this WEEK in HST

MEMP PHD THESIS DEFENSE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements will be updated regularly. 

Vitrification of isolated mitochondria enables preservation of function and cellular integration
Alexandra Tchir
Tuesday, December 9 at 3 PM
For more information on Alexandra's defense, please see the full announcement on the HST website. 

Wireless Thermal Capsule Endoscopy: A Bowel Preparation Free, Sedation Free, Outpatient Alternative to Colonoscopy
Daniel Magley
Wednesday, December 10 at 11 AM
For more information on Daniel's defense, please see the full announcement on the HST website.

HARVARD-MIT HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY

This article was originally published in Harvard Medical School News.

Community marks how physician-scientists, innovators have advanced human health

It was at once a homecoming, a glimpse into the future, and an opportunity to connect and reflect on a program that stands as a paragon of training of physician-scientists and physician-innovators.

On Nov. 7-8, the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) 55th anniversary celebration — originally planned for the 50-year mark in 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — brought together students, faculty, alumni, staff, and trainees in ebullient recognition of an enduring collaboration among Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Founded in 1970, HST is one of the world’s oldest interdisciplinary educational programs focused on translational medical science and engineering.

The anniversary provided multiple perspectives on the program’s evolution and accomplishments, with alumni, student, and director panels; scientific lightning talks; a fireside chat with Harvard President Alan Garber and MIT President Sally Kornbluth; and an awards ceremony at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The festivities were made possible by a gift from the Chiang J. Li MD Family Foundation and by the J.W. Kieckhefer Lectures in Health Sciences and Technology.

“Over the past 55 years, HST has proven that when engineers, scientists, and clinicians get together, human health leaps forward,” said Maria Yang, interim dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, in her opening remarks at MIT on Nov. 7.

During events on the HMS campus on Nov. 8, HMS Dean George Q. Daley remarked on how this collaboration has helped spawn generations of alumni of exceptional caliber who dedicate their careers to improving and saving lives.

“HST — the most long-standing, successful collaboration between our two institutions — has gestated a startlingly illustrious brood of alumni who are responsible for a vast array of biomedical innovations,” he said. In HST classrooms, he added, “intensity of work ethic and a rich intellectual community combine to make tremendously exciting advances possible.”

Daley, himself an HST alumnus, cited alumni like David Ho, who pioneered the drug regimen that transformed HIV/AIDS into a treatable disease; Bruce Rosen, who developed functional MRI (fMRI) as the first noninvasive technology for observing the brain in action; and others who have entered public service, such as former U.S. FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan.

Alumni don’t necessarily have to wait long for the seeds of their education to germinate, as presentations by recent graduates illustrated. That education fosters critical thinking skills, the ability to tackle real-world challenges, and an understanding of the clinical contexts within which students hope to devise innovative solutions.

HST “has totally changed the way I think about research problems,” said presenter Elizabeth Healey, a postdoctoral fellow in machine learning for health at Boston Children’s Hospital and a member of the HST Class of 2025. She completed her PhD thesis on machine learning for precision medicine in type 2 diabetes with advisor Zak Kohane, the Marion V. Nelson Professor of Biomedical Informatics and head of the Department of Biomedical Informatics in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS.

One of the strongest themes to emerge during the anniversary observance was that HST students are a large part of what has made, and will continue to make, the program successful and in a continuous state of rejuvenation.

Said Daley, “It is through our students that HST is reborn into something new each and every year.”

Defined by the undefined
Since its inception, HST has married the technical rigor of MIT’s curriculum with the clinical and biomedical expertise afforded by HMS faculty.

When Irving London became the first director of HST, this notion of cross-training in science and medicine was somewhat radical. Its only precursor was Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which London joined as chair of medicine in 1955, just two years after the institution was founded. London and Alfred Gilman, chair of that college’s Department of Pharmacology, hatched a hypothesis: that educating trainees in both science and medicine could steer them toward meaningful, fruitful careers.

They quickly saw “what is now obvious,” said former HST Director David Cohen, HMS professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, during his talk about London’s legacy: “that science and medicine fit together, that you can create medical curricula that have scientific principles, and that you can have medical students who spend time in laboratories.”

Other schools took notice, and in 1969, London was asked to chair the joint Harvard-MIT planning committee for what would become HST. He assumed the directorship shortly thereafter. The London Society, one of five academic societies at HMS and the one to which all HST students belong, is named in his honor.

In this way, the invention of new fields and novel approaches is baked into the ethos of HST. That spirit has lived on in HST students.

During a panel discussion with former and current HST directors — Cohen, Martha Gray, Michael Rosenblatt, Emery Brown, Wolfram Goessling, and Collin Stultz — Gray noted that HST “tends to attract people who are not attracted to the siloes.”

One example is Michelle Walsh, an HST MD-PhD student in the second year of her PhD program, who thinks of herself as sitting in the intersections of disciplines.

“I’ve always identified as someone who didn’t have a clear, single calling,” she said. “It’s exciting to be in a community where that is the strength — where the undefined is the opportunity rather than the limitation.”

Knowledge through community
Malavika Ramarao, an HST MD-PhD student in her first year of medical school, felt drawn to HST when she first visited and met students who were as curious and excited about medicine and research as she is. She attributes another part of the appeal to the devoted efforts of HST faculty, staff, and administrators.

“Once I came here and saw how invested people are in our success, I knew I couldn’t be anywhere else,” said Ramarao, who wants to marry her passion for diagnostic devices with biochemistry and eventually help implement cancer biosensors in rural and underserved settings.

HST MD-PhD student Adam Berger, now in his final year of medical school, echoed Ramarao’s sentiment about HST directors’ dedication.

“They’re moving mountains silently for us,” he said.

That effort fosters an environment where students don’t just learn from faculty but also from one another.

“One of the hallmarks of an HST education is that [all types of] students sit in the same room,” said Richard Mitchell, associate director for curriculum of HST, HMS professor of pathology and health sciences and technology at Brigham and Women’s, and associate director of the London Society. “The PhD students and MD students approach problems and think about things slightly differently, and both groups benefit.”

Becoming experienced in professional peer-to-peer exchange is essential because the explosion of scientific and medical knowledge in the past several decades has made it increasingly difficult for trainees to master everything, said Goessling.

“There’s no way we [as teachers] can keep up, so we need more approaches,” he said. Excellence in biomedical science, he said, demands knowledge through community. At about 52 students per year, HST is a tight-knit network that facilitates knowledge sharing and absorption.

Members of the celebration’s alumni panel pointed out that the benefits of this small, heterogeneous community translate well to effective leadership.

Ann Celi, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s, observed that the variety of students’ training backgrounds in HST prepared her for how to collaborate and build consensus across institutions or with industry or government.

“This ability to move beyond the walls of something — it’s the greatest part of the work, and also the most challenging,” she said.

Alumna Catherine Ford Corrigan, president and CEO of Exponent, agreed that HST instills in students the combination of technical excellence, leadership, and relational skills needed to do jobs like hers, which involves cultivating trusted relationships with clients facing critical business decisions.

Innovation is a process
In 2022, Daley asked Goessling to create a task force of HST faculty and students to outline a revision of the HST MD curriculum for the next 50 years. The effort was similar to the restructuring of its sister MD curriculum at HMS, Pathways, relaunched in 2015.

The task force found that in today’s medical landscape:

• Traditional PhD disciplines are being applied at the interface of patient care.
• Career paths are becoming more varied and complex.
• Generative AI is changing medicine, science, and society.
• The fabric of knowledge is changing, and critical discernment is key.

The team then made recommendations for how to get HST students into the clinic earlier and more often; further integrate basic science education with other important components, such as the social determinants of health; and improve alignment between basic science teaching, clinical experiences, and active research.

One significant change implemented in the last academic year was the addition of a series of core courses called Integrations and Innovation in Medical Sciences (I2MS). These classes meet weekly to add clinical and societal context — from social factors of patient care to climate and health — to students’ basic science learnings. In other MD programs, this integration might not take place until students’ third year, which is entirely focused on the clinical setting.

Mitchell says the next stage of HST evolution will involve ensuring that the “arc of the HST physician” continues in the clinical years.

Beginning in April of the second year of medical school, HST students typically join Pathways peers in clinical clerkships and electives to gain valuable real-world experience. At the moment, there is little opportunity on the wards for them to ask questions that go beyond what is necessary for clinical education and patient care, said Mitchell. Instead, he envisions having HST students rotate with clerkship role models whose careers mirror their own ambitions — such as those juggling clinical work with a laboratory or drug or device development.

Former director Rosenblatt reiterated that although curricular innovation may come in spurts, HST is always adapting and self-renewing thanks to its students.

Medicine as an art and science
The integration of engineering, science, and medicine creates a specific sensibility in HST students and alumni. Throughout the anniversary festivities, many remarked on how the program energizes and equips graduates to think deeply, creatively, and across disciplines.

Kayton (Katie) Rotenberg, a second-year HST MD student, commented during the student panel that her coursework has encouraged her to “keep asking ‘why’ along every step of the way.”

Understanding medicine is only part of the story, emphasized HST alumnus Elazer Edelman, HMS professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s and the Edward J. Poitras Professor in Medical Engineering and Science at MIT.

“The only way to transform medicine as an art is by the inculcation of science,” he said. “HST is a systemic enterprise of acquiring knowledge by not just observation and legacy, but by experimentation and reasoning. It’s the grounding of medicine scientifically while not sacrificing dignity or compassion.”

Stultz, interim HMS co-director of HST, said the 55th anniversary is both a triumphant moment and a calling to continue the relentless pursuit of progress that is a hallmark of the program.

Alumni can attest to what’s in store for those who continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and patient care through HST.

Said Raphael Bueno, the HMS Lawrence Harvey Cohn Professor of Surgery in the Field of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s, “HST made it possible for me to understand that nothing is impossible.”

JOIN THE HST FOOD DRIVE FOR THE MARGARET FULLER NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE!

Dear HST Community,

We’re excited to announce our Food Drive benefiting the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, running from November 12 through December 15, 2025!

Collection boxes will be located in the HST lounges at both MIT and Longwood, and we’re adding a fun twist  — a friendly competition to see which campus can collect the most donations!

Your contributions will help provide essential support to local families during the holiday season. Every can makes a difference.

Drop-off locations:

• HST Lounge – MIT Campus
• HST Lounge – Longwood Campus

 Drive Dates: November 12 – December 15, 2025

Below is the list of most-needed food and household items: 

• Hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, soap)
• Dish or laundry detergent
• Pads and tampons
• Dry goods (rice, pasta, grains)
• Shelf-stable milk and juice
• Canned chicken and fish
• Canned vegetables and fruits
• Cleaning supplies
• Spices and condiments
• Oil, vinegar and sauces
• Canned pet food 

Please consider donating smaller packages or boxes of items. These are easier for us to store & distribute. Please stick to things in mouse-proof packaging (i.e. avoid cardboard boxes/packages). 

Let’s come together to support our community and see which campus can fill their boxes higher!

Thank you for your generosity and HST spirit!

Warm regards,
HST Joint Council Public Service Committee

MIT GLOBAL SUPPORT RESOURCES: REGISTERING YOUR TRAVEL

Per the current travel risk policy, you are required to register your MIT-related travel data with the MIT Travel Registry. By registering, the Institute is better able to locate and contact you if you are traveling in an area where health, safety, or security are threatened.

Who should register?

All MIT students, faculty, staff, and affiliates are required to register travel through the MIT Travel Registry if your travel is MIT-related.

MIT-related travel includes travel that:

• Is funded entirely or in part by MIT sources.
• Is organized primarily by MIT (e.g., MIT selects the participants).
• Is conducted at the behest of MIT or in furtherance of MIT objectives.
• Is related to scholarly activities (whether paid for by MIT or not).
• Requires the use of MIT equipment, supplies, or personnel.

In addition to registering, non-MIT students and non-MIT travelers participating in trips led or organized by MIT must also sign a liability release form (for non-MIT travelers). Those forms should be returned to the MIT program or class organizing the trip.

Although not required, the MIT community is also encouraged to register personal travel for increased safety measures.

The MIT Travel Registry is also available through the MIT Atlas App. 

For more information, visit the MIT Global Support Resources website.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD - HST!

Are you traveling for any of the following reasons?

• Conference/workshop
• Giving a talk
• Visiting your alma mater

Can you help promote HST by talking to prospective students?

Contact Laurie Ward (laurie [at] mit.edu (l)aurie [at] mit.edu (aurie[at]mit[dot]edu)) for talking points and promotional materials to distribute.
A link to an HST Programs Slide to include in your presentations can be found here.

SPRING 2026 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: 15.141/HST.918 - ECONOMICS AND ANALYTICS OF HEALTH CARE INDUSTRIES

Learn about the healthcare landscape in the US, economic drivers of global health investment, industry leaders value creation, pricing, and marketing, and health AI & analytics in HST.918/15.141 Economics of Healthcare, now offered as a full-semester course in Spring 2026. 

This course uses economics as a framework to provide a better understanding of the US healthcare landscape, as well as incentives for global health investments. Topics include differences between health care and other industries, the role of health insurance, regulatory issues and incentives for innovation, strategic issues in pricing and marketing, use of e-commerce and information technology, and formation and management of various alliances. Describes modern data analytics to measure value, including personalized/stratified therapies. 

Visiting speakers from industry and academia provide multiple expert viewpoints on these topics. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.

The course has two available section: M/W 1-2:30pm OR M/W 2:30-4pm, both in E51-325

Units: 3-0-6

If you have any questions about the course or whether it’s a good fit for your interests, please feel free to contact the course instructor, Professor Joseph Doyle, at jjdoyle [at] mit.edu (jjdoyle[at]mit[dot]edu). 

SPRING 2026 KAUFMAN TEACHING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

The Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program (KTCP) is an interactive workshop series intended for late-program graduate students and postdocs interested in academic careers or developing skills to support their teaching at MIT.

Program Description
KTCP consists of eight practice-based workshops in a single semester. By participating in these workshops, you will learn evidence-based teaching techniques grounded in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Topics include:

• Constructing a syllabus
• Designing a course
• Preparing a lesson plan
• Assessing and providing feedback to students
• Creating an effective and welcoming classroom climate

You will also practice these teaching skills through microteaching workshops, in which you will receive individual feedback from peers and teaching experts.

Participants will receive a certificate and letter from the Vice Chancellor upon completing all program requirements. The letter outlines the program, confirms completion of all program requirements, and can be submitted with applications for teaching positions as evidence of a commitment to teaching. To complete the program, participants must engage with all workshops and complete all pre- and post-workshop assignments.

Eligibility and Application Process
In a given semester, priority will be given primarily to applicants who are in their final year of graduate or postdoctoral studies. We also consider whether applicants have a current or upcoming teaching appointment at MIT, whether applicants are on the faculty job market, whether applicants have previously applied for the KTCP, and alignment of applicants’ stated goals with the goals of the program.

MIT faculty and instructors, as well as MIT staff with official teaching responsibilities, will be welcomed into the program after submitting an application.

How to Apply
The application includes these two short-answer questions. You may wish to draft your answers (1500 character limit for each) before beginning your application.

• Describe your teaching responsibilities in the next two semesters (If applicable).
• What are two teaching practices or skills you hope to learn by completing this program?

Priority will be given to applicants who are in their final year of graduate or postdoctoral studies.

The application window will be open from Monday, December 1 at 12pm through Friday, December 19 at 11:59pm.

APPLY HERE

For more information about the program and frequently asked questions, please visit the KTCP page. If you have additional questions or encounter difficulty with the application, please contact Dan Nocivelli.

IAP 2026 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMERCIALIZATION

Please join the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT for this special NSF I-Corps IAP Short Course. 

Translate your research to impact. 

• Join builders at the intersection of manufacturing, engineering, and AI
• Uncover market and customer needs and adoption hurdles for industrial tech
• Get guidance from experienced founders, investors, and corporate
  manufacturing leaders
• Translate lab innovations into scalable manufacturing startups
• Access up to $2M in non-dilutive funding and resources to launch your
  venture

Virtual Course Kickoff: Tuesday, January 13 at 1pm

Final Workshop: Wednesday, February 4 at 5pm

Limited spots remain • No prep required • All disciplines welcome • Teams should include at least one graduate student/postdoc

If you have further questions, please contact us at icorps [at] mit.edu (icorps[at]mit[dot]edu). 

This program is sponsored by the NSF I-Corps Hub New England Region and the MIT Initiative for New Manufacturing. 

TEACHING + LEARNING LAB GRAD TEACHING DEVELOPMENT TRACKS: IAP 2026 SUBJECT DESIGN TRACK

The MIT Teaching + Learning Lab Grad Teaching Development Tracks are sets of short, interactive workshops intended for graduate students interested in improving their teaching skills while teaching at MIT or applying for faculty positions in the future. 

The Subject Design Track is an online sequence of three workshops focused on course design. Participants will learn to build a course by first identifying goals and then organizing assignments and content to align with these goals. Over the course of the program, participants will develop a syllabus for a course of their choice with feedback from the instructor.

The application will be open from Monday, December 1 at 12pm through Sunday, December 7 at 11:59pm

Online Workshop Dates

• Define Your Goals and Scope: Thursday, January 15, 2:00-4:00 pm
• Plan Your Assessments: Thursday, January 22, 2:00-4:00 pm   
• Draft Your Syllabus: Thursday, January 29, 2:00-4:00 pm

Any graduate student is welcome to apply. Participants from previous workshop tracks have priority. After that, applicants are selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

To access the application and to learn more information about the program, please visit the Teaching + Learning Lab website. 

f you have additional questions or encounter difficulty with the application, please contact Ben Hansberry.

IAP 2026 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: 15.339 - DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Focuses on the key leadership capabilities needed in today's increasingly decentralized organizations: sensemaking, relating, visioning, and inventing. Through conceptual discussions, small group exercises, and self-reflection in a workshop setting, students examine a model of leadership, assess their leadership strengths and weaknesses, articulate their values and aspirations, and practice developing leadership capabilities in interaction with class members. Admission by application.

6-unit (P/F) graduate-level course that meets the Sloan leadership requirement.

Sections

• Thursday, January 8-Saturday, January 10 (9am-5pm) OR
• Tuesday, January 13-Thursday, January 15 (9am-5pm)

Eligibility

• Graduate-level students only
• MIT students only (no cross-registration from Harvard)

Instructors

• Prof. Thomas Malone, Director of MIT Center for Collective Intelligence
• Prof. Wanda Orlikowski, Professor of Information Technology and Work & Organization Studies

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis through December 8. After that date, consideration will depend on space availability.

APPLY HERE

If you have any questions about the course, please contact the course TA Chen Liang at bjcliang [at] mit.edu (bjcliang[at]mit[dot]edu). 

IAP 2026 COURSE AND WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY: EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC AND PLANETARY SCIENCES (EAPS)

Take an IAP class or workshop with EAPS!

12.S594: Special Seminar in EAPS — Auditory Perception of Natural Data, Part I (Direct Sonification of Oscillatory Signals)

Instructor: Professor Ben Holtzman
Level: G (undergrads welcome, check with instructor)
Schedule: January 12-16, 2026; 2:00-5:00 pm
Units: 2

Most of the wave-like phenomena in nature are far outside of the range of our direct perception, above and below, in spatial and temporal scales. Data representing such processes comes from sensors with often sparse, incomplete information. Usually, as scientists, we look at these signals and then design processing schemes to make inferences. However, our visual perception is not necessarily optimized for extracting meaning from waves. Often, we can gain significant, complementary or deeper insight by listening to it. So why don’t we? Sonification is the process of turning data of any kind into an audible representation. Any oscillatory signal can be frequency-shifted into our audible range and played as a sound. Our auditory perception has better temporal resolution than our visual perception, and is particularly attuned to interpretation of dynamics, including cause and effect, forcing and response. Combining visual and auditory representations of data can help us understand complex spatial-temporal interactions among events.

In this short, project-based course, we will first provide methods for sonification of oscillatory data (in python), and discuss simple to increasingly complex implementations (filtering, time compression/expansion), and spatialized audio for listening to multiple sensors simultaneously. We will also discuss when these methods break down (for non-oscillatory, non-stationary data). During the first two class sessions, we will explain and illustrate these methods with some of our current work on the wide range of length and time scales of earthquakes in a range of settings (including volcanoes, geothermal heat mines, tectonic faults, and the laboratory). Most of the class (days 3-5) will be for student projects. Please bring ideas for your own datasets to sonify, from your research or otherwise, from any domain. I can also provide datasets. At the end of the week, everyone will present their sounds, explain the phenomenon, the sensing method, and the research questions being explored through their sonification, and discuss questions generated in the process of making and listening. 

Asteroid Impact Alert! A Planetary Defense Simulation Workshop
(Non-credit | Open to all MIT students | Prerequisite: Basic Python coding ability)

An asteroid is on a collision course with Earth — can you help save the planet?

In this interactive IAP workshop, participants will simulate a real planetary defense mission: assessing asteroid impact risks, designing a spacecraft to deflect it, and calculating what happens if the mission fails. Along the way, you’ll explore orbital mechanics, impact physics, and spacecraft imaging — and maybe even avenge the dinosaurs.

Schedule:

• Wed, Jan 14 | 9:30–11:30 AM
• Fri, Jan 16 | 2:00–4:00 PM
• Wed, Jan 21 | 9:30–11:30 AM
• Fri, Jan 23 | 2:00–4:00 PM

Location: TBD
Lecturer: Dr. Saverio Cambioni
Format: Short lectures and collaborative coding exercises

No credit, no stress — just science, strategy, and saving the world. Sign up here. 

If you have any question about these opportunities, please contact Ann Greaney-Williams at agreaney [at] mit.edu (agreaney[at]mit[dot]edu). 

NEW WINTER 2026 HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH COURSE OPPORTUNITY

New Winter Session Offering: Global Nutrition in Action (NUT 223)

Connecting students to the frontlines of global nutrition

Most courses give you the theory. This course takes you further.

In Global Nutrition in Action (2.5 credits), you will connect directly with the organizations and practitioners designing and implementing today’s most innovative nutrition programs around the world.  We’ll spotlight real-world case studies on pressing challenges for programs in the areas of maternal malnutrition, infant and young child feeding, cash transfers, nutrition-health packages, and agriculture-based interventions.  You’ll hear directly from leaders at NGOs and multilateral agencies—professionals who are shaping how global nutrition is practiced every day.

Instructor: 
Sheila Isanaka, ScD
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Departments of Nutrition and Global Health and Population

What makes this course unique?

• Real-world focus: Each session features a Program Spotlight led by a guest expert currently working on a pressing issue in global nutrition.
• Interactive format: You’ll prepare and present Session Primers, engage in structured debates, and test your skills in program-focused assignments.
• Direct networking: “Coffee and Chai Chats” with guest speakers provide rare opportunities to build relationships and explore career paths.

Why take this course?
If you want to move beyond academic theory and see how nutrition programs actually work in the field—with all their complexity, tradeoffs, and constraints—this course will give you that experience. You’ll gain insight into the challenges of implementation, sharpen your ability to analyze program design, and build a network of practitioners and peers who share your commitment to global health and nutrition.

Enrollment is limited to 15 students to ensure meaningful engagement with faculty, peers, and guest experts. There are no prerequisites, and the course is open to students from all backgrounds with an interest in global health and nutrition. Open for cross-registration for graduate students. 

If you have further questions about the course, please contact the instructor at sisanaka [at] hsph.harvard.edu (sisanaka[at]hsph[dot]harvard[dot]edu). 

MIT BOOTCAMPS ON INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

MIT Bootcamps are immersive educational experiences focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. They are collaborating with the NIH/NIDA to put on a program focused on substance use disorder (SUD), called SUD Ventures.

There is an opportunity for students, and others, to be participants of the program. Additionally, there are a number of webinars coming up regarding this topic.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact MIT Bootcamps director Hanna Adeyema at hadeyema [at] mit.edu (hadeyema[at]mit[dot]edu) to discuss potential collaborations.

MIT COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLASSES AND RESOURCES

MIT Health Community Wellness serves all members of the MIT community, regardless of insurance coverage.

Our programs and resources give you the health and wellness tools you need to thrive at MIT.

This year, the MIT community is adapting to new ways of taking care of ourselves and others. If you’d like to connect with your community, stay active, sleep better, relieve stress, and more, Community Wellness at MIT Medical can help you find wellness programs that fit your needs.

View all Community Wellness classes here.

MIT WRITING AND COMMUNICATION CENTER (WCC)

The Writing and Communication Center offers free one-on-one professional advice from communication specialists with advanced degrees and publishing experience. The WCC can help you further develop your oral communication skills and learn about all types of academic and professional writing.

WCC Individual Consultations
During these consultations, you can work on your written or oral projects with WCC instructors who can guide you at all stages of your communication process.

WCC has prepared a series of workshops on style, literature review writing, and other topics. You can register for our offerings through this link.

For more information on WCC programs, check the WCC website.

UPCOMING EVENTS FROM THE TEACHING + LEARNING LAB (TLL)

Our Mission
The Teaching + Learning Lab (TLL) partners with MIT educators, staff, and administrators to create a reflective educational environment where students are academically challenged, actively engaged, and personally supported.

Find information on upcoming TLL programs, speakers, workshops, etc. here.

Upcoming Grad Teaching Tracks
Grad Teaching Development Tracks are sets of short, interactive workshops intended for graduate students interested in improving their teaching skills while teaching at MIT or applying for faculty positions in the future.

Find more information on the Teaching Tracks here.

For any questions about programs and resources available to graduate students through the TLL, contact Ben Hansberry, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Teaching (bhansber [at] mit.edu (bhansber[at]mit[dot]edu))

Subscribe here to the TLL Newsletter.

HARVARD CATALYST COURSES AND EVENTS

Harvard Catalyst works with Harvard University’s schools and affiliate academic healthcare centers to build and grow an environment focused on team science – where discoveries are rapidly and efficiently translated to improve human health. We catalyze research across all clinical and translational domains by providing investigators with opportunities such as pilot funding, free resources such as biostatistics consultations, training and mentoring programs, and numerous courses. To facilitate communication, collaboration, and data collection, our informatics team develops a range of open-source tools available to the community within Harvard University and beyond.

Information on courses and training through Harvard Catalyst can be found here.
A calendar of Harvard Catalyst events can be found here.
Subscribe to the Harvard Catalyst Newsletter here.

HARVARD INNOVATION LABS CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Information about the Harvard i-lab and it's upcoming events and activities can be found here.

MIT MEDICAL IMAGING INITIATIVE SYMPOSIUM

We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the inaugural MIT Medical Imaging Initiative Symposium on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AAAS) at 136 Irving Street in Cambridge, MA.

The Symposium will offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues to discuss state-of-the-art research in biomedical imaging. Our symposium theme for 2026 is “Next-generation imaging of brain and body systems.” The goal of the event is to draw together the interdisciplinary Boston-area medical imaging community, bridging the academic, industrial, and clinical contexts, and highlighting the latest research advances, as well as opportunities for future collaborations. The event will include scientific talks, a poster session, and a brief overview of upcoming initiative activities. A full program will be available shortly. 

Registration is required for this event. Please register here by Wednesday, January 14, 2026. 

We hope to see you there!

AI4ID SYMPOSIUM: BRIDGING INFECTION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The AI4ID symposium will convene a dynamic mix of leading experts in infectious diseases and artificial intelligence, fostering a unique environment for creative, cross-disciplinary collaboration. The central goal is to think creatively about how cutting-edge AI technologies can be harnessed to solve the most pressing challenges in infection research. This year's symposium will be structured across three key sessions: AI at the clinical interface, AI for biological discovery, and AI for therapeutic discovery.

The symposium will be on Wednesday, January 28 beginning at 9am and be held in-person only at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA)

REGISTER HERE

The deadline to register for the symposium is Tuesday, January 6. Registration for this event is free! 

Abstract submission

Please use this form to submit abstracts for a poster presentation by Friday, December 5th. Presenters will be notified of selection by January 6, 2026. If you submit an abstract, be sure to also register for the symposium using this Eventbrite page.

If you have any questions, please contact cisid [at] broadinstitute.org (cisid[at]broadinstitute[dot]org) or ericandwendyschmidtcenter [at] broadinstitute.org (ericandwendyschmidtcenter[at]broadinstitute[dot]org) 

This inaugural symposium is jointly hosted by the Center for Integrated Solutions for Infectious Diseases and the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center. 

MIT SLOAN HEALTH SYSTEMS INITIATIVE (HSI) LUNCH SEMINAR SERIES

New sessions of the HSI Lunch Seminar Series will be advertised here when available.  

AHLI CONFERENCE ON HEALTH, INFERENCE, AND LEARNING - CALL FOR PAPERS

The AHLI Conference on Health, Inference, and Learning (CHIL) solicits work across a variety of disciplines at the intersection of machine learning and health. CHIL 2026 invites submissions focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) techniques that address opportunities and challenges in health, which we view broadly as including clinical healthcare, public health, population health, and beyond. 

Authors are invited to submit 8-10 page papers (with unlimited pages for references) to one of 3 tracks: Models and Methods, Applications and Practice, or Impact and Society. Each track is described in detail below. 

Important Dates

• Submissions open: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
• Submissions due: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
• Author notification: Thursday, April 9, 2026
• CHIL conference: June 28-30, 2026

Tracks & Topics

• Track 1: Models and Methods: Algorithms, Inference, and Estimation
• Track 2: Applications and Practice: Investigation, Evaluation, Interpretation, and Deployment
• Track 3: Impact and Society: Policy, Public Health, Social Outcomes, and Economics

For more information on the scope of each track, submission details and guidelines, and contact information, please visit the Call for Papers page on our website or reach out to us at chil [at] ahli.cc (chil[at]ahli[dot]cc). 

We look forward to reading your submissions! 

UPCOMING INSTITUTE COMMUNITY & EQUITY OFFICE (ICEO) EVENTS

A calendar of upcoming events is available here.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP BOSTON - EVENTS

The Medical Development Group Boston (MDG Boston) is a community of individuals professionally committed to the Medical Device and other Medical Technology Industry segments united by the belief that innovation and advances in technology lead to substantial improvements in health care.

MDG's Mission is to contribute to the continuing development of medical devices and other medical technologies by enhancing the professional development of its members, fostering and supporting entrepreneurial thinking, serving as a forum for exploration of new business opportunities, and promoting best practices in enterprise management.

MDG pursues this mission through the organization of educational programs and forums: the facilitation of cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration; the creation of venues for networking and information sharing for current and aspiring professionals, clinicians, and entrepreneurs; and the development of alliances with complementary organizations.

We would love for you to attend and spread the word in your community!

For more information on our upcoming events, visit our website.

BRAINMAP SEMINARS

Future topics will be similar to the previous Brainmap season, with some talks on Optogenetics, MR-PET, BOLD physiology, ultra-high field MRI, multimodal integration, contrast agents, and many more exciting topics! Unless otherwise noted, seminars (webinars) are held on Wednesdays at noon.

Find out about Brainmap here. Sign up here for our mailing list, in order to receive notices about our upcoming seminars.

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF COMPUTING PRIZE - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC), a cross-cutting initiative within the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, in collaboration with the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, invites MIT students to envision the future of computing.

The Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize challenges you to think critically and creatively about how computing and artificial intelligence can be developed and applied to improve the human condition. This year introduces a new prompt that asks you to imagine how computing can have a net positive impact on society in the coming decade.

About the Prize

• $10,000 Grand Prize
• Two Runner-Up Awards of $5,000 each
• Up to five Honorable Mentions ($500 each)

This competition encourages students to examine not only the transformative potential of AI but also the social, ethical, and policy considerations that accompany technological advancement. Participants will craft evidence-based essays that articulate both opportunity and responsibility in the design and deployment of emerging technologies.

This Year’s Prompt
In an essay of up to 3,000 words, you are asked to:

1. Choose a sector — such as healthcare, education, agriculture, climate, infrastructure, transportation, justice, arts, or governance — where you see the highest net positive impact from AI.
2. Describe a specific AI application in that sector that could realistically be developed or deployed within the next 5–10 years.
3. Analyze the benefits — what problems it solves, what opportunities it creates, and who benefits.
4. Examine the risks — what could go wrong, including ethical concerns or unintended consequences.
5. Make the affirmative case — despite the risks, why the overall impact could be positive, including any safeguards or design choices needed to make that possible.
6. Present a substantive, evidence-based analysis grounded in sector-specific knowledge, data, or real-world examples. Visuals or frameworks are welcome.
7. Include a one-page executive summary of your analysis.

Essays must be submitted as a PDF using the file name format: Title of Essay_MIT ID# (no names). Not following the naming convention may result in disqualification. 

Please see the full guidelines here. 

Eligibility and Timeline

• Open to currently enrolled MIT undergraduate and graduate students only.

  (Previous grand prize and runner-up winners are not eligible; past honorable mentions may apply with a new essay.)

• Submission Deadline: February 8, 2026, by 11:59 PM (ET)
• Workshops: Optional workshops during IAP will help with idea development, structure, and writing. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis (times will be released for this soon).
• Judging: Entries are judged blindly by a faculty panel until three finalists are selected. The finalists will then be invited to present their essays in May. Final scores combine 75% from the written submission and 25% from the presentation. 

Why Participate

The Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize offers an opportunity to engage deeply with the social and ethical dimensions of computing and AI. By participating, you can:

• Contribute to a meaningful conversation about the responsible evolution of technology.
• Strengthen your ability to connect technical innovation with societal values.
• Compete for significant prize funding while producing work that reflects the mission and values of MIT.

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY HERE

Full contest guidelines, submission instructions, and resources are available on the Envisioning the Future of Computing of Computing Prize website. 

Questions may be directed to serc [at] mit.edu (serc[at]mit[dot]edu). 

We look forward to seeing your vision for how computing can advance human progress — responsibly, equitably, and creatively.

2026 MAD DESIGN FELLOWSHIP - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Morningside Academy for Design seeks forward-thinking students with a strong interest in design and social impact to join its next Fellowship cohort. 

What is the MAD Design Fellowship?
An opportunity for continuing MIT graduate students to engage in MAD’s activities and propose a research-oriented design project. Fellows receive full tuition for one or two semesters, a monthly stipend, health insurance, and a scholarly allowance to support materials, fieldwork, or travel. 

Applications are due by Monday, January 12 at 5 pm ET

Who can apply?
MAD welcomes current Master’s or PhD candidates from any MIT department or school, as we strive to foster an interdisciplinary environment where design acts as a catalyst for positive change.  

To be eligible, applicants must be in residence at MIT during the 2026–27 academic year and currently enrolled in academic year 2025–26. Students who are incoming to MIT are not eligible to apply. The application requires a nomination from an MIT faculty member with PI status. The nominator should be the applicant’s current research or academic advisor. Each faculty member is strictly limited to one student nomination. Thus, applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with their prospective nominator beforehand.

Information Session
An info session will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 5pm ET via Zoom.

This info session covers eligibility, application requirements, selection criteria, and funding details for the 2026 cohort. Open to current MIT Master’s and PhD students.

Please visit our website for more information about the Design Fellowship including eligibility, benefits, and the application form. 

If you have any further questions, please contact madfellowship [at] mit.edu (madfellowship[at]mit[dot]edu).

STEM OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY - STEM SCHOLARS @ RAGON

Passing along information about a new STEM tutoring and mentorship program at the Ragon Institute! The STEM Scholars program serves high school students in Cambridge, in collaboration with the Cambridge Housing Authority. Mentors will be paired individually with a student for weekly tutoring and mentorship sessions through the fall and early winter (October - late January). If you’re interested in learning more, please sign up at this link!

EXCITING MINDHANDHEART COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Mini Grants
Looking to spread some kindness at MIT? MindHandHeart's RAK Mini Grants are now open for applications! Whether it’s for your coworkers, lab group, or house, you can receive up to $250 for your small kindness project—any time of the year! Apply today, and let’s make our community a little brighter.

TOASTMASTERS CLUBS OF MIT

Do you know anyone looking to improve communication skills: speaking and listening? Visit a Toastmasters Club. The members of Toastmasters Clubs of MIT are happy to help students practice.

"Toastmasters is a fantastic way to improve your presentation skills! I personally learned a great deal from the MIT club and highly recommend it." -- Gwen Acton, MIT PhD

Clubs are currently meeting online and in person! 

The Original Toastmasters @ MIT, Friday at 12 noon to 1 PM, via Zoom

Tuesday Evening Toastmasters, 6:30 to 8:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month

Humor & Drama Toastmasters, 1st Saturday of the month 10 AM to noon, via Zoom

GRADUATE COMMUNITY FELLOWS POSITIONS

Grad students, interested in improving graduate life & community at MIT while earning a partial stipend? Apply to become a Graduate Community Fellow!

When would I start? Start dates are flexible and based on the Fellow and the hiring organization. If you’re looking for a job starting this semester, over IAP, or next semester, these openings may be a great fit for you!

What would I do? Graduate Community Fellows work on projects and assignments that enhance the graduate community at MIT in targeted, impactful ways. Each Fellow reports to a staff member in the OGE or a partner organization. See specifics below.

What are the requirements? Must meet minimal eligibility requirements and agree to the terms of appointment. Appointment periods for Fellow positions vary. All positions serve 10 hours per week, and receive compensation of $700 per month.

International students with full-time RA/TA appointments should note that there are eligibility restrictions.

Available positions are listed at the current Fellow positions page.

How do I apply? Once you’ve reviewed position details, download the application to apply. Applications for all positions are reviewed on a rolling basis. We hope to hear from you!

Questions? Contact Jessica Landry, jlandry [at] mit.edu (jlandry[at]mit[dot]edu).

MITAC OPPORTUNITIES

Welcome! The MIT Activities Committee offers discounted tickets to the MIT community for local arts and culture, sporting events, and family activities.

Visit MITAC​ ~ Your Ticket to Fun for movies, museums, sports, theatre, music, family, seasonal & special events since 1984!

• Online Website: https://mitac.mit.edu/
• On campus: The MITAC Stata Center ticket office is open Tues-Fri 12-4pm.

Feel free to stop by and visit!  

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Members of the MIT community: subscribe here (at the bottom of the page) to our mailing list/newsletter to receive the latest updates delivered right to your inbox!

OFFICE OF GRADUATE EDUCATION - FELLOWSHIP WORKSHOPS & FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES

Fellowship Newsletter
Our Fellowship Newsletter is a monthly/bimonthly occurrence that includes upcoming opportunities and events, tips on applying to fellowships, announcements, and generally an avenue for us to relay fellowship related information. 

Interested in receiving the newsletter? Please sign up for our mailing list by clicking here. Future Graduate Fellowship Bulletins will be sent right to your email inbox.

Some financial literacy resources:

OGE website’s Financial Wellbeing section: https://oge.mit.edu/finances-employment/financial-wellbeing/

OGE website’s fellowships section: https://oge.mit.edu/finances/fellowships/ including Fellowships Tips: https://oge.mit.edu/finances/fellowships/fellowship-tips/

Please reach out to the OGE at grad-ed [at] mit.edu (grad-ed[at]mit[dot]edu) with questions about our workshops or our financial literacy resources.

If there are further questions about fellowships, the OGE Fellowship section can be found here, especially the Fellowships Tips content here.  

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE NEWSLETTER

Read current and past issues of the ISO Newsletter here. For non-students, you can also subscribe to receive published copies by email.

MIT GRAD DIVERSITY & ICEO NEWSLETTERS

The Office of Graduate Education (OGE)’s GradDiversity seeks to support the success of underrepresented and under-served graduate students at MIT. This takes place through a series of programs designed to strengthen recruitment, enhance community, and ignite development in academic, leadership, and professional skills.

Together with the Institute Community and Equity Office and our faculty, students, and staff from across the Institute, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive and caring climate that intellectually engages and values all members of our MIT community.

Sign up for the GradDiversity Newsletter here.

Sign up for the ICEO Newsletter here.

MIT SPOUSES & PARTNERS CONNECT AND MIT LANGUAGE CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

We connect people across MIT for conversation, cultural exchange, and friendship.

MIT Spouses & Partners Connect - open to significant others of MIT students, postdocs, and staff

KERBEROS and ID CARDS for SPOUSES & PARTNERS
MIT students and employees may sponsor a guest Kerberos account for their spouse or partner to establish their digital identity in MIT's systems. Once registered, the spouse or partner may activate their digital MIT ID and obtain a physical card if needed. 

Get started at https://ist.mit.edu/id. Please read the instructions carefully as there are different processes for those who live in an MIT residence and for those who live off campus.

For more information about where you can use your MIT ID card, see this page.

EVENTS FOR NEWCOMERS
The best way to stay up to date on all of our events and activities is to subscribe to our email newsletter!

Private Consult with MS&PC Staff
Facilitated by Program Manager, Jennifer Recklet Tassi, this private appointment via Zoom or in-person is a time to ask questions, voice concerns, and reimagine your life here in Boston. We can spend the time talking about whatever is on your mind - from job search and career development to navigating a new city to figuring out how to make your experience in Boston productive and meaningful.

Appointments will be available at various times during the week.

Book a 30-minute private Zoom or in-person appointment here: https://mspc.youcanbook.me/

BEST WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR EVENTS

• Subscribe to our email updates: http://spouses.mit.edu/join/subscribe
• Join the MITFamilies Slack Space: bit.ly/mitfamiliesslack
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Follow us on Instagram @mspconnect
• Visit our events calendar at spouses.mit.edu/event-calendar

MIT Language Conversation Exchange - open to all members of the MIT community

How to find a conversation partner at MIT so you can practice a language you are learning or want to improve with a native speaker.

Visit our website: http://lce.mit.edu

• Search and contact native speakers of languages you want to practice for one-on-one conversation held at your convenience
• Watch this video to learn how our website works

Join our Slack Space: https://bit.ly/lce-slack

• Join or create channels for the languages you are interested in
• Practice your writing skills while meeting other people at MIT who share your language interests

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lce.mit.edu/subscribe

• Stay informed about upcoming small group meetings & events

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LCE

Email us at lce [at] mit.edu (lce[at]mit[dot]edu)

Follow us on Facebook @MITLCE

Visit our calendar

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN MECHANISTIC AND MACHINE LEARNING MODELING OF HUMAN DISEASE PROCESSES WITH CLINICAL LABORATORY AND MEDICAL RECORD DATA - HIGGINS LAB AT MGH AND HMS

A post-graduate research position is available in the laboratory of John Higgins, MD, located in the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Systems Biology and Department of Pathology and the Harvard Medical School Department of Systems Biology. 

Qualified applicants will have extensive knowledge of and interest in human pathophysiology and mathematical modeling including dynamical systems, machine learning, statistical inference, computational methods, and good software engineering practices.  

For example, strong candidates would be able to compare and contrast the following: hemostasis and thrombosis, ODE and PDE, lymphocyte and myelocyte, transformer and convolutional block.

The following skills and experience are required:

• Experience simulating PDEs and working with neural networks in MATLAB or Python.
• Knowledge of human physiology and pathology such as hematologic function, immunology, inflammatory responses, and pregnancy.
• Experience deriving mathematical models from biological data.
• Ability to work independently and mentor more junior group members.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree or be in their final year of their doctoral studies, and have at least a strong undergraduate background in math, computer science, or engineering. 

Interested individuals should provide a CV and a cover letter describing past research experience, future research interests, career goals, and contact information for three references.

Interested applicants can contact John Higgins (higgins.john [at] mgh.harvard.edu). 

PHD AND POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS IN HOST-MICROBIOME RESEARCH - ZOMORRODI LAB AT MGH AND HMS

The Zomorrodi Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School is seeking highly motivated PhD and Postdoctoral candidates excited about studying host-microbiome interactions in chronic human diseases.

About us:
Our lab integrates innovative computational and experimental approaches to investigate the intricate interactions between the human host and microbiome, with a focus on metabolism and nutrition. We develop Genome-Scale Models (GEMs) of metabolism, build machine learning (ML) tools, and leverage 3D gut organoid models to understand the mechanisms by which microbiomes contribute to disease progression and therapeutic response. We also explore the applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and
Large Language Models (LLMs) in medicine and biomedicine. The overarching goal of our research is to advance precision medicine by uncovering mechanisms driving chronic disease pathogenesis and harnessing AI to streamline clinical decision-making and improve patient care.

For more information about our lab, please our website. 

Open positions:

PhD position in computational systems biology: A PhD candidate will focus on computational analysis of host-microbiome metabolic crosstalk in Celiac Disease (CeD) using genome-scale models. This role involves large-scale computational modeling of microbiomes and host intestinal epithelial and immune cells, multi-omics data integration, and downstream statistical and ML analysis for biomarker discovery.

Required qualifications: (i) Must be admitted to a relevant PhD program at Harvard or another Boston-area university (MIT, Boston University, etc.), (ii) Undergraduate or master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computational Biology, Computer/Data Science, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Chemical/Biomedical/Biological/Electrical Engineering) OR
strong programming skills with a solid background in computational analysis. 

Postdoctoral Position in experimental microbiome research: The postdoctoral researcher will investigate host-microbiome interactions in Celiac Disease (CeD) using patient-derived 3D gut organoid models and microbial isolates. This position involves: working with human cell lines, patient-derived tissues, and microbial cultures, investigating interactions between intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, and gut microbes, and employing next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multi-omics approaches. The postdoc will collaborate closely with co-investigators on the project.

Required qualifications: (i) PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Cell Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Bioengineering, Biochemistry) with a strong publication record, (ii) Experience with human cell culture, microbial culture, or next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques (preferred but not strictly required), (iii) Ability to quickly learn new experimental techniques, (iv) Strong verbal and written communication skills, (v) Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment and a rapidly evolving field.

Application process: Interested candidates should contact Dr. Zomorrodi at azomorrodi [at] mgh.harvard.edu (azomorrodi[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu), providing a CV and a brief description of their interests. Use “PhD [or Postdoc, whichever is relevant] position in the Zomorrodi Lab” as the email subject. Applications are reviewed until the positions are filled. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Research environment:
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is a teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the U.S. Our lab is based in Boston, Massachusetts, in close proximity to world-class institutions, including MIT, The Broad Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health. This dynamic research environment fosters strong collaborations, intellectual exchange, and access to cutting-edge technologies. 

The Zomorrodi Lab is committed to diversity and equality and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities.

RESEARCH POSITION OPENINGS - DUPONT LAB AT BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

We are seeking highly motivated researchers for the following projects:

Robotic Cardiac Catheters 

We are developing robotic catheters for heart valve repair and for treatment of arrythmias. Robotics offers the advantage of reducing the learning curve for complex beating-heart procedures and, ultimately, provides a platform for introducing automation. Important components of these projects can include: (1) user-based and autonomous control, (2) integration of therapeutic devices, and (3) testing in anatomical and animal models. Experience in robotics, control and prototyping is preferred.

Transcatheter Heart Valve Repair and Replacement Devices

Transcatheter procedures avoid the trauma and risks of open-heart surgery by delivering devices that are intended to replicate surgical repair and replacement. We are creating novel devices and tools for both valve repair and replacement. These projects require innovative design and creative problem-solving skills along with expertise in prototyping and experimental evaluation.

Cutting tools for Transcatheter Valve Modification

While current transcatheter valve interventions deploy devices that push, pull and approximate tissue to restore valve function, a complete surgical repair often involves cutting and removing valve tissue. As a first step toward providing this capability, this project involves developing catheter-delivered energy-based cutting tools for valve repair and replacement.

Qualified applicants should respond by email to Professor Pierre Dupont
(Pierre.Dupont [at] childrens.harvard.edu) with a description of their qualifications, academic background and availability.

More information on our lab can be found on our website. 

RAND'S TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY POLICY CENTER

Interested in working on Technology and Security Policy?

Technology and Security Policy Fellowship

The RAND Technology and Security Policy Fellowship develops new generations of policy analysts and implementors at the intersection of technology and security issues. Fellows perform in-depth, independent research relating to one or more of the research areas of the Technology and Security Policy Center. Fellows receive mentorship from RAND policy experts for their independent research. Additionally, fellows may work on RAND client-sponsored research, up to an average of one day per week.

Candidates are welcome from all experience levels, from undergraduate students to mid-career professionals. Fellowship durations will typically start at one year with the possibility of up to two additional years. Fellowships can be full- or part-time. Fellows must be based in the United States or United Kingdom, working remotely or at one of RAND's U.S. or U.K. offices.

Current students and recent graduates are welcome to apply. Selection decisions are made on a rolling basis, with applicants being notified at least once per quarter.

To learn more about the TASP fellowship program email: TASP_fellowship_inquiries [at] rand.org (TASP_fellowship_inquiries[at]rand[dot]org) 

POSTDOC POSITION OPENING IN CAPASSO LAB - HARVARD SEAS

The Capasso group at Harvard SEAS has an opening for postdoctoral position related to biophotonics+metasurface/biosensing research. The postdoc will make contributions towards building a metalens optical system to image bacteria, including integration with small-pixel sensors, potentially an easy-to-use manual focus system, an integrated light source, and an image capture and transfer system.The candidate will join the group of Prof. Federico Capasso and collaborate with a team at the Harvard Medical School, led by Prof. Johan Paulsson, focused on bacterial detection identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), leveraging on this optical system, including interfacing with a microfluidic system.

In addition to the basic instrument, the postdoc will develop more advanced metalens imaging modalities for bacteria, with the purpose of making the AST not only faster and more robust, but also potentially achieving some basic level of species ID. This will include the development of a compact form of quantitative phase microscopy by encoding polarization-dependent optical functions onto a single metasurface to perform full-Stokes image polarimetry.

Proficiency in laboratory optics and photonics with particular emphasis on imaging systems such as microscopy is preferred. Previous experience in nanophotonics and clean room fabrication would be beneficial but is not strictly required. History of work in polarization and optical polarimetry desirable. Interviews are currently on-going for this position: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14008

NIH HEAL PAIN COHORT PROGRAM: NOW RECRUITING POST-DOCTORAL TRAINEES

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is excited to announce the launch of a new post-doctoral training program called the HEAL Initiative Partnerships to Advance INterdisciplinary (PAIN) Training Program in Clinical Pain Research. The HEAL PAIN Cohort Program, via the T90/R90 mechanism, provides interdisciplinary training to postdoctoral scholars pursuing careers in pain and addiction research. By integrating a broad range of scientific disciplines and fostering a collaborative research environment, the program equips trainees with the skills needed to advance pain science, develop innovative treatments, and translate research findings into clinical practice. This program will emphasize mentorship, career development, and hands-on research experience. The program will help ensure postdoctoral trainees are well-prepared to contribute to the HEAL Initiative's mission of improving pain management.

The Positively Uniting Researchers of Pain to Opine, Synthesize, and Engage (PURPOSE) network will help facilitate a national cohort experience among the postdoctoral trainees at the funded T90/R90 centers, as well as organize an annual meeting that all trainees will be required to attend. Learn more and join the PURPOSE network at https://painresearchers.com/.

For more information and to apply, please reach out to the center(s) of interest directly below. If you are interested in multiple centers, you may email PainCohortPrograms [at] painresearchers.com (PainCohortPrograms[at]painresearchers[dot]com) and your information will be forwarded to all centers.

The University of Utah Program to Provide Pain Research Knowledge (UP3RK) mission is to impart the science knowledge, skills, and core competencies needed by post-graduate, interdisciplinary Scholars to address the nation’s scientific needs in clinical pain research. UP3RK trains Scholars through mentorship, interdisciplinary research skill development and concentrated training in our four focus areas (nonpharmacologic pain treatments, effective interventions for pain and substance use disorders; implementation science, research within vulnerable, diverse, and underserved populations). We train UP3RK Scholars within an innovative, multi-level mentor model to prepare clinical pain investigators for successful, independent, research careers.

Contact PI: Dr. Julie Fritz, julie.fritz [at] hsc.utah.edu (julie[dot]fritz[at]hsc[dot]utah[dot]edu)

The MGB IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Mentorship Program Advising Clinical Trainees) Program in Clinical Pain Research is based in Boston. The program offers training to postdoctoral fellows, with the long-term goal of expanding the number, diversity, and collaborative network of clinical pain researchers, advancing our understanding of pain and our ability to effectively manage pain without opioid medications. MGB IMPACT focuses on team science, providing interdisciplinary mentorship and training in clinical pain research by bringing together a diverse group of mentors from an array of backgrounds, including Psychology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Women's Health, Epidemiology and others. MGB IMPACT operates collaboratively with other T90/R90 programs around the country to promote innovative solutions for pain management and improve patient care by providing high-quality training to future leaders in clinical pain research.

Contact PI: Dr. Robert Edwards, rredwards [at] partners.org (rredwards[at]partners[dot]org)

The Stanford PAIN cohort is dedicated to interdisciplinary research training in maternal and childhood pain and bioinformatics. We will train participants from across the national cohort in pediatric and maternal health and pain, equipping a new generation of clinical pain researchers to apply a lifespan lens to identify primary and secondary prevention strategies to address the pain epidemic. Core faculty research leaders will help match trainees to mentors within the Stanford PAIN cohort content areas of: (1) bioinformatics, (2) pain across the lifespan, specifically child and maternal pain, (3) nonpharmacological (behavioral) interventions for pain, (4) prevention of the transition from acute to chronic pain and (5) advancing health equity in the field of pain.

Contact PI: Dr. Laura Simons, lesimons [at] stanford.edu (lesimons[at]stanford[dot]edu)

The University of Michigan Pain T90/R90 program is looking for postdoctoral scholars interested in a career in pain science. We have a broad range of mentors that can help guide scholars in nearly any type of clinical or translational pain science. A focus of this program will be the career development of the scholars, who generally will be expected to write a NIH career development award (K award) during this postdoc.

Contact PI: Dr. Daniel Clauw, dclauw [at] med.umich.edu (dclauw[at]med[dot]umich[dot]edu)

The University of Florida Partnerships Across Interdisciplinary Networks: Training through Engineering, Epidemiology & Addiction Medicine or UF PAIN TEAM is located in Gainesville, North Central Florida. The program offers postdoctoral training to fellows interested in pursuing clinical pain research within collaborative interdisciplinary teams across the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE). During the first year of the program, fellows will identify and partner with other fellow(s) in the program and along with mentors will develop a team science project extending their individual research projects. Our long-term goal is to increase the number of pain researchers able to perform complex team science research, advancing our understanding of pain and therapeutic options. Our mentors span interdisciplinary backgrounds including Neuroscience, Engineering, Psychology, Epidemiology, Addiction Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Anesthesiology, and others. The UF PAIN TEAM will also work collaboratively with other T90/R90 programs around the country to increase our future clinical pain workforce and their ability to work within large interdisciplinary teams.

Contact PI: Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, cryeni [at] ufl.edu (cryeni[at]ufl[dot]edu)

At Washington University in St. Louis we have developed a new postdoctoral training program: the Promoting Excellence through Pain and Addiction Research Enhancement (PREPARE) T90/R90 Training Program. A defining feature of the PREPARE Program will be an emphasis on social determinants of health (SDOH) as they relate to chronic pain and substance use disorders clinical research. SDOH define the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and the inequities in power, money, and resources that are often responsible for disparities in pain and substance use outcomes across the U.S. Our overall goal is to develop outstanding independent investigators capable of sustaining productive clinical research careers addressing the biopsychosocial (emphasis on social) mechanisms underlying chronic pain and substance use disorder development, and/or designing clinical interventions to relieve pain and ameliorate substance use.

Contact PI: Dr. Burel Goodin, burel [at] wustl.edu (burel[at]wustl[dot]edu)

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education offers an extensive range of clinical research training opportunities to prepare the next generation of clinician-scientists. Brief descriptions of the programs are provided below. As world’s largest biomedical research agency, the NIH encourages future clinician-scientists and medical researchers to consider adding an NIH experience to their portfolio.

Graduate Medical Education
NIH currently sponsor 17 medical specialty or subspecialty programs which have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We also jointly sponsor clinical training programs with extramural training partners, to include Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, and the National Capital Consortium. In addition, we sponsor numerous "one of kind" translational medicine fellowship training programs. https://cc.nih.gov/training/gme/programs1.html

Clinical Elective Programs
Short term—4 to 12 week—clinically oriented elective rotations for senior medical and dental students; unique mentored specialty/subspecialty clinical research rotations are also available for combined program students (i.e., MD/PhD, DO/PhD). https://cc.nih.gov/training/students/clinical_electives.html

Postdoctoral Research Training Awards
Provides the opportunity for recent doctoral degree recipients to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich National Institutes of Health (NIH) environment, which consists of more than 1200 laboratories/research projects. https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postdoc_irp

Graduate Partnerships Program
This program is designed to bring PhD graduate students to the NIH Intramural Research Program for dissertation research. https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/gpp

IIE EU - U.S.  EDUCATION COOPERATION FOR RESEARCHERS

For information on EU – U.S. cooperation in doctoral and postdoctoral education opportunities for U.S. researchers and organizations. Visit IIE online at www.iie.org. Please contact the programs directly for additional information or with any questions you may have.

A quote from a recent Fulbright U.S. student, "My advice to Fulbrighters of the future is that which was given to me. Go at it with an open mind; your experience will not be anything like you predicted and will mark you indelibly, but it will be great."

CAREERS IN BIOTECH SERIES: VENTURE INVESTMENTS WITH MPM CAPITAL

Join us to hear from David Kolesky, PhD, who co-founded two biotech companies following his PhD at Harvard before becoming a Principal at Flagship Pioneering and later at MPM BioImpact. He’ll share insights from his journey across biotech entrepreneurship and venture capital!

This discussion will be moderated by Christiana Bardon MD, Co-Managing Partner of MPM | BioImpact Capital.

NEW DATE: Thursday, December 11 from 4-5pm on Zoom

RSVP HERE

If you have questions about this event, please contact harvardbiotechclub [at] gmail.com (harvardbiotechclub[at]gmail[dot]com). 

GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH CLUB CAREER 101 SERIES

Information on upcoming sessions of the Career 101 Series will be posted here when available. 

GRIFFIN GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH EVENTS

Interested in staying up to date and being the first to hear about our events?? 

Sign up to our mailing list here

Get more information on the club here at our website 

Follow us on social media!

Twitter: @thebiotechclub

Facebook: GSAS Harvard Biotech Club

CAPD FACULTY JOB SEARCH GUIDE

CAPD has launched the Faculty Job Search Guide! This completes our online PhD career support program (Kerberos login required), which brings together industry and academic job search resources and examples for easy access. The whole set of resources, the Faculty Job Search Guide, the PhD Career Document Library, and our PhD Resumes for Industry Jobs, is there whenever our students are ready. You can also find links on the CAPD PhD page.

MCKINSEY AND COMPANY RECRUITING NEWS

Starting in January, we will begin recruiting for those interested in our full-time Associate role who graduate between December 2024 – Summer 2025. Advanced Professional Degree (APD) candidates are postdocs or working toward the following degrees: PhD, MD (including medical interns, residents and fellows), JD, PharmD, Nursing, and non-MBA Masters. Non-MBA Master candidates must have at least four years in between the completion of their undergraduate degree and graduate degree to be qualified as having an APD.

Over 80% of our consultants have advanced degrees in fields outside of business, and as our firm continues to grow and evolve, we are looking for more people like you – experts in their fields – to join our community. We hope you will consider starting your journey with us, so you can be at your best at McKinsey!

Make sure to bookmark our website ahead of the new year.

As always, feel free to reach out to our APD_Recruiting_Team [at] McKinsey.com (APD recruiting team) with questions!

What’s on the horizon…
We will be hosting virtual sessions each month. These sessions will help you learn about the world of consulting, how your degree will be valuable, what life is like at McKinsey, and how we help our clients solve the most complex problems.

We can’t forget to mention Insight & Diversity Connect! Planning is underway for these two flagship programs. Find information on our website.

Connecting on campus Our recruiting team or consultants may be visiting a campus near you. Whether virtually or in-person, we are excited to learn more about YOU and what makes you interested in McKinsey!

Fill out our Connect with APD form!

This will give you access to all things APD recruiting in the coming months.
Make sure you’re on our list.

MIT ALUMNI ADVISORS HUB - ADVISING OPPORTUNITY FOR MIT STUDENTS

The MIT Alumni Advisors Hub is an online platform that students can use to ask for advice when they need it—from MIT alumni around the world. Students can get advice on their job and internship search, conduct a mock interview or informational interview, explore career paths and future entrepreneurial pursuits, and navigating life at MIT.

Sign up to gain access to a community of alumni who are eager to share their advice at https://alumniadvisors.mit.edu/.

Find an advisor today!

UPCOMING MIT CAREER FAIRS

MIT has a diverse range of career fairs, only a few of which are run by Career Advising & Professional Development. Others are managed by student organizations or academic departments. MIT students are also welcome at some fairs hosted by companies, professional organizations, and other universities.

To get the most of your career fair experience, see our Tips for Career Fair Success. You can also view the CAPD events calendar for career fair workshops.

Find out more about career fairs at MIT.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER EVENTS - WEBSITE & CALENDAR

For those who are looking for other resources, recordings of career related workshops and sessions for grad students available here: http://capd.mit.edu

The CAPD Event calendar can be found here. 

Sign up for the Graduate Student Career Advising mailing list here.

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