Mario Ventresca

Below is a brief FAQ regarding research in my group, mostly directed towards graduate students. Please refer to this list before contacting me.

Are graduate positions available in your group? Positions are available through Industrial Engineering. Please note that I typically take students on as official group members only after I had a chance to get to know them, and if I have a vacancy in my group. A good way for me to get to know you is to take one of my classes and interact with me.
Do you have any postdoc positions available? Yes! Postdoc positions in my group are always available. The topic is usually driven by the postdoc, and the period is around 2 years. Note that I usually do not have funding for a full-time postdoc position, though I may be able to complement support that a postdoc is able to secure through fellowships and/or scholarships. Make sure you have applied to any sources of scholarships available to you, and mention that in your application.
Do you have undergraduate positions available? Yes! Typically undergraduate positions will be volunteer or for course credit. In some exceptional cases the SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) program can be explored.
How can I join your group? Assuming you have been admitted already, please stop by my office or email me (include a copy of your CV and a brief paragraph describing your research interests). If you have not yet been admitted, feel free to contact me if you have specific questions about research in my group, or whether your own interests might coincide with those of the group. Note that I am not responsible for the admission of graduate students, so refrain from emailing me if your intent is to attain admission into the program (I will not respond to these requests).
What kind of financial support is there? In general, we try to provide full financial support for most of our PhD students through teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs) and fellowships. However, this is not always possible. Make sure you have applied to any sources of scholarships available to you (even partial support), and mention that in your application. I highly suggest you examine the Graduate School resources for further information concerning funding options.
What projects are available? Most graduate students drive their own research, so if our previous research excites you, we'll work together on finding a new and exciting project for you. I'm very open to project suggestions, so long as they are within my expertise and group interests.
What knowledge is required to join your group? Having a priori interest in particular application areas is quite useful, but not necessary. However, having a strong background in at least one of the following areas is highly suggested:
- Computer science: advanced algorithm design and analysis, data structures, computational complexity.
- Data mining/machine learning/pattern recognition: exposure to basic methods (Bayesian classifiers, decision trees, k-means, etc.).
- Mathematics: particularly discrete math (graph theory, combinatorics, etc.).
- Nature-inspired algorithms: genetic programming, evolutionary algorithms, swarm intelligence, etc.
- Probability/statistics: distributions, hypothesis testing, regression, classification, experimental design, etc.
Note that most of my research requires very strong programming ability in a language such as Java or C/C++. Familiarity with the statistical computing environment R is also highly useful. Previous experience with Linux-based operating systems is desirable, but not necessary. However, my lab does not use Windows or Mac-based systems.
How can I contact you? If you are on campus, feel free to drop by my office. Otherwise, email is the best form. Please use the following format:
Subject: "Interested in Research ([indicate one of undergrad, masters, PhD, postdoc]): [your last name, first name]"
Body:
- A single SHORT paragraph describing your research interests and why you would be a good fit in my group.
- A link to your website, if you have one.
- Attachment: Your CV and sample paper(s), if you have any.
Before contacting me, be sure to carefully read the above sections, especially those pertaining to prerequisite knowledge. I will NOT take on students unless they are a strong match with the interests of the group.

Thank you for your interest, and best of luck!