University of California, Berkeley - EECS PhD

UC Berkeley’s PhD Program in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) is internationally renowned for pioneering research, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and close ties to Silicon Valley. Formally housed within the Department of EECS, the program spans traditional electrical engineering fields (e.g., integrated circuits, photonics, control systems) and cutting-edge computer science domains (e.g., artificial intelligence, computer architecture, operating systems). Below is an in-depth overview featuring notable faculty, research areas, program structure, funding, life in Berkeley, and admissions competitiveness.

1. Notable Faculty & Research Areas

1. Professor Tsu-Jae King Liu

   • Role: Dean of the College of Engineering; former Chair of EECS.

   • Research Focus: Nanometer-scale transistor design, semiconductor device physics, and flexible electronics. Her group has driven innovations in MOSFET technology and ultra-low-power device architectures.

   • Reference: Tsu-Jae King Liu Research

2. Professor Jan Rabaey

   • Affiliation: Berkeley Wireless Research Center (BWRC).

   • Research Focus: Ultra-low-power circuit design, wireless sensor networks, and the “Swarm Lab,” which explores neural-inspired computing architectures.

   • Reference: Jan Rabaey Profile

3. Professor Ion Stoica

   • Role: Co-director of the RISELab.

   • Research Focus: Distributed systems, cloud computing, and large-scale data analytics. Stoica co-founded Databricks (Apache Spark) and Anyscale (Ray), bridging academic research and tech startup ecosystems.

   • Reference: Ion Stoica at RISELab

4. Professor Sergey Levine

   • Affiliation: Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Lab.

   • Research Focus: Deep reinforcement learning, robotics, and computer vision. His work applies machine learning to teach robots complex manipulation and control tasks.

   • Reference: Sergey Levine Lab

These examples illustrate the department’s breadth, from hardware-focused subfields to high-level AI software systems. Many labs collaborate with local industry, national labs (e.g., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), and other UC Berkeley departments such as Statistics, Bioengineering, or the Haas School of Business.

2. Program Structure & Work-Life Balance

• Typical Timeline: Most students spend 5–6 years completing their PhD, beginning with foundational coursework and moving into research by the second year. A preliminary exam and a qualifying exam ensure readiness for independent study.

• Research Environment: PhD candidates generally join a research group early on, co-author publications, and potentially intern in nearby tech companies (e.g., Google, NVIDIA, Intel) or cutting-edge startups.

• Work-Life Balance: While the program is rigorous, many PhD students note the department’s encouragement of collaboration over competition. Berkeley’s campus culture—replete with student groups, intramural sports, and access to the Bay Area’s outdoor activities—helps maintain a modicum of balance.

3. Life in Berkeley & Housing

• City & Culture: Located on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley is known for its vibrant arts scene, varied dining, and activism-rich history.

• Cost of Living: Housing expenses can be high. Many grad students share apartments in neighborhoods such as South Berkeley, North Oakland, or Albany. On-campus housing options exist but can be limited. Public transit (BART, buses) and the university’s bike-friendly environment ease commuting.

• Lifestyle Perks: Proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley offers networking events, hackathons, and job fairs. The local climate is mild, and numerous parks and trails (e.g., Tilden Regional Park) provide recreational escapes.

4. Funding & Financial Support

• Research Assistantships (RAs): Most doctoral students in EECS secure RA positions tied to faculty grants, covering tuition plus a stipend (often in the range of $35–$40k/year, though exact amounts vary).

• Teaching Assistantships (TAs): The department offers TAships for core undergraduate courses, which similarly provide a stipend and fee remission.

• Fellowships: Many incoming students compete for university-wide fellowships (e.g., Berkeley Graduate Fellowship), as well as external awards like the NSF GRFP and DOE CSGF.

• Industry Sponsorship: Some labs with strong industry ties may receive sponsorships that fund specialized projects and conference travel.

5. Admissions Competitiveness & Outcomes

• Selectivity: With annual PhD applications often exceeding 2,500 across Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, acceptance rates can hover near 7–10%. Successful candidates typically have strong research backgrounds, top academic credentials, and well-aligned interests with prospective advisors.

• Career Trajectories: Many graduates pursue faculty positions at research-intensive universities or postdoctoral placements. Others join leading tech companies or launch startups. Berkeley’s reputation and alumni network in the Bay Area and globally open doors across academia and industry.

References & Additional Links

• UC Berkeley EECS Department

• Berkeley AI Research (BAIR)

• RISELab

• Berkeley Wireless Research Center

• Tsu-Jae King Liu’s Faculty Page

In summary, UC Berkeley’s PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences stands at the intersection of top-tier research, entrepreneurial spirit, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Renowned professors like Tsu-Jae King Liu, Jan Rabaey, Ion Stoica, and Sergey Levine shape a program that challenges students academically while offering a supportive, innovation-friendly environment. Though living expenses in Berkeley are steep, strong funding opportunities and unrivaled access to the Bay Area’s tech and research ecosystems make this PhD track a life-changing platform for aspiring engineers, computer scientists, and pioneers in emerging technologies.