Join Us

Build computing systems for AI, and AI for computing systems

The Wan Lab at Columbia University builds computing systems for emerging AI, and develops agentic AI that designs computing systems, across computer architecture, computer systems, and VLSI. Students work with high-impact project opportunities and close mentorship, get hands-on with real hardware (FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs, NPUs, embedded systems, ASICs), and collaborate closely with industry (IBM, TSMC, Intel, Google, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung).

What we look for

There is no single mold. Great fits for the lab usually have strength in one of these, plus curiosity about the rest:

  • Computer architecture: accelerators, memory systems, heterogeneous platforms, software-hardware co-design.
  • Systems: ML and agentic serving, runtime systems, embedded systems, reliability, benchmarking, GPU/CPU/TPU/NPU.
  • Chips / VLSI: SoC and RTL design, FPGA prototyping, chiplets and 3D ICs, compute-in-memory, memory-centric computing.
  • Physical & agentic AI: physical AI systems, robotics systems, neuro-symbolic AI, digital twin, agentic systems, edge AI.
  • AI for computing: agentic AI for software systems (code generation, compiler optimization), computer architecture (processor and accelerator design), and chips (EDA, placement, verification).

Open positions

PhD Students

2-3 fully funded PhD positions for Fall 2027 (applications due December 2026). You will define and own research agendas across our research areas, publish at top venues (ISCA, MICRO, ASPLOS, HPCA, DAC, ICCAD, ISSCC, JSSC, MLSys, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, etc.), with hands-on hardware prototyping and industry internship opportunities.

How: Apply to the Columbia Computer Science PhD program and mention Prof. Zishen Wan in your application. Feel free to also email us (see below).

Postdoctoral Researchers

Openings for postdocs with a strong record in computer architecture, computer systems, VLSI design, or agentic AI for computing. Start date flexible; you will work on high-impact research across the lab's directions.

One position is currently dedicated to systems and architecture for physical AI. Applications in our other directions are equally welcome.

How: Email your CV, a short research statement, and two representative papers.

Master's & Undergraduate Researchers

Columbia MS/undergraduate students can join for research projects, independent study, or thesis work. Strong projects regularly turn into publications and PhD recommendations. A great way to get to know the lab is COMS E6998: AI-Native Computing (Fall 2026).

How: Email your CV, transcript, and a short note on which research area excites you and why.

Visiting Scholars & Interns

We welcome motivated visiting students, scholars, and remote collaborators. Tell us what you want to build and how it connects to the lab's research.

How: Email your CV, a one-paragraph project idea, and a short note on which research area excites you and why.

How to reach us

Email zishen.wan@columbia.edu with the subject line [Prospective + <position>] Your Name, for example [Prospective PhD] Ada Lovelace.

Please attach your CV, mention 1-2 papers or projects of yours (or ours) you'd like to talk about, and say a sentence about why this lab specifically. We read the emails we receive, but may not be able to reply to all of them: if we feel there is a strong fit, we will get back to you.