Jonathan Kelly

Professor @ University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies

Joining My Group

I’m always delighted to hear from talented and enthusiastic students who are interested in joining my group. If you’re excited about robotics and eager to take on challenging research problems, please apply through our departmental process and list Space & Terrestrial Autonomous Robotic Systems (STARS) as one of your primary research interests.

My group welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds—not only in computer science and robotics, but also in mathematics, physics, and related fields. Students wishing to join my laboratory must apply to an Aerospace Studies program. Although I hold a cross-appointment in the Department of Computer Science, I am only able to directly accept students through Aerospace Studies. Sometimes, co-supervison of students in CS is possible—if you are interested in this option, I encourage you to contact both myself and a faculty member in CS.

I greatly appreciate the time and effort that prospective students put into preparing their applications. Due to the large number of messages I receive, I’m often not able to respond individually to every inquiry. However, please know that I read (and often save) all emails from prospective students. If your application later appears in the system, I make a point of reviewing my notes and correspondence to ensure your interests and background are considered.

Reference Letters

Each year, I receive many requests from students asking for reference letters for graduate studies. Writing a strong, detailed letter takes substantial time and effort and I take this responsibility seriously. Because of the volume of requests, I can only write letters for students who have:

• conducted research with me (at the undergraduate or graduate level), or
• worked closely with me in a research or thesis capacity.

If you have only taken one of my courses, I’m afraid I cannot provide a meaningful reference. A letter that simply restates your grade offers no new information beyond what’s already on your transcript, and would not help your application(s).

If you meet the above criteria, you may email me your request at least one month in advance of your first deadline. Include the following information:

• a brief summary of your research work with me;
• the programs or institutions to which you are applying;
• the specific institution/program deadlines;
• any important submission instructions and relevant links.

If I feel that I can write a strong and supportive letter, I will respond affirmatively. If I decline, it likely means I do not know your work well enough to provide a detailed and helpful evaluation. Please note that I can provide at most two customized letters (i.e., for two different programs). If I am writing one or more letters for you, you are welcome to send a polite reminder a few days before the deadline, though this is not necessary.