Prospective Students

My group focuses on the following research themes:

• Trustworthy, reliable, and uncertainty-aware AI systems
• AI for computational social science
• AI for security- and safety-critical domains

My long-term goal is to build trustworthy AI systems for domains where automated predictions or decisions influence public perception, policy, safety, or human well-being. In practice, my work studies these questions in modern AI systems, including LLM- and agent-based settings.

How to Express Interest

The information below is intended to help you understand how I work with students at different levels, and how to reach out in the most effective way.

PhD Applicants (Fall 2026)

I plan to recruit 1–2 PhD students for Fall 2026. I look for applicants with strong technical fundamentals, the ability to work independently, and sustained motivation for long-term research.

• Official application (required)
  
  Application deadline: January 31, 2026.
  
  All PhD applicants must submit an official application through the Graduate Admissions system (link) and list me as their preferred PhD advisor.
• Contacting me (optional)
  You may complete a short interest form and email your CV to introduce your background and research interests. I strongly encourage prospective PhD applicants to reach out early.
  • Complete the Interest Form .
  • Email subject format:

    Prospective PhD - YourName - Fall 2026 

Note: Contacting me and submitting the interest form are supplementary and do not replace the official PhD application.

I respond to inquiries on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of emails, I may not be able to respond to every message individually.

IIT Master’s & Undergraduate Students

I work with IIT master’s and undergraduate students through for-credit research courses (e.g., ITMT 597 / ITMT 497). These positions provide a hands-on research opportunity with close faculty mentorship and opportunities to produce meaningful outcomes. They are not paid research assistant roles, and priority is given to students who have taken one of my courses and demonstrated strong performance and initiative.

If you are interested, please:

• Complete the Interest Form . This includes a few brief questions to help me understand your background and expectations.
  If you have taken one of my courses, the form helps me learn more about your interests and experience outside the classroom.
• Email your CV using the subject format:

  Prospective MS - YourName - Semester/Year
  Prospective UG - YourName - Semester/Year
      

Other research collaborations (e.g., remote, non-credit, or volunteer participation) are considered only on a case-by-case basis and require a clear research fit and a demonstrated commitment over a sustained period.

Contact: yhu89 [at] illinoistech [dot] edu

For general information about my research, publications, and teaching, please return to my main page.