FAQ & Contact
I am an MIT student interested in Brazil. How can I learn more and find opportunities?
MIT students are eligible to apply to internships in Brazil through MISTI. Opportunities are available all year-long, with most students being placed for the summer months—with final placement usually determined no later than March. Enrolled undergraduate students can also apply for opportunities in Brazil through the MIT's Experiential Learning Opportunities (ELO) for shorter remote internships. The subject areas covered vary each year, but we anticipate recurring opportunities in energy, biotechnology, data science, AeroAstro, AI, health, management, and others. Please send an email to mit-brazil@mit.edu to ask for a list of partners and open positions. You may also visit https://misti-brazil.mit.edu/.
Is it possible to learn Portuguese at MIT?
Yes, absolutely! The MIT Portuguese Program was created in 2010 to provide a solid foundation in the language and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. The program is housed in the MIT Global Languages and it offers elementary, intermediate and advanced level classes taught by Dr. Nilma Dominque. Click here to know more about the classes and opportunities for students learning Portuguese at MIT.
How many Brazilians are currently at MIT and how can I get to know them? What about the Brazilian alumni?
At the moment, there are Brazilians either studying or working in all of MIT’s five schools. From faculty to staff, and from enrolled students to research scientists and visiting scholars, Brazilians at MIT represent an active community of learners, doers, and thinkers. However, most of the Brazilian community at MIT is largely composed of master’s and PhD students. If you are interested in getting to know their personal trajectories, current work, association with MIT, and even find out ways to connect with them, please visit the MIT-Brazil’s people directory.
I am an MIT faculty or research scientist conducting work that is relevant to Brazil. Is there any opportunity to receive financial support to conduct a project there and/or collaborate with other Brazilian scholars?
Yes, there are funding opportunities for research in Brazil. The MIT-Brazil program currently offers seed grants to support new collaborations between faculty and research scientists and their counterparts in Brazil. Since 2010, these funds have supported more than 80 early-stage international projects, helping cover travel and other expenses necessary for the completion of the project. Most funds provide a maximum of $30,000 per proposal, and applicants are encouraged to involve MIT undergraduate and graduate students in their projects. At the moment, there are two main Seed grants to do work in Brazil: the Lemann Seed Fund for Collaborative Projects and the TVML Seed Fund for projects with Insper and Hospital Albert Einstein. Click here to know the details and application guidance, and here for a list of past Seed Fund winners.
I am interested in knowing more about Brazilian culture. How can I know about past or upcoming events?
Over the past years, there has been an array of activities for students to immerse themselves in Portuguese and Brazilian culture beyond the classroom, including lectures, cultural events, film screenings, and the monthly Portuguese roundtable Solta a Língua, open to the entire MIT community, which provides an opportunity to share a typical Brazilian meal in a relaxed setting, while speaking in Portuguese. Additionally, the MIT-Brazil, in collaboration with the student community, have helped plan all kinds of Brazil-related events on campus, including the Brazilian Carnaval, dinner and movie nights, as well as capoeira workshops and informal gatherings. We also promote open dialogue on critical issues in Brazil through events like academic symposia and interactive workshops at MIT and in the Boston/Cambridge community. Keep an eye out for Brazil-related events on the MIT Events Calendar as well as on the MIT-Brazil’s social media channels.
I am a donor and/or MIT alumni interested in contributing to the program’s activities. How can I do so?
If you would like to provide gifts to support international undergraduate and graduate research projects as well as internships and workshops in Brazil, please consider a donation to the MIT-Brazil program. Donations make an enormous impact on the program and it will help us expand our current activities by designing new projects with Brazilian partners as well as in supporting promising students, talented faculty and staff activities related to Brazil. Click here if you are considering a donation and would like to know more.