Summer Intern FAQ's

Deadline for this years application submission is February 13, 2013.

I go to MIT. Can I still apply?

Unfortunately not. The Summer Internship Program is funded by NSF and, as such, is directed to 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 the summer 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 9 - August 10, 2013.

How much does it pay?

There's a $6000 stipend, plus travel expenses (up to $1000, including the fees for one piece of luggage). The rewarding experience and network connections you make at MIT is invaluable. 

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), and then from MIT back to home or university. If you are driving, MIT will pay for mileage equivalent to no more than the cost of a coach class airline ticket.

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 an open mind to the possibility of trying new things. With this in mind we don't release information about what projects are available until the first week of the program. During the first week, you will hear from every faculty member about their projects and what it's like to work in their lab. You will visit the labs you're interested in, and will talk to the faculty about what they can offer you. At the end of the first week, will you be asked to decide which project you'd like to work with -- 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 institute, so choose wisely. You are encouraged to live on campus; most students do.

On-campus accommodations will be determined at a later date. Dorms have laundry facilities in the building and a kitchen but no pots and pans are provided. Each intern will have a "single" bedroom. There is a phone in each room with local telephone service, but long distance calls will require a calling card. Housing for the nine-week program will cost approximately $2350.

Off-campus accommodations are acceptable, but it's your responsibility to make those arrangements on your own. Good affordable housing in the Boston/Cambridge area is hard to find especially if you want to be within a half-hour commute of MIT. Expect to pay at least $1000/month for a furnished "single" within a 30-minute ride using public transportation.

What will I eat?

You will 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?

You will be having fun and learning during the program, both can occur inside and outside the lab.

Outside: 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, Maine, Gloucester, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard. There are free concerts on the Esplanade, right across from the MIT campus on summer evenings. The Boston Pops usually perform on the 4th of July, culminating in a fireworks display at the end of the night. We encourage you to research more tourism ideas: the Freedom Trail is a reasonable place to start, but there's plenty to do around the Boston area.

Inside: You'll start the program with a whirlwind three-day overview of the various projects available in the program. During the tour, you'll meet all the professors 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.

OK, I'm interested. Now what?

First you'll need to be a permanent resident or U.S. citizen and entering your junior or senior year in Sept. 2013. Then fill out our on-line application (due 2/13/2013). We'll let you know soon after March 15, 2013 if you've been accepted into the program.

So I fill out the online form, but I 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 or emailed This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it directly to us by the person writing the recommendation, or you can gather everything together and send it to us yourself. Whatever works for you, just make sure your entire application, including all transcripts and recommendation letters, is complete by the February 13, 2013 deadline.

Recommendation letters should be written by professors or other people you've worked with. Letters can be emailed ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) in PDF format or mailed and addressed to:

MIT, Materials Processing Center
Rm. 12-007
77 Mass. Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Application Deadline: February 13, 2013

Applicants selected to participate in the 2013 Summer Internship Program will be notified by phone or email within a few days of March 15. All others will be notified by mail.

For questions not answered by this FAQ, contact Ms. Frances Page, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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