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 MITs 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.

PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE

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)

PROGRAM FEATURES

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