CincyNLP Lab

How to Join the Lab

I am always happy to meet curious and motivated students who want to explore NLP. There are many ways to get involved—class, seminars, or a research project—depending on where you are in your journey.

For UC students

• Take the NLP course first. It’s the best way for us to get to know each other and to gauge preparation for research.
• You’re welcome at our weekly seminar—regular attendance is appreciated if you plan to stay involved.
• Application timeline:
  • PhD/MS students: please take the NLP course in the fall* (your first semester) and reach out to me by the beginning of spring. After that, it’s hard to begin a new advising relationship.
  • BS students (including ACCEND program): please take NLP by your 4th year so there’s enough time for a meaningful project.
• Due to limited bandwidth, I'm not able to advise M.Eng students.

* Exception for Fall 2025: I will not be teaching NLP.

For prospective graduate students (not yet at UC)

• If you’re applying to UC and would like to join CincyNLP, feel free to email Dr. Jiang your CV, transcript, and 1–2 paragraphs about topics you’re excited about and how they connect to one of our recent papers.
• Admissions decisions are made by college and department's committee; reaching out can help us assess mutual fit.

Before you email

• Please read one of our recent papers. In your note, mention which paper and share one idea or question it sparked—this helps us start a concrete conversation.
• Write in your own voice. Short, personal emails are best (I receive many templated notes and it’s hard to tell fit from those).

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I really need to read a paper first?

  Yes, please. It makes our first conversation more productive and shows where your interests align.

• Do I need to take your class before research?

  For UC students, yes—the course is how I assess readiness and fit.

• What if my interests differ from your current papers?

  That's fine. New directions are welcome. Reading our work just gives us shared context.

• When should I contact you?

  PhD/MS: take NLP in fall (your first semester); reach out by early spring.
  BS: take NLP by 4th year.

  Earlier is better so we can plan something substantial.

• How can I make a strong first impression?

  Reference one CincyNLP paper, say what intrigued you, and suggest a small next step (e.g., an analysis, a replication plan, or an idea to test). Steady engagement—class, seminar, and thoughtful questions—goes a long way.