MIT RSI Program - Help/Mentor Needed

Hi Everyone!

I am a Junior studying at SEV American High School in Istanbul, Turkey. I have been a part of FIRST my entire high school life and have enjoyed every bit of it. Going into my senior year, I have an issue I think the CD community might be able to help with.

This year, I was waitlisted by RSI, a program by CEE from MIT. The program will begin 20 days from now on June 27th and will end on August 7th. Here is the definition from their website:

Each summer, 80 of the world’s most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.

Participants experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. They read the most current literature in their field, draft and execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.

A couple of days ago, I was told that I have a chance to go from the waitlist. However, the Turkish Director of the program informed me that MIT is not so happy with changing candidates so last minute. They have asked me if I knew any professors at MIT who would volunteer to mentor me during this great opportunity.

I am very short on time to find a professor with less than a week. Like many FRC students, I would really enjoy working with a professor from Maths, Physics, Comp Sci, or Mechanical Engineering department at MIT but I am not really in a position to choose.

I know that RSI is a very prestigious program and I do not want to miss out on this opportunity. That is why I turned to the CD. If there is anyone who knows a professor at MIT who would volunteer to take part in this program or any connections to people at MIT that I could reach out to, I would be very grateful.

Thanks for any help.

10 Likes

You may want to get in touch with some of the teams in the Cambridge/Boston area, e.g. 97 Bionic Beef, 1965 Firebirds, 6201 The Highlanders, 246 Overclocked. See frcmap.com. Good luck!

Well its been… a while… since I was there, but if you can reach him, Professor Slocum is still there, a robotics enthusiast, and generally eager for any challenge. Otherwise we have a former team member and recent MIT graduate who is currently a part time TA.

Unfortunately we (246) don’t have any direct contacts at MIT. Regardless, best of luck OP, I hope you are able to make this work!

I assumed it is on campus, I am acquainted (now a decade back) with a professor at Woods Hole who have joint MIT doctoral programs. They are in chemical oceanography, so not really robotics related, but you never know. Some do projects with underwater drones, etc.

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