MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 (stipend available)

Overview

The MIT Summer Research Program is a competitive initiative established in 1986 to broaden participation in the research enterprise, promote the value of graduate education, and prepare and recruit exceptional undergraduate students for graduate study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and beyond. The program expands access to research opportunities for students whose educational journeys have not aligned with traditional pathways into graduate education. Participants spend a summer on the MIT campus conducting research under the guidance of MIT faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students.

Who can apply

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program at a United States institution of higher education located in the United States or its territories, excluding MIT. Eligible candidates are sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors who have completed at least two academic years of college coursework and are not graduating prior to December 2027. First-year students from select undergraduate institutions may apply through the Leadership Alliance's James H. Wyche First Year Research Program. Applicants must maintain a minimum overall or major GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, have an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in one of the graduate programs at MIT excluding Sloan professional programs, and demonstrate a genuine interest in a career in academic research and teaching. Participants may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, non-U.S. citizens with DACA, or international students with appropriate visa and work authorizations.

What you get

Participants receive a mentored research experience working alongside MIT faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students in state-of-the-art laboratories across MIT departments and interdisciplinary centers. The program offers individualized advising on academic and research career pathways, feedback on coursework and lab skill development, and opportunities to contribute to publishable research and potentially co-author a scientific paper. Financial support includes a weekly stipend, round-trip travel to MIT, a meal subsidy, and housing. Participants also receive access to MIT libraries, athletic facilities, and health services.

Key dates

The application deadline is January 19, 2027. All application materials and letters of recommendation must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on this date.