The visit, hosted by MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD), offered participants an opportunity to learn more about economic consulting—engaging in candid conversations, participating in consultant panels, and seeing how analytical work translates into practice across market and policy contexts.

Paths into the field

The visit included a tour, a panel discussion, and individual conversations with consultants. During the panel, employees answered questions and shared insights into their paths into economic consulting, including transitions from academia and the collaborative nature of their work.

Senior Energy Analyst Nathan Felmus described a recent case involving PJM’s electricity market, where his analysis informed pricing decisions across large regions of the country. “It’s amazing to know that my work is informing such impactful policy decisions,” he added.

During the visit, participants walked through Brattle’s in-house library, complete with a dedicated librarian—a resource consultants described as central to their work. In conversation, they shared that much of their growth comes from taking on new cases, learning deeply as each project unfolds, and building expertise through hands-on experience supported by mentorship.

Reflecting on fit and career exploration

For students early in their academic journeys, these conversations added valuable context. First-year student Maria Calvo shared that learning about Brattle’s roles, structure, and recruitment timelines helped her better understand how opportunities might unfold over time. “The visit sparked my interest in energy consulting and made me aware of upcoming recruitment cycles I hope to participate in when I’m eligible,” she said.

By the end of the visit, participants left with a clearer picture of what economic consulting looks like in practice at The Brattle Group and of the paths for growth within the field. Experiences like this, supported by CAPD, allow students and postdocs to explore careers through firsthand exposure—meeting professionals, seeing workplaces, and considering fit, whether for an upcoming hiring cycle or opportunities still ahead.

On behalf of the participants, CAPD thanks The Brattle Group for hosting a thoughtful and engaging visit.

Related Links

• Students: “Connecting with Employers“
• Employers: Explore Scheduling an employer program or event to learn more about CAPD opportunities. If you are interested in hosting MIT students at your workplace, reach out to the Employer Relations team at hiremit@mit.edu.
• Article: “Exploring robotics, scale, and systems through a Symbotic site visit“

From code to full-system testing

The visit, hosted by MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD), offered participants a close look at large-scale engineering work—meeting engineers, walking through active testing spaces, and seeing robotics and software operate together in a real-world setting.

As the group moved through the facility, Symbotic engineers shared how robotic systems are tested, refined, and supported as the company grows. Participants observed full-system demonstrations alongside focused component testing, while engineers answered questions about system design and the coordination required to keep hundreds of robots operating smoothly. Watching robots in motion—and engineers troubleshooting in real time—helped connect classroom concepts to practical engineering work.

Mechanical engineering junior Daniel Nwazue was particularly struck by the scale and rigor of the testing environment. Seeing scaled-down warehouse lines and long-term wear testing underscored the importance of understanding how individual components perform within a larger system. “It really showed how valuable it is to understand each component thoroughly so the whole system performs well at scale,” he shared.

Adapting to growth

The visit also provided context for the evolving nature of Symbotic’s work and physical spaces, giving students a clearer sense of how growing companies adapt as they scale. Jena Hook, a Campus Recruiter at Symbotic, explained that as customer needs grow and products advance, the site has shifted toward testing, repair, research, and design—helping explain the construction and new spaces students encountered during the tour. “Seeing the systems in action helps them picture how they could contribute here,” she noted.

By the end of the visit, participants left with a clearer sense of how robotics, software, and engineering teams collaborate at scale. Experiences like this, supported by CAPD, allow students and postdocs to explore careers through firsthand exposure—seeing workplaces up close, engaging with engineers, and reflecting on fit, whether for an upcoming hiring cycle or opportunities still ahead.

On behalf of the participants, CAPD thanks Symbotic for hosting an informative and engaging visit.

Related Links:

• Students-Connecting with Employers
• Employers-Schedule an employer program or event (employers)

The Times Higher Education World University Ranking is an annual publication of university rankings by Times Higher Education, a leading British education magazine. The subject rankings are based on 18 rigorous performance indicators categorized under five core pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

Read the full article at MIT News.

Learn more about their experience and consider offering a similar opportunity in January.    

Company overview: Thespian Labs is an early-stage AI research team building foundation models that opens new possibilities for how humans and machines communicate. They are developing Large Behavior Models for human simulation, focused on expressive, embodied behavior that turns intent into natural, controllable performance.

The micro-internship was led by 

• Norbert Chang, CEO, entrepreneur and Lecturer with MITdesignX  
• Dr. Çağri Hakan Zaman, CTO, entrepreneur, researcher and MIT alum (PhD ‘20)

What made a micro-internship a good fit for your company?

“A micro-internship was an ideal fit because it allowed us to define a focused, short-term project around a real research problem we were actively working to solve. They produced actionable work that we were able to carry forward immediately.” – Dr. Çağri Hakan Zaman

What did you enjoy about working with the MIT students?

“The students brought a fresh perspective and energy to our team. They took initiative and worked through problems independently, often keeping things moving without guidance.” – Norbert Chang

The student perspective (from the team): 

“It was so much fun! Since day one, we were treated like part of the team and quickly got to work. The team was extremely knowledgeable, and we learned a lot from them. We’ll miss our metal friend (and the daily snacks) XD”

Photo (from left to right)

• Norbert Chang (Lecturer)
• Dr. Cagri Hakan Zaman (MS 14’ Computer Science, PhD 20’ Computational Design)
• Dr. Adam Kraft (SB 05′, MEng 07′, PhD 18’ Computer Science)
• Cheuk Hei Chu (Undergrad 6-4,18)
• Emmanuela Ilok (Undergrad 6-3)
• Mike Law (PhD Math)
• Alice Cheng (Undergrad 6-3,18)

Call to Action
Interested in hosting an MIT micro-intern? Learn more and express interest.

As chair and CEO of AMD, Su has transformed the company, which is now a global leader in high-performance and AI computing. In addition to designing industry-leading CPUs and the specialized GPUs that enable AI applications, AMD technology is the foundation of many of the world’s most advanced supercomputers and high-performance computing systems. The company continues to work on next-generation hardware and open software that will accelerate the adoption of AI, which Su has described as the most transformational technology of our time.

“MIT has always held a special place in my life and career, and I’m thrilled to accept the invitation to speak at Commencement,” Su says. “The Class of 2026 will be graduating at an exciting time, as AI transforms our world and expands what is possible, and I look forward to celebrating them as they prepare to share their skills and ideas with the world.”

Read the full article at MIT News.

MIT has been ranked No. 1 worldwide in interdisciplinary science in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026, reflecting the Institute’s long-standing commitment to collaboration across fields. Launched in partnership with Schmidt Science Fellows, these rankings aim to strengthen scientific excellence by measuring how universities integrate knowledge, methods, and insights across disciplines.

In discussing the value of cross-disciplinary research, Ian A. Waitz, MIT’s vice president for research, underscored the role universities play in advancing discovery. “For more than 80 years, research universities have advanced our understanding of the world, leading to dramatic improvements in health, economic prosperity, and national security. That work fundamentally is done best when people ideate and collaborate without regard for disciplinary boundaries within and between scientific areas,” he said in a statement to the Times Higher Education.

MIT’s top placement reflects performance across several criteria, including the breadth and impact of interdisciplinary research output, collaboration across scientific domains, and evidence of innovation emerging at the intersections of fields. These measures—central to the rankings’ methodology—continue to highlight institutions that bring together diverse expertise to solve complex problems.

Top 10 universities in 2026

1. MIT
   
2. Stanford University
   
3. California Institute of Technology
   
4. University of California, Berkeley
   
5. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
   
6. Duke University
   
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
   
8. National University of Singapore
   
9. Wageningen University & Research
   
10. Purdue University West Lafayette

Read the full article on Inside Higher Education.

A group of MIT Mechanical Engineering (MechE) students recently visited Lexington Medical, a company advancing surgical-stapling technology for global markets, to learn about medical-device design and manufacturing.

The site visit—coordinated by MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD) in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering—was hosted by Alina Lisanke, Director of Talent Acquisition, and offered students a firsthand look at how engineering, design, and business intersect in medical innovation.

Inside Lexington Medical

Guided by Head of Manufacturing Margaret Kosten (MIT MechE ’20), students toured Lexington Medical’s vertically integrated operations, spanning product design, development, manufacturing, and shipping. Moving through engineering labs, assembly spaces, and testing areas, they saw how teams develop surgical staplers for use in operating rooms and even adapt production equipment to meet the company’s high standards.

After exploring the workspaces, students tested surgical staplers on foam models, seeing how even the curve of a staple can affect patient outcomes. “We dream in B’s,” joked Director of Engineering Jameson Kief, referencing the company’s “B”-shaped staples—an optimized geometry continually refined to ensure consistent performance and patient safety.

The visit concluded with a Q&A session featuring Founder and CEO Leon Amariglio, EVP of Technology Andy Marecki (S.B., S.M. ’12, MIT MechE), Director of Engineering Jameson Kief (MIT MechE ’20), Engineering Manager Carolyn Mothersell, and Mechanical Engineer Melissa Hummel (MIT Bioengineering ’23, current MIT EMT). Speakers emphasized curiosity, collaboration, and adaptability as key drivers of innovation.

Engineering with purpose

“For me, the visit to Lexington Medical was an incredible experience,” said Francisco Jeldres, a master’s student in mechanical engineering and engineering management. “It was amazing to see firsthand how mechanical and electrical engineering come together in the medical device industry. Even without a medical device background, one can still find a way to contribute and learn—bringing different skills together toward a shared goal.”

Hummel’s path echoed that same spirit of discovery and collaboration. As an MIT Bioengineering student, she once planned to attend medical school, but her experience as an EMT and her internship at Lexington Medical helped her realize a passion for the technical side of medicine—developing devices that improve patient care every day.

“This was a great opportunity for students to connect their coursework to current innovation and manufacturing processes and to hear how this work has a real impact on the lives of patients,” said Theresa Werth, MIT Mechanical Engineering Program Manager.

“These visits are a two-way exchange,” added Alina Lisanke. “For our team, it’s inspiring to connect with future engineers who share our passion for precision and problem-solving. For students, it’s a chance to experience a culture that values speed, agility, and innovation.”

MIT News, posted on June 18, 2025

MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World University Rankings, which were announced today. This is the 14th year in a row MIT has received this distinction.

The full 2026 edition of the rankings — published by Quacquarelli Symonds, an organization specializing in education and study abroad — can be found at TopUniversities.com. The QS rankings are based on factors including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, proportion of international faculty, and proportion of international students.

MIT was also ranked the world’s top university in 11 of the subject areas ranked by QS, as announced in March of this year.

The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research.

MIT also placed second in seven subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Architecture/Built Environment; Biological Sciences; Business and Management Studies; Chemistry; Earth and Marine Sciences; and Economics and Econometrics.