Hsuan-Tien Lin, 2022/05/10
In 2014, CLLab experimented with the open-source track that aims to recruit students to build open-source machine learning packages. With the help of the members in the open-source track, we successfully built the first version of libact, which as of now is still a core tool of the lab's research. While the track did not grow because of various constraints, the experiment successfully proved the possibility of having a non-research track in CLLab.
In 2022, I decide to re-visit the idea of the open-source track and experiment with the development track of CLLab. The development track would be in several ways significantly different from the usual research track in CLLab:
The research track is typically assumed to continue indefinitely as long as there is a sufficient match between the member and the lab; the development track would be designed on a project-based basis and will generally end in 3-6 months. Renewing is possible but there are absolutely no guarantees.
The research track welcomes undergraduate, MS, and PhD students, as well as full-time research assistants; the development track welcomes undergraduate students, as well as selected part-time research assistants, who typically do not have a very strong publication pressure.
The research track is paid with a monthly salary; the development track is paid with an hourly or daily salary.
The research track members usually have direct 1-1 meetings with me; the development track members usually have direct 1-1 meetings with designated mentor(s), as shown below.
The research track members usually participate in weekly group meetings; the development track members can choose to (but are not obligated to) participate in the group meetings.