The Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) office organizes site visits throughout the academic year, giving MIT undergrads, grad students, and postdocs a unique opportunity to explore a variety of industries, workplaces, and career paths. These visits offer you hands-on experiences where you can engage with professionals, tour company facilities, and see firsthand how your experiences apply in real-world settings.
This past January during the IAP season, over 60 MIT students and postdocs participated in site visits across a range of industries. These included The Brattle Group, Formlabs, Boston Dynamics AI Institute, and Symbotic. Each visit provided invaluable insights into the companies’ cultures, technologies, and innovative projects.
Key insights & connections
The Brattle Group: Consulting
At The Brattle Group’s headquarters in downtown Boston, students and postdocs connected with MIT alumni Sarah Hamilton ’12, Paige Vincent ’22, and Ragini Sreenath ’20. They shared their experiences and discussed major projects like the T-Mobile/Sprint merger and the FTX case. This global consulting firm, specializing in economic, financial, and strategic advisory services, has maintained strong ties with MIT since its founding in 1990.
Formlabs: EECS
Next, at Formlabs in Somerville, a leader in 3D printing and electronic & computer hardware, students and postdocs got an up-close look at SLA and SLS printing technology. They learned how these technologies are revolutionizing industries like healthcare, automotive, and aerospace. MIT alums at Formlabs shared their transition stories from academia to industry. They also explored the company’s innovation-driven culture, including its annual hackathon and dog-friendly workspace.
Boston Dynamics AI Institute: Robotics, AI, EECS
Students and postdocs then visited the Boston Dynamics AI Institute, located right in Kendall Square, Cambridge! They toured research labs focused on cognitive AI, athletic AI, and robotic manipulation. They saw the Spot robot in action and witnessed the humanoid Atlas robot walking across the lunchroom. It was a reminder of the groundbreaking moments that happen daily in this robotics innovation hub.
Symbotic: EECS, Robotics, MechE
Finally, at Symbotic in Wilmington, Mass, students toured the company’s Integrated Testing Center. AI-powered warehouse robots automate supply chain logistics at high speeds. Students and postdocs got an inside look at how these robots are built, tested, and deployed in major retailers like Walmart and Target.
Don’t miss out: Join the next site visit
These site visits offer an exciting opportunity for you to experience different industries, network with professionals, and explore potential career paths. We’re grateful to our campus partners and employer hosts for making these visits possible.
For more information on upcoming site visits and other career-focused events, be sure to check the CAPD events page.
We look forward to another year of career exploration and hope to see you at an upcoming visit!
