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Our Communication Lab teams are always thinking about new communication skills and scenarios that we can help to demystify and support. Find our latest resources below:

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Quick tips on handy skills and first-hand reflections about communication experiences, from Communication Fellows and MIT community members

Writing my PhD thesis proposal was both an intellectually demanding and transformative experience. I truly felt that I was formally (and finally) starting my dissertation, as opposed to when I was just writing separate papers for different projects. Looking back, there are several things I am glad for having done. Here are my key reflections on the process!

Emails dominate our daily communication, whether for scheduling meetings, sharing information, or staying updated. Yet, writing emails can be challenging even for simple tasks, and we are seldom taught how to write effective emails that are clear, concise, and efficient.

There’s a conference taking place in a few months in some far-off land. You may or may not be planning to submit an abstract of your latest and greatest work. Either way, as a first-time conference goer, you’re wondering how the experience will go.

Faculty applications can be daunting. Drafting your application package. Putting your vision out there for hiring committees to evaluate. Getting your hopes up and being rejected or possibly never hearing back. One thing to keep in mind is: you’re not alone.

One constant concern throughout grad school is funding. You could take many routes to secure funding, but fellowships are a popular option. Fellowships are typically merit-based awards to support a graduate student’s personal, academic, and/or professional development.

So, you’re thinking about applying to grad school in the U.S. and you’re still an undergrad? Kudos to you for planning ahead! Applying for graduate school can feel like a monumental task, but with a strategic approach you can navigate the process smoothly and confidently.

Read EECS Fellow, Rachel Yang’s, essay, which was published in Science, about discovering that writing doesn’t have to be so intimidating if you treat it as trial-and-error – like research.

Studying abroad is becoming increasingly frequent, but applying to grad school in another country is still a challenging experience.

After four and a half years (and 158 coaching appointments!), my role as a CEE Communication Fellow is coming to an end. Our Comm Lab manager, Jared, suggested I write up some thoughts on my time in this position, and I considered this an excellent opportunity to say goodbye to the lab and reflect on this experience.

New & updated CommKit content

Discipline-specific how-to’s and annotated examples, covering both technical and professional communication.

You can also see CommKits in other scientific/engineering disciplines.