Join A11y Lab

We welcome prospective Ph.D. students, Penn State master's and capstone students, and collaborators interested in accessible computing, assistive technology, and human-centered AI.

Ph.D. Admissions

If you plan to apply, please email Prof. Syed M. Billah at least 3 months before your application deadline. We may share short technical or research-prep tasks so both sides can evaluate fit early.

A11y Lab develops systems that substitute, recover, empower, or augment human abilities. Most projects involve technical depth in both algorithmic and interactive system design, often evaluated with real users in accessibility contexts.

Strong preparation in one or more of these areas is useful: HCI, AI/ML, statistics, algorithms, systems, and software engineering. Prior experience with human-subject studies is a plus, but not required. Ph.D. students are encouraged to develop their own long-term research agenda.

What to Include in Your Email

A short introduction and your current status (degree program, institution, expected graduation date).
Your CV and links to relevant work, such as papers, projects, or repositories.
A brief note describing research interests and why A11y Lab is a good fit for you.
Your expected application cycle and timeline.

Master's and Capstone Projects

If you are at Penn State and looking for a master's project or undergraduate capstone project, email sbillah+project@psu.edu. We regularly scope projects based on student interests, technical background, and available mentorship.

Project areas typically include non-visual interaction, accessibility-aware AI systems, assistive robotics, and inclusive interface design.

Collaborations

We welcome collaborations with researchers, clinicians, disability advocates, and industry teams working on accessibility challenges. For collaboration inquiries, contact sbillah@psu.edu with a short description of your idea and goals.

Lab Photos

A few snapshots from our ongoing work in robot-mediated assistance, non-visual interaction, and immersive studies.

Researcher guiding a mobile assistive robot in a hallway using a handheld controller — A student interacting with a Hello Robot platform for navigation and remote assistance.

A11y Lab team photo in the lab space — Team members running a robot-assisted interaction session in the lab.

Close-up of Wheeler-style multi-wheel input prototype on a table — Close-up of a Wheeler-inspired multi-wheel input prototype.

Hand using Wheeler-style input prototype next to a keyboard — Hands-on testing with a Wheeler-style input device.

Robot-assisted interaction study featuring close-up framing of the team at work — Students discussing part designs for 3D printing.

Participant wearing a VR headset and using two handheld controllers during an immersive study — A student testing a VR prototype for learning surveying in civil engineering.

Lab members discussing interface outputs and study materials on desktop screens — Lab members reviewing interface outputs and study materials on shared displays.