Social Impact

People who work in social impact come from a range of educational and professional backgrounds and you can find social impact careers in almost all industries. Following your interests and honing skills, both technical and non-technical, can lead you to finding a mission-driven, social impact-oriented career in your field and job of choice. These jobs make a positive impact in the world and address a number of social issues.

Some MIT alumni work in a:

  • Traditional job in a social impact-oriented company
    • Science Program Officer at the Kavli Foundation (Bachelor’s of Biology Alumni)

    • Innovation Lead and Design Thinker at the World Economic Forum (Master’s of Engineering and Management Alumni)

    • Assistant Director of Development Communications and Marketing at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (PhD of Linguistics Alumni)

  • Social impact-oriented job in a traditional company
    • Environmental Consultant at Ramboll (Bachelor’s of Environmental Engineering Science Alumni)

    • Social Business Manager/Consultant at SC Johnson (Master’s of Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management and Master’s of Business Administration Alumni)

    • Assistant Professor of Social and Computer Science at Olin College of Engineering (PhD of Media Arts and Sciences Alumni)

  • Social impact-oriented job in a social impact-oriented company
    • Environmental Analyst at Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Bachelor’s of Materials Science and Engineering Alumni)

    • Foreign Service Officer – Crisis, Stabilization and Governance at USAID (Master’s of International Development and City Planning Alumni)

    • Radiology Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital (Bachelor’s of Physics and PhD of Medical Physics and Medical Engineering Alumni)

Political science and physics major Leela Fredlund wants to ensure fairness and justice prevail in humanity’s leap into space.

“I realized that I could raise very interesting questions at the intersection of astronomy and political science,” says Fredlund. Through undergraduate projects at MIT and at institutions such as NASA, Fredlund has been focused on the ways governments are shaping …

By MIT News
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Paid Positions at the Office of Sustainability

The MIT Office of Sustainability is seeking applicants for a 10-week, student researcher summer cohort program.

We have 6 hourly paid positions for graduate and undergraduate students.

This is an opportunity to dive into hands-on projects aimed at advancing sustainability …

By Tara Thakurta
Tara Thakurta Graduate Community Fellow
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Writing Together Online

Make your New Year’s resolution: write regularly with Writing Together Online during IAP 2024

Date: Mon, Jan 8th through Thu, Feb 1st

Time: 8-9:30am or 9:30-11am
Location: by Zoom (pre-register to receive the link to connect)

Register: https://forms.gle/2kDDymivpSHPP5QS9

Make your New …

By Amanda Cornwall
Amanda Cornwall Graduate Student Professional Development
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Mining social media data for good

Erin Walk, a PhD student in social and engineering systems, studies the impact of social media on the Syrian conflict.

By Olivia Young | Office of Graduate Education | June 22, 2022

For Erin Walk, who has loved school since she was …

By Libby Doucet
Libby Doucet Assistant Director, Career Advising and Training
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Graduate Education Now Has Its Own Caucus in the House of Representatives

Adapted from Kelley Karnes, Council on Graduate School (original article here)

The Graduate Research and Development (GRAD) Caucus launched in July. This new bipartisan caucus in the House of Representatives was formed to address the needs and issues of graduate …

By Simona Rosu
Simona Rosu Senior Assistant Director, Postdoctoral Career and Professional Development
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Featured Resources

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Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it

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