At Rochester, graduate students don’t just study computer science, they actively shape it. Through hands-on research, close faculty mentorship, and a rigorous curriculum, students gain the technical depth and confidence to thrive in leading tech companies and research roles.
We provide a collegial, interactive environment in which faculty directly mentor students. All faculty and PhD students, regardless of their area, are familiar with each other’s work. This is possible only in a relatively small, close-knit department like the one found at the University of Rochester.
Our philosophy is that computer science research is a community endeavor, crucially dependent on the vitality of the local community in which it takes place. We believe that graduate students are the heart of our research productivity, and we make them first-class department citizens. Graduate students serve on all department committees and, in particular, are crucial members of faculty and graduate student recruitment efforts.
Our computer science researchers collaborate across departments and institutes at the University of Rochester, integrating deep theoretical knowledge with practical challenges. Within the department, our research interests focus on:
Our graduate alumni have become faculty at world class institutions or are leaders at major companies such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
Rochester provided an excellent environment for entering the research world. The abundance of research labs, PIs' positive attitudes toward undergraduate mentorship, and strong institutional support for fostering an active research community all facilitated my involvement in research opportunities. Working across two different labs during my time there gave me the skills and confidence to continue my research career in graduate school and beyond. I'm grateful to my mentors and the university for this transformative experience.
Jeremy Warner ’15 (electrical and computer engineering), ’16 MS (computer science)Research Scientist at Apple
The broad curriculum and intensive research training in low-level systems—particularly in performance and storage—at Rochester have been fundamental to my daily work. The PhD program also strengthened my critical thinking, writing, and communication skills—tools that continue to help me navigate challenges and advance in my career.
Wentao Cai ’23 PhDSenior Software Engineer at NVIDIA
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