Tayebati Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
The Tayebati Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at MIT supports exceptional researchers whose work explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in select science and engineering fields or in music.
Hosted by the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, the program fosters research at the forefront of AI, where novel computational approaches can advance scientific discovery or expand the possibilities of music composition and performance. By encouraging ambitious, interdisciplinary scholarship, the fellowship seeks to generate meaningful progress both within these domains and in the development of new AI methods more broadly.
Tayebati Fellows benefit from an environment designed to support their academic and professional growth while enabling them to pursue ambitious, high-impact research. Each fellow is jointly mentored by an MIT faculty member in their chosen disciplinary area and an MIT faculty member who works in AI, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Program Details & Benefits
Candidates should pursue research that combines AI with one of the following six disciplinary areas:
- Biology or Bioengineering
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences
- Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Music
- Physics
A key aspect of the program, and of the candidate selection process, is the identification of relevant MIT faculty mentors. In the application form, applicants should provide names of faculty at MIT who are closest to their proposed work, both in the disciplinary area and in AI.
Fellows will be awarded a stipend in the range of $73,308 to $90,000 annually, plus MIT benefits. The program will also provide recipients with computing resources, travel grants for academic conferences, and a variety of programmatic activities.
MIT now invites applications for the 2027–2028 cohort of fellows. Prospective fellows must have received their doctoral degree between January 1, 2024 and August 31, 2027 and must start no later than September 1, 2027. Each postdoctoral appointment is for 24 months, with continuation into the second-year contingent upon satisfactory performance, as determined through an annual review.
Application Requirements
- Two-page research statement
- CV
- Two letters of recommendation
- Additional information as requested in the application form
Preference will be given to applicants who have not been a student or researcher at MIT in the previous two years.
Visa sponsorship is not available.
Complete applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on November 1, 2026.
MIT is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin. View MIT Policy on Non Discrimination and EEOC’s Know Your Rights. Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.
Questions? Contact us at scc-postdocs@mit.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, or have received their PhD from a US graduate institution and have applicable Optical Practical Training (OPT).
Note: Foreign students on a F-1 visa (student) can apply through their current academic institution for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for this fellowship which provides US work authorization at MIT. STEM OPT Extension is possible for a 24-month extension period per USCIS.
With the exception of the F-1 visa holders, all others would require MIT visa sponsorship which we are not offering for this program. TN visa holders (Canadian and Mexican citizens) are not “eligible” since the postdoc fellow position is not part of the list of qualifying professions outlined in NAFTA.
No they cannot, due to the unknown length of the visa process.
Yes, with a limit of 12-months.
Note: Please note that USCIS processing times can be inconsistent and subject to change. J-2 work authorization is generally granted for one year, or for the period of time you are authorized to stay in the United States, as indicated on the Form DS-2019 (if less than one year). However, if the Form DS-2019 is valid for more than one year, USCIS may, at its discretion, issue an employment authorization document (EAD) that is valid for a longer period of time. Requests for a longer validity period should be made in writing at the time of application. Enclose a cover letter requesting work authorization until the ending date on the Form DS-2019.
There are no security issues. Letters are uploaded over a secure HTTPS connection, ensuring that the content remains private during transmission from the letter writer to the website collecting the letters.
No. We ask that applicants choose two letter writers who can comment on the work they plan to do while being a postdoctoral fellow.
Yes. It is not a problem for the same person to write recommendation letters for multiple applicants.
The reference letters should be written by individuals who are familiar with your research and can speak directly to your abilities, work ethic, and contributions in your field. Ideally, these references should be people who have closely observed your research process, your analytical skills, and your overall academic performance. They should be able to provide specific examples and insights into your strengths, your approach to problem-solving, and your potential for future success.
The research statement should not exceed two letter-sized pages, including figures. References or citations can appear on additional pages. The research statement should discuss the work you plan to pursue as a Tayebati Fellow and your doctoral research contributions.
No, it does not.
The faculty mentors must be MIT faculty, but it is not necessary for them to be in the College. Applicants should identify mentors with expertise in their chosen disciplinary area and mentors with expertise in relevant aspects of AI. Each chosen fellow will be jointly mentored by at least one faculty member in their disciplinary area and at least one faculty member who works in AI.
Yes. Faculty mentors must be identified and proposed “up front” to allow for the matching of fellows with supervisors. Yet it is not necessary that the listed faculty have already agreed to serve as mentors. The fellowship selection committee will facilitate appropriate next steps in connecting applicants with faculty mentors. All proposed mentors must be MIT faculty.
