Jobs

Join a collaborative, full-time summer research cohort dedicated to tackling climate and sustainability challenges at MIT!

This 10-week, paid program—hosted by the MIT Office of Sustainability (MITOS)—gives students the opportunity to work on real-world decarbonization, resilience, and climate action projects, leveraging MIT’s campus as a test bed for sustainability innovation. Participants will collaborate with MIT staff, faculty, and external partners to conduct applied research that directly informs MIT’s climate and sustainability strategies.

This is more than just a research job—it’s an opportunity to build skills, make an impact, and grow as a leader. As part of a structured cohort experience, students will also engage in community service, professional development, and peer learning designed to strengthen their understanding of climate action in practice.

The Campus Climate Action Summer Student Cohort includes two different tracks. MITOS will match students to the most suitable track based on their experience, interests, and project availability:

• Decarbonization Accelerator – Focus on campus decarbonization, district energy systems, and electrification, contributing to MIT’s long-term sustainability strategy.
• Student Sustainability Researcher – Applied campus research on topics like heat resilience (deploying sensors, testing cooling strategies) or food waste reduction (behavioral and policy interventions), in partnership with the MIT Climate Project.
  • Undergraduate students will apply for Summer UROP direct funding
  • Graduate student positions will be funded by MITOS.

Program Structure & Expectations

As a member of this immersive cohort experience, you’ll gain hands-on research experience, engage in community impact, and build valuable professional and peer connections. All cohort members are expected to participate fully in both their research projects and the additional programming that makes this a uniquely collaborative and enriching experience.

Paid Work (Full-Time, Hourly)

• Research (36 hrs/week) – Contribute to a sustainability or decarbonization project advancing MIT’s climate goals. Hourly pay based on track and experience.
• Community Service (4 hrs/week) – Work with local organizations to connect research with real-world impact. Counts toward paid hours.

Cohort Experience & Professional Development

• Workshops & Career Development – Climate careers, leadership, and systems thinking sessions.
• Networking & Social Events – Build connections with peers and sustainability leaders.

This structured experience ensures you gain paid, hands-on experience while also developing the skills, networks, and perspectives to drive sustainability impact.

📅  Dates: June 2 – August 8, 2025 (10 weeks)

📍 Location: Cambridge, MA (Hybrid: M-Th in person, Fridays remote)

⏳ Time Commitment: Full-time (40 hours/week)

💰 Compensation: Varies by program track, student level and funding source, ranging from $16/hr (UROP) to $20/hr for graduate students*
 

Who Should Apply?

We welcome MIT-affiliated students from all majors and backgrounds with an interest in sustainability, climate action, and applied problem-solving. Ideal candidates will have:

• Strong interest in climate and sustainability challenges and a desire to apply their skills to real-world projects in an urban campus setting.
• Alignment with MIT’s values, and commitment to collaboration, innovation, and responsibility in addressing complex global challenges.
• The ability to work independently and in teams, engaging with MIT staff, faculty, peers, and external partners.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present findings clearly in written, visual, and oral formats.
• Experience with data collection, management, and analysis (Excel proficiency preferred).
• Self-motivation, curiosity, and eagerness to learn.
• Coursework, projects, or experience related to sustainability, climate, or systems thinking in areas such as:
   
  • Energy, materials, and building sustainability
  • Land, water, and food systems
  • Urban planning, environmental policy, and public health
  • Data science, engineering, architecture, and design

We encourage students from all disciplines to apply—climate and sustainability solutions require diverse skill sets and perspectives!

*Graduate student applicants should confirm with their department administrator that the hourly work for this position aligns with their term-based appointments as well as Graduate Student Appointment Policies

To Apply:

Fill out the MITOS Summer Cohort 2025 application form and use your cover letter to indicate your areas of interest and relevant skills.

Attach your resume. 

📌 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to high demand, we anticipate all positions will be filled by April 10th—apply early!

Questions? Email: mitosjobs@mit.edu.