(All positions last updated on Nov 21, 2025)
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Ph.D. Students
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PhD positions available for Fall '26 admissions. Students will be fully sponsored through research funding or TA positions. Prospective students should submit an application to the University of Houston Computer Science: https://uh.edu/nsm/computer-science/graduate/admissions/. In your application, please mention my name. I keep this information updated regularly, so as long as you see it on this page, it means positions are available and you do not need to contact me about availability.
To maintain consistency for all applicants, I do not conduct interviews or respond to requests until I have received your complete application. Once I receive your application (from the UH system), I will contact applicants and schedule interviews. With that said, I do read every email and inquiry carefully and thoroughly, and will keep your interests in mind if a suitable position arises. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
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What do we look for in a candidate?
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Academic excellence
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Genuine interests in research to advance technology and humanity
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Strong communication skills for both technical and non-technical materials
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Experience with LLM, vision, and robotics is a big plus
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Thank you so much for your interest in our lab. We look forward to connecting with you!
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(Don't forget to check out Pam's PhD application package on the Resources page!)
Post-Doc Scholars
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*International candidates are welcome to apply*
*We have started reviewing applications. If you're interested in this position, please submit your application soon.*
Research Topics
We are seeking a postdoc fellow to work at the intersection of human-robot interaction and manipulation in healthcare settings. The project involves developing algorithmic solutions for an optometry application where robots assist optometry patients. Important components of this project include but not limit to: (1) developing and implementing autonomous control strategies; (2) testing on manikin patients; (3) developing new human-aware planning and interaction methods. Experience in algorithmic human-robot interaction, learning, control, and/or manipulation is required. This position will be advised by Prof. Pam Qian (Primary) from the University of Houston Computer Science, Prof. Kaiyu Hang from Rice University Computer Science, and Prof. Diane Sayah from the University of Houston College of Optometry.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should email Prof. Pam Qian (pqian@uh.edu) before December 31, 2025, with CV, PDFs of up to 3 relevant publications, and information of 3-5 people that can serve as their recommendation letter writers (name, title/position, work email, and relation to the applicant). Letter writers will only be contacted if the applicant reaches the final step of this hiring. Initial appointments will be for one year with the possibility of extension. This position requires 12 months of commitment and early termination will not be feasible. Start date of this position is immediate and flexible between January 2026 and June 2026. International candidates are welcome to apply and will be provided with Visa assistance. This position will also enjoy full-time employee benefits including health insurance, life insurance, retirement savings, and more (https://www.uh.edu/human-resources/benefits/benefits-glance/). For any questions, please contact Pam Qian (pqian@uh.edu).
Location
The University of Houston and Rice University are R1 universities located in Houston, Texas, United States. Houston is the fourth largest the city in the United States and has world-class theaters, museums, restaurants, and thrilling sports teams. It offers affordable housing and enjoys a low cost of living. Both universities are close to the Texas Medical Center, the largest in the world, a large industrial base, and NASA.
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Lab Manager / Software Engineers
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(This position is currently not available.)
We seek candidates to fill one full-time position as a lab manager/software engineer in our lab. The successful candidate will contribute to our efforts to develop algorithms and systems to enable workers to learn new skills and upskill, with applications in healthcare and education. The candidate is welcome to participate in the group’s research efforts, depending on their interests. This position is flexible depending on the qualifications of the applicants (e.g., candidates with a PhD can be considered for a combined postdoctoral position).
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Qualifications:
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B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field;
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Solid programming skills, particularly in Python;
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Experience with robotics, LLM, AI, and/or computer vision.
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Duration: minimum 9 months; renewable upon satisfactory progress.
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How to apply:
Interested applicants should contact Professor Pam Qian (pqian@uh.edu) and provide a CV or resume, the names and contact information of two or more references, and the expected start date.
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This position is available immediately, and applications will be accepted until this position is filled.
Undergraduate and Master's Students
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We always welcome motivated undergraduate and MS students to work with us! The easiest way to join is to pitch your research idea to Pam -- we welcome ideas on robotics for healthcare. You are encouraged to reach out to the current members in the group to learn about what they are working on and how you might be able to contribute. You can find their information on the Research page. Undergraduate students, both from and outside of UH, are encouraged to apply for Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at UH. You should reach out to me to discuss your application.
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Qualifications:​
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Solid programming skills, particularly in Python;
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Experience with robotics, LLM, and computer vision is a plus.
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Duration: minimum one semester; can commit at least 10 hours a week.
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How to apply:
Interested applicants should contact Professor Pam Qian (pqian@uh.edu) and provide a CV or resume, research interests, and transcript. ​