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Summer Intern FAQ's

I go to MIT. Can I still apply?

Sorry, no. The Summer Internship Program is funded by NSF and, as such, is directed to the support of non-MIT undergraduates who will be visiting MIT for the summer.

MIT students are, however, eligible for NSF REU programs at other institutions.

MIT students interested in an exciting, challenging research opportunity on campus during Summer 2007 should consider MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Approximately 80% of undergraduates participate at least once during their time at MIT. Wellesley College students are eligible for the REU Summer Internship Program at MIT and the MIT UROP program.

So how long will I be here again?

From June 8 - August 9, 2008.

How much does it pay?

There's a $5500 stipend, plus travel expenses. Of course, the "payoff" in terms of your growth as a scientist is inestimable.

So, wait, you'll pay for my travel too, right?

Yes. Round-trip, coach class travel expenses are paid for by the program, whether you come by plane, train, or automobile. More details will be provided with the acceptance packet. The round-trip travel is from where you are when you want to head towards MIT (home, university) to MIT, and then from MIT back to home or university.

When do I find out what project I'll be working on? Or even, what projects are available?

We want students to come into the program with minds open to the possibility of trying new things ... so we don't reveal what projects are going to be available until the first week of the program. During that first week, you will hear from every faculty member about his/her projects and what it's like to work in his/her lab; you'll visit the labs you're interested in, based on those initial talks, and will talk further to the faculty about details of what they can offer you. Only then, at the end of the first week, will you be asked to decide which project you'd like to work in -- or perhaps you've worked out an interdisciplinary combination we haven't thought of.

Where will I be living during the program?

You can live in on-campus housing or off-campus, each option having pros and cons. Remember that your living situation will affect your social and academic success while at the 'tute, so choose wisely. You are encouraged to live on campus; most students do so.

On-campus accomodations are at MIT's McGregor House, 450 Memorial Drive, Cambridge. This dorm has a kitchen (no pans, though) and laundry facilities. Each intern has a "single" bedroom. Local telephone service (there's a phone in each bedroom) is included in the dorm rent, but long distance calls will require a calling card. Housing for the nine-week program will cost approximately $1900.

Off-campus (or on-campus other than McGregor) accommodations are ok, but it's your responsibility to arrange it, if you want to take that route. The housing situation around the Boston/Cambridge area, particularly if you want to be within a half-hour commute of MIT, is very difficult. Rents are high, availability and quality is low, and tenant rights, while well-established de jure, are often de facto nonexistent. Prices vary widely with the number of roommates, location, and apartment quality, and most places are unfurnished. Expect to pay at least $1000/month for a furnished "single" within a 30-minute public transportation ride. If you choose to live off-campus (or on campus but not in McGregor), finding an apartment is your responsibility.

What will I eat?

Purchase and provide your own food for the 9 week program. "Eat out" options in Boston and Cambridge are plentiful, and there are two grocery stores within a long walk or a short bus ride from campus. Students in past years have banded together for communal cooking/meals. MIT dining facilities are limited to the Student Center on weekends.

Do I need health insurance?

Yes; interns are responsible for their own health insurance coverage during their stay at MIT. Please ask your insurance provider how this coverage works.

What will I be doing during the program?

Having fun and learning. Both can occur inside the lab or outside it.

Outside it: Boston and Cambridge are exciting and interesting places to explore, and if you have access to a car (either your own or a rental), it's easy to get to Providence, New Hampshire, Gloucester, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard. There are free concerts on the Esplanade, right across from the MIT campus, on summer evenings, with the Boston Pops performing on July 4, a show culminating in a fireworks display. Fiddle around the web for more tourism ideas: the Freedom Trail is a reasonable place to start, but there's plenty to do even if you're not an American Revolution history maven (see the Boston Phoenix). Try to learn the language, for instance, and here's a little map.

Inside it: You'll start the program with a whirlwind, two-to-three-day overview of the various projects available in the 2007 program. During the tour, you'll meet all the profs who are offering positions in their labs, see their labs and equipment/instrumentation, and hear about the projects you can work on. During the remainder of that first week, you'll go back and meet with the faculty whose projects sounded interesting to you, and choose who you'll work with for the remaining eight weeks of the program.

One of the ideas here is that you should be exposed to the broad range of research taking place in Materials Science at MIT. To help you keep an open mind, we don't make detailed descriptions of project offerings available until the lab tours are over. But you can see what students from previous years have done: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997.

You can also look at the recent MPC research digests to get a better feel for the types of research being done here, though not all of the profs listed there are able to accept interns this year.

OK, I'm interested. Now what?

Well, first, you'll need to be a permanent resident or U.S. citizen, and entering your junior or senior year in Sept. 2008. Then, fill out our on-line application (due 2/13/2008). We'll let you know soon after March 13. Good luck!

So I fill out the online form, but still have to send stuff to you. Should I wait and send it all at once?

You'll need to send a copy of your official transcripts and two recommendation letters, but no, you don't need to send them all at once. The recommendation letters can be mailed by your recommender directly to us, for instance. Or you can gather everything together and send it to us yourself. Whatever works--just make sure your entire application, including all transcripts and recommendation letters, is complete by the deadline.

Recommendation letters should be written by professors or other people you've worked with. Letters should be addressed to Ms. Fran Page, Materials Processing Center, Rm. 12-007 MIT, 77 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139.

Application Deadline: February 13, 2008
Announcement of Awards: March 13, 2008
Applicants selected to participate in the 2008 Summer Internship Program will be notified by phone or email within a few days of March 13. All others will be notified by mail.

For questions not answered by this FAQ, contact Ms. Frances Page, fmpage@mit.edu

Jointly funded by the Materials Processing Center and the Center for Materials Science and Engineering, a National Science Foundation Materials Research & Science Engineering Center. MIT is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.