Dr. Robert Harper

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Robert Harper. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Robert Harper is a Professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests broadly encompass Formal Methods, Applied Logic, Software Engineering, Type Theory, and Networking. Harper aims to develop a comprehensive theory of programming that integrates the practice of software development. He focuses on the role of language in programming, where language serves as the medium for expressing ideas comprehensible to people and executable by computers. Harper's work emphasizes the development and application of type theory in the context of computation, with key concepts such as inductive types represented by tree structures and coinductive types associated with infinitary data structures such as streams. His primary tool is the propositions-as-types principle, connecting specifications and programs through types and proofs. This beauty of type theory establishes a rich framework that accounts for both computational aspects of programming and mathematical reasoning. Through his scholarly efforts, Harper seeks to link programming languages with mathematical concepts, thereby improving how programming integrates with theoretical mathematics.

Research Interests

Courses

15413 - Spring, 2026 15713 - Spring, 2026 15312 - Fall, 2025 15652 - Fall, 2025 15413 - Spring, 2025 15713 - Spring, 2025 15312 - Fall, 2024 15652 - Fall, 2024 15791 - Spring, 2024

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.