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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:
- Cafesjian Center for the Arts (Art, Film, Art Research, Gamification, Animation, Curatorial Work): internship description
- Central Bank of Armenia (Economics, Math, CS, AI, Data Science, Communication): internship description
- AmeriaBank (Banking, Finance, Innovation, Risk Management, HR/Personnel, IT)
- Storaket Architectural Studio (Urban Planning, Architecture, Interior Design, EECS, Data Analysis)
- American University of Armenia (Science, Research, Ecology, Agriculture)
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute (Genomics Data Analysis, Microbiome Research, Software Development, Data Analysis)
- Enterprise Incubator Foundation (Startups, Environmental Issues, Sustainability): internship description
- SP2 Architectural Office (Architecture, 3D Visualization): internship description
- Golden Apricot Film Festival (Film, Events, Communication)
- Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (Physical Anthropology, Biology, Archaeology): internship description
- Impact Hub (Startups)
- BetConstruct (EECS, Gaming, Virtual Reality, Math)
- Activeloop AI (EECS, AI, Machine Learning): internship description
- Solaron (Solar Energy, Business Operations)
- Synopsys (Microelectronics, Electrical Engineering): internship description
- Tumo Center for Creative Technologies (Teaching, Architecture, Design of Educational Spaces): read more about them here and see their internship description
- Oqni (Bionics, 3D Modeling, Nonprofit, Wellness Education)
- Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Armenia (Electrical engineering, Civil engineering, Chemical engineering, Mining, Chemistry)
- CivilNet (Journalism, Writing, Video, Graphics): internship description
- Yerevan State University (Pharmaceutical/Analytical Chemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Physics, Computer Science, AI, ML, Batteries): internship description - 4 projects
- SmartGateVC (early-stage company building and venture capital investments in computational biotech and healthcare): internship description
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:
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 here)
Deep tech startup in bioscience on a mission to accelerate drug discovery (please see more information about the company here)
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 here)
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 here)
Big Data and AI – one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe (please see their internship projects here)
Biotechnology and genomics, bioinformatics and DNA storage (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
The fastest-growing web hosting company in the world, with the main focus on WordPress hosting (please see more information about the company here)
Smart Farming for Sustainable Agriculture (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
Global digital health care and wellness company: digital health products of the future (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
Universal Identification & E-Signature, eIDAS 2.0 - The European Digital Identity Wallet (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
Digital mental gym for workplaces (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
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 here)
FinTech instant payment solutions for online & offline businesses in the EU (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
Software for solar engineering and planning - global solar technology company in over 70 countries (please see more information about the company here)
Ecosystem infrastructure and exceptional services for inclusive places of work, culture, community (please see more information about the company here)
App-based solution for mobility in cities (please see more information about the company here)
Autonomous IoT for Railways - clean startup developing vibration energy harvesting technology (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities here)
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 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.
Robotic Process Automation, Cyber Security, Digital Banking (please see more information about the company and their internship opportunities 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.
- Complete the MISTI Launchpad Application – by December 1 (early deadline for summer) or Feb. 20 (late deadline for summer)
- Interview with Country Program Manager – rolling (as soon as student completes MISTI Launchpad Application and contacts MIT-Eurasia Managing Director)
- Commit to MIT-Eurasia Program – rolling (within two weeks after student receives placement offer from MIT-Eurasia)
- Internship matching process – rolling (after interview with MIT-Eurasia Managing Director)
- Mandatory Pre-Departure Sessions – March to May
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.
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
- TUMO Center for Creative Technologies (read more about them here and see who they are looking to host here)
- American University of Armenia (read Zoe's story about her GTL there)
- Center for Scientific Innovation and Education (read more about the organization here)
- Yerevan State University (read Annie's story about her GTL there)
- Ayb School (read Fedaa’s story about her GTL there)
Kazakhstan
- Hayleybury School in Astana (read more)
- Hayleybury School in Almaty (read more)
- Learning Afterschool Centers in Almaty (read more)
- Tamos Space School in Astana (read more)
- Lastayev Public School in Katon-karagai village (read more)
- Shoqan Walikhanov Private School in Almaty (read more)
Georgia
Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency (MIT students are invited to teach any of the following topics)
Meet Your Program Manager
Get in touch with Katya Zabrovski, Managing Director for MIT-Eurasia, to get your questions answered.