MIT Summer Research Program

It's time to get ready for summer research.

• To apply online (prefered) click here.
• To apply via mail, fill out a PDF application.

For more information about the application click here.

| Program history | Program features | Program application | FAQ |

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. We recruit for MSRP during our regular recruiting events.

Program history

The MIT Summer Research Program (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 and juniors from a broader array of backgrounds and from around the country 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 fields of scientific investigation.

The program runs for ten weeks, from early June through mid-August. Participants receive:

• 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)
• a certificate of merit and attendance in the program

Program features

Each student receives supervision from an MIT faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, or advanced graduate student. Individual counseling on academic careers is also available. This is an opportunity for constructive feedback on selecting relevant undergraduate courses and acquiring the appropriate skills. Each student will produce an abstract, a research paper, and an oral presentation at the end of the program. There is also the possibility for co-authoring a scientific paper with one's supervisor.

Scheduled throughout the summer are seminars on various scientific and technological endeavors by MIT faculty and students. Students will learn about the numerous research laboratories and centers on MIT's campus and experience "hands-on" training in some of them. Also scheduled is a workshop on graduate admission and financial aid.

Students also have opportunities to participate in social and cultural activities within the Boston/Cambridge area.

• Read about recent research conducted by viewing profiles of the 2007 interns.
• View podcasts (faculty and student presentations), photos and other great information at myMSRP!

Program application

The PDF application is now available here.

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. African American, Mexican American, Native American, and Puerto Rican students are encouraged to apply. Each should have completed the sophomore year by June, or show exceptional promise in science or engineering in the freshman year; and have a genuine interest in obtaining a PhD in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. Grade point average should be 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher.

Applications for summer 2008 must be postmarked by February 1, 2008. You may apply online or by mail (online is the preferred method). All applications must include three letters of reference from current engineering or science faculty; an official academic transcript, a list of current fall courses, and a completed application form. For students interested specifically in Biology research, The MIT Summer Research Program in the Biological Sciences and Related Fields is offered through the Department of Biology.

Click here for frequently asked questions.

MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)
Graduate Students Office
Room 3-138
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Telephone: (617) 253-4860
Email: mit-srp@mit.edu