Leadership & Mentoring
Leading others to pursue a shared vision and developing those individuals and yourself through mentorship are essential professional skills. Here you will find information to help expand your knowledge of these areas:
- Develop strategic plans to establish and achieve goals
- Identify and understand group dynamics of a diverse talent pool to allow for innovative solutions
- Develop, motivate, and gain buy-in from others
- Create relationships with others who have more experience or knowledge
- Share your knowledge and experience with others
Celebrating Exceptional Mentors at MIT
The Office of Graduate Education, through the Committed to Caring initiative, celebrates MIT faculty members who go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of graduate students. These professors are essential in building a strong culture of mentorship at the Institute.
The faculty honored in the 2021-2023 Committed to Caring awards are:
Angelika Amon, Department of Biology (posthumously)
Athulya Aravind, Department of Linguistics
Mariana Arcaya, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
David Autor, Department of Economics
Michael Birnbaum, Department of Biological Engineering
Irmgard Bischofberger, Department of Mechanical Engineering
devin michelle bunten, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Esther Duflo, Department of Economics
Jeffrey Grossman, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Janelle Knox-Hayes, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Karthish Manthiram, Department of Chemical Engineering
Miho Mazereeuw, Department of Architecture
Kerstin Perez, Department of Physics
Arvind Satyanarayan, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Ben Schneider, Department of Political Science
MIT Graduate Student Council
The MIT Graduate Student Council (GSC) represents graduate student interests at the Institute. The GSC welcomes and orients new graduate students, offers extracurricular activities, and serves as a communication conduit between the administration and the graduate student body. Get involved with the GSC to hone your leadership skills and create opportunities for the graduate student body. You can connect through their different committees, including Academics, Research and Careers (ARC) and Housing and Community Affairs (HCA).
Riccio Graduate Engineering Leadership Program (GradEL)
At the intersection of engineering practice, leadership scholarship, and experiential learning lies an opportunity to take the best technical students in the world and develop them into exceptional technical leaders. The Riccio Graduate Engineering Leadership Program (GradEL) focuses on leadership education that develops skills applicable across career paths, from leading research groups to leading companies. The Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership is designed to help graduate students learn and practice the skills needed to have a positive impact in their careers.
Mentoring Opportunities
Mentoring undergraduate researchers is a valuable way to gain specific experience in leadership by cultivating the professional development of others. Many graduate students participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) as mentors to the younger students in their laboratories. To get involved, visit the Faculty & Other Mentors page for an overview, expectations, and upcoming deadlines.
The Teaching and Learning Lab supports learning at MIT and works collaboratively on projects related to mentoring, advising, and graduate student development. Please visit our resource section to see some mentoring specific videos.
PhDs: Suggestions for Every Stage
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Early Stage: Engage• Recognize leadership skills in your CV by joining a CAPD Resume/CV workshop
• Apply for a MIT Graduate Resident Advisor (GRA) position
• Join lectures and events at the MIT Leadership Center -
Middle Stage: Expand• Learn how to embrace delegation
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Exit Stage: Enhance• Summarize your advising and mentoring style for Teaching Philosophy Statements, job interviews, etc.
• Develop “Problem-led” leadership skills
Research Mentoring Certificate
This certificate program is designed for PhDs and postdocs who wish to develop their mentoring skills and grow their practice of productive and inclusive research mentoring.
