Research
My research interests are in computational linguistics and natural language processing. I work
towards deeper understandings of natural language and the human language processing mechanism, as
well as how these insights can inform the design of more efficient, effective, safe, and
trustworthy NLP systems. Among all relevant topics, I am particularly interested in learning
language through grounding, computational multilingualism, and related machine learning aspects.
For more details, check out my publications and the CompLING Lab at the University of Waterloo.
Prospective students, visitors, and collaborators: please read this.
Thank you for your interest in working with us! Due to the large number of emails I receive,
I cannot respond to every email individually. Please review the information below before
contacting me.
Prospective graduate students: I will be taking 1-2 students every year. Please apply through the system and list me as a potential advisor in your application. There is no need to contact me individually.
I am also an ELLIS advisor as a Canada CIFAR AI Chair---if you are open to enrolling in the ELLIS PhD program, consider submitting your application there as well, and list me as a potential advisor.
ELLIS PhD applicants will still need to follow the regular UW application process.
Please note that the below practice tasks are for undergraduate RAs, not for graduate applicants.
A separate interview process will be conducted for graduate applicants around 1-2 months after the
application deadline if advanced to the next stage.
Prospective postdocs: please email me directly with your CV and two representative
publications, and apply to the Vector Postdoc
Program.
Current UW undergraduate students, co-op applicants, and prospective visiting students:
please submit an application following the instructions.
You will need to complete one practice task as part of the application.
I can only consider co-op applicants who have completed at least 2 URA work terms with us.
Students out of UW are also encouraged to apply to the Vector Research Internship Program.
Update (August 2025): In order to dedicate sufficient time to existing commitments,
I am unable to take non-UW visitors until further notice,
and I am unable to take Vector Research Interns until Summer 2026.
Current Waterloo graduate students: I unfortunately cannot support program transfer from other departments and schools, and cannot take on the sole supervisor role for current students out of SCS.
