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Notes from the Field
MISTIRussia
Russia
The MIT-Russia Program matches MIT students with paid industrial internships and research opportunities in Russia. Participating students come from diverse backgrounds including engineering, architecture, science, and management. In Russia, local and international companies, start-ups, universities, research institutes, and NGOs participate in the program.
Notes from the Field
Russia Program Details
Preparation & Training
MISTI matches MIT students with internships and research at leading companies and universities in Russia. Internships last from 3 to 12 months and are all-expenses-paid.
Timeline
Applications for summer internships due
Mar. 15, 2021
Please go to the MISTI Portal to apply for the program.
Final travel plans will be pending updates to the MIT Travel policy. Whether in-person or remote, you will make connections, expand your cultural understanding, and gain global career development experience!
Dates and duration
Most MISTI internships take place over 8-12 weeks during the summer. However, internships are available year-round for up to 12 months.
MIT-Russia website
Please go to the MISTI MIT-Russia website for more information on availble opportunities, useful tips and Russian language resources.
Eligibility
Open to MIT undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines
Requirements
GPA
4.0 or higher
Language
Undergraduate: Russian II or equivalent. (Exceptions: internships at JetBrains, Skoltech University and several tech startups, including Tsuru Robotics and SPUTNIX. Please contact Katya Zabrovski, MIT-Russia and Eurasia manging director, for more information!)
Graduate: no language requirement. Some basic Russian recommended.
Prerequisites
A formal course on Russia is recommended, e.g., culture, history, politics.
Funding
Program expenses, including airfare, visa, accommodation and a stipend, are covered.
Preparation
We work closely with students to find a tailored project that matches their skills and interests. Participating students are required to attend training sessions before going to Russia.
Featured Hosts
JetBrains, CS, machine learning, robotics (two internships)
Skoltech, CS, robotics, quantum computing, computational materials discovery, business and entrepreneurship
Strelka Architects, architecture, design, urban development
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, design, research
Internship projects
Full list of internships for 2020.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Katya Zabrovski, MIT-Russia and Eurasia managing director.
MISTI Global Teaching Labs offers a unique opportunity for MIT students to learn by teaching in schools in Russia 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.
Timeline
Application due
See GTL deadline here
Placement process
Sept.-Oct.: Applications reviewed and select students interviewed
Oct.: Acceptance notifications with school and team placement sent
Dates and duration
3 weeks in January (IAP)
Arrival in country between Jan. 8-12
Teaching dates: Jan. 13-31
Locations
Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yakutsk
Eligibility
Open to any MIT students willing to fully commit to a challenging teaching project. Teaching experience would be a plus
Language
Priority may be given to students with the knowledge of the Russian language
Requirements
Language
No language requirements. Russian is strongly encouraged.
Check out Russian language courses at MIT.
GPA
4.0 or better
Teaching experience
Teaching experience or interest in education would be a plus.
Funding
All program expenses are covered, including airfare, housing, and a stipend.
Preparation
From the time you're accepted until you arrive in Russia 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 Russian 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 (see "preparation")
- 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
Current Hosts
JetBrains Research in St. Petersburg is a private enterprise created to unite scientific and educational projects that make a real difference and to improve the current state of science and technology. They are looking for two MIT students to become instructors in their Winter Mini-Degree Program in STEM. Read more here.
The Skolkovo International Gymnasium is located in the heart of the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow. The school aims to provide an innovative educational environment, fostering the natural potential and inbom talents of their students. The Gymnasium is looking for two MIT students who could develop workshops in the following disciplines: Life Science (biomed, biotech); Entrepreneurship, Business & Management; Computer Science; or Art & Science. Other proposals will also be considered.
Russia's Global Startup Labs (GSL) program offers a unique opportunity for MIT students to learn by teaching and to share MIT's "mens et manus" approach with Russian students. This is a seven week-long program during the summer to teach mobile app development and to support student entrepreneurs in incubating new and innovative technologies.
Timeline
Application due
Jan. 31, 2020 (rolling thereafter). Please apply here.
Location in summer 2020
Yakutsk, Russia (Watch video "Welcome to Yakutia")
Eligibility
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.
Requirements
GPA
4.0 or higher
Teaching experience and interest in education
Language
No language requirement
Funding
All program expenses are covered, including airfare and a stipend to cover food and incidentals. Accommodation is provided by host institutions
Preparation
Student must attend Global Startup Labs and MIT-Russia 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. Please see the Global Startup Labs 2017 Syllabus here. More information here.
The following institutions offer funding for research and field work in Russia
for masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral projects:
Contact Us
Contact the MIT-Russia program with any questions at mit-russia@mit.edu
