Join LASER
We appreciate your interest in the lab! If your research interests align with the group please get in touch using the instructions below (current emphasis on RL/MPC, perception-aware planning, mechanical design/hardware). We are currently recruiting only a very limited number of Ph.D. students for fall 2027 and research-based M.S./undergrad students already at USC on a rolling basis (see below). We are an interdisciplinary team, and motivated students with backgrounds in robotics, aerospace/mechanical engineering, computer science, controls, and related fields are encouraged to apply.
Prospective Ph.D. Students
We are always excited to have motivated researchers join our group:
- Please indicate your interest on your application materials. Submit an official application to USC Viterbi’s Ph.D. program (ASTE/AME/ECE) by Dec-15 for fall admissions.
- Make sure you select Prof. Albee as a faculty member of interest.
- If you would like to email Prof. Albee directly, please send your CV and unofficial transcript with a brief description of your specific interest in the lab with subject line
[LASER-PHD-APPLY].- Interviews begin in Dec/Jan, and USC fellowship recommendations are made by ~Feb, followed by RA offers in ~Mar.
- Spring admissions are rare, but possible. Contact Prof. Albee if you have a special circumstance.
M.S./Undergrad Students @ USC
We typically recruit at the start of the fall and spring semesters, though occasionally have rolling openings. We typically ask our M.S./undergrad students to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours/week on LASER research so that we can work on a substantial project together. Typical pathways are research-for-credit, research volunteers, and USC’s CURVE and PURF fellowship programs (USC undergrad only).
If you are already at USC, please submit this form, which we use for all of our M.S./undergrad recruiting. We do not currently have positions for M.S./undergrads not at USC. We will reach out to you if we have a research rotation position available and decide to interview you.
You will need:
- Your CV/resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- Some brief descriptions of your interest and fit with the lab:
- Any projects/papers that strike your interest.
- Your prior experience and research background.
Postdocs
We are not currently actively searching for postdocs, but if you think there is an exceptional fit please reach out with:
- A brief summary of one or two research projects we could work on together.
- One or two of your papers you are most excited about.
- Contact information for two to three references.
(Due to the volume of mail we unfortunately might not be able to respond to all application-related emails and applications individually.)