your paper received from journal.

Revising Paper Precisely

When we receive decision for revising paper, we get ready to prepare the point-point response to address all reviewers query and resubmit it to catch final acceptance.

Get Accept & e-Proofing

We receive final mail for acceptance confirmation letter and editors send e-proofing and licensing to ensure the originality.

Publishing Paper

Paper published in online and we inform you with paper title, authors information, journal name volume, issue number, page number, and DOI link

MILESTONE 5: Thesis Writing

Identifying university format.

We pay special attention for your thesis writing and our 100+ thesis writers are proficient and clear in writing thesis for all university formats.

Gathering Adequate Resources

We collect primary and adequate resources for writing well-structured thesis using published research articles, 150+ reputed reference papers, writing plan, and so on.

Writing Thesis (Preliminary)

We write thesis in chapter-by-chapter without any empirical mistakes and we completely provide plagiarism-free thesis.

Skimming & Reading

Skimming involve reading the thesis and looking abstract, conclusions, sections, & sub-sections, paragraphs, sentences & words and writing thesis chorological order of papers.

Fixing Crosscutting Issues

This step is tricky when write thesis by amateurs. Proofreading and formatting is made by our world class thesis writers who avoid verbose, and brainstorming for significant writing.

Organize Thesis Chapters

We organize thesis chapters by completing the following: elaborate chapter, structuring chapters, flow of writing, citations correction, etc.

Writing Thesis (Final Version)

We attention to details of importance of thesis contribution, well-illustrated literature review, sharp and broad results and discussion and relevant applications study.

How PhDservices.org deal with significant issues ?

1. novel ideas.

Novelty is essential for a PhD degree. Our experts are bringing quality of being novel ideas in the particular research area. It can be only determined by after thorough literature search (state-of-the-art works published in IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, ACM, ScienceDirect, Inderscience, and so on). SCI and SCOPUS journals reviewers and editors will always demand “Novelty” for each publishing work. Our experts have in-depth knowledge in all major and sub-research fields to introduce New Methods and Ideas. MAKING NOVEL IDEAS IS THE ONLY WAY OF WINNING PHD.

2. Plagiarism-Free

To improve the quality and originality of works, we are strictly avoiding plagiarism since plagiarism is not allowed and acceptable for any type journals (SCI, SCI-E, or Scopus) in editorial and reviewer point of view. We have software named as “Anti-Plagiarism Software” that examines the similarity score for documents with good accuracy. We consist of various plagiarism tools like Viper, Turnitin, Students and scholars can get your work in Zero Tolerance to Plagiarism. DONT WORRY ABOUT PHD, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.

3. Confidential Info

We intended to keep your personal and technical information in secret and it is a basic worry for all scholars.

• Technical Info: We never share your technical details to any other scholar since we know the importance of time and resources that are giving us by scholars.
• Personal Info: We restricted to access scholars personal details by our experts. Our organization leading team will have your basic and necessary info for scholars.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY OF INFORMATION HELD IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE AT PHDSERVICES.ORG. WE HONEST FOR ALL CUSTOMERS.

4. Publication

Most of the PhD consultancy services will end their services in Paper Writing, but our PhDservices.org is different from others by giving guarantee for both paper writing and publication in reputed journals. With our 18+ year of experience in delivering PhD services, we meet all requirements of journals (reviewers, editors, and editor-in-chief) for rapid publications. From the beginning of paper writing, we lay our smart works. PUBLICATION IS A ROOT FOR PHD DEGREE. WE LIKE A FRUIT FOR GIVING SWEET FEELING FOR ALL SCHOLARS.

5. No Duplication

After completion of your work, it does not available in our library i.e. we erased after completion of your PhD work so we avoid of giving duplicate contents for scholars. This step makes our experts to bringing new ideas, applications, methodologies and algorithms. Our work is more standard, quality and universal. Everything we make it as a new for all scholars. INNOVATION IS THE ABILITY TO SEE THE ORIGINALITY. EXPLORATION IS OUR ENGINE THAT DRIVES INNOVATION SO LET’S ALL GO EXPLORING.

Client Reviews

I ordered a research proposal in the research area of Wireless Communications and it was as very good as I can catch it.

I had wishes to complete implementation using latest software/tools and I had no idea of where to order it. My friend suggested this place and it delivers what I expect.

It really good platform to get all PhD services and I have used it many times because of reasonable price, best customer services, and high quality.

My colleague recommended this service to me and I’m delighted their services. They guide me a lot and given worthy contents for my research paper.

I’m never disappointed at any kind of service. Till I’m work with professional writers and getting lot of opportunities.

- Christopher

Once I am entered this organization I was just felt relax because lots of my colleagues and family relations were suggested to use this service and I received best thesis writing.

I recommend phdservices.org. They have professional writers for all type of writing (proposal, paper, thesis, assignment) support at affordable price.

You guys did a great job saved more money and time. I will keep working with you and I recommend to others also.

These experts are fast, knowledgeable, and dedicated to work under a short deadline. I had get good conference paper in short span.

Guys! You are the great and real experts for paper writing since it exactly matches with my demand. I will approach again.

I am fully satisfied with thesis writing. Thank you for your faultless service and soon I come back again.

Trusted customer service that you offer for me. I don’t have any cons to say.

I was at the edge of my doctorate graduation since my thesis is totally unconnected chapters. You people did a magic and I get my complete thesis!!!

- Abdul Mohammed

Good family environment with collaboration, and lot of hardworking team who actually share their knowledge by offering PhD Services.

I enjoyed huge when working with PhD services. I was asked several questions about my system development and I had wondered of smooth, dedication and caring.

I had not provided any specific requirements for my proposal work, but you guys are very awesome because I’m received proper proposal. Thank you!

- Bhanuprasad

I was read my entire research proposal and I liked concept suits for my research issues. Thank you so much for your efforts.

- Ghulam Nabi

I am extremely happy with your project development support and source codes are easily understanding and executed.

Hi!!! You guys supported me a lot. Thank you and I am 100% satisfied with publication service.

- Abhimanyu

I had found this as a wonderful platform for scholars so I highly recommend this service to all. I ordered thesis proposal and they covered everything. Thank you so much!!!

Related Pages

Best Phd Synopsis Writing Service

Buy Phd Synopsis Online

Buy Phd Synopsis Writing Service

Guidelines For Phd Dissertation Writing

Guidelines For Phd Thesis Paper Publication

Guidelines For Phd Thesis Topics

Guidelines For Phd Thesis Writing

Phd Dissertation For Sale

Phd Dissertation Help

Phd Dissertation Writers

Phd Dissertation Writing Services

Phd Projects Thesis Writing Service

Phd Projects Thesis Writing Help

Write My Phd Dissertation For Me

Write My Phd Synopsis For Me

Research guidance, Research Journals, Top Universities

Format of synopsis for PhD | Download Sample.

Guidelines for Writing Ph. D Synopsis.

FORMAT OF SYNOPSIS (MS/MPHIL & PHD). Given below is an outline for synopsis writing. It provides guidelines for organization and presentation of research.

INTRODUCTION OF 2-3 PAGES

• Identify a real world problem
• Describe the undesirable symptoms
• Identify the knowledge gap that needs to be filled in order to help solve the problem
• Support your discussion with solid peer-reviewed references

LITERATURE REVIEW

• Create an Outline or “mindmap” of the key theories and concepts.
• Dig deep into the “ Peer-reviewed” literature for each theory and concept and create an annotated bibliography and literature map
• Write literature review
• Map out the research gap
• Identify the “type(s)” of question that need to be answer to fulfill the purpose
• Develop the main research question and sub-questions
• Develop hypotheses as appropriate
• Identify and diagram the key variables in the research question
• Identify and diagram the key relationships between the variables
• Identify and diagram the key context factors
• Describe the framework
• Research Process
• Based on the research questions, the overall approach (Data Collection, Analysis methods, Validity and Reliability test process)

POSSIBLE OUTCOME AND LIMITATIONS OF YOUR STUDY

• Identify the larger application(s) and meaning(s) of the findings.
• Identify the limitations associated with the findings and conclusion.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OR REFERENCES

Most preferable format:

Font: Times New Roman

Title of the thesis: 18

Main Heading: 14 Bold

Sub Heading: 12 Bold

Spacing 1.5

Reference style: APA/IEEE/Harvard

Share this:

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application, and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide if you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health, or for an MS in Public Health, or an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates and Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students enroll in the fall, and the admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2024 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver, is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or Director of Graduate Admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

PhD/Master's Applicants

• Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
• Dates and Deadlines
• Standardized Testing Requirements

Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

• Non-Degree Programs

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

PhD in Computer Science: Top Universities Abroad, Eligibility, Scope

• Updated on  
• Aug 18, 2023

Building on fundamental studies in computer science or other technically-oriented fields like MSc Computer Science , PhD in Computer Science P Parallelly, universities across the globe offer several categories of doctorate programs, such as fast-track and integrated PhD ’s which introduce students to the research atmosphere at an early age. In this blog, we will shed light on the key details pertaining to this program. 

This Blog Includes:

Why choose phd in computer science, top universities for phd in computer science, eligibility & admission, application process, documents required, job profile and salary.

As discussed, the curriculum of computer science now draws heavily from other close areas. This includes electrical and electronics engineering , bioinformatics, robotics and automation engineering , systems and control engineering, instrumentation and control engineering , aeronautical engineering and much more. During a PhD in computer science, a candidate learns to effectively analyze, view real-world computing problems in unison and make coherent conclusions. With core courses, electives, practical training and fieldwork, teaching experience, exams, dissertation, research projects and a host of other elements, students are encouraged to understand the concepts of computers which form a groundwork to work on higher-level problems. Further, skills of lucid research writing, presentations and argumentation, amongst others are also polished.

Also Read: PhD in France

Although the Ivy League universities, Oxford, Cambridge, etc are considered quite elite when it comes to doctoral and PhD courses in Computer Science Engineering and STEM courses , here we aim to list a few of the well-established and emerging options one must explore. These institutions have been consistently rated highly by both Times Higher Education and QS Rankings due to their international outlook, globally-awarded faculty and diverse avenues of career building.

Related Articles:  MS In Computer Science In Germany

Note: ‘CS’ here is the abbreviated form of Computer Science

Also Read: PhD after MCA

As each PhD candidate’s requirements differ, the eligibility and admission conditions are largely dependent on both, general criteria and the matching of research interests of the candidate to professors and department. Furthermore, the application procedure also varies depending on the country of the institution, for instance, to study a PhD In Germany, one can directly approach professors,  gain admission and complete his/her doctoral thesis under their guidance along with the general common application process. This direct method is practised widely across continents and can be of great assistance if you are planning to pursue a PhD in Canada or the USA. As a general rule in order to study abroad , one may be required to submit official GRE / GMAT or IELTS / TOEFL scores and research proposal (detailing research interests) along with copies of official transcripts, CV, Statement of Purpose ( SOP ), Letters of Recommendation ( LOR ), and funding essay.

Also Read: Career Objective for Resume for Fresher in Computer Science

This doctorate program in the field of Computer Science equips you to work as a research assistant at a university, research organizations, and international institutes. Apart from this, you can also work as a Consultant, Lecturer/Professor, Computer Network Architect, Website Developer, etc. 

The application process takes place over a period of time and begins months before the commencement of classes. The universities have two main intakes known as the fall intake and winter intake for international students to kickstart their journey. You can call our Leverage Edu experts on 1800 572 000 to find out how the application process can be fast-tracked and streamlined! Here’s an easy 5-step process to complete your application process to pursue PhD in computer science:

• Call our experts on 1800 572 000 to shortlist your favourite universities and courses. Start your application to multiple universities through our one-dashboard platform
• Compile all your documents like SOPs, essays, certificates, and LORs and exam scores like IELTS , TOEFL , GRE, GMAT, etc
• Meet all the application deadlines and start the application process for accommodation, students visa , and scholarships/student loans
• Accept the offer letter and meet your teachers, college mates and roommates virtually
• Get your visa approved and fly to your dream university.

Also Read: Top PhD Entrance Exams

To procure admission to any of the top universities for PhD in Computer Science, overseas students need to furnish the following documents:

• Academic transcripts
• Student visa
• Proof of work experience
• Proof of financial status

With the advancement in technology, the demand for experts in the field of computer science has increased. The following are the popular professions students pursue after PhD in computer science:

The average salary of a software engineer is 8 lakh in India.

Pursuing a PhD in computer science, students can undertake advanced research into a particular research topic and explore its connections with other relevant issues. With diversity in R&D, the opportunities to build a successful career in research are essentially limitless.

The following are the top colleges to pursue PhD in computer science: MIT California Institute of Technology University of Toronto

Stay in tune with Leverage Edu to explore study abroad opportunities. You can also refer to Leverage Live to explore exams required for abroad studies.

Team Leverage Edu

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Connect With Us

20,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2023

January 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

An introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming.

There is one session available:

Cs50's introduction to computer science, about this course.

This is CS50x , Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. An entry-level course taught by David J. Malan, CS50x teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. The on-campus version of CS50x , CS50, is Harvard's largest course.

Students who earn a satisfactory score on 9 problem sets (i.e., programming assignments) and a final project are eligible for a certificate. This is a self-paced course–you may take CS50x on your own schedule.

HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code , which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.

HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] and/or report your experience through the edX contact form .

At a glance

• Institution: HarvardX
• Subject: Computer Science
• Level: Introductory
• Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Game Development
• Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Web Programming
• Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence
• Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Python Programming
• XSeries in CS50's AP® Computer Science Principles
• Language: English
• Video Transcript: English
• Associated skills: Python (Programming Language), C (Programming Language), Security Software, Data Structures, Finance, Computer Science, Algorithms, Cryptography, Forensic Sciences, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), SQL (Programming Language), JavaScript (Programming Language), Resource Management, HyperText Markup Language (HTML)

What you'll learn

• A broad and robust understanding of computer science and programming
• How to think algorithmically and solve programming problems efficiently
• Concepts like abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development
• Familiarity in a number of languages, including C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML
• How to engage with a vibrant community of like-minded learners from all levels of experience
• How to develop and present a final programming project to your peers

This course is part of CS50's AP® Computer Science Principles XSeries Program

Interested in this course for your business or team.

Nov. 6, 2023

Graduate voice: Turning first-generation barriers into historical firsts

Media Contacts

Henry Mochida

more content from this collection

Diversity and belonging

Msu celebrates dia de los muertos across campus, msu tennis coach serves up recreational value for the down syndrome community, ask the expert: how does black horror help us understand cultural anxieties, msu alumna reflects on establishing transgender day of visibility, the legacy of a spartan: 10 years of alex’s great state race, student view: growing and learning to lead, honors college promotes diversity and inclusion champion dedicated to student success, msu museum partners with smithsonian to explore latino museum’s remarkable journey, event to talk about race, mental health, student view: a glimpse into the leadership in action summit, see full collection.

Nov. 7, 2023

Fewer Michigan 3rd graders could be held back for reading

Entrepreneurship at msu ranks in the top 15 nationwide, msu plant biologists shed light on 144-year-old seedy mystery, msutoday weekly update.

The MSUToday Weekly Update email showcases how Spartans are making a difference through academic excellence, research impact and community outreach. Get inspired by these stories of innovation, collaboration and determination. Plus, enjoy photos and videos of campus and more MSU content to help keep you connected to the Spartan community.

Connect With Us

• Top Colleges
• Top Courses
• Entrance Exams
• Admission 2023
• Scholarships
• Sarkari Exam
• Visual Stories
• Write a review
• Login/Signup

Ph.D Computer Science Syllabus and Subjects

Average Fees

INR 5,000- 3 LPA

Updated on Jan 4, 2023 by Roumik Roy

PhD in Computer Science duration is 3 to 5 years long doctorate course. PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided semester-wise with a yearly based exam. By the end of the PhD Computer Science doctorate program, students will be prepared for careers in banking, IT Companies, educational institutions, research and development, architecture, and many more. PThe syllabus of PhD Computer Science doctorate program offers both theoretical and practical knowledge through its core courses and electives. The PhD Computer Science syllabus covers topics such as computer architecture, data field and structures, complexity and advanced algorithms, statistical methods in AI, and programming language principles.

Semester Wise PhD Computer Science Syllabus

The PhD program in Computer Science has a duration of 3-5 years. The PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided into six to ten semesters with an annual exam. PhD Computer Science syllabus has been designed to prepare students to learn techniques and methods commonly used in the IT sector.

As part of the curriculum, students study a range of topics, including computer architecture, data field and structures, complexity and advanced algorithms, statistical methods in AI, programming language principles, design and analysis of algorithms, optimization methods, principles of information security, operating systems, and distributed systems.

In addition, students should enroll in courses related to computer science in addition to the standard curriculum. Students develop specialized expertise by taking elective courses in advanced computer science techniques. Students can earn PhD Computer Science degrees that meet both their professional and academic needs. The PhD Computer Science curriculum emphasizes the latest developments in research. The PhD Computer Science syllabus PDF can be downloaded online for free. The following is the PhD Computer Science syllabus semester-wise: 

PhD Computer Science Course Subjects 

Doctoral Programs in Computer Science last for 3-5 years. The PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided into six to ten semesters with an annual exam. PhD Computer Science course subjects allow students to learn computer science techniques that can be applied to the workplace. PhD Computer Science subjects are highly regarded in the IT field. Students enrolled in PhD Computer Science courses gain a thorough understanding of computer scientists' skills and techniques.

The PhD Computer Science includes subjects such as computer security, database systems, compilers, software engineering, computational theory, along with the topics related to the Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science. In order for students to become familiar with PhD Computer Science and build their knowledge, the curriculum is semester-based. In addition to classroom lectures, students will take part in lab sessions to gain experience in advanced options. The three to five-year program offers more diverse electives and academic core subjects. The following are the PhD Computer Science subjects list: 

• Database Systems
• Computer Networks
• Advanced Algorithms for Graph and Combinatorial Optimization Problems
• Advanced Database Theory and Applications
• Advanced Image Processing
• Advanced Operating Systems
• Computer Vision
• Data Mining
• Database Management Systems
• Computational Algebra
• Information and Coding Theory
• Pattern Recognition and Image Processing
• Machine Learning: Theory and Practice

PhD Computer Science Course Structure 

A PhD Computer Science takes three to five years to complete. During a PhD in Computer Science, the curriculum is divided by six to ten semesters and the exam is held annually. There are several elective and core courses offered in the PhD Computer Science program. The first year of PhD subject study focuses on introducing students to the fundamentals.

During the second year, students study a specific subject within a PhD Computer Science course related to their specialization. Additional laboratory sessions are available in the PhD Computer Science courses to enhance theoretical understanding.

Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science students study design and analysis of algorithms, optimization methods, principles of information security, operating systems, and distributed systems. Students will be prepared for greater responsibilities in their careers upon completion of the PhD Computer Science course. A research project must be completed by the end of the semester in order to gain practical and theoretical skills. As a general overview, we have the following structure: 

• VI to X Semesters
• Core Subjects
• Elective Subjects
• Practical Workshops
• Research Project/Thesis Submission

PhD Computer Science Teaching Methodology and Techniques 

In the PhD Computer Science curriculum, new technologies are integrated into the teaching of computer science. As well as lectures and practicals, students have the opportunity to take electives from a wide range of specializations. Students are required to complete internships or training in their areas of study as part of their core curriculum. By teaching methodologies, skills for the workplace can be developed. Alternatives to traditional classroom instruction include using emerging technologies. Teaching methods include the following in general: 

• Traditional Classroom Method
• Class Projects
• Problem Solving Approach
• Computer Assisted Learning
• Brainstorming
• Audio Visuals
• Virtual Lab Exercises
• Discussion Method
• Industrial Visit

PhD Computer Science Projects 

The PhD Computer Science curriculum includes research projects that help students gain experience managing projects in IT companies. PhD Computer Science projects will teach students about factors that influence the success of research projects and strategies for implementing them. PhD Computer Science students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by networking with IT companies. To gain practical and theoretical skills, students must complete a research project by the end of the semester. These are some of the most popular PhD Computer Science project topics: 

• Development of Graph- Embedding Techniques for Biomedical Knowledge Graphs.
• Impact of Visual Images on Verbal Fluency in People Living with Dementia.
• Causal Models for Mental Health Interventions that are Interactive.
• The Learning of User Models in Human-in -the Loop Machine Learning.
• Automated Experimental Design with Humans in the Loop.
• Secure and Privacy-Preserving FAIR Data Vault Aggregation and Analysis.
• Masters by Research Sponsored by Business with SDG Changemakers.
• Studying Fall Risk in Parkinson’s Disease Patients in Real-Life Settings.
• Robert Gordon University Presents Natural Language Generation for the ISee Explainable AI Platform.
• The Foundational Theories of Effective Types.
• The Development of an Intervention to Protect Older People from Cybercrime.

PhD Computer Science Course Reference Books 

Both online and offline book stores offer a variety of titles and publishers for PhD Computer Science books. All major topics are covered in PhD Computer Science course books, along with background information on various computer science fields. These reference books can be downloaded online for free in PDF format and are meant to clarify concepts. Students enrolled in a PhD Computer Science program may have different coursebooks depending on the edition. Purchasing reference books is a wise investment after thorough research. The following books would be helpful to students pursuing a PhD Computer Science course: 

Other Category Courses

Engineering

Architecture

Agriculture

Paramedical

Computer Application

University of Missouri

• Faculty Directory
• Staff Directory
• Calendar & Events

Mizzou Engineering

Expanding understanding: computer science student shares benefits of undergraduate research.

November 06, 2023

Miles Farmer came to Mizzou Engineering to take advantage of opportunities and tailor his degree to his long-term goals. Now, a sophomore computer science and math major, he’s already conducting undergraduate research and thinking about graduate school.

“The initial catalyst for my involvement in research was the Discovery Fellows Program offered by the Honors College which provided research placement during freshman year,” Farmer said. “I really enjoy the process of solving challenging problems and the experience of creating something new, so the ability to immediately begin work on research was a major reason I chose Mizzou.”

Farmer’s research centers around detecting software vulnerabilities using machine learning techniques and then analyzing the choices made during that process. He is working with Ekincan Ufuktepe , an assistant teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science, to create a system for source code vulnerability detection using graph neural networks (GNNs) applied to graph code representations.

The project, which is a collaboration with NIST , is ongoing, but Farmer says the approach shows promise in its contributions to understanding GNNs in this application and in its performance compared to existing approaches.

“The resulting system, designed based on the core analyses of our work, exceeds the performance of many existing detectors, including those based on machine learning models,” he said.

So far, he’s most enjoyed the duality of learning more about the topic as a student and discovering new solutions alongside Mizzou’s groundbreaking innovators.

“I really enjoy diving into the intricacies of a topic and being able to use a wide array of concepts to craft a unique solution to a real problem,” Farmer said. “It’s exciting to know that I’m expanding my own understanding of the concepts and techniques that I use, but also contributing to the collective understanding of a topic by creating truly novel information.”

For Farmer, undergraduate research isn’t just about gaining technical experience. It’s also taught him a lot about the research process and research communication, among other skills.

“There’s a lot that goes into research beyond just conducting the experiments,” he said. “It necessitates a high level of technical communication for publishing and collaboration, an ability to survey current literature to inform your own choices and understanding, creativity to devise solutions to solve a variety of problems and time management to juggle research with classes and other obligations.”

It’s partially because of these soft skills that he recommends all students pursue undergraduate research.

“Even if you aren’t planning on a career in research, you get to contextualize the technical information and apply the techniques you learn in courses while simultaneously developing soft skills which are transferable to nearly any work you do,” Farmer said.

For now, Farmer’s long-term goals are focused on continuing to research software analysis and applications of GNNs, including after this conclusion of this project, and applying to graduate school to further his studies. But he is also actively finding internship experience outside of the lab in addition to his research to get a taste of what a career in software engineering is like.

“I’m currently working part-time as an embedded software engineer intern at Garmin as a continuation of my summer internship, which I landed by attending last year’s fall career fair,” Farmer said. “Beyond just being a really enjoyable experience, I’ve already encountered so many concepts in my research and courses that I learned through that opportunity.”

Overall, the Mizzou Engineering experience has created lasting memories and instilled a forward-thinking ideology in Farmer.

“The guidance from research mentors like Dr. Ufuktepe has allowed me to work on real, interesting problems which challenge me to improve my understanding of computer science concepts and work hard to create original ideas,” he said. “And the enthusiasm of my professors has made my courses very engaging.”

Earn an engineering degree at a university with opportunities to solve real-world problems through undergraduate research. Choose Mizzou Engineering !

• computer science
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Missouri Compacts - Student Success
• Undergraduate Research

Jump to navigation

• UTCS Direct

The Role of Domain-Specific Pretraining in Digital Discourse Analysis

Submitted by Anita Shiva on Thu, 11/02/2023 - 11:15am

Smriti Singh spends a lot of time on social media. But, not in the way most students do. 

As a computer science graduate student, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) researcher, she’s interested in applying her knowledge to the social and ethical nature of online discourse. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on an algorithm to identify sexist threats on Twitter. In her graduate grounded NLP course, Smriti began to look at the effectiveness of traditional language and vision models in picking up misogynistic undertones in online memes.

Turns out, they aren’t very effective.

To help with her research, she recruited fellow second-year CS graduate student Amritha Haridasan. Like Smriti, Amritha noticed, and was disturbed by, the disproportionate amount of hate women on the internet, particularly public figures, receive. 

“We don’t realize how much we interact with it every day,” Amritha states.

Amritha, who has experience working with computer vision models, hypothesized that a MultiModal model, incorporating both language and visual cues, would be more effective at identifying misogyny in memes. The existing body of research on MultiModal model use for misogyny detection is somewhat limited. Although separate language and visual-based models have been implemented to moderate content online for quite some time, Smriti and Amritha found that they are no longer sufficient for analyzing multimedia content, which is predominantly shared on social media platforms. 

Smriti states that “Memes are very complex to interpret for language only models or even vision models. There are a lot of linguistic cues, but there are also a lot of visual cues that go into making these sort of subtly hateful or misogynistic memes.”

Under the guidance of their professor, Dr. Raymond Mooney, who supervised the project , Smriti and Amritha incorporated domain-specific pretraining to enhance the accuracy of their multimodal model. This technique empowers models to detect subtle visual and linguistic nuances by leveraging knowledge from an existing dataset. In this case, they utilized the Hateful Memes dataset from Facebook AI for pretraining, and trained their models on the Multimedia Automatic Misogyny Detection (MAMI), comprising 12,000 memes categorized as misogynistic. Each meme in the dataset is identified with one or more classifiers, including shaming, objectification, violence, and stereotypical. 

As they sorted through the MAMI dataset for the qualitative analysis of the model performance, they were shocked by the sheer explicitness of language and imagery found within the memes. Smriti could only describe this experience as “positively tragic." 

Continuing on, they conducted tests using a combination of language and vision models with their dataset. Notably, the blend of the language model BERT and vision model ViT proved to be the most effective once pretrained. Upon completing their study, they concluded that the pretrained BERT+ViT model markedly improved its capacity for detecting misogynistic memes. Additionally, Pretraining notably enhanced the model’s ability to classify misogyny. In a striking example, post-pretraining, BERT successfully identified objectification in an image solely based on language cues.

Smriti and Amritha presented their work at the Workshop on Online Abuse and Harm at ACL 2023, and their enthusiasm for further research in this field remains palpable. In fact, a recent emerging trend on Tik Tok has fueled their determination to dig deeper in this area. 

“There's this real concept called ‘girl math’, where illogical math statements are being made. And it's women themselves, calling it ‘girl math’. I feel like that is a low sense of humor and a bit problematic,” Smriti explains.

Expanding the project to video would take significantly more computing resources, as each frame of the video would need to be put through the detection model. In the meantime, Smriti and Amritha are focusing their efforts on applying MultiModal detection to multiple languages. Their work not only sheds light on the prevalence of online misogyny but also breaks ground on an innovative method for identifying and addressing it. 

• Undergraduate Office
• Graduate Office
• Office of External Affairs
• Mission Statement
• Emergency Information
• Site Policies
• Web Accessibility Policy
• Web Privacy Policy

19 PhD Students Awarded Prestigious Fellowships

Graduate students from the department have been selected to receive scholarships. The diverse group is a mix of those new to Columbia and students who have received fellowships for the year. 

IBM PhD Fellowship Award

Ibm has recognized and rewarded outstanding phd students around the world through its highly competitive ibm phd fellowship award program. the award recipients demonstrated academic excellence as well as provided innovative and exceptional research proposals..

Ding received an MS in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2019 and a BE in Software Engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in 2018. In his free time, he enjoys various sports, regularly playing basketball and table tennis, but he is always looking for new sports to try.

Google Fellowship

The google phd fellowship program was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields..

Zachary Huang graduated with a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019. Besides the Google Ph.D. Fellowship, he also received the Columbia Data Science Institute’s Avanessian PhD Fellowship. In his leisure time, he develops video games.

DoD NDSEG Fellow

The department of defense national defense science and engineering graduate fellowship is awarded annually to u.s. citizens pursuing doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines..

Klotz graduated with a BS and MS in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2022.

Sofaer graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Math and Computer Science in 2015. He bakes bread every week and loves to try new recipes.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program

The grfp is a three-year fellowship that recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in nsf-supported stem disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees..

In May 2022, Blindenbach received a BS with Highest Distinction in Math and Computer Science from the University of Virginia. He is an avid swimmer who placed 19th at Dutch Nationals in the 100m butterfly and enjoys playing ragtime piano.

Carver received an MS in Computer Science from Dartmouth College in 2022 and a BS in Physics from Fordham University in 2018. Charlie won a Best Paper Award at NSDI’20, Best Demo at HotMobile’20, and the Grand Prize at the 2022 Dartmouth Innovation and Technology Festival. While at Fordham, he received the Victor F. Hess Award for the best record of achievement and service in Physics. He loves skiing, sailing, playing guitar, and caring for his two awesome cats.

Chuang graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in Computer Science in 2022. In his free time, he likes to draw and play board games.

Gadre graduated from Brown University with a ScB Computer Science in 2018. Before joining Columbia, he worked as a Software Engineer at Microsoft HoloLens.

Itagaki graduated in 2023 from the University of Washington with a BS in Neuroscience.

Zussman graduated from Columbia University in May 2023 with a BS in Computer Science with Minors in Applied Mathematics and Political Science. He was a C.P. Davis Scholar and received the Department of Computer Science’s Andrew P. Kosoresow Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service, the Data Science Institute’s Outstanding Course Assistant Award, and the Columbia University Leadership and Excellence Award for Principled Action.

NSF CISE Graduate Fellowship (CSGrad4US)

The csgrad4us program aims to increase the number and diversity of domestic graduate students pursuing research and innovation careers in computer and information science and engineering fields. the program helps bachelor’s degree holders return to academia and pursue their research interests, enabling them to engage in innovative and high-impact projects without the burden of financial constraints..

After receiving a BS in Computer Science from Tufts University in 2018, Meyer worked as a Computational Associate at the Broad Institute for five years. Meyer is a proud dog parent, enjoys talking about Linux, and plays the bassoon.

She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 2013. She has received the Echostar Spot Award for outstanding performance on a satellite networking project, NAVAIR’s Flight Test Excellence Award for her work planning Tomahawk missile software test flights, the UNR Outstanding Student Service Awards for both the College of Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering, 1st and 2nd place in the IEEE Region 6 paper and design competition, respectively, and is a Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society lifetime member.

Her hobbies include running, lifting, hiking, reading science fiction and non-fiction, and caring for her orchids and potted fruit tree.

In 2021, she earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station. In her spare time, she learns new languages by watching foreign films.

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD)

The gfsd was founded in 1989 “to increase the number of american citizens with graduate degrees in stem fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool.”.

Chen graduated cum laude in 2021 from Cornell University with a BA in Computer Science and BA in Statistical Science. He also received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in 2021. He likes to keep active by going for runs and playing various sports like basketball and ultimate frisbee, enjoys listening to all sorts of music, and plays the violin, piano, and ukulele.

SEAS Fellowships

The school of engineering and applied sciences established the presidential and seas fellowships to recruit outstanding students from around the world to pursue graduate studies at the school., mudd fellows.

Li completed her BS in Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology in 2020 and an MS in Computer Science at Stanford University in 2023. Li enjoys arts and crafts, movies, musicals, and comedy. She is a comedic improviser and is a frequent visitor to Broadway shows.

Liu graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from UC San Diego in 2023. She loves skiing, playing ping pong, and reading fiction in her spare time.

Greenwood Fellow

In 2021, Matthew completed an MEng and BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a double major in Mathematics and a minor in Theater Arts.

Tang Fellow

In 2023, Illick graduated with a BA in Computer Science from Columbia University. He enjoys playing squash and gardening.

SEAS Fellow

Xiaofeng earned an MS in Information Networking in 2023 from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2021, she graduated from Tsinghua University with a BS in Automation and a second degree in Philosophy.

Find the COVID-19 Resource Guide here .

Computer Science at Columbia University

Upcoming events, causal representation learning and optimal intervention design.

Distinguished Lecture Series

Wednesday 11:40 am

CSB 451 CS Auditorium

Caroline Uhler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Distinguished Lecture - Monica Lam

Monica Lam, Stanford University

Coffee and Questions

Wednesday 2:00 pm

Theory Lunch - Evi Micha

Theory Lunch

Friday 12:30 pm

CS conference room (CSB453)

Evi Micha, Harvard University

In the News

Press mentions, dean boyce's statement on amicus brief filed by president bollinger.

President Bollinger announced that Columbia University along with many other academic institutions (sixteen, including all Ivy League universities) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York challenging the Executive Order regarding immigrants from seven designated countries and refugees. Among other things, the brief asserts that “safety and security concerns can be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the values America has always stood for, including the free flow of ideas and people across borders and the welcoming of immigrants to our universities.”

This recent action provides a moment for us to collectively reflect on our community within Columbia Engineering and the importance of our commitment to maintaining an open and welcoming community for all students, faculty, researchers and administrative staff. As a School of Engineering and Applied Science, we are fortunate to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, from across the country, and from around the world. It is a great benefit to be able to gather engineers and scientists of so many different perspectives and talents – all with a commitment to learning, a focus on pushing the frontiers of knowledge and discovery, and with a passion for translating our work to impact humanity.

I am proud of our community, and wish to take this opportunity to reinforce our collective commitment to maintaining an open and collegial environment. We are fortunate to have the privilege to learn from one another, and to study, work, and live together in such a dynamic and vibrant place as Columbia.

Mary C. Boyce Dean of Engineering Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor

{{title}} {{fullname}}

Courses This Semester

• {{title}} ({{dept}} {{prefix}}{{course_num}}-{{section}})

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

     February 05, 2024

     October 28, 2024

     Fourth Monday in October, Annually Thereafter

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

• Independent IRES tracks have been eliminated. Advanced Studies Institutes are welcome in the main IRES program.
• IRES invites a wider variety of creative approaches to engage students in international research experiences.
• Maximum budget and duration increased to $150,000 per year for projects up to 5 years duration, with appropriate justification.
• NSF's Education & Training Application (ETAP) is described and encouraged as a means of managing student applications and collecting student demographic information.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General information.

Program Title:

International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

The International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program supports international research and research-related activities for U.S. science and engineering students. The IRES program contributes to development of a diverse, globally engaged workforce with world-class skills. IRES focuses on active research participation by undergraduate and/or graduate students in high quality international research, education and professional development experiences in NSF-funded research areas. The overarching, long-term goals of the IRES program are to enhance U.S. leadership in science and engineering research and education and to strengthen economic competitiveness through training the next generation of science research leaders. IRES focuses on the development of a world-class U.S. STEM workforce through international research experiences for cohorts of U.S. students. Student participants supported by IRES funds must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Students do not apply directly to NSF to participate in IRES activities. Students apply to NSF-funded investigators who receive IRES awards. To identify appropriate IRES projects, students should consult the directory of active IRES awards . All PIs, co-PIs and Senior Personnel on IRES proposals must be from U.S. based organizations. Personnel from international partners should be listed as "non-NSF funded collaborators." Guidance on information to provide for "non-NSF funded collaborators" is found in Section V.A. IRES projects engage a group of undergraduate and/or graduate students in active high-quality collaborative research, in principle at an international site with mentorship from international researchers. IRES projects must be organized around a coherent overarching intellectual theme that may involve a single discipline or multiple disciplines funded by NSF. For all IRES proposals, PIs are strongly encouraged to outline a variety of virtual, hybrid or other alternative approaches to strengthen and maintain international collaboration in addition to travel. It is expected that these approaches will extend collaboration beyond the actual international trip and strengthen IRES proposals overall.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• Fahmida Chowdhury, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-4672, email: [email protected]
• Kristin Kuyuk, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-4904, email: [email protected]
• Maija Kukla, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-4940, email: [email protected]
• Cate Flanley, Program Director, email: telephone: (703) 292-2707, [email protected]
• 47.041 --- Engineering
• 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• 47.050 --- Geosciences
• 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
• 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
• 47.076 --- STEM Education
• 47.079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
• 47.083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)
• 47.084 --- NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
• Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 20 to 25

Approximately 20-25 awards will be made in FY 2024, pending quality of proposals and availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $12,000,000

Approximately $12,000,000 in FY 2024, pending availability of funds. Up to $150,000 per year, for a maximum of 5 years, including indirect costs. A typical IRES project is for three years. However, longer duration projects up to 5 years will also be considered.

• Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Who May Serve as PI:

All PIs, Co-PIs and Senior Personnel on IRES proposals must be from U.S. based organizations. Foreign collaborators cannot be listed as PIs, Co-PIs or Senior Personnel.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI:

An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on only one proposal submitted to the IRES program per annual competition.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. proposal preparation instructions.

• Letters of Intent: Not required
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
• Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg .
• Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide ).

B. Budgetary Information

C. due dates, proposal review information criteria.

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements:

Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary of Program Requirements

• Introduction
• Program Description
• Proposal Preparation Instructions
• Budgetary Information
• Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements
• Merit Review Principles and Criteria
• Review and Selection Process
• Notification of the Award
• Award Conditions
• Reporting Requirements
• Agency Contacts
• Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

Science and engineering research increasingly requires international teams to solve the most complex challenges. Accordingly, leading scientific and engineering facilities, resources, and expertise are distributed around the globe. To remain at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the United States must train and nurture a cadre of globally engaged STEM students who will thrive in the rapidly changing international landscape. To advance this objective and enhance U.S. leadership in science research, education, and innovation, the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program provides mechanisms to support U.S. students to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and engage in high-quality research-related professional development activities abroad, in collaboration with foreign investigators.

IRES projects contribute to the development of a globally competitive and diverse scientific workforce to increase U.S. economic competitiveness. IRES experiences expose U.S. students to the international research community at a critical stage in their careers and serve to establish international networks to bolster their professional development. IRES supports activities designed in partnerships with researchers outside the U.S. and conducted at international sites, leveraging U.S. and international resources for mutual benefit.

The IRES program accepts proposals in any disciplinary field that NSF supports. Topics in multi-disciplinary and convergent areas of science research, training and professional development are encouraged. The IRES program strengthens the pipeline from undergraduate to graduate levels and beyond. In addition, K-12 teachers may take part in IRES Sites projects through the NSF Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program. IRES projects are organized and proposed by U.S. organizations and U.S.-based Principal Investigators who choose the topics and foreign site placements, arrange appropriate foreign mentorship and necessary resources, and recruit and prepare U.S. students to participate in the experiences.

NSF encourages participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer. This includes a focus on recruiting underrepresented minorities, women, first-generation/low-income students, students from institutions with limited exposure to research opportunities, persons with disabilities, and veterans is strongly encouraged. Proposals from non-R1 institutions and minority serving institutions are also strongly encouraged. There is a growing body of literature on ways to recruit a diverse set of students and design effective programs for international STEM engagement at the undergraduate and graduate level. PIs are encouraged to explore relevant literature and utilize those resources in their proposals.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

IRES projects may involve collaboration within an already-established partnership between a U.S.-based research group and a foreign research group (e.g., an existing lab-to-lab arrangement, U.S. and foreign professional societies, etc.). Alternatively, IRES projects may propose to initiate new international collaborations, or create new international research teams/networks.

Although two-way exchanges of U.S. and foreign students are strongly encouraged, the IRES program provides support only for the U.S. team. The IRES program does not provide salary support for the foreign research mentors, although it supports research and related logistical and other expenses for the U.S. team while in an international location. IRES PIs are welcome to organize exchange visits by foreign students and collaborators, but those expenses cannot be part of the IRES budget.

PIs are responsible for arranging required visas and other travel documents for foreign travel and obtaining research permits and import/export documents, where necessary.

In all cases, the IRES students/participants will be recruited and trained by the U.S. PI(s). Students/participants will travel to the foreign site to conduct scientific research, participate in training and professional development activities under direct supervision of the foreign research mentor(s). It is expected that a different group of students will participate in the IRES program each year. Active collaboration with the international partner in implementing the project is essential. PIs should consider ways to extend collaboration beyond the international trip, to include on-going engagement of students/participants in planning and synthesis of research and educational activities before and after travel to the foreign site.

Three years is the typical duration of IRES awards; however, a duration of up to 5 years may be supported in some cases if well-justified.

IRES proposals must have a unifying scientific research theme that enables a cohort experience for participating undergraduate and/or graduate students to collaborate with international partners. The cohort concept requires that within an IRES project, each participating student must have an individual research project for which they are responsible. Individual student projects must be coordinated to address the unifying research theme. To provide the best cohort experience and to simplify logistical burdens, it is suggested that all students supported by a given IRES project travel to the foreign location(s) at the same time. However, well-justified alternative approaches will be considered. If students are to be hosted at more than one location, it is expected that their projects will address a common scientific theme across locations. The proposal should include a plan for all participants to be reunited at one foreign location at least once during the overseas trip.

IRES proposals should support separate cohorts of students each year and give as many students as feasible, within budgetary constraints, the opportunity for a meaningful scientific research experience abroad. Proposals that include fewer than five U.S. students per year, or whose annual duration of research conducted abroad is less than four weeks, should be justified by exceptional conditions or circumstances. Longer duration and/or more students are generally preferable to shorter duration proposals with fewer students.

OISE realizes that the IRES program's goals can be achieved in many different ways, Hence, in addition to the IRES Sites model of faculty-led student cohorts performing scientific research under the mentorship of a foreign researcher, the IRES program welcomes proposals with creative, innovative, and ambitious ideas and concepts to address the IRES goals and objectives. These may include but are not limited to fundamentally new ways to prepare and train a globally-engaged STEM research workforce; relevant workshops; advanced studies institutes for graduate students and/or science teachers; original concepts and mechanisms to maximize impact of the international collaborations; ideas, platforms, or technologies leading to resilient enduring collaborative teams or networks; virtual/hybrid research-relevant events; extended pre-and post-trip activities using virtual collaboration platforms; creative ways to incorporate graduate students into the program even if they cannot travel for the entire duration of the project; or other well-designed activities developed by the PI team. PIs interested in submitting such proposals should contact the cognizant IRES Program Directors with a 2-page white paper to discuss appropriateness of the proposed activities and feasibility of the required budget before developing the full proposal.

Substantial research mentorship must be provided by foreign mentors. The U.S. PI is responsible for recruiting and preparing U.S. student participants, ensuring the quality of the research experience, and the appropriateness of the foreign research mentorship. It may be necessary for U.S. PIs to spend a short period of time with the U.S. students to help with the transition to the foreign site and mentors. U.S. PIs are not required to remain on-site with the U.S. students throughout the period abroad but are encouraged to use remote means to co-mentor.

In all cases, proposals must clearly describe the plan for recruiting a full spectrum of student talent in STEM, including how the planned activities will broaden participation in STEM. Recruitment of the U.S. student participants may occur locally, or may involve wider regional or national recruitment plans, as appropriate for the specific project. The plan should also address the process for selecting and preparing the students who will participate. The IRES program can only support students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. The intent of the program is to broaden the international experience of U.S. students. Preparation of the students to enable maximum benefit during the period spent abroad is particularly important, and should be both scientific and location-specific, including practical and socio-cultural information. The IRES program budget does not support coursework or development of instructional /teaching materials.

Proposals should describe the scientific research focus of the proposed activity; the intellectual collaboration with and mutual benefit for the foreign team; the plan for enhancement of student training and professional development; details of the mentoring plan; recruitment and broadening participation plans; selection process; the pre-departure preparation of students and follow up activities; arrangements for housing, stipends, health insurance, and other logistics; plans for leveraging U.S. and foreign resources to strengthen the project; the plan to assess the impact of the IRES project; and strategies for disseminating project results. PIs are encouraged to describe how they will use virtual, hybrid or alternative approaches to augment student preparation and follow-up and to facilitate continued international collaboration in the event travel plans are interrupted.

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

NSF encourages research experiences for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and the coordination of these experiences with IRES projects. Teachers may be included in IRES projects as part of the cohort. Proposers who wish to include an RET in an IRES proposal should contact the cognizant IRES program officer for guidance.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the quality of proposals and availability of funds. It is expected that NSF will support approximately 20-25 awards in FY 2024.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Additional Eligibility Info:

Subawards to foreign institutions or international branch campuses of U.S. institutions of higher education are not allowed.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions : Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

• Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg . Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected] . The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number.
• Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov . The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: ( https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide ). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected] .

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions.

The information below supplements the standard PAPPG and NSF Grants.gov Application Guide proposal preparation guidelines. Please use this information while preparing a proposal for the IRES program:

• Proposal Title . The proposal title should begin with "IRES:" followed by a descriptive title of the proposed activities. For collaborative proposals arranged as separate submissions from multiple organizations, the project title must begin with the words "Collaborative Research:" followed by the "IRES:" prefix.
• Cover Sheet . Check the box for "International Cooperative Activities Country Name" that appears under the Other Information when the "remainder of cover sheet" is clicked, then select the countries involved.
• Project Summary (one page maximum) . In the overview, the PI must clearly present the following information: (I) foreign countries involved; (ii) a number of undergraduate and/or graduate student participants per year; (iii) total duration of the project; (iv) an estimated number of days or weeks per year that the students will participate in IRES activities at the international location. Include the names and institutional affiliations of key U.S. and foreign collaborators and briefly note their roles in the proposed activities. Foreign collaborators should be identified as "non-NSF funded collaborators". Summarize the research topic(s) and highlight the collaborative aspects of the activity.
• Overview. Present the overall research goals and expected achievements. Provide a brief description of the overarching theme and research focus of the proposed activity, including specific science or engineering challenges to be addressed, rationale for conducting the project internationally, and examples of research projects that individual students will conduct during their time abroad. Also, present virtual, hybrid or other alternative approaches to international collaboration in the event travel is not undertaken, and/or in addition to travel.
• Nature of Activities. Proposals should address the intellectual/professional collaboration with the foreign team and mentors. Provide detailed descriptions of the envisioned research and sample research projects students will pursue.

NSF does not tolerate sexual harassment, or any other form of harassment, where NSF-funded activities take place. Proposers are required to have a policy or code of conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault. Proposers must provide an orientation for all participants in the IRES site (REU students, faculty, students, research mentors, etc.) to cover expectations of behavior to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all participants, and to review the organization's policy or code of conduct addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, including reporting and complaint procedures. For additional information, see the NSF policies at https://new.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment .

• The Research Environment, Collaborators and Mentors. Explain why international collaboration is required for the envisioned research project. Describe the unique expertise, facilities, data, and/or other resources that will be available to IRES students. Describe why the particular collaborator(s) and foreign site(s) are desirable for the proposed project from a scientific and/or professional development standpoint, as well as why the particular site(s) is/are suitable for hosting and mentoring U.S. students. Discuss plans for leveraging U.S. or foreign resources to strengthen the project, such as, taking advantage of existing facilities, research infrastructure, academic centers, field sites, language instruction, international programming, or cultural activities.
• Student Preparation. The proposal should describe plans for pre-departure preparation of U.S. student participants, as well as arrangements for housing, health insurance and other logistics. PIs are encouraged to describe how they will use virtual, hybrid or alternative approaches to augment student preparation and to facilitate continued international collaboration in addition to the foreign travel, or in the event travel plans are interrupted.
• Professional Development. Describe plans for enhancing the professional development of student participants, including post-trip follow-up plans for interactions such as student-faculty, student-mentor, and student-student cooperation.
• Project Evaluation, Dissemination and Reporting. Discuss plans to a) measure qualitatively and quantitatively the IRES project in terms of project goals and achievements as well as student research and professional development experiences, b) assess impacts over time, c) disseminate results of the research within the appropriate scientific disciplinary community, and d) publicize the IRES project student experiences in ways that will share the benefits across a wider body of U.S. STEM students and encourage other students to engage internationally.
• Biographical sketches for principal foreign collaborators are required and must be clearly identified as "non-NSF funded collaborators". Biosketches must be in English and must adhere to the format given in the PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h.
• Letters of Collaboration from foreign researchers/collaborators who will serve as mentor(s) for the IRES students or otherwise participate in the IRES program are required. These letters must clearly and concisely state 1) what infrastructure, resources, expertise etc. will be available to IRES participants at the international site, 2) what particular roles the foreign mentors or collaborators will play in the IRES project, and 3) how foreign collaborators and/or their organizations will benefit from participation in the IRES project. This solicitation requires these descriptive letters of collaboration in lieu of the standard PAPPG language.

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

IRES budgets support the U.S. portion of international collaborations.

• Maximum total budget is $150,000 per year. Typical IRES proposals are up to 3 years, but in special cases up to 5-year duration will be considered with appropriate justification.
• Participating students must be given a stipend in the range of $600 - $700 per week for the duration of the IRES project. The same hourly rate of stipend should be used to compensate students involved in hybrid models or part-time research.
• Graduate students can be part of the IRES cohort and receive a stipend for their contribution in the IRES project, but full-time graduate research assistant support or their tuition fees are not allowed.
• Foreign collaborators cannot be listed as PIs, co-PIs or Senior Personnel.
• Subawards to foreign institutions or international branch campuses of U. S. institutions of higher education are not allowed.
• IRES budgets are expected to mostly support students and their research and training-related expenses.
• Up to one month of PI salary per project year is allowed; if there are co-PIs, the one month should be distributed between them.
• IRES funds cannot be used to pay foreign mentors and students at the host location. However, if a project involves workshops or advanced studies institutes, reasonable honoraria and travel expenses may be requested.  
• The budget can include funds for research and related logistical/other expenses for the U.S. team while in an international location.

D. Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements

For Proposals Submitted Via Research.gov:

To prepare and submit a proposal via Research.gov, see detailed technical instructions available at: https://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission.html . For Research.gov user support, call the Research.gov Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected] . The Research.gov Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the Research.gov system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.

For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html . In addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (see link in Section V.A) provides instructions regarding the technical preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email: [email protected] . The Grants.gov Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the use of Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation. Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application will be transferred to Research.gov for further processing. The NSF Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov informational page provides submission guidance to applicants and links to helpful resources including the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide , Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide , and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Frequently Asked Questions . Grants.gov proposals must pass all NSF pre-check and post-check validations in order to be accepted by Research.gov at NSF. When submitting via Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends applicants initiate proposal submission at least five business days in advance of a deadline to allow adequate time to address NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting organization's local time on the deadline. Please note that some errors cannot be corrected in Grants.gov. Once a proposal passes pre-checks but fails any post-check, an applicant can only correct and submit the in-progress proposal in Research.gov.

Proposers that submitted via Research.gov may use Research.gov to verify the status of their submission to NSF. For proposers that submitted via Grants.gov, until an application has been received and validated by NSF, the Authorized Organizational Representative may check the status of an application on Grants.gov. After proposers have received an e-mail notification from NSF, Research.gov should be used to check the status of an application.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or both, who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal. In addition, Program Officers may obtain comments from site visits before recommending final action on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards. A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award process (and associated timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.

A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/ .

Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential to the fulfillment of NSF's mission, as articulated in Leading the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Talent Development and the Delivery of Benefits from Research - NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 - 2026 . These strategies are integrated in the program planning and implementation process, of which proposal review is one part. NSF's mission is particularly well-implemented through the integration of research and education and broadening participation in NSF programs, projects, and activities.

One of the strategic objectives in support of NSF's mission is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions must recruit, train, and prepare a diverse STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to the national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research under the guidance of the Nation's most creative scientists and engineers. NSF also supports development of a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing in building the knowledge that informs improvements in STEM teaching and learning.

NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities and expanding participation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and diverse portfolio of projects that creates new knowledge and enables breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and engineering research and education. To identify which projects to support, NSF relies on a merit review process that incorporates consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and its potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive, transparent merit review process for the selection of projects.

1. Merit Review Principles

These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when preparing proposals and managing projects, by reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program staff when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for funding and while overseeing awards. Given that NSF is the primary federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in basic research and education, the following three principles apply:

• All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge.
• NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.
• Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated, level than the individual project.

With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader Impacts outcomes for particular projects is done at an aggregated level, PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the activities described in the funded project. Thus, individual projects should include clearly stated goals, specific descriptions of the activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document the outputs of those activities.

These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit review criteria, as well as a context within which the users of the criteria can better understand their intent.

2. Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), prior to the review of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

• Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
• Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
• To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
• Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
• How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
• Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the United States; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

Proposers are reminded that reviewers will also be asked to review the Data Management Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as appropriate.

Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria

In addition to the general NSF review criteria described above, the following criteria will be used in evaluating proposals submitted in response to this solicitation:

• Student Recruitment: Appropriateness of the student recruitment and selection plans, including those for involving students from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM and from IHEs with limited research opportunities.
• Collaborators and Mentors: The appropriateness of the selection of researchers/mentors and host institution or location arrangements, including the opportunity for US students to benefit from the expertise, facilities, etc., of the foreign location.
• Student Preparation: Quality of plans for student preparation, including both academic/research and cultural/practical preparation specific to the topic of the research and the site of the international placement. The suitability of the research mentoring plan and project for the academic level of the intended student participants, the length of the program, the facilities available, etc.
• Professional Development: Plans to enhance the project's effectiveness and impact on student professional development, as well as plans for post-trip follow up after the overseas experience is completed.
• Evaluation and Dissemination: Quality of the proposed evaluation and dissemination plans.

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to evaluate proposals using two National Science Board approved merit review criteria and, if applicable, additional program specific criteria. A summary rating and accompanying narrative will generally be completed and submitted by each reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.

After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. NSF strives to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. Large or particularly complex proposals or proposals from new recipients may require additional review and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer's recommendation.

After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support for review of business, financial, and policy implications. After an administrative review has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers perform the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

Once an award or declination decision has been made, Principal Investigators are provided feedback about their proposals. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying information, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. notification of the award.

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award notice, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award notice; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1)*; or Research Terms and Conditions* and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award notice. Cooperative agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF . Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected] .

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg .

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Build America, Buy America

As expressed in Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers (86 FR 7475), it is the policy of the executive branch to use terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards to maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered in, the United States.

Consistent with the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Division G, Title IX, Subtitle A, November 15, 2021), no funding made available through this funding opportunity may be obligated for an award unless all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States. For additional information, visit NSF's Build America, Buy America webpage.

Special Award Conditions:

Recipients will be required to participate in program-level evaluation by NSF. NSF, an NSF contractor, or a grantee on behalf of NSF, may periodically conduct program evaluations or special projects that necessitate access to project level staff and data. This activity may occur at any time during the grant period and could occur after the grant has ended. Project-level participation includes responding to inquiries, interviews, and other methods of common data collection and/or aggregation across individual grants.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require submission of more frequent project reports). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report, and a project outcomes report for the general public.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or the project outcomes report, will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for all identified PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through Research.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. Such reports provide information on accomplishments, project participants (individual and organizational), publications, and other specific products and impacts of the project. Submission of the report via Research.gov constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report also must be prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website exactly as it is submitted by the PI.

More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg .

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

For questions related to the use of NSF systems contact:

• NSF Help Desk: 1-800-381-1532
• Research.gov Help Desk e-mail: [email protected]

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

• Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [email protected] .

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, "NSF Update" is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences . Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's website .

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at https://www.grants.gov .

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.F.7 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by proposers will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding proposers or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See System of Record Notices , NSF-50 , "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," and NSF-51 , "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records." Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton Reports Clearance Officer Policy Office, Division of Institution and Award Support Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management National Science Foundation Alexandria, VA 22314

National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (703) 292-5090 or (800) 281-8749