Prospective PhD Students
On a given year we typically have between 2 and 5 PhD students working in the SML. These students work closely with Professor Hancock and Professor Bazarova, and frequently lead a team of undergraduate research assistants. In addition, they convene weekly for lab meetings and department colloquia.
Graduates of the SML often accept faculty positions at top tier universities, and some go on to take positions in industry. Check out our alumni section to see where some of our past graduates are now.
We encourage you to explore our projects and publications to see if our research interests align with yours. If so, you should get in touch with Professor Hancock or Professor Bazarova. For more information about the Department of Communication and Graduate School admissions, visit communication.cals.cornell.edu. Applications are due at the beginning of January.
Contact Information
Natalie Bazarova: nnb8@cornell.edu
Jeff Hancock: jth34@cornell.edu
Undergraduates Applying to work in the SML:
If you are a Cornell undergraduate and wish to get involved in research please tell us a little about yourself: Why are you interested in working in the lab? What topics really interest you? Have you worked in any other labs on campus? You may want to take a look at some of the research we do (you can check them out in publications or on the projects page). We seek responsible, dependable students that will enthusiastically engage in the production of knowledge that we hope will be published. Lab members typically meet with their research teams once per week, collect data and make observations for 6-7 hours per week, and read about communication theory and experimental design to supplement the lab experience. At the end of the semester, everyone writes a 3-5 page position paper about what they learned over the semester. We invite new students to join the lab at the beginning of each semester, and occasionally during intersession if there is a need for technical skills for pre-study design. Students often earn credit for their work but for a small number, pay is also an option.
Students interested in an Honors Thesis:
If you are a student in the Department of Communication and interested in an Honors Thesis we encourage you to join the lab as early as possible- we have quite a few researchers that start as freshman. It is generally in the second or third year when students begin conceptualizing their study, during the third when it is conducted, and during the fourth when the writing is done. Unfortunately, for those that join the lab after junior year, it is often to late to produce a thesis.
Letters of Recommendation:
If you have worked in the lab for several semesters or taken a class with Professor Hancock or Professor Bazarova, we would be more than happy to write a letter of recommendation for you with at least 2 weeks notices prior to the deadline.