u/chai12072002

Hey everyone,

I have an MS in Electrical Engineering (focused on embedded systems and IoT) and I’m actively looking to start a PhD in US. My background is hands-on I’ve built systems using Raspberry Pi, ESP32, and similar hardware, and my research interests are in:

• Embedded Systems (real-time control, RTOS, hardware-software co-design)
• IoT (sensor networks, edge computing, wireless protocols)
• Battery Management Systems (BMS) monitoring, balancing, state estimation

I’m trying to cut through the noise of cold-emailing and find labs that are actually looking for students right now, rather than blasting out generic emails.

If you know a professor who:

• Is actively recruiting for Fall 2026 or Spring 2027
• Works in any of the above areas (or adjacent ones like power electronics, control systems, or cyber-physical systems)
• Has funding for a RA position

I’d genuinely appreciate a name or a nudge in the right direction. Happy to DM my CV if that helps make an intro easier.

Thanks in advance this community has been incredibly helpful to a lot of people and I’m hoping it comes through again.

Hey everyone,
Ever since childhood, my dream has been to pursue a PhD in engineering. During my bachelor’s and master’s, I focused heavily on building projects and practical work rather than publications. I’ve worked on multiple embedded systems/robotics-related projects and maintained a strong GPA, but unfortunately I was never really guided toward writing research papers or publishing work.

Now I’m scared that I might not be considered for PhD programs because I don’t have publications. I see many applicants with papers, research internships, and conference experience, and it makes me feel behind.

Points to be noted:
Did bachelor’s in Electronics &Communication Engineering From amrita vishwa vidyapeetam bengaluru, India.
Did masters in Electrical and Computer engineering from Northern Arizona University, USA. Also applied Phd for same university once and got rejected due to funding.

For people already in PhD programs or involved in admissions:
How important are publications for engineering PhD admissions?
Can strong projects and professor support compensate for lack of papers?
Is it still realistic to aim for a research career starting from this point?
And also could you help me by letting me know if any professor you know have funding and looking for PhD student in Electrical field specifically IoT and robotics!!!

I’d really appreciate honest advice.