The Design Research Collective is multidisciplinary by design. Our members come from mechanical and aerospace engineering, computer science and data science, architecture and design, public policy, and the social sciences. What connects us is a shared interest in how people, AI systems, and engineered systems shape one another.
Before reaching out, review our research themes and recent publications, identify the goals, themes, or recent work that connect to your interests, explain what research questions you hope to pursue within that shared direction, and describe the technical or research experience that prepares you to contribute. Please attach a CV or résumé.
Doctoral research
Prospective Ph.D. students are encouraged to contact us before applying. Admissions and group fit are ultimately handled through Carnegie Mellon’s formal graduate application process.
Current CMU students
Master’s and undergraduate students often contribute through a research project, independent study, or thesis. Opportunities depend on project needs, preparation, and advising capacity.
External Collaborations
We work with academic, government, and industry partners on questions that connect human–AI collaboration with consequential engineering practice.