Other Research Areas to Explore
In addition to the UROPs available in departments, laboratories/centers, and special programs, there are a number of other research areas that you may wish to explore. These include:
- Art UROPs and Projects
- Space Grant Program
- Politics and Public Affairs Field Research Opportunities
- Campus Sustainability UROPs
Art UROPs and Projects
UROP offers an entry to many kinds of involvement and study in the arts. Opportunities for research abound in such areas as electronic or computer music, interactive video, arts administration, installation art, all technical aspects of theater, and the media of imagery such as holography and computer graphics.
The following areas have UROP opportunities in the arts: the Music and Theater Arts Section of the Department of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Media Arts and Sciences; the Art, Culture and Technology Program; the History, Theory, and Criticism Section of the Department of Architecture; the Program in Writing and Humanistic studies; Comparative Media Studies; the List Visual Arts Center, and the MIT Museum.
Arts Funding
Additional sources of funding for arts-related projects outside the curriculum include the Council for the Arts Grants Program, and the Peter J. Eloranta Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. For more information on these and other funding sources see the Arts Funding section of the arts@mit web site.
For Arts Projects that are not co-curricular, there are several funding sources. The Council for the Arts has information about various competitive grants available to students, staff, and faculty for creative arts proposals in all disciplines.
See Council for the Arts Grants Program page for all Grants Deadlines and for more information.
Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium
The Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium is a joint MIT/NASA/industry program designed to attract more students to space science and space engineering. Among other activities, Space Grant offers a seminar (16.S26) for first-year students that combines space science and engineering.
Grants are available during the academic year to undergraduates doing research in any area related to the study of space science and engineering. Proposals are invited from students in departments throughout MIT and Wellesley.
Students will also be considered for summer positions with participating companies, to be arranged through the Space Grant Office.
For further information, contact: Ms. Helen Halaris, Room 33-208, x8-5546, halaris@mit.edu.
Politics and Public Affairs Field Research Opportunities
The Political Science Internship and Field Research Program is designed to supplement classroom learning with hands-on experience and research in settings where political activity, policy making, and implementation actually take place. Placement possibilities include political campaigns, legislators' offices, legal service organizations, human service agencies, advocacy groups, and organizations concerned with such issues as public health, the environment, the homeless, and more. The program will make an effort to search out opportunities that meet each student's interests.
UROP guidelines prevail. Most field research opportunities are for credit.
For further information, contact: Ms. Tobie Weiner, Undergraduate Political Science Office, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu.
Campus Sustainability UROPs
The MIT Energy Research Council, in their recent report to President Hockfield, recommended that MIT adopt a sustainable campus energy initiative that focuses on greenhouse gas reductions, energy efficiency, and campus-focused energy research and education. Known affectionately as "Walking the Talk", this campus energy initiative would manifest cutting-edge sustainable energy practices on campus and demonstrate the feasibility of developing and implementing an integrated and cost effective energy conservation, research, and education program, while not compromising MIT's institutional growth. Improving campus energy management holds promise for lowering energy use and cost, reducing emissions, and providing an important learning environment for faculty, students, and staff.
To ensure that the most energy and cost efficient approaches to the development and design of this campus energy initiative are pursued, the Energy Research Council recommended that a comprehensive assessment and analysis of MIT's energy situation and a full financial analysis of the proposal be conducted. The assessment--if commissioned--would compare the proposal with other options with respect to energy effects, cost efficiency, and educational impact. The assessment would be used to develop a detailed implementation plan that emphasizes MIT's institutional values, enhances its educational mission, and demonstrates MIT commitment and leadership.
This CS UROP would work with a team of campus energy professionals and faculty to assist in the development and implementation of this campus energy assessment. Key areas of activity of the UROP may include research on campus energy issues, benchmarking other college and university energy initiatives, conducting cost-benefit analyses, developing outreach material, writing summary reports, researching conservation and efficiency strategies, and other tasks as needed to support an MIT campus energy management committee. This UROP is contingent on the campus assessment being commissioned.
If interested or want to learn more, then please contact: Jennifer DiMase, Room E19-370D, jdimase@mit.edu, 617.452.3199
