Department of Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.
Overview
The Ph.D. in computing and information sciences is a research degree designed to produce independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-prepared educators. Faculty and students conduct both foundational and applied research to address diverse and important challenges, and our graduates are poised to excel within both computing and interdisciplinary environments in academia, government and industry. The Ph.D. program brings together faculty from disciplines throughout the college’s five departments and schools: Computer Science, Computing Security, the School of Information, the School of Interactive Games and Media, and Software Engineering.
100%
of full-time students are fully supported, with many having external fellowships from groups such as the National Science Foundation and Microsoft Research
100%
job placement by graduation, as faculty members in universities around the world and in industry R&D positions
68th
in the nation among all Ph.D. programs in computing (U.S. News and World Report)
Latest News
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June 13, 2025
Rochester-area collaboration drives global scientific progress: LLE and RIT look to unlock the secrets of extreme matter using AI/ML
A collaboration between RIT's Machine Learning and Data Intensive Computing (Mining) Lab and the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) was featured in LLE in Focus Issue 6. Qi Yu, professor in RIT's School of Information, and computing and information sciences Ph.D. students are bringing artificial intelligence expertise to research in high-energy density (HED) physics.
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June 10, 2025
Researchers develop cybersecurity test for AI being used by Google
A team of RIT experts has created CTIBench, a new tool that evaluates how much a large language model really knows about cybersecurity. CTIBench is the first and most comprehensive benchmark in the Cyber Threat Intelligence space. The tool is already being used by Google, Cisco, and Trend Micro.
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May 13, 2025
RIT showcase offers glimpse of early tech innovation cycle
TechTarget speaks to Paloma Hamilton, fifth-year mechanical engineering student; Geoff Twardokus, electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student; and Christopher Collison, director of RIT's AI Hub and Initiatives, about the innovative developments featured at Imagine RIT.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Computing Ph.D. Student Leads Groundbreaking Research with KAIST Interaction Lab
Jiangnan Xu Jiangnan Xu travels to Korea with the School of Interactive Games and Media to study the intersection of AI and the Metaverse.
Read More about Computing Ph.D. Student Leads Groundbreaking Research with KAIST Interaction Lab -
Blurring the Lines of Artificial Intelligence and Biomedicine Research
Linwei Wang Linwei Wang, professor of computing and recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), is using artificial intelligence to advance non-invasive personalized...
Read More about Blurring the Lines of Artificial Intelligence and Biomedicine Research
Research Areas
Our faculty and students conduct research to change how we live, work, and interact, focusing on both novel computing technology and how computing can support, facilitate, enable, and inspire progress in other domains.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science
- HCI and Accessibility
- Software Engineering
- Security and Privacy
- Systems
- Theory
Please find Faculty Publications and Awards.
Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.
A research degree designed to produce independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-prepared educators, you'll benefit from world-class faculty, diverse academic offerings, and modern facilities as you identify and research challenges within and beyond computing.
How to Apply
Information about faculty members who are seeking new students with full financial support will be available when the 2026 admission cycle opens:
For those wishing to apply to the Ph.D. program, there is a four stage process:
- Applicants submit their materials via the RIT online application system, which has detailed instructions for doing so. There is no hard deadline for this, but applicants who submit their materials before January 1 will receive stronger attention.
- The admissions committee will independently assess all applicants, academic qualifications (background, grades, test scores, prior experiences, achievement, recommendations, interviews, motivations, faculty inputs, etc), the Ph.D. director will evaluate faculty requests for students based on the needs of the faculty and department. The committee will interview, by phone or video chat, all candidates for the second stage.
- From November through April, the Ph.D. director, admissions committee, and faculty will work together to find the best matches from those qualified applicants for further evaluation and admission consideration. Candidates may be asked to contact specific faculty to discuss potential advisor relationships, or faculty may call candidates.
- When the candidate, faculty advisor, Ph.D. director, and committee agree on a match, we make an offer.
To learn more about applying to the Ph.D. program or about the graduate program admissions process at RIT please visit the Office of Graduate Admissions.
