Brown CS offers world-class computer science research and education in an interdisciplinary environment:
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Brown’s student/faculty ratio is lower than many of our peers. Research groups maintain a balanced average size, with most faculty members advising only a small number of doctoral students at one time. That means individualized attention for you and your work.
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Brown CS has a collaborative and collegial environment. We also offer several affinity groups, including WiCS (Women in Computer Science) and Mosaic+ (fostering community, inspiring innovation, and providing opportunity to underrepresented minority students). Organized social opportunities include boardgaming, intramural sports, and our annual inclusive hackathon.
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We offer students in good standing full financial support while completing the degree (full tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend).
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The stipend includes a hardware budget so you can begin your studies with a new computer and peripherals that you select for yourself. After three years, you’ll receive a fresh round of funding.
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Your fellow researchers will be nearby in an attractive shared office that overlooks what Buzzfeed called one of the top 25 most beautiful college campuses in the entire world. A city that’s been described as “a foodie mecca” and “the USA’s most artsy city” is right at your feet.
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If you want to hone your skills as an educator, we offer hands-on teaching assistantships closely tied to the department’s research and teaching missions. Joe Gibbs Politz, now Assistant Teaching Professor at University of California, San Diego, says, “I asked about teaching at all of my grad school interviews. Some downplayed its importance, some were enthusiastic about it, but only at Brown did I get an immediate answer: ‘Here’s a concrete research project led by my TA.’ A few years later, that advisor worked with me to design and run parts of his courses for studies that formed my dissertation work.”
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Doctoral students play an important and respected role that goes far beyond their research and teaching. From serving on Brown’s Graduate Student Council to assisting with faculty searches and organizing seminars and major events, you can have a real impact on how Brown CS runs and how we grow.
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We pride ourselves on listening to our students and responding to their ideas and needs. The strong ties between our community members are visible every day, from students dressing up rubber chickens to throw at PhD grads to alums recreating our campus in Minecraft and volunteering their time to fill a digital archive with more than 400 pieces of memorabilia.
