Who are program faculty and should I contact faculty before I list them on the application or apply?

Who are program faculty and should I contact faculty before I list them on the application or apply?

• Each year, MIT faculty members volunteer to host MSRP students in their research groups. You can view a list of interested faculty on the Interested Faculty Mentor Page, which is updated weekly through the application deadline. However, this list is not comprehensive, and you are not required to choose mentors from it. We encourage you to explore MIT department websites to identify faculty whose research aligns with your interests and list your top three preferences in your application.
• Please note: You should not contact faculty directly regarding admissions or placement. Faculty selections are used to better understand your research interests and assist with placement after admission. Reaching out to faculty during the application or placement process may complicate admissions and limit our ability to equitably match students with mentors.