Deadline extended: We are accepting applications on a rolling basis through February 20, 2024.
Communication Fellow applications are now open for Spring 2024. MIT EECS-affiliated PhD students and postdocs who will be at MIT through Spring 2025 are invited to apply. This position is ideal for those who are interested in improving their own communication skills and helping others do the same.
You can preview this pdf version of the 2024 EECS Communication Lab Fellow Application.
The Communication Fellows are a team of PhD students and postdocs from across EECS who serve as communication coaches in the department. Each Fellow typically spends an average of 3-5 hours/week on Comm Lab related activities. Fellows have 3 primary responsibilities:
- provide 1-on-1 coaching appointments for technical communication tasks (papers, talks, grad school applications, etc.)
- participate in running communication-related workshops, developing content for the EECS Comm Lab website, or other short or long-term Comm Lab projects designed to meet communication needs of the department
- participate in team meetings and brainstorming about potential projects and ideas for the Comm Lab
While participating in the program, Fellows receive:
- extensive hands-on training in communication and coaching skills (one 2 hour session every 1-2 months over the first year in the program)
- access to exclusive professional development events and 1-on-1 mentorship from the Comm Lab manager
- Up to $3000/year in cash and/or professional development funding
Important Dates
January 22, 2024 – Applications open
February 13, 2024 – Applications due at 11:59 P.M. ET
February 20, 2024 – Applications accepted on a rolling basis until 11:59 P.M.
February 14-March 1, 2024 – Candidates invited to interview
March 1, 2024 – Candidates notified of final acceptance decision
March 6, 2024 – New Fellows officially join the Comm Lab
Communication Fellow Testimonials
Here’s what some Communication Fellow alumni have to say about the experience:
“Serving as a Fellow with the Comm Lab was one of the most rewarding parts of my experience at MIT. My thesis work prepared me to be a good researcher, but nothing else prepared me better for connecting with and mentoring students, which is now a huge part of my job as a professor at NYU.”
–Chris Musco, former EECS Comm Fellow, now faculty at NYU“Working in the Communication Lab was very helpful for me. You get better at writing every time you do it, but as a graduate student you may only write a couple of papers a year. Through the Comm Lab, I got to work on 2-10 writing and presentation tasks per week. I got to learn what I liked to see and what I didn’t, and that continues to inform my own writing. I went the faculty route after graduate school. I think my work with the Comm Lab was a nice plus for getting the job and the job itself involves a *lot* of communication. As co-curricular activities go, I think the added value of the Comm Lab is large and fills an important gap in typical graduate education.”
–Alex Hanson, former EECS Comm Fellow, now faculty at UT Austin“My favorite part about being part of the Comm Lab was learning about the variety of projects people are working on and working with them to find a compelling story. By seeing many examples of technical communication, I learned how to improve my own writing and presentations.”
–Helen Xu, former EECS Comm Fellow, now postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab“Being a Comm Lab Fellow was an invaluable experience for me throughout grad school! There are a LOT of advantages and skills gained from being a Fellow, such as understanding the high-level ideas of someone’s research very quickly, being able to parse out issues in written communication at a glance, and being part of an awesome network of grad students and postdocs who are deeply passionate about communication and helping others!”
–Rohan Chitnis, former EECS Comm Fellow, now Research Scientist at Meta“The scientific writing and communication skills that I was able to develop, practice and share as a Comm Lab Fellow were some of the most important that I developed at MIT. ”
–Genevieve Flaspohler, former EECS Comm Fellow, now Chief Data Officer at nLine
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Who is eligible to apply?
PhD students and postdocs affiliated with MIT EECS (enrolled in an EECS degree program and/or a member of an EECS lab) who plan to be at MIT through at least May 2025 are invited to apply. Preference is given to EECS students, but consideration may be given to applications from MIT affiliates outside EECS with relevant subject matter expertise. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact us. - Are international students and postdocs eligible?
Usually! Circumstances vary person-to-person, but many Communication Fellows have been international students and postdocs. International postdocs will need to seek the approval of their HR administrator and the International Scholars Office. - I need help with my own communication skills. Can I still apply?
Yes! While we are looking for candidates who have some experience with various forms of technical communication, you do not need to be a perfect communicator to be a Communication Fellow. We believe that even the best communicators can and should continue to improve, and the program is designed to help you do that. - What do you look for in a Communication Fellow?
Some of the things we look for in a Communication Fellow are technical communication skills, interpersonal communication skills, teaching skills and experience, an interest in communication, a desire to help others, and a growth mindset.
If you have additional questions, contact us at eecscommlab@mit.edu.