FAQ

I don’t have time to respond individually to every email I receive, but do receive many emails on the same topics — so here’s a page of frequently asked questions to spare your time and my inbox. Apologies in advance that I won’t respond to emails answered by the below (but if your question isn’t answered, do reach out!)

Research-related

If you’re considering joining the lab, I hope this helps you figure out whether it would be a good fit.

My Approach to Mentorship

I think of research as something you learn by doing, not something you already know how to do when you start.

My goal is to help you:

• learn how to ask good questions
• develop your ideas
• become a stronger writer and researcher

That means I will:

• give direct, detailed feedback
• ask you to revise your work
• push you to clarify your thinking

You are not expected to know everything when you start. You are expected to engage seriously and improve over time.

What I Value

The students who tend to do well working with me are:

• Curious — you care about the ideas, not just finishing tasks
• Thoughtful — you think about the broader implications of your work
• Communicative — you keep me updated and ask questions
• Reliable — you follow through on what you commit to

How I Work

We will usually:

• meet weekly (lab + 1:1)
• work iteratively over time
• use writing as a way to think

I will often:

• suggest readings
• leave detailed comments on drafts
• ask you to explain or rethink parts of your work

Communication

A few norms that make things run smoothly:

• Try to respond within ~24 hours on weekdays
• Let me know early if something changes or you’re falling behind
• If you’re stuck, reach out

You do not need to have everything figured out before asking a question—it’s usually better to ask earlier.

Feedback

My feedback style is direct.

This means:

• I will point out what is unclear or not working
• I may ask you to redo something

This is not a judgment of you—it’s how research works. Revision is a normal (and important) part of the process.

Independence

Over time, I will expect you to take more ownership of your work.

That can look like:

• proposing next steps
• shaping the direction of your project
• making decisions about what to prioritize

You don’t need to start here—but this is where we’re going.

Boundaries

• I do not expect work outside of reasonable hours
• I may not respond at night or on weekends
• If you are overwhelmed or falling behind, please tell me early

It is always better to communicate than to disappear.

Fit

This is likely a good fit if you:

• are interested in technology and society
• are comfortable with some ambiguity
• want to improve your writing and thinking

This may not be a good fit if you:

• want very step-by-step instructions for every task
• are only interested in building products without analysis
• are not able to commit consistent time

Eligibility and Structure

I primarily work with Barnard and Columbia undergraduates, as well as Columbia master’s students.

During the academic year, most students work with me for course credit (typically through independent study at Barnard or Columbia), though I may also have a small number of paid research assistant positions depending on project needs and available funding. Over the summer, roles are typically paid and full-time.

I do not offer volunteer positions, and I am not able to work with high school students.

If you are a student at another institution and have your own funding (for example, through a fellowship or grant), feel free to reach out—I am sometimes able to support external collaborators.

I also occasionally have limited funding to support a graduate-level researcher over the summer. If you are a graduate student and interested in this type of role, you are welcome to get in touch.

How to Reach Out

If you’re a Barnard or Columbia student and are interested in working with me, feel free to email me at XXX@barnard.edu.

A short message introducing yourself and your interests is more than enough—I’m happy to talk through whether there’s a good fit.

Final Note

You do not need prior research experience to work with me.

Many students I work with are doing research for the first time. What matters is that you show up, engage seriously, and are willing to learn.

Course-related

I want to take your course but I’m on the waitlist. Can you take me off?

Miscellaneous

I’m a student or recent graduate working on a startup. Can I advise you about it?

An important note about equity: I know very well — both firsthand and through research published on this topic — that messaging like the above is likely to stick more for some people than others. More specifically, those coming from less privileged backgrounds (in terms of gender, race, socioeconomics, etc.) are likely to be more dissuaded from reaching out, while others are more likely to ignore the above and email me anyway. If you’re on the fence about whether to email me, and you come from one of those underrepresented groups, just go ahead and send the email.