FAQ and Email Guidelines

I always answer email faster than I return phone messages, and I am rarely able to answer the phone to converse on-demand.  Having said that, there are certain kinds of email (besides spam) to which I cannot respond due to pressures of time or other reasons: 

• Journalists writing for popular or scientific press:  I try to be as accommodating as possible if it will help inform a broader audience about the work we are doing.  Please be patient but I will really try to get back to you.
• Analysts and industrial employees:  If you are interested in doing joint research or in supporting our research, I will try to get back to you.  If you simply are looking for information about our work, please refer to our research group's homepage.  I simply do not have time to answer all such inquiries, and I hope you will understand why I must prioritize inquiries from journalists, research organizations, and not-for-profit organizations over those from for-profit entities.
• Prospective students and applicants:  I cannot help with the admissions process to any graduate or undergraduate programs, and will not respond to any email in that vein.  Similarly I can only respond to requests for RA-ships or to work in my research group after you have been admitted.  Also see notes below on why it is difficult for many faculty including myself to support MSCS RAships.
• Undergraduate advising:  I no longer do undergraduate advising due to time constraints.
• MSCS students:  Currently we cannot handle any more MSCS research assistants in SWIG due to bandwidth limitations, though that may change.  I do not supervise "MSCS with distinction in research" projects except under very unusual circumstances in which there is a clear confluence of interests and demonstrated mutual benefit.
• Recruiters:  Please do not email or call for any reason.  I will categorically not respond to any such inquiries, and repeated inquiries will be met with hostility.
• Attorneys: Due to pressures of time, I cannot do expert witness work.
• Investors, VC's, startups:  I generally only setup meetings or phone calls if you are reaching me via personal and non-anonymous referral.  With very few exceptions, I don't have time for consulting, advisorship, informal conversations/advice in person or over the phone/email, technical board membership, or similar involvement.

Thank you in advance for respecting these guidelines.  I'm sorry I can't do more, but I must respect my existing commitments and not bite off more than I can chew.

fox@cs.stanford.edu   [Back to home page]