MIT Lincoln Laboratory Summer Research Program

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory Summer Research Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in a leading-edge research environment. Participants contribute to real-world projects, interfacing with national experts, working with state-of-the-art equipment, and presenting their research findings at the end of the summer. The program typically runs from mid-May through mid-August, lasting 10-12 weeks, and has hosted over 200 students from top universities in recent years. Benefits include competitive weekly pay (e.g., $24.50-$43.00/hour based on year), round-trip travel assistance for non-local students, discounted housing at Northeastern University (up to 11 weeks for $420/week), and daily shuttle service from Boston campuses to the lab.

Students apply their academic knowledge to national security challenges in fields like AI, quantum computing, space systems, and more, across various technical groups at the lab. Specific projects vary by group, such as developing AI for multimedia data or advanced sensor systems. The program supports flexible start dates (e.g., May 20, 2026 earliest for housing), and positions are posted on the lab's careers site for Summer 2026, indicating active recruitment.