International Research Opportunities (IROP)

IROP is designed for MIT undergraduates who want to conduct faculty mentored research in an international setting. These overseas research opportunities provide many of the same benefits offered through conventional study abroad experiences - including a forum in which to connect with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, who share similar intellectual goals. In addition, IROP experiences help students enhance communication and leadership skills and refine collaborative and decision-making skills, while increasing understanding and awareness of ethical issues.

IROP projects generally take place over the summer and mirror the traditional campus-based UROP model in that qualifying projects must have the approval, mentorship, and guidance of an MIT faculty member. Many IROP projects develop organically from an on-campus UROP or other academic endeavors.These projects represent a broad spectrum of research areas and interests, from particle physics studies at the CERN facilities in Geneva, Switzerland, to biological engineering research in collaboration with the Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI) in Bangkok, Thailand. In summer 2011, IROP research took place in: Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Morocco, Nicaragua, Singapore, Tanzania, and more!

 

Summer Undergraduate Research Exchange Programs

The MIT Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) is offering three research exchange programs for summer 2012 through collaborations with the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the University of Hong Kong (HKU). These exchanges aim to enhance and broaden students’ undergraduate experiences, provide opportunities to live in another culture, conduct research in a different academic/research environment, and help develop skills to better prepare for leadership roles in a global economy.

Up to five MIT students will be selected to conduct faculty-mentored research at NUS and HKUST for summer 2012. In return, MIT will host up to five students from each university to conduct research with MIT faculty members. One MIT student will be selected to conduct faculty-mentored research at HKU for summer 2012 and MIT will host one student from HKU. More information on these IROP exchanges can be found on the individual exchange programs' section of our site:

• MIT-NUS IROP Summer Research Exchange
• MIT-HKUST IROP Summer Research Exchange
• MIT-HKU IROP Summer Research Exchange

For the past several years, the UAAP has provided funding support to UROP-eligible undergraduates interested in conducting summer research projects in international settings.  The UAAP is committed to supporting student involvement in IROP through funding and advising support.

To be approved for IROP, students must ensure the following:

• Supervision from an MIT faculty member.
• Submission of a standard UROP application, including a detailed research proposal, which should indicate that you plan to conduct research overseas and include details on your travel plans, MIT travel companions, the location where research will take place, etc.
• Completion of all required travel forms (which must be submitted no later than 3 weeks prior to departure).

All MIT undergraduates with plans to conduct IROPs, or who are interested in learning more about overseas research opportunities, are encouraged to contact UROP staff in the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming to discuss funding opportunities and related topics.