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/ __ \__ ______ _____ / |/ /___ _____________ _______
/ /_/ / / / / __ `/ __ \ / /|_/ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / / / ___/
/ _, _/ /_/ / /_/ / / / / / / / / /_/ / / / /__/ /_/ (__ )
/_/ |_|\__, /\__,_/_/ /_/ /_/ /_/\__,_/_/ \___/\__,_/____/
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/ _ \__ _____ ____ / |/ /__ ___________ _____
/ , _/ // / _ `/ _ \ / /|_/ / _ `/ __/ __/ // (_-<
/_/|_|\_, /\_,_/_//_/ /_/ /_/\_,_/_/ \__/\_,_/___/
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/ , _/ /|_/ / _ `/ __/ __/ // (_-<
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Current students
Work with me
I am recruiting Ph.D. students at the University of Pennsylvania computer science department. Our lab will work at the intersection of data systems, machine learning, and programming languages.

The next generation of data systems will need to automatically:
- Tune / adapt itself to changes in hardware and workloads
- Invent algorithms custom-tailored to the user’s specific application
- Understand the user’s intention (beyond SQL semantics)
Sound interesting? You might be a good match for UPenn CIS! The UPenn Ph.D. program is fully funded, which means your tuition is covered, and you will receive a stipend. I am particularly looking for students who:
- Are interested in scientifically progressing the next generation of data systems (this seems obvious, but if your interest lies purely in writing code or performance tuning, you will make much more money and work fewer hours in industry!)
- Have the required CS fundamentals to work on complex systems. Bachelors degrees are good, industry experience is great.
- Have demonstrated an aptitude for research. This can be done through independent studies, a industrial project that you approached scientifically, or an undergraduate thesis. You do NOT need to be an author on a publication.
If you are interested, please apply to the UPenn CIS PhD program and select me as a potential advisor. The application opens in mid-September, and applications are due on December 1st. If you have questions about UPenn, please reach out via email: rcmarcus@seas.upenn.edu. Please include “PhD” or “Ph.D.” in the subject line of your email (or I might not see it!).
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