Research Support Associate 2

SENIOR RESEARCH SUPPORT ASSOCIATE, Political Science - Humanities (Course 21)

to assist a group of faculty across MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts and Social Science (SHASS) in the development and running of a new first-year interdisciplinary class titled “Compass Course: Moral and Social Questions about the Human Condition.” Responsibilities will include supporting faculty lesson plan development, including producing diverse course materials and media (videos, podcast, lessons plans, Canvas site) for a flipped classroom model, and coordinating research and teaching assistants. Will also perform general administrative duties, including processing expenses, interfacing with cross-institute administrators, planning student events, organizing seminars/conferences, and assisting with class logistics; play a vital role in the administrative aspects of our academic environment; assist professors in course setup; run events from start to finish; and be instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of a new course at MIT.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Demonstrated experience in project management and adept problem-solving skills, with the ability to think quickly and effectively in spontaneous situations; robust communication skills; bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Humanities or a related domain; substantive interest in social science, humanities, and education; proven track record of successfully resolving logistical challenges and adeptly prioritizing tasks to fulfill requests promptly and efficiently; and experience interacting with students and planning and running events, arranging meetings, and managing multiple tasks. PREFERRED: MIT-related background; or experience in R or other statistical computing and data visualization tools.

This is a one year position.

This position will be in office, with some exceptions made for remote work with prior approval.

A complete application should include a cover letter (Please indicate your earliest preferred start date in your cover letter, preferably in late April or early May 2026) and a resume, as a single PDF file.