Simons Center MSRP Summer students


The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences offers jointly with the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines and the Department of Biology, a 10-week summer research-intensive training program in all fields of neuroscience to non-MIT undergraduates (Sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors) majoring in all STEM fields. This summer internship program is funded in part by the MIT’s School of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the Simons Center for the Social Brain. This year’s program will run from May 31 through August 5, 2023.

The summer program is primarily designed to encourage students from underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, and students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds to attend graduate school and pursue a career in basic research by providing them the opportunity to conduct supervised research in a top-notch research institution, in a supportive learning environment with plenty of interaction with graduate students and faculty. This summer program provides a unique opportunity for students who do not have access to top-notch research facilities at their own institution to conduct supervised research in state-of-the-art research facilities. Preference is given to applicants from non-research-intensive colleges and universities. 

Tsehai Boucaud
Senior, University of Central Florida

Nancy Kanwisher Laboratory

Project: Using deep neural network (DNN)-based encoding models to reveal functional dissociations with the human visual scene processing network

Keywords: fMRI, Machine Learning, Cognitive Neuroscience, Vision, data analysis, DNN-encoding models

Payton Dupuis
Graduated from Montana State University in May 2023; Starting as a post-baccalaureate at MIT in September

Troy Littleton Laboratory

Project: Comparing synaptic development and maintenance pathways in larvae versus those in older adult Drosophila neuromuscular junctions.