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Program Opportunities

Locations

The MIT-Eurasia Program offers internships, research, teaching, and study abroad opportunities in Eastern Europe, the Baltics, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Below is the list of countries we have most developed connections with. However, over the years we have also sent students to other parts of the region, including Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Students interested in Eurasian countries not listed below should not hesitate to contact us at mit-eurasia [at] mit.edu.

Located in the mountainous Caucasus region, Armenia is known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant tech scene, and welcoming people. Armenia is a host of our Global Teaching Labs and summer internship program. Opportunities are offered to undergraduate and graduate students in all majors.

Featured internship hosts for summer 2023:

Located at the crossroads of West and East, Georgia is a country of centuries-old architectural monuments and highly developed international research. It is one of the most popular study abroad destinations among students from all over the world. Georgia is a host for Global Teaching Labs and our summer internship program. Currently opportunities are limited, but please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Featured internship host:

  • Ilia State University (Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Biodiversity, IT, Big Data, Architecture, Urban Development, Seismology): Internship in Machine Learning for summer 2023

Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country and one of the most economically advanced in Central Asia. Guests and visitors are welcomed with incredible warmth and respect. Kazakhstan is a long-standing host of our Global Teaching Lab program. Please check out our Student Stories for examples of what MIT students have worked on in this country.

Largest of the Baltic states, Lithuania is situated at the Baltic sea just across from Sweden. Called Jerusalem of the North (or Athens of the North), Lithuania is distinct with its diverse cultural traditions, baroque architecture, pristine nature, and healthy food. Openness to innovation, an increasingly digitized society, and a recognition from hundreds of leading global companies – that’s Lithuania today. Things here get done quicker and better, because the doers – from students and engineers to policy makers – are agile, ambitious, and driven by big ideas, whether it's gene and cell therapy, laser technologies or advanced machine learning.

Featured internship hosts:

ASTROLIGHT

Laser communication connecting Earth and Space with high speed laser links, satellite connectivity and deep space exploration (please see more information about the company and their internship projects for summer 2023 here)

DELTA BIOSCIENCES

Deep tech startup in bioscience on a mission to accelerate drug discovery (please see more information about the company here)

ELINTA ROBOTICS

Industrial Automation, Robotization with AI elements and Computer Vision, and EV and PHEV powertrains (please see more information about the company here and their internship projects for summer 2023 here)

EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL

Data Science and Analytics - the world's leading provider of global business intelligence and strategic market analysis (please see more information about the company and their internship projects for summer 2023 here)

EXACASTER

Big Data and AI – one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe (please see their internship projects for summer 2023 here)

GENOMIKA

Biotechnology and genomics, bioinformatics and DNA storage (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

HOSTINGER

The fastest-growing web hosting company in the world, with the main focus on WordPress hosting (please see more information about the company here)

IVABALTE

Smart Farming for Sustainable Agriculture (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

KILO.HEALTH

Global digital health care and wellness company: digital health products of the future (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

MARKid

Universal Identification & E-Signature, eIDAS 2.0 - The European Digital Identity Wallet (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

MINDLETIC

Digital mental gym for workplaces (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

fabrication, rapid prototyping, programing for media display systems, carbon free culture, public outreach, art pedagogy (please see more information about the gallery and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

NEOPAY

FinTech instant payment solutions for online & offline businesses in the EU (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

PVcase

Software for solar engineering and planning - global solar technology company in over 70 countries (please see more information about the company here)

TECH ZITY

Ecosystem infrastructure and exceptional services for inclusive places of work, culture, community (please see more information about the company here)

TRAFI

App-based solution for mobility in cities (please see more information about the company here)

VIEZO

Autonomous IoT for Railways - clean startup developing vibration energy harvesting technology (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

Volatile AI

Advance detection of plant pests based on their chemical fingerprint, through creation and tuning of a specific chemical analysis instrument (please see the detailed description of their internship for summer 2023 here)

Vytautas Magnus University

Leading university in the fields of Humanities, Arts, Social and Biomedical Sciences. Areas of research: biotechnology, biophysics, education, computational linguistics, language acquisition and bilingualism, creative industries, and others.

Western Union Lithuania

Robotic Process Automation, Cyber Security, Digital Banking (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities for summer 2023 here)

Ukraine

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this young European democracy is currently facing a host of problems that encompass almost all the disciplines of engineering and science taught at MIT. In the AY 2022-23, MIT students will be offered a variety of remote internship opportunities with Ukrainian organizations. Would you like to get involved? Please contact MISTI Ukraine Program Manager Svitlana Krasynska.

Please read more about the launch of a new MISTI program in Ukraine here.

 

 

Internships

MIT-Eurasia matches MIT students with all-expenses-paid internships and research opportunities at leading companies and universities in Armenia, Georgia, Lithuania, and Ukraine (virtually), and other countries in Eastern Europe, the Baltics, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Internships last around 4 weeks over IAP and 8-12 weeks during the summer.

  • GPA 4.0 or higher
  • Interest in Eurasia and passion for travel

Language

  • There is no language requirement

Courses

  • None required. Please see below for recommended courses

 

Program expenses, including airfare, visa, accommodation, and a stipend, are covered.

  1. Complete the MISTI Launchpad Application – by December 1 (early deadline for summer) or Feb. 20 (late deadline for summer)
  2. Interview with Country Program Manager – rolling (as soon as student completes MISTI Launchpad Application and contacts MIT-Eurasia Managing Director)
  3. Commit to MIT-Eurasia Program – rolling (within two weeks after student receives placement offer from MIT-Eurasia)
  4. Internship matching process – rolling (after interview with MIT-Eurasia Managing Director)
  5. Mandatory Pre-Departure Sessions – March to May

How to Apply

We work closely with students to find a tailored project that matches their skills and interests. Participating students are required to attend 4-5 one-hour training sessions before traveling to the country.

Please see the list of recommended courses in Slavic Studies at MIT.

Please see the Locations tab for detailed information.

Global Teaching Labs

MISTI Global Teaching Labs offers a unique opportunity for MIT students to learn by teaching in schools in Eurasia over IAP. You will develop and teach extracurricular, usually STEM-focused, workshops, emphasizing MIT's "mens et manus" approach and using hands-on activities, experiments, and demonstrations.

Open to any MIT students willing to fully commit to a challenging teaching project. Teaching experience is a plus.

  • GPA 4.0 or higher
  • Teaching experience or interest in education is a plus
  • No language or course requirements
  • Sept: Students apply for the program.
  • Oct: Pre-selected students are invited to interview shortly after application deadline.
  • Nov - Dec: Students selected to participate will attend pre-departure trainings.
  • Jan: Most GTL programs take place during the last three weeks of the month.
  • Feb: Students attend a mandatory re-entry session upon return.

How to Apply

From the time you're accepted until you arrive in your MISTI country in January, you'll work independently to brainstorm ideas, prepare lesson plans, and organize materials. Students will also coordinate frequently with in-country partners and host school teachers via phone, Skype, etc. You'll also need to attend November training sessions on teaching skills and Eurasian culture and education.

What we need:

  • Passion and talent for teaching/mentoring and ability to excite about STEM concepts (prior teaching experience valued but NOT required)
  • Readiness to commit full-time to host school and project during IAP. You will teach for up to 20-25 hours a week but be ready to spend a lot of time preparing for the next day.
  • Willingness to spend several hours/week during semester from October to December to develop workshops
  • Ability to work closely with diverse team and meld well in collective work and living arrangements
  • Ability to communicate effectively with beginner-level English speakers highly valued for select school placements

Armenia

  • The TUMO Center for Creative Technologies (read more about them here and see who they are looking to host here).
  • The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private institution of higher learning, offering a global education in Armenia (read more on their website).

Kazakhstan

Georgia

Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency (website) is looking for students who could teach MicroPython (Python for microcontrollers).

Global Startup Labs

Through MISTI Global Startup Labs (GSL), MIT student teams partner with universities around the world to deliver programs focused on technology entrepreneurship. They lead local student entrepreneurs through a real-world technology venture experience, mentoring the development stages of a startup, and teaching appropriate technical platforms, culminating with a pitch and prototype competition.

Note: The program is not offered in Eurasia in AY 2022-23. Please see current locations here.

Open to MIT undergrads, graduating seniors and graduate students in all disciplines. Teaching experience would be a plus. Preference would be given to students in Computer Science and Management. 

  • GPA 4.0 or higher
  • For technical instructors: experience with mobile app development
  • Teaching experience and interest in education is a plus
  • Interest or experience in entrepreneurship is preferred

All program expenses are covered, including airfare and a stipend to cover food and incidentals. Accommodation is provided by host institutions.

Students must attend Global Startup Labs and MIT-Eurasia cultural training sessions and a check-out meeting with the Managing Director. Once matched with other MIT students, you’ll need to meet regularly to work on the curriculum for your class.

  1. Complete the MIT GSL Application – by Sept 20 (deadline for IAP programs) or February 15 (deadline for summer programs)
  2. Interview with GSL Program Manager – rolling (qualified candidates will be contacted by GSL Program Manager within a week after the application is submitted)
  3. Confirm participation in the GSL program – rolling (within two weeks after receiving an official offer from GSL Program Manager)
  4. Mandatory Pre-Departure Trainings – October-November for IAP programs and March to May for summer programs

How to Apply

Meet Your Program Manager

Contact
Ekaterina Zabrovski Headshot

Get in touch with Katya Zabrovski, Managing Director for MIT-Eurasia, to get your questions answered.