Faculty

Featured video: An “MIT story” about an iconic professor
A new short film spotlights the life and career of MIT Institute Professor and School of Engineering Dean Paula Hammond ’84, PhD ’93. The documentary, “Full Circle: Paula Hammond at…
Met Warehouse opens as the new home of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning
It is a transformation for the ages: The Metropolitan Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is opening as the new home of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning, after a makeover turning…
How to design a space habitat that supports its residents’ mental health
In extreme environments, habitats are built for survival. Submarines, Antarctic bases, and postdisaster dwellings are designed to prioritize health and safety. This is especially the case for habitats in space,…
3 Questions: MIT Sloan launches Evening MBA
The MIT Sloan School of Management is launching an Evening MBA program designed for high-performing individuals who want to earn an MBA while continuing to work. Beginning with its first cohort…
On the hunt for dark matter
Physicists across the globe are on a quest for a particle that makes up nearly 85 percent of all matter in the universe, yet no one has ever directly detected…
With a feel for physics, AI models simulate a wider range of real-world scenarios
Artificial intelligence models are jacks of many trades, including writing, generating images, and creating 3D models. But they aren’t as helpful when it comes to testing robots or designs for…
Akirah Bradley-Armstrong named vice chancellor for student life
MIT has appointed Akirah Bradley-Armstrong as vice chancellor for student life, effective Oct. 19, 2026.  The appointment, following a national search, was announced yesterday in a letter sent to the MIT…
These 3D-printed objects can tell you if they’re being used properly
Imagine a bottle of hazardous chemicals sitting on a laboratory shelf that changes its appearance to alert scientists that its lid is not properly secured, potentially preventing a dangerous spill.…
Connecting students with the future of microelectronics
The 2026 Northeast Microelectronics Internship Program (NMIP), organized by the MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories, brought together 30 exceptional students from leading universities across the Northeast for an immersive week exploring…
Using reason, again and again
You probably think you are rational. Day to day, you try to “make the best possible use of the information available to you,” as MIT philosopher Brian Hedden PhD ’12…
Building energy security through more sustainable batteries
For Hugh Smith, the challenge of building an energy-secure future isn’t about creating the world’s “best” battery. It’s about designing the right battery for the right job. As a fifth-year…
Connecting research to policy on Capitol Hill
This spring, 25 MIT students and postdocs traveled to Washington to meet with congressional staffers and advocate for sustained federal investment in scientific research.  With recent cuts to National Science…
MIT projects selected for funding under US Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission
MIT researchers are set to contribute to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Genesis Mission, with 15 collaborative projects among those selected for funding under Genesis Phase I, DOE announced Wednesday. The…
Looking beyond research
In Professor Anna-Christina Eilers’ research group, mentorship happens through small, meaningful gestures: thoughtful feedback on a draft, a check-in after a rough week, and a readiness to help when things…
Working to automate nuclear plant operations
For nuclear to be considered as a viable clean energy source, it has to be competitively priced and economical to produce.  Lauren Fortier, a second-year doctoral student in the Department…
Diana Grass: Listening to the body’s language
Growing up in Colombia, Diana Grass had a simple response whenever someone told her something was impossible. “I’ll figure it out.” It’s a phrase that she still lives by today…
A better way to turn 2D designs into 3D models for rapid prototyping
Engineers often use vision-language models to produce new designs, such as for airplane or automobile components. To simulate how those components will perform in realistic situations, they’ll use tried-and-true computer-aided…
3 Questions: Neural transparency and the future of AI design
Millions of people are now designing their own personalized artificial intelligence companions, yet most have little idea how those creations will actually behave. In a new paper, MIT Media Lab…
3D-printed bridge points the way to greener construction
Concrete is the most widely used building material on Earth, and producing it is one of the largest single sources of carbon emissions. One promising way to reduce its environmental…
Bringing the data to every sideline
With Boston serving as a host city for the FIFA World Cup, the whole Bay State has soccer fever, including Henry Wang. As a child growing up in Dallas, sports…
Toward a future that preserves benefits of neurotechnology for all
As advanced medical technology gets closer to hitting consumer markets, the need for guardrails on protected usage should increase. What might begin as a neural implant to aid in communication…
MIT in the media: Innovating and educating for the next 250 years of America
Without federal support for curiosity-driven research, the innovation and talent pipeline that has helped ensure our nation’s prosperity and safety could run dry, warned President Sally Kornbluth during a Washington…
MIT student teams win top honors in NASA competition
Three teams comprising 35 students across eight different MIT departments and Wellesley College have been at work since fall 2025, designing critical early infrastructure elements that a moon base would…
Inaugural Music Technology Research Showcase celebrates work of new graduate program’s initial students
The MIT Music Technology and Computation (MTC) Graduate Program — launched in fall 2024 as a collaboration between the Music and Theater Arts Section in the School of Humanities, Arts,…
Care in the midst of pressure
In the early months of a PhD program, everything can feel urgent. Ideas move quickly, expectations feel high, and timelines, especially initial deadlines, may become heavy.  In those moments, Professor…
David Autor named head of the Department of Economics
David Autor, the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics, has been named head of the Department of Economics, effective July 1. “David is a…
MIT’s Initiative for New Manufacturing builds momentum
In May, the Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM) marked its first anniversary with MIT Manufacturing Week, four days of events that attracted more than 800 registrants including students, faculty, industry…
Expanding and deepening climate reporting through local messengers
Since 2021, the MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowship has supported local and regional journalists in reporting high-impact news stories that connect climate change with local priorities.  Now, the MIT Climate…
MIT in the media: For the future of tech, “Massachusetts can absolutely lead”
On June 9, The Boston Globe released its 2026 “Tech Power Players” list, recognizing 50 influential local leaders in technology and business across Massachusetts. The list includes eight MIT affiliates including…
The ripple effect of learning at MIT
At MIT, innovation doesn’t only happen in the lab. It also happens in the people who never stop learning.  After nearly a decade in the Netherlands modeling data for aerospace…
Characterizing Earth’s damping mechanisms
Perrin Davidson is a scientist, a bluegrass banjo player, and — at his core — a builder. He spent his youth roaming around his family’s farm just outside of Freeport,…
Computer model could enable bridges and buildings that use less material
In 2022, global production of construction materials accounted for more than 7 percent of total carbon emissions. But how many of those materials were truly necessary to build houses, buildings,…
“We can’t ship goods without functioning ports”
In the small coastal town of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the port is the backbone of the community. Growing up there, with a father who works as a longshoreman, Chelsea…
QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2026-27
MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World University Rankings, which were announced today. This is the 15th year in a row MIT has received…
MIT affiliates win 2026 Hertz Foundation Fellowships
The Hertz Foundation announced that it awarded 2026 fellowships to three current MIT students as well as an incoming graduate student. They are: Annika Marschner, Alvin Q. Meng, Zachary S. Siegel, and…
Imparting values through mentorship and community
In the STEM fields, excellence is often measured in scientific breakthroughs and discoveries. This April, members of the Institute’s graduate community gathered to focus on something just as critical: the…