Research at MIT

The soul of MIT is research. For more than 150 years, the Institute has married teaching with engineering and scientific studies—and produced an unending stream of advancements, many of them world-changing. Examples of some of MIT’s historical achievements follow: Research

Research Expenditures

Research Centers, Labs & Programs

Research Affiliations-Major Collaborations

1930s —Pioneering high-speed photography

—Pioneering high-speed photography 1940s —Engineering practical microwave radar

—Engineering practical microwave radar 1950s —Building the magnetic core memory that made digital computers possible

—Building the magnetic core memory that made digital computers possible 1957 —Achieving the first chemical synthesis of penicillin

—Achieving the first chemical synthesis of penicillin 1960s —Developing inertial guidance systems for the Apollo space program

—Developing inertial guidance systems for the Apollo space program 1960s —Developing the world's first biomedical prosthetic device

—Developing the world's first biomedical prosthetic device 1977 —Inventing the first workable public key cryptographic system

—Inventing the first workable public key cryptographic system 1986 —Creating the first free-standing hologram

—Creating the first free-standing hologram 1988 —Discovering the smallest known, most abundant photosynthetic bacteria in the ocean

—Discovering the smallest known, most abundant photosynthetic bacteria in the ocean 1994 —Developing a robot that can “learn” exercises from a physical therapist, guide a patient through them and, for the first time, record biomedical data on the patient’s condition and progress

—Developing a robot that can “learn” exercises from a physical therapist, guide a patient through them and, for the first time, record biomedical data on the patient’s condition and progress 1996 —Using new genetic and multiple-cell monitoring technologies to demonstrate how animals form memory about new environments

—Using new genetic and multiple-cell monitoring technologies to demonstrate how animals form memory about new environments 2002 —Creating the first acrobatic robotic bird—a small, highly agile helicopter for military use in mountain and urban combat

—Creating the first acrobatic robotic bird—a small, highly agile helicopter for military use in mountain and urban combat 2007 —Genetically reprogramming skin cells to cure a mouse model of sickle-cell anemia

—Genetically reprogramming skin cells to cure a mouse model of sickle-cell anemia 2009—Finding a way to use RNA interference to silence multiple genes at once

This stream of discovery continues. Here are just a few accomplishments from this decade:

2010 —Designing computer techniques that automatically decipher ancient languages

—Designing computer techniques that automatically decipher ancient languages 2011 —Building a new radar technology system that can see through walls up to 60 feet away

—Building a new radar technology system that can see through walls up to 60 feet away 2012 —Demonstrating experimentally the existence of a fundamentally new magnetic state called a quantum spin liquid

—Demonstrating experimentally the existence of a fundamentally new magnetic state called a quantum spin liquid 2013 —Developing a new steelmaking process that produces no emissions other than pure oxygen

—Developing a new steelmaking process that produces no emissions other than pure oxygen 2014 —Designing a new paper strip diagnostic test to rapidly diagnose Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers

—Designing a new paper strip diagnostic test to rapidly diagnose Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers 2015 —Designing the bandage of the future: a sticky, stretchy, gel-like material that can incorporate temperature sensors, LED lights and other electronics, as well as tiny drug-delivering reservoirs and channels that can release medicine in response to changes in skin temperature and be designed to light up if medicine is running low

—Designing the bandage of the future: a sticky, stretchy, gel-like material that can incorporate temperature sensors, LED lights and other electronics, as well as tiny drug-delivering reservoirs and channels that can release medicine in response to changes in skin temperature and be designed to light up if medicine is running low 2016 —Making the first direct detection of gravitational waves reaching the Earth (in collaboration with Caltech and others around the world), confirming Albert Einstein’s prediction from 100 years ago

—Making the first direct detection of gravitational waves reaching the Earth (in collaboration with Caltech and others around the world), confirming Albert Einstein’s prediction from 100 years ago 2017—Adapting a CRISPR protein that targets RNA, rather than DNA, for use as a rapid, inexpensive, highly sensitive diagnostic tool with the potential to transform research and global public health

Undergraduates can plunge directly into this world of exploration through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, which offers students a chance to collaborate on cutting-edge research as junior colleagues of Institute faculty.

During the academic year, approximately 3,735 researchers (including some 1,505 postdoctoral scholars, 552 visiting faculty and scientists) work with MIT faculty and students. Approximately 2,600 graduate students are primarily supported as research assistants and 715 are appointed as teaching assistants; 1,700 are supported on fellowships.

Distribution of Postdoctoral Scholars, by School/Area



As an institution, MIT encourages interdisciplinary research across department and school boundaries while focusing on tackling great challenges for society at large. More interdisciplinary teams are found off-campus in nearby Lexington, Massachusetts, at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center focused on national security.