The Situated Computation + Design Lab, led by Vernelle A. A. Noel at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA.), is looking for PhD students to join the Lab starting in Fall 2027.

I am a computational design scholar, architect, educator, and artist conducting research and exploring creative possibilities at the intersection of embodied making practices, design, emerging technology, and society. Our research generates new knowledge and creative expressions through critical computational, ethnographic, architectural, and artistic inquiry. I have published and presented extensively on digital fabrication, craft practices, heritage, critical computation, artificial intelligence, lightweight structures, and design pedagogy in major peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Sites of inquiry include:

1. Craft and cultural practices;
2. Computational Making and Fabrication; 
3. Design education and practice; and
4. Critical Computation.

Our contributions are empirical, technical, practical (how and what we DO), and conceptual (how we might THINK). From these sites of inquiry and exploration, we develop new methods, tools, technologies, concepts, and frameworks. Skills, backgrounds, and interests related to STEM and the Humanities are welcome. Examples include:

• Architecture/ Design
• Computing, HCI, Media Studies
• STS (science technology society studies), History, Anthropology
• Social Sciences/ education
• Cultural/ Heritage Studies/ Preservation
• Computer Science

I am looking for students who are: Deeply curious and motivated to explore complex questions; able to think critically, seek out new knowledge, and propose new ideas and directions; hands-on with an interest in making; and can clearly communicate ideas, share findings, and collaborate with peers, mentors, and broader communities. Skills in computer vision and building machine learning models are welcome.

Details:

• Fully funded: Tuition, health insurance, and 12-month stipend.
• GREs are optional for PhD applicants.
• Interdisciplinary community.

Expression of Interest:
If you are interested, please submit this FORM to the Lab by December 1st, 2026:

• SitCoDe Lab Application Form (due December 1st, 2026) >>>
• CMU-Architecture Graduate Program Open House – November 2026.
• CMU PhD Admissions Overview and Timeline – Application Deadline: January 2027.
• Masters of Computational Design (MSCD) – Application Deadline: January 2027.

CMU Architecture Graduate Program Admission Inquiry Form >>>

It is expected that Ph.D. students produce academic publications for conferences and journals during their time at Sit.Co.De.