Faces of MIT: Melissa Smith PhD ’12
Melissa Smith PhD ’12 is an associate leader in the Advanced Materials and Microsystems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Her team, which is embedded within the laboratory’s Advanced Technology Division,…How to make small modular reactors more cost-effective
When Youyeon Choi was in high school, she discovered she really liked “thinking in geometry.” The shapes, the dimensions … she was into all of it. Today, geometry plays a…How good old mud can lower building costs
Buildings cost a lot these days. But when concrete buildings are being constructed, there’s another material that can make them less expensive: mud. MIT researchers have developed a method to…A platform to expedite clean energy projects
Businesses and developers often face a steep learning curve when installing clean energy technologies, such as solar installations and EV chargers. To get a fair deal, they need to navigate…How cities are weathering the climate crisis
Several years ago, the residents of a manufactured-home neighborhood in southeast suburban Houston, not far from the Buffalo Bayou, took a major step in dealing with climate problems: They bought…Building resiliency
Several years ago, the residents of a manufactured-home neighborhood in southeast suburban Houston, not far from the Buffalo Bayou, took a major step in dealing with climate problems: They bought…Steven Strang, literary scholar and leader in writing and communication support at MIT, dies at 77
Steven Strang, a writer and literary scholar who founded MIT’s Writing and Communication Center in 1981 and directed it for 40 years, died with family at his side on Dec. 29,…“Forever grateful for MIT Open Learning for making knowledge accessible and fostering a network of curious minds”
Bia Adams, a London-based neuropsychologist, former professional ballet dancer, and MIT Open Learning learner, has built her career across decades of diverse, interconnected experiences and an emphasis on lifelong learning.…For MIT-WHOI Joint Program student Faith Brooks, the sky’s the limit
Faith Brooks, a graduate student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, has had a clear dream since the age of 4: to become a pilot. “At around 8 years old, my neighbor knew…Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering is a launching pad toward possibility
When you ask MIT students to tell you the story of how they came to Cambridge, you might hear some common themes: a favorite science teacher; an interest in computers…Modeling complex behavior with a simple organism
The roundworm C. elegans is a simple animal whose nervous system has exactly 302 neurons. Each of the connections between those neurons has been comprehensively mapped, allowing researchers to study…MIT Global SCALE Network named No. 1 supply chain and logistics master’s program for 2024-25
The MIT Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network has once again been ranked as the world’s top master’s program for supply chain and logistics management by Eduniversal’s 2024/2025…More than an academic advisor
Advisors are meant to guide students academically, supporting their research and career objectives. For MIT graduate students, the Committed to Caring program recognizes those who go above and beyond. Professors…Three MIT students named 2026 Schwarzman Scholars
Three MIT students — Yutao Gong, Brandon Man, and Andrii Zahorodnii — have been awarded 2025 Schwarzman Scholarships and will join the program’s 10th cohort to pursue a master’s degree…Minimizing the carbon footprint of bridges and other structures
Awed as a young child by the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, civil engineer and MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Fellow Zane Schemmer has retained…Professor William Thilly, whose research illuminated the effects of mutagens on human cells, dies at 79
William Thilly ’67, ScD ’71, a professor in MIT’s Department of Biological Engineering, died Dec. 24 at his home in Winchester, Massachusetts. He was 79. Thilly, a pioneer in the…Insights into political outsiders
As the old saw has it, 90 percent of politics is just showing up. Which is fine for people who are already engaged in the political system and expect to…Yari Golden-Castaño is over the moon about outreach
Yari Golden-Castaño first learned about the moon, planets, and space while her grandmother in Mexico, Barbarita, taught her how to read from an encyclopedia. Golden-Castaño had already earned the nickname…Monitoring space traffic
If there’s a through line in Sydney Dolan’s pursuits, it’s a fervent belief in being a good steward — both in space and on Earth. As a doctoral student in…Images that transform through heat
Researchers in MIT Professor Stefanie Mueller’s group have spent much of the last decade developing a variety of computing techniques aimed at reimagining how products and systems are designed. Much…Loren Graham, professor emeritus of the history of science, dies at 91
Loren R. Graham, professor emeritus of the history of science who served on the MIT faculty for nearly three decades, died on Dec. 15, 2024, at the age of 91.…Richard Locke PhD ’89 named dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management
Richard Locke PhD ’89, a prominent scholar and academic administrator with a wide range of leadership experience, has been named the new dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management.…Celebrating the opening of the new Graduate Junction residence
Over two choreographed move-in days in August, more than 600 residents unloaded their boxes and belongings into their new homes in Graduate Junction, located at 269 and 299 Vassar Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.…Helping students bring about decarbonization, from benchtop to global energy marketplace
MIT students are adept at producing research and innovations at the cutting edge of their fields. But addressing a problem as large as climate change requires understanding the world’s energy…Global MIT At-Risk Fellows Program expands to invite Palestinian scholars
When the Global MIT At-Risk Fellows (GMAF) initiative launched in February 2024 as a pilot program for Ukrainian researchers, its architects expressed hope that GMAF would eventually expand to include…MIT-Kalaniyot launches programs for visiting Israeli scholars
Over the past 14 months, as the impact of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war has rippled across the globe, a faculty-led initiative has emerged to support MIT students and staff by…MIT affiliates receive 2025 IEEE honors
The IEEE recently announced the winners of their 2025 prestigious medals, technical awards, and fellowships. Four MIT faculty members, one staff member, and five alumni were recognized. Regina Barzilay, the…MIT welcomes Frida Polli as its next visiting innovation scholar
Frida Polli, a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, investor, and inventor known for her leading-edge contributions at the crossroads of behavioral science and artificial intelligence, is MIT’s new visiting innovation scholar for the…Turning adversity into opportunity
Sujood Eldouma always knew she loved math; she just didn’t know how to use it for good in the world. But after a personal and educational journey that took her…3 Questions: Tracking MIT graduates’ career trajectories
In a fall letter to MIT alumni, President Sally Kornbluth wrote: “[T]he world has never been more ready to reward our graduates for what they know — and know how…Winter break activities & connections
Note: If you need support while the Institute is closed, please don’t hesitate to use these resources. Free or discounted tickets to museums and arts events Take some time to…Need support while OGE is closed for the winter break?
The Institute is closed from December 25-January 1, but there are still resources available if you need help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the people below. Searching…Street smarts
Dozens of major research labs dot the streets of Kendall Square, a Cambridge, Massachusetts, neighborhood in which MIT partially sits. But for Andres Sevtsuk’s City Form Lab, the streets of…MIT affiliates named 2024 Schmidt Futures AI2050 Fellows
Five MIT faculty members and two additional alumni were recently named to the 2024 cohort of AI2050 Fellows. The honor is announced annually by Schmidt Futures, Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s…In a unique research collaboration, students make the case for less e-waste
Brought together as part of the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) initiative within the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, a community of students known as SERC Scholars is…