MIT Summer Research Program The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education; to improve the

research enterprise through increased diversity; and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate

education at MIT.

MSRP began in 1986 as an institutional effort to address the issue of underrepresentation of African Americans,

Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans in engineering and science in the United States. Today,

this program seeks to identify talented sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors who might benefit from

spending a summer on MIT’s campus, working in a research laboratory under the guidance of experienced scientists

and engineers who are MIT faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students. Students who

participate in this program will be better prepared and motivated to pursue advanced degrees, thereby helping to

sustain a rich talent pool in critical areas of research and innovation.

P A R T I C I P A N T S R E C E I V E

Supervision by an MIT faculty member and postdoctoral fellow or advanced graduate student

Individual counseling on academic careers

Constructive feedback on the need for further undergraduate courses and acquisition of additional laboratory skills

Opportunity to possibly co-author a scientific paper with the faculty mentor

Exposure to state of the art research laboratories in MIT departments and interdisciplinary centers

A weekly stipend

Round trip travel expenses

University housing (students are responsible for their food expenses)

Access to campus facilities (library, athletic, and health facilities)

P R O G R A M F E A T U R E S

Weekly research presentation by MIT faculty

Weekly seminars on issues directly related to the academic, personal, and professional growth of interns

Community service day

Social outings (barbeques, boat cruise, visits to Boston area)

Preparation of an abstract, research paper, and graduate school statement of purpose

Poster presentation at the end of the program

The program features seminars on:

writing and research skills

strategies for enhancing success in applying to graduate school

graduate school funding opportunities opportunities for informal discussion with UCLA graduate

students academic career opportunities GRE test preparation cultural and educational activities