First, thank you for your interest in our research! I encourage all students to apply to UT-Austin. Below are answers to common questions from students.
How do I apply for graduate studies in aerospace engineering at UT?
Details on the application process may be found on the department website here.
How do we join your group as a graduate student?
Starting with Fall 2023 applications, there will be a field for you to indicate which professor(s) you want to work with. If you are interested in working with the CAELUS Laboratory as a graduate student, indicate Dr. Jones as one of those individuals. We will carefully review all applications submitted to the ASE program in the Orbital Mechanics and Controls focus areas that do so. Note that we consider all components of the application (personal statement, GPA/grades, and letters of recommendation) as part of the assessment. We will then reach out to schedule interviews based on our needs and the skills of applicants.
Do you plan on recruiting any new students for the Fall 2023 semester?
While it is subject to change, we currently do plan on recruiting at least one new student for the Fall 2023 semester.
Can I meet with you to discuss your research?
We wish we could meet with every student interested in working with us, but we receive many requests and don’t have the bandwidth to do so. To maximize your chances of being considered, we encourage you to submit the best application you can and indicate Dr. Jones as someone you want to work with. Personal statements that clearly articulate why you want to work with the CAELUS laboratory and convey enthusiasm for the related subjects usually get the most attention in Dr. Jones’s review of applications.
What is the relationship between the Texas Spacecraft Laboratory (TSL) and the CAELUS Laboratory?
The TSL and CAELUS are two separate entities. We do not recruit graduate students to work in the TSL as research assistants. The TSL is a department-controlled laboratory that Dr. Jones directs in the interest of teaching students about systems engineering, program management, etc. CAELUS is a research group focused on the research described on this website. While some projects have a TSL-related component, we do not focus on advancing the state-of-the-art in CubeSat technology.